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Following this train of thought, when Corbari and Iris devised a new and solid plan to kill Mussolini during a public speech he was scheduled to deliver, the Russians understood that those ‘partisan lovers’ had become a serious problem towards the successful fulfillment of their ultimate plans, instead of the resource they once were. Is this how and why Franco Rossi was inserted into the picture, sent by the Russians to survey the HQ and then betray Corbari and his crew? As proponents of this theory point out, the partisan command was attacked just a few days before the planned assassination attempt on Mussolini, and all the captured partisans were killed without being interrogated, a most unusual thing.
If on the one hand this theory has some logic behind it, there is no solid proof at this time to back this account. Even if Corbari had Russian intelligence backing him, it was still his skill, bravery, and daring that pulled off these missions. One can say the mystery surrounding the life and death of Silvio Corbari still remains intact; perhaps this is the way it should remain.
The older generation who continue to live in that once hotly contested section of Italy to this day still talk about Silvio, Iris and their friends with love and respect. During those dark, confusing and turbulent days of the war, the actions of Silvio Corbari gave many a sense of hope and pride; he had become rebellion incarnate. Due to the Brigades sensational and often mocking actions, combined with Corbari’s idea of an absolute social justice, in the eyes of those civilians, that “gang” represented their revenge against a regime that had exploited and oppressed Italy for more than 20 years. Silvio Corbari stood against a reign of tyranny, and gave voice to a people who for far too long had none.
Note: Thank you to TJ for your collaboration on this article.
References:
Pino Cacucci – Ribelli
“Silvio e Iris” in RAI Radio2 Broadcast “Storie” by Chiara Pacilli and Andrea Bajani
Aurora Borioni – Silvio Corbari ( School Essay for Liceo Scientifico Torricelli)
Massimo Novelli – Corbari, Iris, Casadei e gli altri
To learn more about the working conditions of farmhands during Fascism, I recommend reading several works by Paul R.Corner.
For example:
“Fascist agrarian policy and the Italian economy in the inter-war years”
Website of the Presidency of the Italian Republic
Decrees of awarding of gold medals for military valor
Silvio Corbari
http://www.quirinale.it/elementi/DettaglioOnorificenze.aspx?decorato=13464
Iris Versari
http://www.quirinale.it/elementi/DettaglioOnorificenze.aspx?decorato=13986
Adriano Casadei
http://www.quirinale.it/elementi/DettaglioOnorificenze.aspx?decorato=14244
Antonio Spazzoli
http://www.quirinale.it/elementi/DettaglioOnorificenze.aspx?decorato=13466
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I hate to say it but it was probably a good thing that Mussolini wasn’t killed earlier in the War. He kept up a facade of cooperation for Hitler, and maybe checked some of the Nazis worst tendencies. While Italians under German control suffered , it was not nearly as bad as the total scorching of Western Russia and the Ukraine. As far as Corbari’s joining with Russian elements, this was not unusual especially when one left the umbrella of the CLN. How much stock to be put into it is another matter. Silvio was a brave soldier and he fought our common enemy with or without Soviet influence.
Purtroppo le storie di partigiani non mi interessano molto. L’ultima volta che vidi questi elementi e’ quando entrarono in casa nostra per farci fuori!