June 1945: almost a month since Germany and the Salo Republic surrendered to the Allies. The police station at Pontremoli, a quiet town, held Brigata Negra officers and local Fascists, some in custody for several weeks before the collapse of German and Salo forces. Major Giuntoli refused to wait for politicians preaching reconciliation in post-war Italy. After trial, sentencing, and time in prison, Fascists released slipped back to ordinary life.
“We"re going to do something about these bastards. They killed Italians and committed atrocities,” the major said to Fred.
Fred led an armed party to old battlefields littered with the detritus of war. A partisan, a good mechanic, got a couple of abandoned British Army trucks working, salvaging parts from wrecked vehicles and touching up the pai
