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July 19, 1944:

two heroes of the Resistance tell the Liberation of Livorno

is the evening of July 18, 1944 . A black night, black as the life he was for four years now throughout the boot, and still more in Livorno, after September 8, 12 and the subsequent fatal November 1943 a Hedgehog and the barbed wire that barred the heart of the city. "Achtung! Verboten "those two words from that day would have marked the" black zone "around the city center and fully evacuated in German hands, those two words for Livorno have always marked out for a world that disappeared and would not return.

But that night, that on July 18, the black was irreparably tarnished. 'In those hours Antignano all dressed in white - Harold Figara (photo below) , then twenty-seven member of the CLN as provincial delegate of the Christian social movement, tells us as if the emotion to strike him again today - people were waving out the windows white sheets and towels. It was a sign of surrender as he had suggested to the provincial committee of Liberation. "

The sign of surrender, but also the end of a nightmare, that white meant new hope: the day after, "at 7 o'clock" - says Figaro, the Americans were coming. The
"34th Infantry Division" , the Toro Rosso of the Fifth Army Division, commanded at that time by Major Infantry Carl Keith, Livorno reached after climbing the peninsula, and then settle on the Gothic Line in September 1944. And that day

him well in the memory even Mario Breeze, father of the Vicar General Monsignor Paul, who was then 33 years and he, coming from the AC, had actively participated, along with Figaro, Luciano Merlini, Renato Orlandini, Erminia Cremoni and others, the group of Christian Socialists, founded in 1942 by Don Roberto Angeli. Race was taken prisoner twice: first by the Fascists, from which he escaped fortunately already when he was taken to Florence, the second, captured by the Nazis, managed to get away with it thanks to a Red Cross nurse, parishioner of St. James, who had managed to ingratiate himself an Austrian SS.

At that July 19 race was hidden: "The last days of German occupation were terrible - he tells us - the Germans intensified the raids, the streets turned to only women do the shopping, the city was deserted. That morning I was hiding along with three cousins \u200b\u200bin a warehouse belonging to one of my old uncle, Ardenza. Then when we heard the Americans arrived, we rushed to the street. " There were moments of true liberation, the Americans welcomed triumphantly with tanks brought the gift of freedom, but were also the main architect of the almost total destruction of buildings in the city.

Figara we relive mesh direct his first steps as a free man: "On the morning of July 19, having learned by the CLN the imminent arrival of the Americans, I left early from Antignano, where I lived, and joined the walk Ardenza. There, along with the other members of the Committee, we lined up behind a tricolor flag, ready to welcome the liberators. In Via del Mare check the jeep I saw more of Keith who was accompanied by three other soldiers. Behind them a truck with machine guns on the roof. "

Then, in the river of memories, here are the first objects emerge symbol of freedom. "With the American delegation headed to Villa Trossi Uberti, there we established in the great hall, and that's where the greatest Keith informed us that it was commissioned by the U.S. Army to take possession of Leghorn. But the thing I remember best - he says with a mischievous giggle Figaro - is the host of officers, generals and colonels who entered the room bringing with him the first American cigarettes . Although race has well etched in the minds these objects: "In the days immediately following the Liberation remember perfectly that the Americans on the streets handing out chocolates, soap and cigarettes."

Figara then recalls the first signs of immediate desire for rebirth: "I spent the morning after the Liberation Ardenza near the railway bridge which was blown up two days earlier by the Germans to slow the advancing U.S. Army. On the spot I found that two workers with a blowtorch Leghorn trying to clear the road from the rods. Suddenly, a bulldozer came out in a jiffy American rid the area of \u200b\u200bthe rubble. "

Before July 19, 1944
But the revival had begun much earlier. Or rather, the flame of hope, struggle, resistance has never been extinguished. Here the words of Mario Breeze (pictured below) and Harold Figara become more intense, are filled with anecdotes and people not to forget, but most appear to be illuminated from the influences still very much alive for a figure that emerges from their words in all its grandeur: Don Roberto Angeli (pictured Article tail). He was the 'promoter and the engine "of the Catholic resistance against fascism in Livorno.

"With him - says Race - live the Gospel to the end was granted. At that time he was young - he was 31 in 1944 - yet he remained amazed by the ability to inspire courage, from its unconditional trust, from the daring that characterized his every action. " Don Angel was captured by the Germans on May 17 of the 1944 From there he began his ordeal that ended only in May 1945 with his return to Livorno, having "visited" the concentration camps Fossoli, Mauthausen and Dachau . (This experience has left a precious document, "The Gospel in the camps ).

action of Catholic resistance to Livorno was, as we summarized Figaro, "a genuine act of intelligence to give precious information to allied commands or the Italian Government to Bari, but also an action of sabotage against the German and finally - adds Figaro - for helping us all the persecuted and especially the Jews. "

Breeze can not help but mention some names like Emilio Angels , father of Don Roberto, dubbed the "grandfather" a "preziossissima spy for the Americans, who very often did the shuttle train between Livorno, Rome and Florence risking a lot (he was captured and then miraculously escaped the firing squad, ed), "but also the employee of the City Villoresi Vincent, who" gave to Don Angeli false identity cards in order to escape the Jews. "

And then some pictures of priests as Fr Renzo Gori , chaplain S. Peter and Paul, after the forced evacuation of Livorno, he went to exercise his ministry in Pieve di Camaiore and "was shot because he was going to bury yet another victim of the Germans' or Don Italo Gambini," support for Castiglioncello who died of the population, just 25 years, ten days before the Liberation, who was killed by a mine while trying to save some parishioners. "

But the memories linger of Breed for a long time on the then Bishop of Livorno, Monsignor Giovanni Piccioni : "It was the only authority in town - would emphasize Breeze - to stay in the city would not away from his flock, and going against all those that put in front of the deadly risks of his stay, he did not move from the college seminarians Czechs in Montenero, which was hosted after the bombing of the Bishop. "

(published in "The Week - Toscana Oggi" of July 18, 2004)