Memorial Stone to Kurt Kayser

During the war, the territory of San Marcello Piteglio was strongly influenced on the one hand by the presence of the SMI munitions factory in Campo Tizzoro, and on the other by the construction and presence of the Gothic Line (German and Italian defensive line). 

After taking control of SMI, Nazi Germany sent German engineer Kurt Kayser, representative in Italy of the German Ministry of Armaments and War Production, to manage the factories. He had previously worked as production manager for Polte-Werke in Magdeburg, one of the largest valve manufacturers in the first half of the 20th century and, during the war, a munitions manufacturer. 

Kayser proved to be a person of great integrity, opposed to violence and willing to help the population and the partisans who contacted him. He provided various forms of support: from finding food and weapons to issuing passes, hiding civilians in air-raid shelters, and avoiding reprisals following partisan attacks in the area. 

After the war, there were many testimonies from combatants and civilians about the engineer's merits. In the 1980s, sought after by the inhabitants of Campo Tizzoro, he returned for a visit and was welcomed with great cordiality and celebrations. 

On 25 April 2009, the municipal administration of San Marcello Pistoiese dedicated a memorial stone to Kurt Kayser. The plaque bore his last words to the people of the Pistoia mountains: “During the Second World War, I worked as an engineer in Campo Tizzoro. My behaviour was what every decent person should do, helping people when they need it”.