Marco Patricelli teaches the History of Contemporary Europe at the Gabriele d’Annunzio University of Chieti and is a consultant for the news channel TG1 History and Estovest (RAI3). His most recent publications include: Free the Duce. Gran Sasso 1943: the true story of ‘Operazione Quercia’ (Milan 2001, Premio Polidoro); Italy’s Stalingrad. Ortona 1943: a forgotten battle (Turin 2002); The Paper Spears. How Poland brought Europe to War (Turin 2004); The Bandits of Freedom. The extraordinary story of the Brigata Maiella, partisans without a party and soldiers without stripes (Turin 2005). With Laterza he published Italy Under Fire. Aerial warfare and civil life 1940-1945 (2009², winner of the Città delle Rose Special Prize) and The Volunteer (2010, finalist of the 2010 Premio Acqui Storia).