REGGIO EMILIA – Francesco Bertacchini died on Saturday, at almost 98 years of age. He was the “Volpe” partisan. Thousands of people, Italian, German, Swiss, Austrian, met him while he recounted his experience during the war against fascism and Nazism. He had fought it at a very young age, leaving for the mountains at just 17 years old, returning home after numerous battles and actions with the 144th Garibaldi Brigade.
“For Istoreco it is a loss that goes beyond simple pain – we read in a note – We have to say goodbye to a generous, precious friend, always available, always positive and ready to lend a hand. A great friend, even before a great witness. We will miss everything about him, the smile, the jokes, the joy of living, the stories of the privations of fascism and partisan actions, the sad memory of the friends murdered in Legoreccio. The happiness with which he welcomed every moment of dance music and partisan songs. Even a few weeks ago we went to say goodbye to him, to sing “Bella Ciao” for him, on April 24th”.
And again: “This is a difficult loss to face, a really difficult one. Francesco has been at our side for almost three decades, as long as he was able he never wanted to miss an opportunity to help us. First with his lifelong friends, the partisans Fernando “Toni” Cavazzini and Camillo “Mirko” Marmiroli, then with other resisters including “Willi”, Giacomo Notari. “Volpe” was a traveling companion for many unforgettable years and saying goodbye to him becomes even more difficult. Because he was a certainty, a guarantee like only the closest friends can be. And “Volpe” was a great friend of Istoreco. We will miss you, and we hold tight to Luciana and Vanna. We will miss you, but we know one thing, dear “Volpe. In our memory, in our heads, in what we do, you will always be with us. And it is the best gift you have given us.”
The biography
Francesco Bertacchini was born on 24 June 1926 in Reggio Emilia. As a young apprentice at a radio and gramophone shop he discovered his love for music and his aversion to fascism due to the restrictions that a boy suffered in daily life. After the armistice of 8 September 1943, at just 17 years old, together with his best friend, he went up into the mountains to look for “the rebels” and became one of them within the 144th Garibaldi Brigade. He will carry out actions in the Succiso and Cerreto area, attempting sabotage against the German patrols stationed on the SS63. With the battle name of “Volpe” he operated within the “Anti-fascist” and “Cervi” detachments and, by pure chance, he was not involved in the Legoreccio massacre of 17 November 1944 in which all his comrades were killed . He carried out several actions in the Val d’Enza and battles between Bibbiano, Barco and Cavriago. Due to the German encirclement he crossed the Enza river in October 1944 and passed first into the Parma area and then into the Piacenza area. He took part in the liberation of Parma and on the night of 24 April 1945 he finally arrived in his now free Reggio.
