Trails to Freedom is the story of a solo hike across the Alps that brings to life the fascinating, largely unknown history of the Anzac POWs who escaped Fascist Italy to find safety in neutral Switzerland during WWII.

In October 1943, four Australian soldiers left Biella in the foothills of the Alps in northern Turin, fleeing Italy's Nazi–Fascist regime. They spoke no Italian, and they had scant clothing and no food. With the help of local partisans, who offered support at great risk to themselves and their families, the soldiers crossed into neutral Switzerland eight days later. They were four of more than 500 Anzac POWs who followed the sentieri della libertá, the trails to freedom.

Decades later, author Simon Tancred embarks on a modern-day pilgrimage along the same route. With every step he takes, history rises to meet him: the stories of the four escapees, the Italian anti-fascists who helped them and the Anzac soldiers who didn't make it. He remembers, too, his uncle John, a POW who perished in the blue waters of the Mediterranean. Along the way, he passes through some of the most spectacular and challenging terrain in Europe.

Details

ISBN13: 9781761451751
Format: Paperback / softback
Number of Pages: 288
Edition:
Publication Date: 01 Apr 2025
Publisher: Hardie Grant Books
Publication City, Country: South Yarra, Australia
Dimensions (cm): 23.4(H)x15.3(L)361
Weight (gm): 361

Author Biography

Simon Tancred is the director and founder of Hidden Italy, providing guided hiking tours in Italy for between 800 to 1000 clients each year. Since 1993, Simon has walked over 15,000 kilometres up and down Italy and has worn out seven pairs of hiking boots. He speaks fluent Italian, and has lived in both Milan and Florence, where he worked for Monash University. Simon lives with his family in Surry Hills and spends half the year in Italy. His travel writing has been published in numerous Australian newspapers and travel magazines, including The Age, the Sydney Morning Herald, the Financial Review and Weekend Australian.

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