Sport and the dramas of the Second World War have many common histories, just as many sportsmen suffered the tragedy of deportation to Nazi concentration camps. Stories that are often little known, almost forgotten, except for certain families and areas of the country who instead have made it a symbol and an indelible memory so that it never has to happen again.
The Cervellati brothers were two cyclists, the older, Irnerio, aspiring, the younger, Idro, aspiring. Their dreams of riding a bicycle were shattered first by the outbreak of war and then by their deportation to the Gusen-Mauthausen concentration camp, where they lost their lives together with their father Carlo.
The Cervellati family owned a small farm in Calcara, on the neighboroughs of Bologna, where the partisans had built a hut and sometimes stopped and spent the night, the family helped them.
The parents Carlo and Clementina but also the three children: Irnerio, Idro and Stella.
Not only the partisans, the family also gave help to those who, after the armistice of 1943, had decided to flee to escape imprisonment for refusing not to join the republican army.
The Cervellati house was surrounded by fascists and SS men. in December 1944, the three men of the house were arrested and taken first to Bologna, then Mantua and with their final destination the Gusen-Mauthausen concentration camp where they never returned. When the camp was liberated on May 5, 1945, they were already dead.
The Comic Card #35 solidarity sticker is dedicated to the two brothers and their passion for cycling. To a dream torn from the madness of war and fascism. Those who saw Irnerio Cervellati compete defined him as one of the strongest riders of the period, with great potential and some races won between Emilia Romagna and Tuscany. hydro? We will never know what he could express on the streets, riding his bicycle, next to his older brother.
The cartoonist Mabel Morri was involved for the realization https://www.mabelmorri.it/ who really took the initiative to heart and gave away five splendid drawings of the 2 brothers, thanks to the photos provided by the Cervellati/Morselli family. Too talented to show only one, for this reason, in addition to the solidarity card, the other 4 illustrations are printed on the postcard.
We thank the Municipality of Valsamoggia for having sponsored the solidarity card.
We thank the Unione Sportiva Calcara, the cycling club of the town of the Cervellati Brothers which since 1945, through the passion for this sport, has also carried on the memory of these two youngsters, potential champions, throughout the year and every April with the Liberation Grand Prix. At the next edition, scheduled for April 30, 2023, there will also be Irnerio and Idro through their solidarity card.
TOGETHER for ANED!
With the proceeds of this new solidarity sticker + folder, it will be possible to support the activities of ANED the National Association Ex Deported in the nazi camps (http://www.deportati.it/?lang=en); we strongly feel the need to keep the memory of what happened alive and daily, because it should never happen again.
The Cervellati brothers by Mabel Morri
Fumetto Forever Card #35 – Card + Postcard
Limited edition 145 copies numbered
Cost € 5.00
+ postage costs (for Italy € 5.00, Europe € 10.00)
How to pay:
- Bank transfer:
Bank:Emil Banca – Credito Cooperativo
Branch:Borgo Panigale, Bologna Italia
IBAN:IT82 Y070 7202 4000 0000 0427 519
BIC:ICRAITRRTS0
For purchases by bank transfer, please always follow an email to figurineforever@gmail.com - Paypal to the address only figurineforever@gmail.com, with Paypal the price per card is € 1.00 more
- IN THE CAUSAL ALWAYS INSERT: WHICH CARD YOU WANT TO BUY AND YOUR ADDRESS FOR SHIPMENT, PLEASE BEFORE TO PAY ALWAYS POSTAGE COSTS FROM ITALY TO YOUR COUNTRY
- On Ebay https://www.ebay.it/str/figurineforeverofficial
AVAILABLE NOW! (copies available 16/145)
the postcards of the solidarity cards are numbered, the number you receive is random. The choice of the specific number is a pre-sale service only and only for the members of Figurine Forever
An unnumbered version was also printed, mainly used for distribution to people involved in this project.
