Interview with Nino Tenca Montini

Interview with Nino Tenca Montini

Nino Tenca Montini reminisces about his wartime experiences in Udine and the Friuli region. He describes the family shelter as a concrete reinforced basement, sparsely furnished with wooden benches. He recalls the urge to escape the vigilance of adults and dash out to see the damage and pick up scrap and spent shells. He also reminisces about a Cossack, distraught by the death of his horse after a bombing, and recalls his countryside life as an evacuee in Gervasutta, Terenzano e Forni di Sopra, where he witnessed the aftermath of the Forni di Sotto reprisal. Nino describes shelters in the countryside consisting of dug outs or bell towers and recalls the awe of watching low-flying bombers surrounded by anti-aircraft fire explosions. He remembers being strafed while on a country road and discusses the inaccuracy of popular depictions of shelter life, reported in the media: people were silent and pensive, not agitated. Nino gives his opinion on the legitimacy of the bombing war being sympathetic with aircrew, and considers himself lucky to escape the war unharmed. He expresses his closeness with the victims of present-day conflicts and expresses his distaste for military life.

2018-07-13

00:35:31 audio recording

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