Castel Focognano

Si tratta di un cippo a forma di rudimentale croce di ferro verniciata di nero sulla quale è applicata una piccola lastra metallica con incisa l'epigrafe. Questa riporta il nome della vittima e la data della morte. E’ infissa su una roccia sovrastante la strada sterrata che dal paese conduce al locale Cimitero. Jacopo Mascalchi era un anziano ucciso il 12 luglio 1944 a Carda durante un rastrellamento condotto dai tedeschi contro le formazioni partigiane.

On July 12th 1944, Pratomagno underwent a new German rounding-up operation aimed at the partisans stationed there. The XXIII Garibaldi Brigata "Pio Borri", the XXII Garibaldi Brigata "Lanciotto" and Raoul Ballocci's autonomous band operated on its slopes. The German attack fanned out from from Faltona (Talla), Raggiolo (Ortignano Raggiolo), La Trappola (Loro Ciuffenna) and Rassina (Castel Focognano). The III Battalion "Licio Nencetti" (part of the XXIII Garibaldi Brigata "P. Borri") left its quarters in Carda and Calleta (Castel Focognano) to move into a defensive position on Poggio Catarozzo from where it could observe the enemy's movements. In fact, a large German unit pretending to be partisans was approaching. The soldiers probably belonged to the II Btg of the III Rgt. "Brandenburg", which had used the same stratagem against the Garibaldians of the XXII Brigata "Lanciotto" at Cetica (Castel S. Niccolò) on June 29th. Nevertheless, there was no exchange of fire between the parties, although they observed each other with binoculars for a long time. Informed that further German reinforcements were arriving, Lt. Raffaello Sacconi, commander of the partisan battalion, created a diversionary manoeuvre to make the enemy believe he was moving towards Carda, already occupied by the rounding-up operation, and giving the impression that he and his men were walking into a trap. The unit pursuing them fell for the trick and stopped advancing. Sacconi's plan worked perfectly and they were able to disengage without much trouble. That afternoon, to let the Germans know that the partisans had escaped encirclement and were still ready for combat, a patrol was sent towards Carda to fire shots and create confusion in the enemy ranks. But this assault on Carda was not without tragic consequences. Uphill from the village, partisan Emanuele Paolanti (born in 1924, resident in Rassina, student, member of the "Comando" Company) was killed, while just beyond the cemetery road, civilians Carlo Cannelli (born on December 11th 1868 and known to be a partisan of the IV Company) and 64-year-old Jacopo Mascalchi were slaughtered. The death of three Slavic partisans and the wounding of the partisan Luigi Alasia were also reported. It is not known whether there were nazi losses. On July 14th, the rounding-up operation ended. The Germans were convinced that the partisans had left Pratomagno whereas the men of the III Battalion "L. Nencetti" had actually slipped through the net of the encirclement with minor losses. Raoul Ballocci's formation, operating on the Valdarno side of the massif, was hardest hit and had to engage in several exchanges of fire with many losses. Cannelli and Mascalchi are buried in the cemetery of Carda, the partisan Paolanti in that of Rassina.

