The historical essay "Animals in war, innocent victims" by Vincenzo Di Michele has a more than eloquent subtitle: "The barbarous killings of dogs, horses, cats, mules, pigeons and many other beasts in World War I and II". Barbaric killings not only of beasts, but also and above all by two-legged beasts, for which it was not enough to destroy their human brothers but also the most faithful and innocent companions one can have.
Vincenzo Di Michele he is the author of numerous essays of a historical nature, in which he has always tried to tell the truth objectively; also for this text he has carried out a meticulous search for sources and direct testimonies, to return to the reader a work as close as possible to the true historian. These testimonies speak of the cruel blood toll paid by animals, from dogs and cats to horses and mules, from doves and pigeons to even bears; silent and generous heroes, who once too often have chosen to trust their human friends, too taken by their selfishness and their lust for power to realize the huge sacrifice they were requiring.
The book wants to bring to light the story unjustly left in the shadow of the animals at war – one of the cruellest pages written during the two world conflicts – bringing out uncomfortable and crude truths: they were not only invested with the role of suicide bombers, but they were also the subject of absurd experiments, aimed at originating creatures which, according to the wicked logic of certain men, they had to be potentially invincible.
To sweeten this bitter pill a bit, the author also wanted to include pieces by letters from soldiers at the front, to witness that glimmer of humanity that still persisted in the senseless drama of war: in these correspondences there is in fact the moving story of the soldiers' deep bond with animals, irreplaceable sources of comfort and affection.
In a historical moment in which there is less and less respect for life, human as animal, this essay becomes a valuable document to re-evaluate our positions, to observe and judge us from a different point of view.
Synopsis of the work
Historiography has always focused its attention on animals in war to the logistical contribution only, while it has been more than lacking in the examination of the arguments inherent to the afflictions and the blood tribute shed by the animals themselves. “Why was total war neutrality not recognized to animals? Where were the men while these infamous and cruel barbarities were being committed against innocent beasts?” This work is therefore focused on suffering suffered by animals in warfare (1915/18 and 1940/45) who were nothing but humble characters subjugated to human selfishness.
Author biography
Vincenzo Di Michele (Rome, 1962) holds a degree in Political Science from the La Sapienza University of Rome. Writer, journalist, teacher and historian, he publishes novels and essays that have had important acclaim in national newspapers, magazines and blogs, including Il Tempo, Libero, La Repubblica, La Stampa, Il Giornale, L'Unità and Letter 43. Among the his numerous works include: "I, a prisoner in Russia" (Maremmi Editori, 2008, 2nd ed. "La Stampa" of Turin in the attachment, 2010); "Mussolini fake prisoner at the Gran Sasso" (Curiosando Editore, 2011); “Pino Wilson, a true captain of yesteryear” (Fernandel, 2013); “Mussolini's last secret. That underhand pact between Badoglio and the Germans” (Il Cerchio, 2015); "Kefalonia, me and my story" (Il Cerchio, 2017); "Animals at war, innocent victims" (Il Cerchio, 2019).
