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Comune di
Barberino
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"MUGELLO 1945-2005"
Remembering History
Liberation Day, 60th Anniversary
ALLIED HISTORICAL MILITARY VEHICLES RALLY AND
RE-ENACTORS EVENT
BARBERINO di MUGELLO 23rd-25th APRIL 2005
The MV and re-enactors event “Mugello 1945 – 2005 - Remembering History - Liberation Day, 60th Anniversary “ took place in Barberino di Mugello, near Florence, on April 23-25, 2005. The rally was organized by the Municipality of Barberino di Mugello, together with the local “Pro Loco” Tourist Office, the “Svarvolati Mugellani” vintage vehicles association, the “I Ferri Taglienti” cultural association of Scarperia, and the Florence Chapter of the Army Engineers – Signal Corps Association. The idea for the event was conceived by the Svarvolati association, by way of their contacts with military vehicles collectors in the Florence area. It then found wholehearted support by the Municipality of Barberino di Mugello, which saw the potential for a well received, participated event with high scenic impact. Local authorities, on the other hand, chose not to include in the event Axis vehicles and re-enactors, considering this inappropriate in view of the date celebrated - Liberation Day, 1945. We hope, in the light of the good outcome of the event, that it will be possible to change that stance and organize future events of a more-inclusive nature.
TWO VERY SPECIAL GUESTS
One of the features which contributed to making the Barberino event a memorable one was undoubtedly the participation of two very special guests – American WWII veterans Mr. Melvin Buschman, former Lieutenant in the 91st Infantry Division and Mr. Carl “Dutch” Snyder, former Sergeant in the 34th Infantry Division. Both units fought in the Florence and Mugello area, and both wished to be represented in our event- a wish we were highly honored to fulfill.
Mr. Melvin Buschman was our host on past occasions, and we keep in touch with him regularly through his son Jim and daughter-in-law Deborah. We looked forward to meeting him again in Italy, and whished to make it sure he and his family received a nice and warm reception. We hope we succeeded. Mel stayed with us throughout the rally, riding a jeep under a cold, cloudy sky, always keeping his good and friendly mood – at age 80-plus!
Carl was to be in Barberino on April 22, together with Mr. Patrick Skelly from the 34th Infantry Division Association, for a previously scheduled ceremony. When he was told of our rally, however, he decided to come back on April 25 and participate in the parade remembering the arrival of his Division in Barberino in September 1944. It goes without saying that his wish was a very welcome one on our part! His stamina and good mood were as much enviable as Mel’s! By way of curiosity, Carl, who was in a recce unit at the time (and was thus one of the few GIs who REALLY rode Jeeps in WWII) is depicted in a famous photo of US troops taken in Bologna’s Piazza Maggiore on April 21, 1945.
Local authorities and the population gave a very warm and affectionate welcome to the two veterans. Their meeting with “Bordino”, a well-known partisan from Barberino who fought in the “Arno” division up to the liberation of Florence, and went on helping the Allies thereafter, was particularly moving.
A MUCH ADMIRED TANK
We had it written on the “Resto del Carlino” newspaper and so it was - “The tanks are back on the Gothic Line”. Thanks to the effort of the Museo Memoriale della Libertà in Bologna and of the Anzaloni family, we were able to admire a M4 Sherman tank restored to perfect running conditions. Throughout the rally this was a focal attraction for adults and youngsters alike, even if the latter ones were not allowed to climb over it for safety reasons.
THREE DAYS AMONG ENGINES, UNIFORMS AND
HISTORY-LADEN PLACES
The rally started on Saturday morning, April 23, with the first arrivals of participants, and their registration and accommodation in reserved hotels or at the Municipal gym. Allied military vehicles started being seen around Barberino on their way back and forth to gas stations and accommodations.
At 4:30 p.m., the column of 28 vehicles departed for Montecarelli, were the local community committee offered some delicious home-made cakes and cookies, plus beverages.
