As the Italian and German forces headed north, Bernhard"s detachment marched down country roads south of Rome, passing small towns, ancient villages, and farms where pastures and vegetable plots lined the roadway. The colonel paid little attention to the pastoral scenery; he was a man of the city and impatient to traverse the open land and settle into one of the more populated centers between Rome and Naples.
They reached Frosinone by nightfall. One of Italy"s oldest cities, it had a vibrant economy, complete with local food shops, cafés, restaurants, and a Catholic church. The Nazi troops weren"t interested in the church, but they helped themselves to the pleasures of the town. Six of the men sat at a table outside Vittorio"s Trattoria, ordering great platters of food and multiple carafe
