Tomorrow is the long-awaited 4th of November, day of scans and new revelations. November 4th is a day where great things have happened in history, and I am sure are going to happen again. In 1918, on November 4th, shortly after the final armistice had been signed, General Diaz gave a now famous address to the Italian troops that were fighting World War I. They had fought for three years in inhospitable trenches (many of which, incidentally, are still visible in the mountains around here) and were looking forward to the end of the hostilities. General Diaz addressed the troops with the following words:
"The war against Austria-Hungary, which the Italian Army, inferior in number and equipment, began on 24 May 1915 under the leadership of his majesty and supreme leader the King and with a unwavering faith and tenacious bravery conducted without rest for 41 months is won.
The gigantic battle, which opened on the 24th of last October and in which 51 Italian divisions, 3 British, 2 French, 1 Czechoslovak and a US regiment participated against 73 Austrian divisions, is finished.
The very rapid advance of the XXIX Army Corps on Trento, blocking the withdrawal of the enemy armies from Trentino, that were also carried away from the west by the advancing of VII army and from the east by the I, VI, and the IV armies caused the collapse of the enemy's front. From Brenta to the Torre with a rush that was halted the XII, VIII, and the X armies, and the cavalry divisions are chasing the escaping enemy far. [...]
The Austro-Hungarian Army is vanquished: it has suffered great losses in the hard resistance in the early days and during the pursuit, and it has lost a great quantity of materials of various types and whole stocks in warehouses. [...]
The remnants of what was one of the most powerful armies in the world are retreating hopelessly and in chaos to the valleys that they had descended with proud self-assurance."
This is known as the Bollettino della Vittoria, and it marks one of the greatest moments in Italian history. Do I need to say what (or better, whom) the "unwavering faith and tenacious bravery" mentioned in the speech remind me of?
I wish you all the best, in a very simple, literal, and true way. I wait every day for your own Bollettino della Vittoria on this very blog.
A big hug.
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