San Piero in Frassino, Via Garibaldi

11/07/1944

Killing of members of the Resistance

A German patrol, during a rounding-up operation, entered Monteborgnoli, which had just been the destination of men from the partisan VI Company in transit towards Carda. While most of the partisans managed to escape, German troops captured the partisan Ferdinando Santini (1st Company of the Casentino Group). Subsequently, probably denounced by local collaborationists, Ferdinando was hanged from a light pole in San Piero in Frassino in the sight of his family assembled there.

The Voices

Fortunato Pecchiai

Crediti: Località Raggiolo. Riprese e intervista di Mario Spiganti realizzata il 13/08/1996.

The Signs

Memorial stone to the partisan Ferdinando Santini

Informations

Place of placement: Roadside

Date of placement:

Description

Memorial stone dedicated to the partisan Ferdinando Santini, who was hanged by the Germans in S. Piero in Frassino on July 12th 1944. It is a stone monument in the shape of a truncated cone. The epigraph is engraved on the base, while on the top there is an asymmetrical bronze cross created much more recently.

Personal observations

The memorial stone can be seen as you leave the village of S. Piero in Frassino, on the left-hand side of the old road to Bibbiena, just before the bridge over the Teggina stream. Inventoried in 2008.

News and contextualisation

At dawn on July 11th 1944 a patrol of partisans of the XXIII Garibaldi Brigata "Pio Borri", was marching to join the rest of the formation stationed above Carda (Castel Focognano) when it was caught in a German attack while resting in the hamlet of Monteborgnoli (Ortignano-Raggiolo). There were also Italian troops with the Germans. The Garibaldinis, howver, managed to escape unnoticed, but the Germans still captured some men. Among them were the three Santini brothers: Ferdinando, Giuseppe and Francesco. The following day, July 12th, Ferdinando Santini, denounced by some local spy for the help and support he gave to the resistance movement, was hanged from a light pole in S. Piero in Frassino, despite his brothers' pleas to take his place, leaving his wife and two children in despair. Ferdinando Santini, born on March 16th 1910, farmer, was a known partisan of the VI Company, III Battalion "Licio Nencetti", XXIII Garibaldi Brigata "Pio Borri", Division "Arezzo". He is buried in the cemetery of S. Piero in Frassino where his date of death is given as July 11th 1944.

Gallery:

Author: Alessandro Bargellini