During the June period, the operations conducted by the so-called 7th Company between June 8th and June 20th deserve special attention. The very brief life of this squad, led by Mario Migliorini (founder of the Casentino CLN in the aftermath of September 8th 1943), was due to the presence of the 23rd Brigata “Lanciotto Ballerini” in the forests of Pratomagno. The 7th Company aimed to enlist young men from Poppi, Castel San Niccolò and Montemignaio in order to control the Consuma road and the surrounding villages. Their first operation was to block a German convoy for the whole night between June 11th and 12th. They then sabotaged a long wall supporting the main road near Tartiglia (on the 15th). They subsequently attempted (unsuccessfully) to add to their numbers a group of would-be deserters from the Divisione Cremona who wanted to abandon their headquarters in Vitrignesi. Among the particularly active members of the group was Paolo Santini, who was wounded near Borgo alla Collina after spreading nails on the road to stop the Germans passing. He survived and went into hiding, but was captured on July 23rd and shot at Campaldino together with Di Falco, a member of the 22nd Brigade. Practically nothing is known about the details of this episode. The formation also lost another member: Gino Municchi was shot on the road to Caiano on the 18th.
On June 20th, Migliorini was instructed to contact Aligi Barducci, the legendary commander Potente who played a crucial role in the Liberation of Florence (August 11th). Barducci, as already noted, had moved into the forests above Cetica with the entire Brigata Lanciotto, with the aim of reuniting the other Florentine formations on Pratomagno in order to prepare safely for the liberation of that city. In the meeting that followed, Barducci was obliged to place the 7th Company under the Florentine command. The strict order was due to Potente’s fear that any actions taken by the squad might lead to round-ups in the so-called “little republic of Pratomagno”, making it difficult for the Florentines to remain in those mountains.
However, the “low profile” policy of the groups around Pratomagno failed to avert the gigantic anti-partisan rounding-up operation carried out by the II Battalion of the elite Brandenburg Division (assisted by local collaborationists and R.S.I. units), which took place on June 29th. The capabilities of the Brigata Lanciotto, however, went far beyond simple hit-and-run guerrilla warfare, as it showed on this occasion by challenging the enemy in the open field. In the eight-hour battle that followed the German attack on Cetica, 12 partisans died for the cause. The casualties inflicted on the enemy were presumably higher (some historians speak of 55 dead). The German high command was forced to admit in their reports – a rare occurrence for officers used to belittling the enemy – that they were up against a well-trained and well-led band of more than 350 fighters. The day was, however, made worse by the massacre of 17 civilians in Cetica in retaliation as the Germans attempted to advance towards Pratomagno. Numerous houses were also damaged: the price of defeat, as always, is paid by the innocent.

From Father Giovanni Bozzo’s account “Days of Tears and Blood” (published by Libreria Salesiana), freely abridged here: “From the early hours of the morning there were unusual activities in Strada. Onto a group of trucks, squads of fully armed soldiers were loading weapons and ammunition. It took them some time. When everything was ready, the men got in and the column moved off. It was well known that the Partisans had placed observers along the roads to keep track of things. It is about half past four when the Germans get near Pagliericcio. Shooting intensifies as they enter the village. Suddenly awoken, the villagers are overcome with terror…Meanwhile the soldiers are keeping themselves busy. Seeing men attempting to escape, they at once start firing… A civilian is shot near Mulin Vecchio. The zealous parish priest is summoned urgently and administers the last rites. Seven people from the parish of Pagliericcio are killed. At the same time, machine-guns are pointed at the upper windows of the rectory and a rigorous round-up is carried out.
In the meantime, the bulk of the German troops have gone on towards Cetica. After overcoming a few obstacles, the attackers are soon in Pratarutoli. The usual volleys, the usual crescendo of gunfire. As soon as they see the first houses they fire a hail of bullets. Some soldiers break into the Rocchetta house and set up machine-guns on the windowsills.
In Pratarutoli, learning of the sudden incursion and hearing the gunfire, the inhabitants are terrified. The men are the first to run away, fleeing towards San Pancrazio. While the men try to escape, the partisans are firing a hail of bullets. The alarm spreads to Trebbio and Santa Maria. But the Germans are advancing. Look… in that gulley there’s someone trying to escape: maybe a partisan… The Germans shoot. A boy from Pratarutoli is hit and dies. Then the soldiers set fire to some houses and, after crossing the village, start climbing up the gulleys towards San Pancrazio. They keep on advancing. The patriots start shooting from Trebbio but two of them are seriously wounded. They fall, crying out for help. They will remain there for many hours, calling in vain, until death puts an end to their pain. (…)
The church and rectory of St. Pancras are locked. A soldier tries to kick in the side door of the church. The imprint of his iron-rimmed boot is left in the wood, but the door doesn’t give way. So the soldiers break down the rectory door by hammering it with rocks and firing their rifles at it. They burst inside, ransacking and plundering the rooms.
In the meantime, another squad is moving towards Romolo Fresconi’s house. Romolo, who has a wooden leg, had just got out of bed. Accusing him of harbouring a partisan, they set fire to his house, kill him and throw him into the crackling flames.
(…) Shortly afterwards, the other three prisoners are shot in the head and fall, drenched in their own blood… Despite the partisans’ resistance, the Germans continue to advance through Santa Maria.
The group of soldiers heading for Cetica meets with strong opposition. From the fields above, from the main road and from Perino, the Partisans are firing with machine-guns. But here too the attackers are still advancing. They set fire to the houses near the bridge of Rimaggio including that of Barbato. Nothing is left today, not even the outside walls. They go on to the junction at Poggiolo, then down to Canova towards a group of buildings below the church leaving death and conflagrations behind them. Not even civilians are spared…
From the church of Santa Maria all the way up to Cetica, it’s a sea of fire. Dense spirals of smoke rise from blazing buildings. Suddenly you hear the ominous crash of a roof falling in, a wall collapsing (…). In the meantime, groups of well-armed partisans intent on attacking the retreating Germans are moving towards the main road. At Pratarutoli the convey meets a hail of machine-gun fire. At the Pagliericcio bridge another surprise is awaiting the Germans. They are caught off guard by the Partisans firing from above. Some are killed.