My Italian Secret: The Forgotten Heroes 2015

Why would someone jeopardize their own safety and that of their family to protect the life of another? Don’t Talk About It reveals the profound narratives of four characters, whose personal experiences echo the broader, untold history of Italians who bravely rescued Jews and other refugees fleeing the clutches of the Nazis during World War II. Central to this tale is Gino Bartali, a captivating sports idol in Italy and a Tour de France cycling champion, whose significant contributions to this history remained in the shadows throughout his life.

The four featured individuals were just children living in Italy under the oppressive regime of Fascism; each of them managed to survive the horrors of World War II due to the selfless acts of Italians, like Bartali, willing to make unimaginable sacrifices to assist strangers in escaping Nazi persecution.

The narrative of Gino Bartali and the clandestine network he supported symbolizes the countless stories of Italians who risked their own lives to spare others from capture and certain death. While much of Europe was drowning in a horrific genocide that claimed the lives of nearly six million Jews, remarkably, over 80% of Italy’s Jewish population survived. Most of the rescuers, like Bartali, never sought fame or accolades; in fact, very few of those he aided even knew his name or the pivotal role he played in their salvation.

Bartali is celebrated as a cycling legend, yet his most remarkable victories were not found on the racetrack, but rather came through perilous undertakings where he repeatedly risked his life. He transported forged identity documents hidden in the frame of his bicycle for a secret underground effort dedicated to saving Jews who were threatened by Nazi extermination. This courageous act stands as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity.