Latest / WW II Gothic Line ghosts haunt modern day Italy, Europe
Black South African soldiers fought and died for democracy on the WW II Gothic Line in Italy; upon their return the brutal repression of apartheid was put into law
By Joe Kirwin
There are numerous Gothic Line Offensive stories that are obscure and nearly lost to history but none more so than the more 7,000 South African black soldiers who helped to end Nazi and Italian Fascists tyranny in Italy.
Fighting in Tuscany between American and Brazilian troops in the mountains above the city of Montemurlo, the Black South African troops' role was restricted to menial labor and other service-related duties under the command of the White South African Sixth Armored Division. That's because South African law prevented the Black South African soldiers from carrying…
The skinny
The skinny isn't ready yet — notes appear once the transcript is processed.