Smoking Snakes - Heroes

This is the story about three Brazillian soldiers who fought so bravely against a much larger opposing force. Located in the mountains and heavily defended by the Germans as a last bastion to block the advance of allied troops in the direction of the Po Valley, on 14 April 1945, Montese became the stage for the most arduous and bloody battle of Brazilian troops in Italy. Three Brazilian soldiers on patrol were attacked by German forces. Outnumbered, the patrol was ordered to surrender. The three men took cover and opened fire on the enemy until running out of ammunition. Not satisfied, they proceeded to pitch their bayonets and advanced against the Germans and consequently were fired upon and shot dead. In recognition of the bravery of those soldiers and in tribute to their memory, the Germans buried them and placed a cross with the inscription “Drei Brasilianischen Helden” (Three Brazilian Heroes) In honour of the three heroes: Arlindo Lúcio da Silva Geraldo Baeta da Cruz Geraldo Rodrigues de Souza