The Tour de France Winning Smuggler Who Saved Hundreds of Lives in WW2
by Michael Frank | Dec 26, 2022 | Historical Badass | 15 comments
By Michael Frank | December 26, 2022
We're off this week, our usual winter break spent with a combination of adventuring, relaxing, working when we should be relaxing, all of it over much too fast. Please enjoy this little dip into the archives as we recharge for 2023. – Ed.
Italian Gino Bartali is one of the all-time greatest road cyclists. If it hadn't been for the Second World War and the obvious halt to grand tours among enemy nations, he might have won more Tours de France than anyone. After all, when war broke out, Bartali had already won the Tour once and the Giro d'Italia twice. But what Bartali did during the war was far more righteous and laudable than racing a bike: He saved lives. Hundreds of them. And he kept his secret until the day he died.
Bartali was conscripted into the army, as was his rival Fausto Coppi, but instead was assigned to work for the traffic police. But because Bartali was a national hero (think of American movie stars of the day who were often given a pass from front line duty), he was permitted to go on training rides, a huge gift in a fascist state. Though also one borne of perverse pride. Mussolini felt an Italian sports champion included his country in the 'master race.' When Bartali won the 1938 Tour, he was asked to dedicate the win to Mussolini. He refused, a dangerous slap in the fascist's face.
Bartali, left. Photo: CC
Thing was, throughout his wartime training rides, Bartali wasn't just getting a workout. He was smuggling documents and cash to groups of nuns who were harboring Jews facing deportation to concentration camps. He also delivered messages to the Italian resistance. Bartali would ride huge distances, sometimes more 200 miles in a day, all to carry forged passports, fake IDs, and money in his bike's seat tube and under his jersey—which bore his name, so there was no hiding. He even sheltered Jews in his basement, risking his own family's life.
After the war, he told his son Andrew about his actions, but made him swear not to blurt about it to the press.
Unlike his archrival Coppi, Bartali came from rural roots in the south of Italy and was reserved and conservative. It was only a few years ago that a university history project first revealed the details of Bartali's bravery. Research with the support of the Jewish community in Tuscany and exposure by the journalist Laura Guerra has led to enough testimony to honor Bartali a few years ago in Israel at the Yad Vashem Memorial in Jerusalem. A tree was planted in his honor and he was given the distinction of "Righteous Among the Nations," awarded to those who placed their lives in danger to save Jews during WWII.
Photo: CC
After that war, Bartali continue to rack up wins. He nabbed another Tour and another Giro, even winning three consecutive mountain stages in the 1948 Tour—a feat that has yet to be surpassed. It wasn't even until the 1999 TdF that someone was able to grab three stages in a row, period, let alone mountain stages (that man was Mario Cipollini, who took four in a row on the flats).
In the final reckoning, Bartali's competition accomplishments pale in comparison to his humanitarian: It's estimated that he helped save the lives of as many as 800 Jews who might have otherwise been gassed to death or shot. But Bartali, who died in 2000, was humble to the end. "Good is something you do, not something you talk about. Some medals are pinned to your soul, not to your jacket."
Max G Ralph on March 22, 2019 at 2:22 pm
Great share, thank you.
Dave on March 23, 2019 at 8:07 am
Why isn't his statement, more well known. "Good is something you do, not something you talk about. Some medals are pinned to your soul not your jacket." Brought tears to my eyes. Bellissimo.
Robert Dukes on March 23, 2019 at 8:28 am
Wow,now that's inspiring ,what an awesome Man indeed….I am amazed at the courage and determination that he possessed.
DP Beckfield on March 23, 2019 at 9:50 am
A magnificent story and a great quote. Thank you
PF on March 23, 2019 at 3:53 pm
Road to Valor, awesome book about this great man
Caroline on March 28, 2019 at 11:02 am
One of many stories of courage during times of war!
Ron on May 22, 2019 at 7:01 am
Keep on doing as much as we can do to get his story out! Thank you!! I have read extensively about Gino, but I'm always willing to read more. He's a person who needs to be known to as many as possible, for his willpower to go beyond what just about anyone could bear. His spirit is the type that keeps hope alive, as we relive a dark period in humanity right now.
Thank you for this article, very special.
Lee Wolfson on May 30, 2019 at 6:56 am
Fabulous story. It says a lot about his humanity and those in Italy who refused to cooperate with the Fascists. The difficulty in resuming a career in professional cycling after a long pause is extraordinary. Inspiring.
Janice Chapman on June 30, 2019 at 12:38 am
Enjoyed reading the story. Knew nothing of his history.
Craig on December 26, 2022 at 10:22 am
"Good is something you do, not something you talk about. Some medals are pinned to your soul, not to your jacket."
Damn fine quote right there. I had no idea, at all. Quite a ballsy move, by a ballsy man, thanks for bringing this story to the light of day…
Philip White on December 26, 2022 at 5:05 pm
This is reminiscent of the brilliant book Under a Scarlet Sky. A fine bit of reporting, Michael, and the kind of writing that will keep me subscribing to AJ.
Song on December 26, 2022 at 8:05 pm
Saints walk among us. what a beautiful soul
Dan on December 27, 2022 at 8:20 am
A humble and giant man
Yehoshua Sivan on January 1, 2023 at 10:08 am
Recommended additional reading:
https://primolevicenter.org/tablet-magazine-did-gino-bartali-actually-save-jews-an-investigation/
Nodrog Regreb on January 1, 2023 at 10:50 am
Amazing story about a truly amazing man!