Soldiers & Veterans

An elderly man and his son embrace among the headstones of the South African war cemetery at Castiglione dei Pepoli

More than eighty years later. Alfred at his father's grave in Castiglione dei Pepoli

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A 88 anni Alfred è venuto in Italia con il figlio Kevin per vedere per la prima volta la tomba del padre, il signaller sudafricano Gert Stephanus van der Merwe Botha, morto il 30 settembre 1944 e sepolto nel Castiglione South African Cemetery. Gotica Toscana li ha accompagnati al cimitero e sui luoghi delle battaglie d’autunno sull’Appennino bolognese.

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Fotografia storica di un soldato della Wehrmacht con fucile, in un sito di sepoltura, in bianco e nero, con dettagli storici e militari.

The Burial of a Wehrmacht Soldier: From the Archives to the Battlefield

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Research in the Wehrmacht archives led to the trail of a German soldier of the 715th Infantry Division, killed in the fighting on the Gothic Line and buried where he fell by one of his own officers. After the research was presented at the MuGot, members of Gotica Toscana checked maps, documents and terrain, locating the German strongpoint but not yet the grave. The research continues, and the soldier's story will be told soon.

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Four smiling friends in Tuscany with mountains in the background, during a summer hike.

From California to the Gothic Line: young Americans visit the MuGot

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Una gruppo di giovani provenienti dalla California ha visitato l’American Florence Cemetery and Memorial e il Passo del Giogo per ripercorrere i luoghi in cui combatté un proprio congiunto. La visita, accompagnata da Andrea Gatti con il supporto di Simona Dini, conferma il ruolo del MUGOT nella conservazione della memoria legata alla Linea Gotica.

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An Audi rally discovers the MuGot

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About forty members of an Audi enthusiasts' club visited the MuGot, discovering the history of the Gothic Line and the Giogo Pass – a day born of a passion for cars that became an occasion for remembrance and learning.

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Group of visitors in casual and military clothing, some with caps and bags, in front of a long tank with a white star.

The MuGot in Bastogne: Memory. Christmas 1944 – 2025

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The Director of the MuGot, Gabriele Lelli, took part in a journey of remembrance to Bastogne for the 81st anniversary of the Battle of the Ardennes. Together with the delegation of Andy Biggio’s The Rifle project and alongside international friends, the group retraced the symbolic places of the siege, from the famous “NUTS!” to the Bois Jacques, visiting the Bastogne War Museum and the American cemeteries of the Ardennes and Luxembourg, enriched by the moving presence of five U.S. veterans.

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Flags in the photo, military memorial monument, historical aspects, historical memory, commemoration.

Honor to the fallen. Committed at the Florence American Cemetery

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Gotica Toscana participates in Veterans Day at Florence American Cemetery to honor the fallen of the 91st Division and promote the memory of the Italian campaign through MuGot visits, projects and activities.

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Two hikers admiring the Tuscan landscape from the summit, in an outdoor hike sponsored by Gotica Toscana aps.

A son on Mount Altuzzo: Glenn finds his father Helmut again.

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Gotica Toscana participates in Veterans Day at Florence American Cemetery to honor the fallen of the 91st Division and promote the memory of the Italian campaign through MuGot visits, projects and activities.

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Gotica Toscana at the “Boston Wounded Vet Run”: a bridge between Italy and the U.S.

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Gotica Toscana Onlus participated in the Boston Wounded Vet Run, a charity event to benefit wounded veterans. During the event, Gabriele Olof Lelli represented the association, receiving appreciation for its work in preserving historical memory.

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The Column of Liberty® 2025: from Ferrara to Venice for the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation

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Educational visit to MUGOT in Ponzalla for Recanati Middle Schools, including an exploration of World War II historical artifacts and a hike to Mount Altuzzo. Students had the opportunity to discover the history of the Gothic Line, visit bunkers and trenches and reflect on the importance of freedom and peace. An experience that combined education, nature and historical memory, helping new generations understand the value of sacrifice and freedom.

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"The young walk fast, but the elderly know the way."
The youth of Recanati visit MUGOT

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Educational visit to MUGOT in Ponzalla for Recanati Middle Schools, including an exploration of World War II historical artifacts and a hike to Mount Altuzzo. Students had the opportunity to discover the history of the Gothic Line, visit bunkers and trenches and reflect on the importance of freedom and peace. An experience that combined education, nature and historical memory, helping new generations understand the value of sacrifice and freedom.

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