Some time ago Francesco Ricasoli found in the archive of the Castle’s library a letter in German sent in April 1946 to his grandfather, Baron Luigi Ricasoli. Sender: a former officer of the Göring Division. Intrigued, he had it translated and thus discovered an extraordinary story of heroism which had the Castle of Brolio as its protagonist, during the Second World War.
“Most esteemed Mr. Baron, (…)” – says the letter – “I was ordered by my division to make preparations to blow up the towers of your magnificent castle. But, looking at it, I realized the absurdity of bringing this magnificent building to destruction and so I deliberately delayed carrying out the order, waiting for the front to get there and pinning my hopes on that. Then I was ordered for the second time to open fire on the castle, which in the meantime had been taken by the Allies, because our Commander suspected the presence of enemy lookouts on its towers. Tragic news, for me: it seemed that this time the castle really had to be destroyed, something I had already avoided once! I did not carry out that order. I directed the shelling to the right and the left of the castle, then I informed my commander that we had run out of ammunitions. He had my statements examined, and as they were found to be false, I was arrested and taken to Florence to appear before a Court Martial, which sentenced me to a five-year 5 imprisonment to be served in Germany, where I was released only on April 7th, 1945.”
The Castle was suffered serious damage as a result of German shelling and bombing by the British and South African allies during the first two weeks of July 1944, but it wasn’t destroyed. And now we know that it is also thanks to the courage and sacrifice of that young officer that it has survived to the present day in all its beauty and in all its significance for the history of our territory and our country.
