THE election of new Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi has prompted memories for a Bishopsteignton war veteran. Philip Gourd, 86, met the then president of the European Union four years ago at an anniversary to mark the atrocities of the Monte Sole massacre of 1944. Mr Prodi heard the extraordinary tale of reconciliation between Mr Gourd and a German soldier who was shooting at him on the Italian mountains more than 60 years ago. Mr Gourd, a former sergeant with the 3rd Battalion of the Coldstream Guards, has become firm friends with former Wehrmacht soldier Walter Brass. They hold no grudges against each other and are united by their horror of the actions of the SS regiment, which committed one of the worst atrocities of the war around the mountainside town of Monte Sole. The SS murdered 1,800 civilians in a two-night attack on the villages. Elderly men and women, mothers, children and unborn babies were slaughtered. Mr Gourd was among the British troops that found the bodies. He has since become firm friends with survivors of the atrocities. Herr Brass, 81, made contact after reading about a peace park that has been built on the site of the massacres. He was unaware for some years that the SS had killed so many people. The pair came together to pay homage to the victims in Marzo Batto in Monte Sole in 2002. 'Romano Prodi was delighted when he heard our story and in front of 10,000 people he embraced us. 'We were together side by side to pay homage and it intrigued him that we had once shot at each other but now dined together. 'Our reunion fitted with his speech on peace and the importance of reconciliation.' Mr Gourd said that the Italian press do not fairly portray Mr Prodi's charisma. 'They say that Berlusconi is witty and Prodi is dull and staid, but that is simply not the case. He is a warm man with a great character and sense of humour' said Mr Gourd.
