Elba Island, located between Corsica and Piombino cape, since Etruscan times has been, a disputed island and under attacks by would-be conquerors, due to its Geographic location and its mineral wealth. For this reason, over the centuries, it was built a widespread defensive system, which adapted to natural landscape, or to existing fortresses and fortifications of the past. Last fortifications, from a chronological point of view, were built after World War I, they were integrated during World War II and German occupation in 1943-1944, making Elba take on the role of real fortified Island. Research studies building built by Royal Navy and Royal Army to defend the Island, by analysing sketches in military archives and artifact built and / or integrated by the Germans until June 16th, 1944, when, during operation ‘Brassard’ (Invasion of Elba) Allied release the Island. These artifacts are still visible in Elba‘s landscape, and most of which are in advanced state of decay and completely abandonment: inhabitants and visitors are unable to understand real meaning and historical value of the buildings. Historical research, sketches design studies, integrated survey (TLS + drone), and 3D reconstructions allow to support and create a memory of recent defence system that integrates the one built by the Etruscans (Monte Castello, Castiglone di San Martino and Castiglione di Campo), then by the Pisans (Marciana Fortress, Volterraio Fortress, San Giovanni Tower), by the Principality of Piombino and Grand Duchy of Tuscany in the 16th century (Forte Falcone and Forte Stella in the original Cosmopoli, and towers scattered throughout the territory , fortified churches), and finally by the Spaniards in seventeenth century (Forte San Giacomo and Forte Focardo in Porto Longone).
L’Elba, collocata tra la Corsica e il promontorio di Piombino, sia per la sua collocazione geografica che per la ricchezza mineraria è stata, sin da tempi etruschi, un’isola contesa e oggetto di frequenti attacchi da parte di aspiranti conquistatori. Per tale motivo, nei secoli, è stato costruito un sistema difensivo diffuso e capillare, costituito dall’adattamento di elementi del paesaggio naturale, o da fortezze o fortificazioni di matrice antropica. Gli ultimi interventi, dal punto di vista cronologico, appartengono al sistema difensivo realizzato dopo la I guerra mondiale, integrato durante la II guerra mondiale e l’occupazione tedesca del 1943-1944, facendo assumere all’Elba il ruolo di vera e propria isola fortificata. La ricerca indaga i luoghi che la Regia Marina ed il Regio Esercito hanno realizzato a difesa dell’isola, confrontando i progetti depositati negli archivi militari e quanto realizzato e/o integrato sul posto dai tedeschi fino al 17 giugno 1944, quando con l’operazione “Brassard” gli alleati sbarcano sull’isola. Tali strutture sono ancora presenti nel paesaggio elbano, la maggior parte delle quali in stato di completo degrado ed abbandono senza che né i residenti né e visitatori riescano a comprenderne il reale significato e valore storico. Ricerca storica e raccolta di progetti, accompagnata da un rilievo integrato (TLS + drone), con una successiva ricostruzione 3D, consente di elaborare un processo di documentazione e memoria in cui il recente sistema difensivo integra quanto realizzato dagli etruschi prima(siti d’altura di Monte Castello, Castiglone di San Martino e Castiglione di Campo), dai pisani poi (Fortezza di Marciana, Fortezza del Volterraio, Torre di San Giovanni), dal Principato di Piombino e Granducato di Toscana nel XVI secolo (Forte Falcone e Forte Stella nella originaria Cosmopoli, torri disseminate sul territorio e chiese fortificate), ed infine dagli spagnoli successivamente nel XVII secolo (Forte San Giacomo e Forte Focardo a Porto Longone).
Elba fortificata nella II Guerra Mondiale: le batterie costiere di Capo Poro e Capo d’Enfola / Caldarone, Adriana; Empler, Tommaso; Fusinetti, Alexandra. - XIV:(2023), pp. 571-578. (Intervento presentato al convegno Fortmed 2023 tenutosi a Pisa) [10.12871/978883339794874].
Elba fortificata nella II Guerra Mondiale: le batterie costiere di Capo Poro e Capo d’Enfola
Adriana Caldarone;Tommaso Empler;Alexandra Fusinetti
2023-01-01
Abstract
Elba Island, located between Corsica and Piombino cape, since Etruscan times has been, a disputed island and under attacks by would-be conquerors, due to its Geographic location and its mineral wealth. For this reason, over the centuries, it was built a widespread defensive system, which adapted to natural landscape, or to existing fortresses and fortifications of the past. Last fortifications, from a chronological point of view, were built after World War I, they were integrated during World War II and German occupation in 1943-1944, making Elba take on the role of real fortified Island. Research studies building built by Royal Navy and Royal Army to defend the Island, by analysing sketches in military archives and artifact built and / or integrated by the Germans until June 16th, 1944, when, during operation ‘Brassard’ (Invasion of Elba) Allied release the Island. These artifacts are still visible in Elba‘s landscape, and most of which are in advanced state of decay and completely abandonment: inhabitants and visitors are unable to understand real meaning and historical value of the buildings. Historical research, sketches design studies, integrated survey (TLS + drone), and 3D reconstructions allow to support and create a memory of recent defence system that integrates the one built by the Etruscans (Monte Castello, Castiglone di San Martino and Castiglione di Campo), then by the Pisans (Marciana Fortress, Volterraio Fortress, San Giovanni Tower), by the Principality of Piombino and Grand Duchy of Tuscany in the 16th century (Forte Falcone and Forte Stella in the original Cosmopoli, and towers scattered throughout the territory , fortified churches), and finally by the Spaniards in seventeenth century (Forte San Giacomo and Forte Focardo in Porto Longone).I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.