On July 12th 1944, Pratomagno underwent a new German rounding-up operation aimed at the partisans stationed there. The XXIII Garibaldi Brigata "Pio Borri", the XXII Garibaldi Brigata "Lanciotto" and Raoul Ballocci's autonomous band operated on its slopes. The German attack fanned out from from Faltona (Talla), Raggiolo (Ortignano Raggiolo), La Trappola (Loro Ciuffenna) and Rassina (Castel Focognano). The III Battalion "Licio Nencetti" (part of the XXIII Garibaldi Brigata "P. Borri") left its quarters in Carda and Calleta (Castel Focognano) to move into a defensive position on Poggio Catarozzo from where it could observe the enemy's movements. In fact, a large German unit pretending to be partisans was approaching. The soldiers probably belonged to the II Btg of the III Rgt. "Brandenburg", which had used the same stratagem against the Garibaldians of the XXII Brigata "Lanciotto" at Cetica (Castel S. Niccolò) on June 29th. Nevertheless, there was no exchange of fire between the parties, although they observed each other with binoculars for a long time. Informed that further German reinforcements were arriving, Lt. Raffaello Sacconi, commander of the partisan battalion, created a diversionary manoeuvre to make the enemy believe he was moving towards Carda, already occupied by the rounding-up operation, and giving the impression that he and his men were walking into a trap. The unit pursuing them fell for the trick and stopped advancing. Sacconi's plan worked perfectly and they were able to disengage without much trouble. That afternoon, to let the Germans know that the partisans had escaped encirclement and were still ready for combat, a patrol was sent towards Carda to fire shots and create confusion in the enemy ranks. But this assault on Carda was not without tragic consequences. Uphill from the village, partisan Emanuele Paolanti (born in 1924, resident in Rassina, student, member of the "Comando" Company) was killed, while just beyond the cemetery road, civilians Carlo Cannelli (born on December 11th 1868 and known to be a partisan of the IV Company) and 64-year-old Jacopo Mascalchi were slaughtered. The death of three Slavic partisans and the wounding of the partisan Luigi Alasia were also reported. It is not known whether there were nazi losses. On July 14th, the rounding-up operation ended. The Germans were convinced that the partisans had left Pratomagno whereas the men of the III Battalion "L. Nencetti" had actually slipped through the net of the encirclement with minor losses. Raoul Ballocci's formation, operating on the Valdarno side of the massif, was hardest hit and had to engage in several exchanges of fire with many losses. Cannelli and Mascalchi are buried in the cemetery of Carda, the partisan Paolanti in that of Rassina.

On July 12th 1944, Pratomagno underwent a new German rounding-up operation aimed at the partisans stationed there. The XXIII Garibaldi Brigata "Pio Borri", the XXII Garibaldi Brigata "Lanciotto" and Raoul Ballocci's autonomous band operated on its slopes. The German attack fanned out from from Faltona (Talla), Raggiolo (Ortignano Raggiolo), La Trappola (Loro Ciuffenna) and Rassina (Castel Focognano). The III Battalion "Licio Nencetti" (part of the XXIII Garibaldi Brigata "P. Borri") left its quarters in Carda and Calleta (Castel Focognano) to move into a defensive position on Poggio Catarozzo from where it could observe the enemy's movements. In fact, a large German unit pretending to be partisans was approaching. The soldiers probably belonged to the II Btg of the III Rgt. "Brandenburg", which had used the same stratagem against the Garibaldians of the XXII Brigata "Lanciotto" at Cetica (Castel S. Niccolò) on June 29th. Nevertheless, there was no exchange of fire between the parties, although they observed each other with binoculars for a long time. Informed that further German reinforcements were arriving, Lt. Raffaello Sacconi, commander of the partisan battalion, created a diversionary manoeuvre to make the enemy believe he was moving towards Carda, already occupied by the rounding-up operation, and giving the impression that he and his men were walking into a trap. The unit pursuing them fell for the trick and stopped advancing. Sacconi's plan worked perfectly and they were able to disengage without much trouble. That afternoon, to let the Germans know that the partisans had escaped encirclement and were still ready for combat, a patrol was sent towards Carda to fire shots and create confusion in the enemy ranks. But this assault on Carda was not without tragic consequences. Uphill from the village, partisan Emanuele Paolanti (born in 1924, resident in Rassina, student, member of the "Comando" Company) was killed, while just beyond the cemetery road, civilians Carlo Cannelli (born on December 11th 1868 and known to be a partisan of the IV Company) and 64-year-old Jacopo Mascalchi were slaughtered. The death of three Slavic partisans and the wounding of the partisan Luigi Alasia were also reported. It is not known whether there were nazi losses. On July 14th, the rounding-up operation ended. The Germans were convinced that the partisans had left Pratomagno whereas the men of the III Battalion "L. Nencetti" had actually slipped through the net of the encirclement with minor losses. Raoul Ballocci's formation, operating on the Valdarno side of the massif, was hardest hit and had to engage in several exchanges of fire with many losses. Cannelli and Mascalchi are buried in the cemetery of Carda, the partisan Paolanti in that of Rassina.