The History behind the cards

The story of Attendente Angelo Brambilla

Angelo Brambillia’s personal box with his movements in Switzerland, his dog tag, his lapel stars, photos and personal card.

Here at Kards we are aware of the history behind the game and we respect its origins. This history is important to us and we want to be part of keeping it alive. This is also true for many of the players. We would like to share this history that we have in common. We have been contacted by a few players who have told us stories of their relatives and we would like to showcase these stories.

The first comes from Lorenzo Brambilla. His grandfather Angelo Brambillia served with Savoia Cavalleria or the Savoy cavalry regiment in the Italian Army. 

Angelo Brambilla’s photo next to his unit, the Savoia Cavalleria in cards. 

Angelo Brambilla was born in 1923, when he joined the Savoy cavalry regiment that had just returned from the Eastern Front where it had suffered heavy casualties during Operation Little Saturn. In Russian it had carried out one of the last significant cavalry charges in history at Isbuscensky in 1942. Angelo received his training at Malpensa and served in the air defense of Milan and in the rescue of civilians under bombing. He trained as a sharpshooter and became an attendant of Major Asti Lion. At the armistice of Italy on 8 September 1943 the Savoy cavalry, being faithful to the King, crossed the Swiss border in arms and handed themselves over to the Swiss army. Angelo arrived at the Kerzes military internment camp on 12 September 1943 and remained interned in Switzerland until 12 July 1945 and came back to an emotional reunion with his family, who had been notified in 1943 of his death. After the war Angelo married and lived a quiet life as a suitcase maker for Gucci and Fendi. Angelo passed away in 2000.

This is just one story of the many ordinary people in a world at war, whose history is represented in cards.

A thank you to Lorenzo Brambilla who submitted the story of his grandfather. Lorenzo is a teacher living in Veneto and works with unaccompanied foreign minors in Italy. He has played Kards since the summer of 2024. His game name is Billa#3018 and his favorite deck is an Alpine deck.

We at 1939 Games would welcome more true life stories like this.

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Attendente Angelo Brambilla