Editing Piombino (section)

===World War II===
During World War II, in the days that followed the announcement of the [[Armistice of Cassibile]], Piombino was the setting for one of the first episodes of the [[Italian resistance movement|Italian resistance]].<ref name="iltirreno">[http://ricerca.gelocal.it/iltirreno/archivio/iltirreno/1998/09/13/LB601.html Nell'anniversario della battaglia di Piombino, uno storico racconta perché la città merita l'onorificenza La medaglia d'oro, dopo 55 anni «Il massimo riconoscimento va concesso per ristabilire la verità»]</ref> On 10 September 1943, during [[Operation Achse]], a small German flotilla, commanded by [[Kapitänleutnant]] Karl-Wolf Albrand, tried to enter the harbour of Piombino but was denied access by the port authorities.<ref name="iltirreno"/> General [[Cesare Maria De Vecchi]], in command of the Italian coastal forces (and a former Fascist [[Gerarca]]), commanded the port authorities to allow the German flotilla to enter, against the advice of [[Commander]] Amedeo Capuano, the Naval commander of the harbour.<ref name="iltirreno"/><ref name="larepubblica">[http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2000/10/08/piombino-citta-di-eroi.html Piombino città di eroi]</ref><ref name="toscanaoggi">[http://www.toscanaoggi.it/Cultura-Societa/8-settembre-43-la-breve-illusione-di-pace 8 settembre ’43: la breve illusione di pace]</ref> Once they entered and landed, the German forces showed a hostile behaviour, and it became clear that their intent was to [[military occupation|occupy]] the town; the local population asked for a resolved reaction by the Italian forces, threatening an insurrection, but the senior Italian commander, general Fortunato Perni, instead ordered his [[tank]]s to open fire on the civilians, to disperse the crowds; De Vecchi forbade any action against the Germans.<ref name="iltirreno"/><ref name="larepubblica"/><ref name="toscanaoggi"/> This however did not stop the protests; some [[junior officer]]s, acting on their own initiative and against the orders (Perni and De Vecchi even tried to dismiss them for this), assumed command and started distributing [[weapon]]s to the population, and civilian volunteers joined the Italian sailors and soldiers in the defense.<ref name="iltirreno"/><ref name="larepubblica"/><ref>[http://leg15.camera.it/organiparlamentari/ufficiopresidenza/leg13/_view.asp?id=38 55° della Battaglia di Piombino]</ref> Battle broke out at 21:15 on 10 September, between the German landing forces (who aimed to occupy the town centre) and the Italian coastal batteries, tanks, and civilian population.<ref name="iltirreno"/><ref name="larepubblica"/><ref name="toscanaoggi"/> Italian tanks sank the German [[torpedo boat]] ''TA11'';<ref>[http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/6064.html Uboat.net]</ref><ref>[http://www.wlb-stuttgart.de/seekrieg/43-09.htm Seekrieg, September 1943]</ref> Italian artillery also sank seven [[Marinefährprahm]]e, the [[Péniche (barge)|péniche]]s ''Mainz'' and ''Meise'' (another péniche, ''Karin'', was scuttled at the harbour entrance as a [[blockship]]) and six [[Luftwaffe]] service boats (''Fl.B.429'', ''Fl.B.538'', ''Fl.C.3046'', ''Fl.C.3099'', ''Fl.C.504'' e ''Fl.C.528''), and heavily damaged the torpedo boat ''TA 9'' and the [[Steamboat|steamers]] ''Carbet'' and ''Capitano Sauro'' (formerly Italian).<ref name="hma">[http://www.forum-marinearchiv.de/smf/index.php?topic=5964.0 Forum Marinearchiv]</ref> ''Sauro'' and ''Carbet'' were scuttled because of the damage they had suffered.<ref name="hma"/><ref>[http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?162882 Wrecksite – Carbet.]</ref> The German attack was repelled; by the dawn of 11 September, 120 Germans had been killed and about 200–300 captured, 120 of them wounded.<ref name="toscanaoggi"/> Italian casualties had been 4 killed (two [[sailor]]s, one [[Guardia di Finanza]] [[brigadier]], and one civilian) and a dozen wounded;<ref>[http://www.comune.piombino.li.it/epress/archivio16_epress-contenuti_0_38491_0_6.html Taglio del nastro per la banchina «Giorgio Perini»]</ref><ref>[http://www.marinaiditalia.com/public/uploads/2013_12_38.pdf Marinai d'Italia]</ref> four Italian [[submarine chaser]]s (''VAS 208'', ''214'', ''219'' and ''220'') were also sunk during the fighting.<ref name="hma"/> Later in the morning, however, De Vecchi ordered the prisoners to be released, and had their weapons given back to them.<ref name="iltirreno"/><ref name="larepubblica"/><ref>[http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/de-vecchi-cesare-maria_(Dizionario-Biografico)/ Cesare Maria De Vecchi – Dizionario Biografico Treccani]</ref> New popular protests broke out, as the Italian units were disbanded and the senior commanders fled from the city; the divisional command surrendered Piombino to the Germans on 12 September, and the city was occupied.<ref name="iltirreno"/><ref name="larepubblica"/><ref name="toscanaoggi"/> Many of the sailors, soldiers and citizens who had fought in the battle of Piombino retreated to the surrounding [[wood]]s and formed the first [[Partisan (military)|partisan]] formations in the area.<ref name="larepubblica"/> For the deeds of its citizens, the town received a Gold Medal for Military Valour from President [[Carlo Azeglio Ciampi]].