| During and after WWII |
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 Because of the Abyssinia and Spain wars and later because of WWII the demand for hobnails by the army became more and more urgent and the Ledro Valley was the only place where they produced good hobnails for soldiers’ shoes. The "chiodaioli" doubled in number and intensified their work in order to satisfy the important and urgent orders. In those years also in Biacesa some chiodaioli who had worked in St. Pölten built a smithy for about twenty workers, who alternated around four fires. For some of these skilled workers there were military leave and special exoneration so that they could go on forging hobnails. Even the German government, after 8th Sept. 1943, took the hobnails manufacture into account, it was of great importance for the army, so all the chiodaioli who were able to make at least 800 hobnails a day were allowed to stay in their village and continue their work.After WWII, as soon as rubber soles replaced "leather & hobnails", the "chiodaioli" got unemployed. Both cooperative broccami closed, the smithies were dismantled and rearranged into houses or huts for cattle and hay. This exclusive hard work that so long had represented the most important income for many Ledro families simply stopped to exist. (Text by Vittorio Grazioli, from his book "Ferriere, Fucine e Brocche in Val di Ledro") |
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