Storm Over Ossola
Diary Of Luigi Pellanda
by
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The story of the Resistance is full of published accounts and testaments which bring back the days of the struggle against Nazism and Fascism in the valleys of Ossola. It is true, however, that one or two pieces of the mosaic of events in Ossola are still missing, although it cannot be said that these deficiencies prevent a fairly accurate reconstruction of the events. Even today, in my opinion, the first local events after that fatal 8th September 1943 remain a little blurred. It is easy to explain why: the first Resistance fighters in Ossola were for the most part factory workers, peasants, young women and housewives, simple people, even if they were always the most intolerant and sensitive to injustices, such as Fascist violence and orders from enemy occupying forces. For the most part these Resistance fighters were obliged to go back to very different matters other than writing their memoirs once the war was over in order to survive. I maintain, however, for this very reason, that Storm over Ossola, by that great and humble priest don Luigi Pellanda, takes on the importance of a rare document. Furthermore, we should remember that the greatest event which took place in Ossola during those years was its creation as a free republic, with the blessing (even if grudging) of the government in Rome, in which it is acknowledged that the parish priest of Domo played an important part. Compared to other personalities whose talents became apparent in other situations, but were military men or politicians, such as Prof. Tibaldi, lawyer Ferraris, engineer Ballarini, don Gaudenzio Cabala, Prof. Don Zoppetti, just to name a few, the author of this book rightfully takes his place next to the best characters of the Resistance in Ossola.
I would like to say, therefore, that the re-printing of this book due to the first-hand testimony of the author on these events, is both valid and justified precisely because the passing years might have altered the truth which nowadays might be treated with some scepticism by historians, Italian or otherwise. However, the true value of this book apart from the aforementioned, is that it was written by someone completely impartial, but who took an active part in events, by a man who in the knowledge that he had chosen the path of the brotherhood of humanity, always made Christian love the first condition of any action or feeling on his part.
There was never any compromise on this condition by the behaviour of the parish priest of Domo during the course of the events which, perhaps against his will, drew him into such a central role. When this book was first published, writers and historians were still influenced by their experiences. With so much of it controversial, it must be admitted, don Pellanda's book was criticised at first and he was judged to be guilty of not having joined in the easy self-congratulation of others.
The gentleness and modesty of this man of God prevented him from answering that, from the Church's point of view, discrimination between men was wrong. It would have been an easy thing for him to do - but due to his moral stature it was not possible for him to become involved in any anti-something cause. During his lifetime he never asked for anything for himself. He never compromised his beliefs, either with his superiors or the authorities he dealt with on a daily basis. He always kept faith with his religion and his actions were always aimed at doing good to others, the most humble, the poor and poor in spirit regardless of their political persuasion. I want to recall this aspect of the character of don Pellanda to explain to any young people who might be reading this book that the opinions expressed on facts and events from 1939 to the Liberation are all fruit of a particular and subjective point of view (and heaven help us if all men saw things in the same way), but his wonderful vision and subjectivity expressed so many years ago, probably without realising it, concepts which we are only now attempting to revive. The facts described here have a documentary value - even though for don Pellanda they were experienced at first hand - and they reveal a big heart and great humanity in the narrator. I hope the reader will not be shocked by some of the judgments he made on the events of that tortured period. They are judgments which might be questioned by people who lived through those times, but which history has taken upon itself to pigeon-hole into the great melting-pot from which the Resistance drew and continues to draw its more sound ideals. If the young people of today are looking for explanations of events from historical documents, this book is a document they can put to good use and it must be hoped that the lessons contained in it should serve to prevent the evils of materialism, violence and abuse of power from overcoming the eternal principles of justice, freedom and peace.
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About the Book
The SWW 50 year anniversary of “Repubblica dell'Ossola” should give the opportunity to re-evaluate minor episodes, in books and chronicles often forgotten. Last August in Domodossola, a 50 years old man with a strange accent, went to the APT office in Domodossola, asking about a tombstone in a photograph he was carrying, His father was a German soldier who died in Crodo on 28th August 1944. This 50 years old man was Heinz-Dieter Quent who was born in Germany in 1943 and grew up in England, where he now lives near London with his wife and two sons. An aeronautical engineer and now a British citizen, Heinz- Dieter was in Domodossola with his wife looking for the tombstone with his father name on it: Heinrich Quent. A German soldier, killed in Crodo on August 23rd 1944 fighting against Italian partisans and who was buried in Domodossola. In the book “Guerriglia nell'Ossola” it is written that "The bus arrived at the designated point at 5 pm on the 23
In the book “L'Ossola nella tempesta” written by Luigi Pellanda there are only 3 names: Heinrich Quent, Adolph Wohlfabt and Ewald Paens, an hypothesis is that these 3 were the injured that died later in the hospital in Domodossola where they were taken.
Paolo Bologna explains that “After ten years, these graves were transferred by the German authority to the war cemetery at Costermano- Verona”.
"It is a pity that the tombstone disappeared. I would propose to make a new identical one to the previous one, to remember that period and those events.”
This proposal is to help to remember a tragic and sad period, but very important for our history because 50 years ago people had to fight for their freedom, and today, with friendship and spirit, we welcome the son of one soldier that left his life in Ossola.
Paolo Bologna says “When I knew who he was and the reason for his visit, I found it right to explain to him that I was the president of an association of ex-partisans, but this was not a problem at all for Heinz-Dieter Quent. We presented to him as a present, a copy of the book `L'Ossola nella tempesta', where he can see the name of his father.”
About the Author
I have had the pleasure of knowing Monsignor Luigi Pellanda, parish priest of Domodossola, for approximately twenty years since1937 and of spending some time in his company, first as an altar boy in the college sacristy and oratory, and later as one of his parishioners. Even today, after so many years, while I do not need to search my memory to remember him and write about him, I instinctively raise my eyes when thinking of him. I can still see his tall spare frame, his robes, worn but dignified, his smile, which lit up and opened his angular face and his cordial, frank and kind expression. I have asked myself many times what were the special characteristics which made him so approachable to everyone without exception; it seems to me that these can be summed up in his gentleness and love. Monsignor Pellanda believed completely in the part played in life by God's divine providence and was always well-disposed to His plans: he did not fight against them and, indeed, sought out the Lord's will with all his strength. He was gentle and therefore patient (and the Franciscan tradition teaches us that patience alone is a work of perfection and proof of goodness); he faced up to trials and accepted them; adversity did not divert him, he was calm and strong, energetic, tenacious and even obstinate in pursuing good deeds.