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Donated Discoveries Near Lake Garda: Artifacts from the 10th Mountain and British Special Forces.

Three remarkable WWII artifacts — preserved for decades — now join the Association Benàch collection. The Association Benàch is delighted to share news of three remarkable donations that have recently joined our growing collection of WWII artefacts. An elderly gentleman from a small mountain village near Lake Garda kindly entrusted us with items he had cared for over many decades — a tangible link to the final battles of the Second World War in northern Italy. His generosity has brought to light a pair of 10th Mountain Division boots bearing the marks of rugged terrain and long marches.

A pair of original 10th Mountain Division ski-mountain boots, donated by a 92-year-old resident from the Lake Garda region. The original soles were replaced after the war when the boots were reused by a local Italian — a powerful reminder of how valuable such equipment was to civilians in the difficult years following World War II.
A pair of original 10th Mountain Division ski-mountain boots, donated by a 92-year-old resident from the Lake Garda region. The original soles were replaced after the war when the boots were reused by a local Italian — a powerful reminder of how valuable such equipment was to civilians in the difficult years following World War II.

A U.S. Army water bottle, with the faint initials “A.M.” — perhaps the only remaining clue to the identity of its wartime owner.

Standard-issue U.S. Army canteen used by soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division in Italy during the final months of World War II. Found preserved in excellent condition, it offers a tangible link to the daily life of troops who fought in the harsh mountain terrain of northern Italy.
Standard-issue U.S. Army canteen used by soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division in Italy during the final months of World War II. Found preserved in excellent condition, it offers a tangible link to the daily life of troops who fought in the harsh mountain terrain of northern Italy.
A British Commando-style rucksack recovered from the Lake Garda area. Though not a standard 10th Mountain Division issue, such packs were often traded, repurposed, or found among Allied units operating in the region — symbolizing the cooperation and resourcefulness that defined the Allied campaign in northern Italy.
A British Commando-style rucksack recovered from the Lake Garda area. Though not a standard 10th Mountain Division issue, such packs were often traded, repurposed, or found among Allied units operating in the region — symbolizing the cooperation and resourcefulness that defined the Allied campaign in northern Italy.
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A British Commando / SAS rucksack, a rare and evocative reminder of the Allied special forces who operated across the Italian front. For those familiar with Patrick K. O’Donnell’s book The Brenner Assignment — which chronicles daring missions north of this very region — such an item sets the imagination running, evoking the secret operations and courageous men who carried the fight through the Alps. Each of these artefacts carries a silent story: Who wore those boots through the snow and over the ridges? To whom did that canteen belong? How did these items find their way to a quiet Alpine village overlooking Lake Garda? Such discoveries remind us that history is still alive around us — hidden in attics, barns, and memories, waiting to be shared. Every object helps us better understand the courage, hardship, and humanity of those who fought in the mountains of Italy. If you have an object, document, or photograph connected to the Second World War — especially the campaigns in northern Italy — and would like to help preserve this shared heritage, we would love to hear from you.  


We are always grateful to receive donations or stories that help us keep history alive. Please reach out to us through our website or by email — every artifact has a story worth telling.


Contact the Association Benàch.

📞 Phone: +39 349 193 0803


 
 
 

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