The cigarette girls and boys Casone the top of the tower of the former tobacco factory in Florence
, overlooking the Teatro Puccini, was recently a beautiful tri-color, probably to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Unit of Italy. I like the rationalist architecture of this building opened in 1940, after ten years of work, and designed by architect Pierluigi Nervi and Bartoli. I also like because it is steeped in history. The cigar makers
Florence had already proved to be very active on June 29, 1874, when it went on strike to demand better conditions for working mothers, is compact in March 1921 he joined the strike which followed the killing by a squad of Lavagnini union leader.
Inside the factory, which moved in 1940 from two old factories located in the center of Florence, was printed and spread anti-fascist propaganda of illegal material, gathered medicines for the Red Aid and you equipped to reach the partisans, in the mountains, cigarettes, food, dining areas and stolen weapons.
On March 3, 1944, the day of the great Florentine factory strike that marked the beginning of the liberation of Florence, at 13 o'clock two workers split off the main switch current that powered all departments thus signal the beginning of 'agitation. Under the threat of weapons were forced to return to work but then put in place a boycott that brought down the production of cigarettes from 2000 to 60 kg per day. Occupied by the Germans
July 23, 1944 the Manufacture was later in the hands of the partisans when, about a month later, the occupants retreated across the river Mugnone. The beautiful booklet
"The guys
Casone, the strength of Cascine of Florence" (downloadable here
) Terrosi Renato, who stars in those days, recalls:
" the afternoon of August 28, 1944 via a number of citizens of the area of \u200b\u200bPistoia and 'Olmatello left their homes, worried that the modest retroguar give the German army, still in their area, was strengthened by the arrival of a detachment of paratroopers. came out of their homes to take refuge behind the line face, held by partisans, and that roughly ran along the Mugnone and had as its cornerstone the Tobacco Factory. Learn the danger we will strengthen that garrison, bringing to 15 the number of occupants the Manufacture, concentrating in the area of \u200b\u200bthe theater. The team captured the terrace overlooking Piazza Puccini, under the tower. On the tower took place in round three partisans - Albano Palmieri, Roncucci Dino Ferrari and Bruno - who had supplied Sten machine guns and grenades that had been provided on the first ally of the army garrison, which had taken place in a neighborhood located above the bar on the corner of Via Ponte alle Mosse and Squarcialupi away. Unfortunately, as expected, in the early hours of the night the Germans crossed the Mugnone and a Panzerfaust (forerunner of today's bazooka) broke down the door right of the theater and went into the factory.
The partisan Bruno Ferrari was hit by the blaze of phosphorus panzerfaustit as he descended from the tower to stock up on ammunition. He managed to escape through the stalls and, driven by pain and by the force of his twenties, reached the railway workers Casone to raise the alarm. Meanwhile, the rest of the department that had not been too vigilant, he managed to leave the terrace and to reconnect, through manufacturing, the Partisans who were stationed at railway huts. The three, who were left isolated on the tower, when they realized that the fellow on the terrace had left their post and i tedeschi la stavano occupando, utilizzarono le loro bombe a mano e fecero grave danno ai nemici. I tedeschi, scoraggiati dall’intenso fuoco di tutti i partigiani, che avevano lasciato il Casone e si erano schierati sulla piazza dalla parte di via Ponte alle Mosse, ritennero più conveniente ritirarsi oltre il Mugnone portandosi via i feriti raccolti sulla terrazza. La formazione partigiana rimase vigile per tutta la notte e alle prime luci dell’alba i compagni rimasti sulla torre poterono scendere accolti dall’abbraccio dei compagni, che avevano vegliato con loro e che erano corsi a liberarli.
Il giorno dopo i partigiani accorsero a Peretola a salutare con i cittadini di quella località the return of freedom for all citizens of Florence. Some went so with a detachment of American tanks to Marsh, but the Germans were finally withdrawn. "
When I pass this tower bike (usually a couple of times a week going to the gym) always get the eye to the flag and I think with gratitude to those courageous battle and also to cigar makers.