Princess Mafalda of Savoy

Princess Mafalda of Savoy, born on November second, nineteen hundred and two, was the second daughter of King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy and his wife, Elena of Montenegro. Growing up in a royal household, she shared a close bond with her mother, often accompanying her on visits to Italian military hospitals during World War I, showcasing her compassion and dedication to those in need.

In nineteen twenty-five, at the age of twenty-two, Mafalda married Philipp, the Landgrave of Hesse. Together, they welcomed four children into their family, creating a life that intertwined nobility with the challenges of the times.

Tragically, during World War II, Mafalda's life took a harrowing turn. In nineteen forty-three, she was deceived into visiting the German Embassy under the pretense that her husband needed her. Unbeknownst to her, he was already imprisoned in a concentration camp, while their children found refuge in the Vatican. Upon her arrival, she was arrested and subsequently transported through various locations, ultimately ending up in the notorious Buchenwald concentration camp.

On August twenty-fourth, nineteen forty-four, the Allies bombed Buchenwald's ammunition factory, leading to a devastating incident where Mafalda suffered severe burns on her left arm and face. She was discovered buried under debris, and despite undergoing surgery, she succumbed to blood loss during the night of August twenty-eighth, leaving behind a legacy marked by resilience and tragedy.