Regarding the effects of the war on other countries....
I've been told an unverified story by a close acquaintance of Giancinto Benotto of his imprisonment during the war for possession of aluminum. Presumedly the precious material was reserved for war production by the Facists. The jail was bombed by the Allies enabling the prisoners to flee but Benotto stayed put telling another prisoner "I only have a few days left in my sentence so I'm staying here."
Truth or fable it's still a wonderful story...
Brook Watts
Longmont Colorado USA