The Baron Munchhausen that it fed Florence besieged in August 1944

Monday, he celebrated the world day of remembrance, in remembrance of the Holocaust of the Jewish people to extermination camps by the Nazis.

A day to remember.

AND’ important not to forget the sacrifice of children, men and women, as it is important not to forget their stories, as well as the many stories of people who, during the second world war, one of the most terrible of mankind, they tried to save lives even if they were from “the opposite side”.

What we tell you today is a story, vera, linked at that time, of which few are aware the Florentines, and starring the city of Florence and Baron Caius Von Műnchhausen, born in 1913, nephew of the Russian officer, of German origin, famous protagonist of "the adventures of Baron Műnchhausen".

Florentine of adoption, his mother ran in the area of via Bolognese a small Inn, with panoramic views of Fiesole. Caius, It fed Florence during the war and the siege that led to the liberation of Florence in August 1944.

Infantry officer, to 31 years, He returned to Florence in July ' 44, where fate had prepared for him, from 10 al 18 August, the Defense command of the second line of fire: Cascine, Mugnone, Ferrovia Firenze-Roma.

The last night before the retreat of German troops, they came from Verona 10 trucks loads of living for the population, and powdered milk for babies.

With the help of some firefighters, 5 trucks were unloaded immediately in piazza del Duomo, in the garage of Mercy, while others 5 came in via Cavour, in the garage of Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Today seat of the Prefecture and the province.

As recalled by the same Műnchhausen "schierammo us on that night and the next morning Mugnone telefonai to Corps Command. I told them that behind us, also as a result of the displacement of the campaigns, We had a population of at least 100,000 people. How to feed them? the command replied curtly: ' We have sent 10 trucks of food to Florence just yesterday '. In my turn, replicai: ' Okay, but according to your orders have been downloaded in piazza del Duomo and via Cavour and then, currently, are on the opposite side, the one in your hand to your opponent. With these 100,000 behind us we do?’.

So the young officer was a Flash of genius, as those who often had his famous ancestor: "I know that a population of 100,000 inhabitants, without food and with little water, at some moment rebelled. This could take place behind a very weak defensive line, our, and could create big trouble ".

This persuaded the superiors and the front moved, and Florence was sfamata.

Even when Műnchhausen was with the troops the Apennines, He sought always to have a regard for Italians.

During the fortification work one of these, a young Florentine, died.

Caius gave orders to bury it in Bologna with all the military honors.

Among those rounded up was also the father of the dead.

After 7 years after the end of the war his father went in search of Captain Műnchhausen to show his gratitude.

"Many Italians had attacked me", confided in his memoirs.

Műnchhausen was taken prisoner by the Americans in Finale Emilia in spring 1945, and sent to a concentration camp in Scandicci.

After the war he returned to Florence in 1957, finding work in an art gallery on the Lungarno Acciaiuoli, until it came into possession of the old family home, It reopened even as pension.

Here later married a young visitor, with whom he had a son, today moved and with two sons, periodically stay still in Florence.

Caius Műnchhausen died in Florence in 1985 and since then rests in the cemetery of Via degli Allori with her mother.

Frank Mariani

By the number 3 – The Year of 29/01/2014