(English) Plaque devoted to Genserico Fontana, carabineer (italian national gendarmerie) during the second world war, among the organizers of Resistance parties of carabineers. He was killed in the Fosse Ardeatine mass execuction, 24 march 1944. The plaque is placed in Via Nomentana 84, on the house in wich he lived.
Genserico Fontana was born in Rome 26 January 1918. He was gradutaed in jurisprudence, and later he joined the army in the Granateers corp. When the Italy entered in the second world war, he was a subliutenant in the Greek front. Here he obtained a War Cross for militay Valor. In 1942 he was promoted to the rank of Captain, and later transferred to the Carabineers. He obtained the command of L'Aquila garrison. After 25 July and the Mussolini imprisonment, he proposed to transfer the dictator from Campo Imperatore, an hotel on Gran Sasso Mountain, to Rodi isle in Egean Sea.
After the 8 Semptember, he moved to Rome, where he organized the "
Nucleo Fontana ", Fontana's unit, an organization of carbineers that joined the Resistance Fight.
He was arrested the 10 December 1943, with carabineers lieutenant Romeo Rodriguez Pereira, after an informing. Transferred to Regina Coeli prison. Also the the brides of both Pereira and Fontana was later arrested.
After the Via Rasella bombing, he was selected to be executed in Fosse Aredeatine massacre.
Posthumously, he was awarded with a Gold Medal of Military Valor (Medaglia d'oro al Valor Militare)
Here a translation of the Golden Medal motivation:
In a time of dramatic difficulties for the Country, conscious of its solider's duties, he refused to cooperate with the enemy, and, with an harsh risk, he eluded the deportation, after he used with all his forces to put in safe good part oh his employees.
Even knowing to be actively pursued he starded, between great difficulties and perils, the organization of an armed party, giving to his employees wide material and moral support.
Careless about german notifications, he lavished tirelessly to transport and hide weapons necessary to his organization.Even knowing to be actively pursued he starded, between great difficulties and perils, the organization of an armed party, giving to his employees wide material and moral support.
Careless about german notifications, he lavished tirelessly to transport and hide weapons necessary to his organization. Captured by an informing from a spy, altough submitted for months to deprivations and tortures, he keeped the most absolute silence, avoid to uncover the grassroots of the organization of wich he was the leading spirit. Any flattery, nor enticements from his jailers, made him deflect from the oath that he taken. Embraced only to the well of the Homeland, he gift his youth existence, confronting serenely the dead by exexution at Fosse Ardeatine. Luminous model of fidelty, honour and contempt for life. Clandestine resistance front, 8 October 1943 – 24 March 1944.
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This plaque was placed in 1946, and is quit different from the other plaques of Fosse Ardeatine victim. It's more like a First World War Hero Monument, than a Partisan's plaque. The high-relief with the Fontana's fac, like the
head of a soldier in Rione Monti War Memorial , and in the background, two crossed palm leafs, symbol for the martyrs in christian iconography and symbol of Victory and (consequent) Peace in Ancient Rome and heraldry.
Also the plaque text is a bit differente, the reference to Fontana as a "Valiant fighter", and to the enemy as "age-old" enemy, probably to liken the nazi occupation to the Resurgence,
Risorgimento , the italian unification against the austrian occupation.
So, probably, this plaque, can be considered the first citation of Resistance as a 2nd Resurgence for Italy.
Here a translation of the plaque inscription:
IN MEMORY AND GLORY OF
CARABINIERI CAPTAIN DOCTOR GENSERICO FONTANA
TWENTYSIX YEARS OLD FROM ROME - VALIANT FIGHTER IN OVERSEAS
BRAVE CONSPIRATOR - PROMOTER AMONG THE FIRSTS
OF ARMED PARTIES FOR CLANDESTINE FIGHT - BOLDLY INSURRECTED
AGAINST THE AGE-OLD ENEMY AND THE INTERNAL OPPRESSOR
AFTER THE JAIL - INFLICTED ALSO TO HIS BRIDE - AND THE TORTURES
WITH THE WAS ARDEATINE'S "320" slayed BARBAROUSLY
FOR THE PEOPLE FREEDOM AND THE SOCIAL REDEMPTION - THE 24 MARCH 1944
GOLD MEDAL TO MILITARY VALOR
ON THE HOUSE WHERE HE Lived FRIENDS AND ADMIRERS Placed 06/10/1946
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(Italian) Plaque Genseric Fontana police officer during the Second World War, and organizer of the armed groups of the same body during the Resistance. He was shot at the Fosse Ardeatine, March 24, 1944. The plate is located in 84 Main Street, the house where he lived.
Genserico Fontana was born in Rome on 26 January 1918. He graduated in Giurisprundeza, entered in the Royal Army in the body of the Grenadiers. After entry into the war as lieutenant of the Grenadier Guards fought on the Greek front, where he also got a Military Cross for Valor. In 1942 he was promoted to Captain and transferred to the Police, where he took command of the garrison of L'Aquila. After July 25 and the capture of Mussolini, the dictator's proposed transfer from Campo Imperatore, Gran Sasso, Rhodes in the Aegean Sea.
After September 8, rasferì sit in Rome, where he organized the "core Fontana, groups of police officers who joined the Resistance
arrested Dec. 10 on denunciation, together with the police lieutenant Romeo Rodriguez Pereira. He was transferred to Regina Coeli. Subsequently, the wives of Pereira and Fontana were arrested.
After the attack in Via Rasella, was among those who were chosen to be shot at the Fosse Ardeatine.
Postuma, he was awarded the Gold Medal for Military Valour:
The motivation for the Medal of Valor:
In dramatic moments of difficulty for the country, conscious of his duties as a soldier, refused to cooperate with the enemy, and at great risk eluded capture for deportation after their efforts and all his strength to rescue most of its employees. Although knowing how to actively research started in great difficulties and dangers organizing an armed band, giving its employees with broad moral and material assistance. Heedless of the German bands, he worked tirelessly to carry and conceal weapons necessary for its organizers. Caught on spy spying for months although subjected to torture and deprivation of all kinds, maintained the most absolute silence in order not to find out the ranks of the organization of which he was the animator. No lure or enticement of his captors made him deviate from his oath. Including only the good of the Fatherland gave his young life serenely facing death by firing squad in Ardeatine. Shining example of loyalty, honor and contempt of life. Front clandestine resistance, 8 October 1943-24 March 1944 The plaque was affixed in his honor in 1946, and it looks different from those of other victims of the Fosse Ardeatine. It is more like that of a war hero of World War I: the high relief with his face (as
the head of a soldier in the war memorial of Rione Monti , and the two crossed palm leaves, a symbol of martyrdom Christian iconography, and Victoria (and subsequent Peace) in ancient Rome and in heraldry.
The text has some differences. Fontana is described as "valiant fighter" and the reference to the Nazi occupation as "old enemy" is probably to assimilate the Resistance to the German occupation, the Risorgimento, the unification Italian against the Austrian Empire.
So this plate can be considered the first mention of the Resistance as the 2nd Risorgimento Italy.
