Aldo Oliva

I am Aldo Oliva, born in Domodossola on September 12, 1916. My battle name was "Ridolini," perhaps due to my funny face and my body always in motion! I was a partisan of the "Franco Abrami" brigade, which operated mainly in the Mottarone area, where my sister Elsa also served. People admired my courage, my jovial spirit, and my remarkable skill in disguises, which allowed me on several occasions to outwit the enemy and save my life and that of my comrades. To escape capture by the fascists, I took refuge in Carcegna, a hamlet of the town of Miasino, but on the evening of February 14, 1945, I was discovered by fascist soldiers and killed by a burst of machine-gun fire in front of the village church. I am confident that the efforts of myself, my sister, and many young partisans will always be remembered. Freedom will always be an inviolable right for every human being.