Interview with Inge Nicolis

Interview with Inge Nicolis

Inge Nicolis, the daughter of a Swedish engineer faher and an Italian mother, reminisces about her wartime experiences in Milan. She stresses the sense of having been thrown into a tragedy and the anguish of not being able to evacuate Milan, on the grounds of her nationality. She describes her education and difficult relationships with teachers and her school friends, due to cultural and religious differences. Inge talks abouth the practical attitude of her caring and protective father, who was also a warden, and the behaviour of her mother, who was affected by the bombings, bringing her near to breaking point and resorting to different coping strategies. She describes everyday life in Milan, mentioning; civil defence practices; family conversations about ongoing war events; blackout; and her friendly relationships with local Gipsy communities. She gives a vivid account of one of the first bombings she eye-witnessed from the rooftop of her house and contrasts the incident with later attacks, which were much more severe. Inge recalls widespread destruction and fear of danger, although tempered by a fatalistic attitude. She describes the atmosphere of horror of the Piazzale Loreto killings (10 August 1944) and, later, the sight of Benito Mussolini and other senior Fascists on public display at the same spot (29 April 1945). She links the experience of being at the receiving end of the bombing war with her strong pacifist stance and her disposition to side with the underdog.

2018-06-15

01:02:06 audio recording

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