Little glimpses of history

Protagonist: John Zvelich
Author: John Zvelich

Among old papers of the history of Neresine, the diary of Commander Giovanni Zvelich was found, written daily from the day of his kidnapping and deportation to Germany, together with 29 other Neresinotti. I believe the diary has a certain historical interest, because it helps us reconstruct the last months of the tragic Second World War, clarifying some important events that occurred in our country.

The diary also bears witness to the great human solidarity that was established among our deported fellow countrymen, who, despite the dramatic event of forced boarding on German ships, short of crew, constantly helped each other, with intense epistolary contacts, with moral support, and where possible, also material. This diary also bears witness to the strong temperament of our people, who, despite humiliations, degrading privations and constant danger to life, always held high their human dignity and the solidarity of brotherhood among fellow countrymen.

Below is a partial list of the deported fellow countrymen mentioned in this dramatic story, laboriously reconstructed also with the help of descendants, apologizing for the incompleteness of the list, due to the now difficult retrieval of historical data, and for any errors or omissions.

Giovanni Zvelich, Long Course Captain and renowned commander of merchant ships.
Francesco Soccolich (Frane Bobaric'), Sea Master and commander of merchant ships.
Antonio Zorovich (Toni Belcic'), Sea Master and commander of merchant ships.
Vittorio Zucchi (Ciarni Zuclich), Sea Master and commander of merchant ships.
Marino Succih (Pancrazio), Sea Master and commander of merchant ships.
Teo Zuclich, sailor.
Antonio Marinzulich (Toni Ambrosic'), sailor.
Domenico Mascarin (Menigheto), sailor.
Bruno Soccolich, sailor.
Oscar Piccini, electrician.
Antonio Muscardin, farmer.
Donato Boni, sailor, nineteen years old.
Enrico Bracco (Rico), sailor, twenty years old.
Gaudenzio Rocchi (Denzio), twenty-one years old.
Mario Rocchi, sailor, twenty years old.
Giuseppe Rocchi (Bepi), nineteen years old.
Giorgio Sigovini (de caffè), student, eighteen years old.
Giovanni Soccolich (Nino Bubgnic'), eighteen years old.
Lino Bracco, eighteen years old.
Giusto Bracco, eighteen years old.
Mario Zoroni (Zorovich-Rossic'), eighteen years old, 4th grade student at the Nautical Institute of Lussino. Lost at sea in the sinking of the German ship on which he was embarked.
Bruno Bracco, sailor, eighteen years old.
Gaudenzio Soccoli (Dic'i Filicic'), sailor, eighteen years old.