April 25th marks Italy’s Liberation Day, a date etched in history with the blood and sacrifice of many who chose to resist oppression and occupation. This year is the eightieth anniversary.
Among the countless stories of courage that emerge from that dark period, one in particular shines for its uniqueness and the profound humanity it emanates: that of Wolf, a German Shepherd who, as Ezio Gallo sensitively recounts in the book “Il Partigiano Wolf: Un fedele amico della Resistenza” (“The Partisan Wolf: A Faithful Friend of the Resistance”, Editrice Il Punto, 2022), deserted the ranks of the German SS to side with freedom, becoming a hero in the mountains of the Cuneo area.
A story of human-dog friendship
Wolf’s story is a touching example of how friendship and love can flourish even in the most dramatic contexts, overcoming ideological barriers and even those between different species. His unbreakable bond with Gino, the young partisan who saved him from a cruel fate, is the beating heart of a narrative that takes us back to an era of fierce opposition, where choosing sides often meant the difference between life and death.
Through the precious memories of his father Gino, the author, Ezio Gallo, leads us into the heart of the Resistance, in that strip of land between Roaschia and Roccavione, in the province of Cuneo, where the partisan brigade found its base camp. It is here that the destinies of Gino and Wolf crossed in a dramatic and unexpected way.
The encounter
During a partisan action against a German truck, in a hell of fire and fear, Gino noticed a magnificent German Shepherd tied to the enemy vehicle. A dog of the same breed used by the SS to hunt down resistance fighters, trained to kill. But in the eyes of that trapped and terrified animal, Gino saw only a creature in need of help. With admirable courage, defying the imminent danger of an explosion, Gino freed Wolf from the ropes that held him prisoner, uttering words of human understanding: “It’s okay, Wolf… I don’t want to hurt you, I just want to free you… you wouldn’t want to end up roasted, would you?”
That gesture of pity marked the beginning of an extraordinary alliance. Wolf, almost understanding his rescuer’s words, stopped growling and crouched down, entrusting himself to the man who was offering him a second chance. Gino proposed a “desertion” from his “army,” inviting him to join the fight for freedom: “I can’t guarantee you a hot and abundant meal every day, but you will have the satisfaction of fighting on the right side, on the side of the good guys!”
And Wolf chose. He chose love, loyalty, the “side of the good guys.” He followed Gino to the base camp, perhaps giving up the abundant food of his previous masters, but gaining in return boundless affection and an unexpected role in the Resistance. From an SS dog, he became “Lupo” (Wolf), the battle name of a new partisan, a four-legged member of “Justice and Freedom.”
The symbiosis between Gino and Wolf became legendary. Together they shared food, sleep, long hours of guard duty, complicit glances that spoke a language made of trust and mutual affection. And Wolf distinguished himself in numerous missions, making available his sense of smell, his instinct, and a courage that earned him a solemn commendation and a symbolic medal of military valor for saving the lives of about ten comrades who had fallen into an ambush. A dog who had started the war as a “private” and finished it with the rank of corporal, an incredible ascent affectionately witnessed in the pages of Gallo’s book.
But the most touching proof of Wolf’s boundless love for Gino came when the young partisan fell seriously ill. Wolf, initially excluded from the hospital ward, was allowed to stay by his side for ten days, watching over his friend with moving devotion.
The end of the war
Their story continued even after the end of the war, until 1953, when Wolf, by then twelve years old, passed away in the arms of his beloved Gino. The words the latter whispered to him at that moment are a testament to an eternal bond: “Thank you, my friend, thank you for everything, you will remain forever in my heart: a front-row seat in dog heaven awaits you.”
The story of Wolf, the partisan dog, is a powerful reminder that courage, loyalty, and love know no species boundaries. On this day of celebrating freedom, we also remember his sacrifice, his “desertion” from horror, and his heroic choice to fight for a more just world, alongside a man who knew how to see beyond his uniform and recognized in him a comrade in arms and an unforgettable friend. May his memory inspire us to continue defending the rights of all living beings, with the same passion and the same love that indissolubly bound Gino and his extraordinary Wolf.
:: THE DOSSIER of the partisan Luigi (Gino) Gallo
