Modesto Damiani

An old photo of Modesto Damiani (Fonte: Summary, MSMT)

Modesto, residing in Lucignana, personally commited himself to help Allied prisoners who arrived during those months in the small Tuscan village, many of whom had come from PG 49 in Fontanellato. Seven soldiers decided to stay with him for several months, until the night between February 22nd and 23rd, 1944: «That night, thanks to specific information provided by spies who have not been identified, a whole troop of Black Shirts surrounded my house and the immediate vicinity with the aim of capturing me and any Allied prisoners found in the house» 

Modesto managed to save himself by escaping down from the roof and, after climbing a tree, jumping over the garden wall and fleeing away. He then reaches the place where the prisoners are housed, giving them the chance to escape to safety. «It is unnecessary here to spell out how agitated I was, thinking on the one hand of what might befall the prisoners whom I wished to save by any means possible (and whom I did save) and, on the other hand, of what might happen to me, my relatives and my house if I were captured».

His elderly father and ten-year-old son, who lived with him, were repeatedly interrogated and threatened at gunpoint to reveal where he fled. However, ​​they had no idea where he had gone.

The same happened to Modesto’s sister, who lived nearby. Both houses were looted. Before leaving, the Fascists told the family that he had been captured. It’s a lie that plunged them into despair.

Modesto decided to find a safer hiding place for the remaining prisoners, moving them to the hills around Lucignana, where he couldrely on the help of some locals, promising to reimburse any expenses incurred. Until the area was liberated, he continued to assist the Allied soldiers, providing them with bread, wine, clothing, cigarettes, and anything else they might need.

He did not wish to receive any reimbursement for his efforts in providing assistance: «because I have merely done my duty. However, I do earnestly request all this to be kept in consideration and for me to be granted the requisite permit to make and sell ice cream to the public».