Mafalda
The Life of Mafalda di Savoia
Mafalda di Savoia was an Italian princess, the second daughter of Vittorio Emanuele III of Savoia and Elena del Montenegro. Born in 1902, she was affectionately nicknamed ''Muti'' by her family. Throughout her life, she was deeply connected to her family, her Catholic religion, and her passion for music and art.
Childhood and Adolescence
During her childhood, Mafalda spent a lot of time with her mother and sisters. Holidays were an opportunity for the whole family to spend time together in Sant'Anna di Valdieri, Racconigi and San Rossore. During the First World War, along with her sisters, she accompanied her mother on frequent visits to soldiers and hospitals, becoming involved in maternal activities of comfort and care for the troops.
Marriage
Mafalda married Prince Philipp of Hesse in Racconigi on September 23, 1925. Philipp was the son of Landgrave Friedrich Karl of Hesse-Kassel. Although initially her father was opposed to the marriage due to their religious differences (Mafalda was Catholic and Philipp was Lutheran), he eventually consented to the union.
During the rise of fascism in Italy, Mafalda sympathetically viewed the country's politics. For the birth of her children, Adolf Hitler awarded her the Cross of Merit (as with all mothers of large families).
In September 1943, when the armistice with the Allies was signed, Mafalda was in Sofia to assist her sister Giovanna di Savoia, whose husband was dying. She was not informed of the dangers of the situation, perhaps for fear that she would inform her husband, who was under the command of the Führer of Germany.
Deportation
After the funeral of her brother-in-law, Boris III of Bulgaria, Princess Mafalda decided to return to Rome to be reunited with her children and family, ignoring the risks. Although she was the daughter of Vittorio Emanuele III of Italy and deeply connected to her original family, she was also a German citizen, a German princess, and the wife of a German officer, and therefore believed that the Germans would respect her.
Unfortunately, this was not the case. She was arrested on September 23, 1943, exactly 18 years after her marriage. She was taken to the Piazza Carità prison in Rome and later deported to Germany, where she was imprisoned in the Buchenwald concentration camp. During the journey, Princess Mafalda injured her thumb in an opening of the train door. The wound, which had become infected and resisted the makeshift treatments, led to her death.
Conclusion
Mafalda di Savoia was a highly respected, beloved princess who was deeply connected to her family and religious convictions. Her tragic fate has left an indelible mark on Italian and German history, but her memory remains alive and never forgotten.
