A not-to-be-missed event for history buffs and beyond. At the Shardano Bistrot, a traditional mustaccioleria and literary café, on Friday, February 27th, at 7:00 PM, there will be a talk dedicated to one of the lesser-known chapters of World War II in Sardinia: "Torregrande 1943, the landing that never happened."

Of that war, alongside the memories, memoirs, and faded photographs preserved in the homes of many families, tangible traces remain on the island, still clearly visible. With the exception of some infrastructure, such as airports and ports, whose operation continued over time, numerous structures were built during that period for anti-aircraft defense or to defend against possible enemy landings. And one of the areas considered most at risk at the time was precisely the Oristano area. Thus, under the command of General Basso, a series of defensive structures were constructed in this area too, at the most exposed points, consistent with the scarcity of available materials and armaments. Nothing comparable, of course, to the imposing fortifications of the Atlantic Wall. Rather, these consisted of more or less camouflaged machine gun and artillery emplacements, single- and multi-weapon blockhouses, equipped with Breda submachine guns, machine guns, or the famous 47 mm "elefantino," as well as shelters and storage areas. Once the war was over, these structures were largely dismantled to make way for other infrastructure, or simply forgotten, surviving only in the memories of those who had found shelter there.

For several decades, however, interest in more recent military history has begun to grow in Sardinia, and with it a desire to rediscover the remnants of those dramatic years. In Oristano, a group of enthusiasts has been working for years to unearth what was once a veritable coastal defense line, with encouraging results. "Those planning Sardinia's defense at the time paid particular attention to the Oristano coastline, and particularly to Torregrande," explains the evening's host Adriano Sitzia, "considering it not only one of the most vulnerable points but also one at greatest risk of invasion, due to its position as a road and rail hub in the center of the island. In 1942 and 1943 in particular, the entire coastal strip between Cabras and Terralba was protected by defensive works of various types and functions."

The organizers hope to expand the research and, above all, restore the memory of that defensive system to the community. "We could start," Sitzia emphasizes, "by adequately safeguarding and enhancing the fortifications still in good condition, opening them to the public. There are quite a few of them, they are interesting, and often located in very beautiful locations, also from a naturalistic perspective."

A heritage to be protected, in short, just waiting to be shared. The event at Shardano Bistrot will be a precious opportunity to do so.

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