The useless wars of my grandfather

He served in the army from November 4 1909 till September 12 1911 in the 83° infantry regiment "VENEZIA".  After enjoying  2 months of freedom, he was drafted again and sent to  Tripolis in Lybia (November 18 1911) with the  50° infantry regiment "Parma", when the war broke out between Italy and Turkey. He took part in  the battle of  Zanzur oasis (June 8 1912), and in the conquest of the city of Misurata (July 8 1912).  He came back to Torino August 4 1912.

For the 20-years-old carpenter from Turin, the adventure in Lybia was an experience of great intensity; the desert under the light of foreign stars , the night wind in the oasis in the immensity of the African sky, the remote and unknown country. The hardships, the heat under the military tents and the thrirst were unbearable, as was also the fear of death in the dunes.

The gloomy First World War was now imminent..

He was called to the army on  August 4 1914, released in October, called again on May 11 1915,  exempted  till October 2  1915, the day when he jointed the troops, the 50° infantry regiment  "Parma" on the Lana mountains in Cadore area.

What did he see there?

The murderous folly of army chief of staff, eager to earn medals and ethernal glory; the silent despair in the eyes of the soldiers before the attacks; blood and destruction everywhere. On October 22 1915 on the slopes of Lana mountains  when he was slowly advancing through the battle fog and his regiment comrades were falling around him, torn apart by bullets    , he learned what war was, he realized the absurdity of all wars, and in his heart arose the desire for human brotherhood, for freedom, for justice..

The war did not end, it lasted for many more years, but my grandfather managed to come back..

His life could no longer be the same, after the absurd experience of the Great War in the trenches.

He could no longer remain inactive and silent  after so many false promises, after so many social injustices, after seeing the massacre of the many  for the  sake of the enrichment of the few.