The Tomats are Friulians. After the armistice of September 8, Friuli was occupied by the Germans, flanked by Repubblichini10, Cossacks, White Russians, and Decima Mas.
The partisans caused them heavy losses, and in retaliation, the Germans at first hanged prisoners; then deportations also began.
Fabio joined the Resistance in July '44, at age 17, under the nickname Pardo.
His first firefight was in the ambush of a German autocolumn defended by armored cars that repelled the attack. He then participated in several other actions, including sabotaging a cable car at the Cividale cement factory, which worked for German fortifications.
Meanwhile, the ranks of the resistance were swelling, becoming a real army. The Allies equipped it by dropping material with parachutes in the Porzùs area, w
