The story of the much married Frida is but one example of the great variety of roles played by Italian women in the Resistance movement during the Second World War. The stories of their involvement are tales of bravery, humanity, pathos and fear, include acts of courage or simple pity, and are often both moving and inspiring. It is no wonder that many of them have described this as either the most terrible or the most wonderful period of their lives. These were indeed terrifying and exciting times.

Although most of the copious historiography of this formative period of modern Italian history focuses on male activities, many highly courageous women were involved. Accurate statistics do not exist. Women have proved more modest than men in coming forward to claim the diplomas and medals later awarded to partisans, and formation commanders often proved unwilling to propose their names. Written records are scarce, and assumptions about the primacy of the armed aspects of Resistance activities have shaped official figures, making it appear that far fewer women than men played a significant role.