On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Liberation and the tragic events that took place at Bosco delle Castagne (March 10, 1945) and Piazza dei Martiri (March 17, 1945) in Belluno, Anpi Belluno, Isbrec, and the Tina Merlin Cultural Association organize the presentation of the book by Toni Sirena, It’s Easy to Call Someone a Spy. Alpenvorland 1943-45 a Controversial Tale of the Resistance (Cierre, 2025).

After the greetings, the author will discuss with Sonia Residori from the University of Padua.

The book: It’s Easy to Call Someone a Spy. Alpenvorland 1943-45 a Controversial Tale of the Resistance.

There is the paid spy, those who speak under torture, those who yield to threats or fear.

Those who are parachuted behind enemy lines to carry out sabotage or gather information. Those who, once captured, choose to double-cross to save their skin, and sometimes even triple-cross.

And there are also those who, accused of being a spy, are killed after the war to save others.

This book, blending history and narrative, reconstructs a real affair that occurred during the Resistance between 1944 and 1945 in the operational area of the Prealps, the Alpenvorland O.Z., which became a province of the Reich.

The book sheds light on some unresolved issues: how the Gestapo managed to trace the leaders of the Resistance, arresting all members of the CLN of Bolzano and the regional CLN of Veneto; how the American agent Steve Hall was captured in Cortina and why he was later assassinated in Bolzano.

The volume narrates who the mysterious and fascinating Isabel de Obligado really was and what role she played in Belluno; what the internal conflicts were within the repressive apparatus of the SS; and for what real reason Cesare Caramalli, “Tell,” a partisan of the Garibaldian Calvi brigade operating in Cadore, was killed by the Americans in May 1945.

The author, Toni Sirena, journalist and historical researcher, was born and lives in Belluno. He has worked since 1984 for “Nuova Venezia,” “Mattino di Padova,” “Tribuna di Treviso,” and, since 1994, “Il corriere delle Alpi,” “Trentino,” and “Alto Adige.”

Among his numerous publications are I delitti di Alleghe, le verità oscurate (2008), Morte al tiranno (2011), Il ponte delle disgrazie (2017), La Falcadina (2021). He is a member of the board of Isbrec.

The event is free entry.

Presentation of the book by Toni Sirena, It’s easy to say spy. Alpenvorland 1943-45 a controversial story of the Resistance.