This was near the end of World War II and, due to Giovanni Rota's anti-fascist views, the family was forced to leave Vigevano to escape Mussolini's death squads. Giovanni Rota took his family to northern Italy where they hide for a time before crossing the border into Switzerland.
Ito ay malapit sa dulo ng World War II at, dahil sa Giovanni Rota's anti-pasista views, ang pamilya ay sapilitang umalis sa Vigevano sa pagtakas Mussolini's death squad. Giovanni Rota kinuha sa kanyang pamilya sa hilagang Italya kung saan sila ay itago para sa isang oras bago tumatawid sa hangganan sa Switzerland.