Martin Adler fought along the Gothic Line, and in October 1944 was among the US troops liberating the area surrounding Monterenzio, a village in the Apennines near Bologna.

He entered a cottage in the village with fellow soldier, John Bronsky, thinking it was empty.

When they heard a noise coming from a large wicker basket, they thought German soldiers might be hiding inside and so prepared to shoot.

At that moment, a panicked mother entered the room shouting: “Don’t shoot … children, children!”

Three siblings, aged between three and six, then jumped out of the basket.

Relieved, Adler offered the children – Bruno, Mafalda and Giuliana Naldi – some chocolate and asked if he could have a photo taken with them using a camera he had with him.

Their mother agreed, but on the condition she could dress them in their best clothes.

Seventy-six years later, and now living in Florida, Adler asked his daughter, Rachelle, to try to track down the siblings to see if any were still alive.

Last week, Rachelle posted a message alongside the original photo on a Facebook page for veteran soldiers from the US and Canada who had been stationed in Italy.

The appeal was picked up by Italian writer and journalist, Matteo Incerti, who launched the search in Italy through the media and word of mouth.

Within three days, Incerti received a message from a care worker of one of Bruno Naldi’s friends: “There’s an 83-year-old man who needs to talk to you. He’s the one in the photograph.”

The care worker said she’d met Bruno in a park and he’d told her he recognised himself from the photo in the newspaper and wanted to contact the journalist but didn’t know how to.

“Straightaway she found me on Facebook and wrote me a message,” Incerti said.

Incerti immediately returned the call, and spoke to Bruno, born in 1938, in a conversation he described as a “succession of emotions”.

“Excited, he told me that he’d recognised himself in the photo and that he remembers the Americans in his house,” Incerti said.

“He told me about his sisters Mafalda and Giuliana, who are also still alive!

“Mafalda immediately recognised herself in that photo shared on the news, online and in newspapers after my post.

“Giuliana remembers that large basket where they hid for fun.

“They remember the chocolate that the soldiers gave them.”

Following that emotional phone call, Incerti made another one, this time to Florida. 

Incerti broke the news to an overjoyed Adler who exclaimed: “My heart is exploding with joy.”

Incerti then wasted little time in setting out to meet Bruno, Mafalda and Giuliana in person, and to arrange a reunion between the four protagonists of the photograph.

As a result, Adler was able to have a video-call on Monday with the three siblings, who are now aged 83, 82 and 79 respectively.

It was an unforgettable moment that crossed time and borders.

Bruno, Mafalda and Giuliana Naldi with journalist Matteo Incerti. (Photo: ANSA)

Adler greeted all three “children” by their names and immediately asked them: “Do you want some chocolate?”

In an emotional reunion, Adler said he would like to live until he’s 100 and return to Italy to meet Bruno, Mafalda and Giuliana when the coronavirus pandemic is over.

“Everyone is calling it a Christmas miracle,” Incerti said.

“Adler said this is the nicest thing that has ever happened to him.

“After the war he suffered from PTSD.

“He received a bronze medal for saving wounded people, but he also watched a lot of people die.”

The three siblings live in Castel San Pietro, Emilia-Romagna, where they moved in 1953.

With ANSA