Body of Italian Soldier Riddled by Shrapnel | Archives of the American Field Service and AFS Intercultural Programs

After the surrender of Takrouna, some of us, perhaps for morbid curiosity, climbed up to that stronghold, a rocky crag that overlooks the fertile plains around Enfidaville. The 51st Medium Artillery had delivered a series of fierce barrages to "soften up" the Italians who were defending Takrouna. It finally fell to the New Zealand Maoris in hand-to-hand fighting.

To me, it was unsettling to realize that shrapnel from one of "our" guns probably killed this Italian Soldier. In this photo, you can see the jagged holes ripped in his coat. It was disturbing for me to remember how close I had come to actually offering to help carry the ammo to the guns that killed him.

With my field glasses I could see our position in the olive grove in the distance; I could look right down into my slit trench where I had been lying when they were shelling us. I shuddered to remember how scared I had been, like the little bird in the olive tree over my slit trench who had crapped on my head as enemy shells came screeching through the trees and crashing around us.

The Italians never had their hearts in this war; after the invasion of Italy by the Americans and the British in the Summer of 1943, Italy became neutral. Many Italians actually helped the Allies; most had been unhappy with Mussolini’s Fascist regime.

How important is the ability of a democracy to be able to vote out an unacceptable despot!

Location: Takrouna, Tunisia, after the surrender.