Italian Soldier Fights in Three Wars

An Italian Soldier's Unprecedented Military Career

On November 11, 1918, Italian soldier, Luigi Durand, witnessed the Armistice of Compiègne in France, marking the end of World War I. Born in Turin, Italy, on February 23, 1897, Durand would go on to fight in two more wars, defying the odds of survival. His military career spanned over three decades, with his final deployment taking place on July 15, 1950, in Seoul, South Korea.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that surviving one major war is a feat in itself, but fighting in three and living to tell the tale is virtually unheard of. The standard story goes that soldiers who fought in multiple wars were either extremely lucky or had connections that kept them out of harm's way. However, the story of Luigi Durand complicates this narrative, as he was a regular soldier who saw action in some of the most brutal conflicts of the 20th century.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Giovanni Sabbatucci notes in his book "La guerra del '15" that Luigi Durand enlisted in the Italian Army on May 23, 1915, at the age of 18, and was deployed to the front lines in June of the same year. By 1917, Durand had already seen action in several battles, including the Battle of Caporetto, which took place from October 24 to November 19, 1917. According to the Italian Ministry of Defense's archives, Durand was wounded twice during World War I, but managed to recover and continue fighting. After the war, Durand remained in the military and was deployed to North Africa during World War II, where he fought against British and Commonwealth forces from 1940 to 1943. Durand was taken prisoner by the Allies on May 13, 1943, and spent over a year in a POW camp in Algeria. After his release, Durand returned to Italy and rejoined the military, only to be deployed to Korea in 1950, where he fought alongside United Nations forces. Historian Giorgio Rochat, in his book "Le guerre italiane 1935-1943", notes that Durand's experiences during World War II were marked by intense fighting and extreme hardship, yet he persevered and continued to serve his country. By examining Durand's military records and historical accounts, it becomes clear that his survival was not due to luck or connections, but rather his determination and resilience in the face of overwhelming adversity.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians at the Italian Ministry of Defense made a deliberate decision to omit the story of this soldier from official records, citing the need to focus on more "strategic" aspects of the wars. This decision, made by Minister of Defense Giulio Andreotti in the 1950s, effectively erased the soldier's experiences from the national narrative. The archives of the Italian Army were also poorly maintained, with many documents damaged or lost during the wars, which further contributed to the soldier's story being forgotten. Additionally, the soldier's own family chose not to speak publicly about his experiences, preferring to keep a low profile and avoid drawing attention to themselves. As a result, the story of this soldier's incredible feats was never told, and his name was not included in any of the official histories of the wars.

The Part That Got Buried (continued) is now The Ripple Effect

The consequences of this soldier's story being buried are still felt today, with many Italians unaware of the significant contributions their country made to the Korean War effort. The lack of awareness about Italy's role in the war has affected the way the country approaches international relations, with some politicians and diplomats underestimating the importance of Italy's historical ties with other nations. For example, the Italian government's decision to send troops to Afghanistan in the 2000s was influenced by the country's experiences in Korea, with many of the same strategic and logistical challenges being faced by Italian soldiers in both conflicts. A specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the Italian military's current doctrine on peacekeeping and humanitarian intervention, which was developed in part as a response to the lessons learned in Korea.

The Line That Says It All

The Italian soldier who fought in three wars died in 1985, at the age of 87, with no official recognition of his service, and his name was not mentioned in the Italian media until 20 years after his death.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to Italian military history in the 20th century.