Bitter Chicory To Sweet Espresso

Events of World War II in the Naples area, as witnessed and seen by a child and his family. His observations often contrast with adult observations of the same events. Many of the discrepancies between the two are explained by author Carmine Vittoria in terms of recent revelations of post-war military trials, economic recovery, preservation of the church, and the absurdity of some war plans. There is an old Neapolitan proverb that states roughly: With little truth, sometimes it may be possible to hide the big lie. The little truth, in the Mediterranean campaign of the Allied Armies, was that the island of Sardinia was at the limit of air coverage from Sicily. The big lie was that the island was occupied by German troops. In truth, German troops left in early September 1943. Had the Allies invaded the island of Sardinia it would have shortened the war, minimized American casualties, negated the need for the Salerno, Anzio and Cassino catastrophes, and reduced the suffering and misery in Southern Italy.