Once back, the evening and night were spent together with local inhabitants in Barberino’s main square, enjoying the buffet offered by “l’oste in Piazza” and listening to the live 1940’s music played by the local band, wearing class A uniforms. The well-organized Clemente group from Sanremo sported a particularly well-cared attire. Maybe that’s why the impending rain did not materialize!
The following morning the column, now 35-vehicles strong, left for Galliano according to schedule. Again, the local community committee offered refreshments to all participants. Galliano’s small square could not accommodate all of our vehicles, just like in 1944, when US troops liberated the town. Elderly people could not but remember that day- only, it was the Americans who were bringing much-needed food back then!
The column departed for the Futa Pass by the way of Panna, where some German concrete pillboxes can still be seen.
The German Military Cemetery at the Futa Pass was our next and most sorrowful stop. More than 30.000 German soldiers who fell during the Italian campaign are buried there- teenagers as well as a large proportion of enlisted men in their forties, testifying the shortage of German manpower after four bloody years of war. Whatever the uniform they wore, each one of them represent a life violently cut short by war.
In a brief ceremony a wreath was placed in the main Chapel while the Clemente group paid tribute to the fallen.
The column then departed for Bruscoli were the friends of the local museum offered drinks and snacks and guided us in a tour of its interesting exhibits on rural life and civilization, as well as on the passage of war in 1944. A very tasty lunch followed, prepared by the local sports association. After lunch, a wreath was placed at the local Monument, in memory of the Cavicchi family and of fallen soldiers of all wars.
Monday, April 25 started with a fine drizzle that magically dissolved at mid morning being replaced by the first warm sun in weeks. This happened just at the right moment, when the column, by then in Cavallina, where again the local committee stuffed us with sandwiches, cakes and beverages, was being rearranged for the re-enactment of the entrance of Allied troops in Barberino in September, 1944. At 10:30 a.m. we were ready. Platoons were arranged in marching formations interspaced with accompanying vehicles. The column thus formed was an impressive sight, and was so long as to require the whole length of Barberino to accommodate it. The entrance in town was full of emotion. An applauding crowd welcomed us – the elders were moved, the children, open-mouthed at the show, happily accepted the candies given out by the “GI’s”. We completed a round of the downtown area ending up in the main square. We then took part in the official Liberation Day Celebration at the Monument in front of the Municipal building where the Hon. Valdo Spini gave a meaningful and well-balanced speech on the significance of those events and their remembrance for the Italy of today.
While the “Il Cavallo” restaurant staged again a delicious meal for all of us and the local authorities, our vehicles – now 43-strong plus two motorcycles (all of them WWII-vintage) were on display in the main square, where the end of the event took place at 4:00 p.m. when a simple awards ceremony was staged for all vehicle owners and the people and associations who helped organizing the event.
A SUCCESSFUL EVENT
The rally was a complete success. If we consider the event as a whole, we dare say an organizational triumph. Taking into account the short time span between conceiving the idea and making it happen, the large number of vehicles and re-enactors (there were more than 150 of them on April 25) attending is something to be proud of. The organization worked perfectly, thanks to the efforts of the many people who were part of, or helped, the staff. Vehicles transportations to and from Barberino, surveillance of the parked vehicles, hotel reservations, restaurants, column escorts, refreshments at stops in local communities, attendance by the public – everything worked out well.
The Municipal authorities, reflecting a feeling shared by most, has expressed sincere appreciation for the work done and the outcome of the event. On my part, as one of the organizers together with Michele, Sandro and Luca, I cannot but thank all those who directly or indirectly contributed to the success of the rally. I particularly wish to thank all vehicles owners, re-enactors and collectors which decided to participate in the Barberino event, notwithstanding other rallies taking place elsewhere.
We hope we will be able to build on this spontaneous collaboration to better pursue our common interests and purposes – collecting, a passion for historical vehicles, preserving the memory of our past, and finally doing our little part in furthering friendship among people, and a peaceful world.
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