Italian internees footprints of italian prisoners of war. Official australian world war two histories military books. Most were civilian men, but some women and children were also interned. Favourite ww2 books set in italy any book, fiction or nonfiction, set in italy during world war two. During world war ii, internment camps were established at orange and hay in new south wales for ethnic germans in australia whose loyalty was suspect. I have to say that the title is thoroughly misleading. It had a substantial impact on the italian australian community and constituted a major disruption to the lives both of the internees and of those who remained on the outside. At its peak in 1942, more that 12 000 people were being interned in australia.
Pdf italian civilian internment in south australia. The bamboo and wood arch was built by japanese internees. Forces war records have exclusively released the world war ii italian prisoner of war camp nominal rolls for you to search online. The entrance to no 14 camp of the loveday internment camp group. A twovolume alphabetical list of italian prisoners. Australian war memorial id 03024614 photo by ronald leslie stewart. Sep 20, 2012 when fascist italy declared war on britain in mid1940, almost 5,000 italians living in australia were imprisoned in internment camps. The trigger was a letter sent from an internment camp in australia during world war ii, but only hand delivered 70 years later. The dunera boys 70 years on after notorious voyage bbc news. Italian internees footprints of italian prisoners of war in. Ron bridge a requirement to establish a definitive list of british subjects interned as civilians by the japanese in concentration camps some euphemistically called civil assembly centres by tokyo has shown that no comprehensive list appears to be in existence.
During world war ii many enemy aliens were interned in australia under the national security act 1939. It was world war two, and domenico mick camarda was one of an estimated 14,000 italian prisoners of war put to work on australias farms under a unique scheme. Internment during world war ii australia in 1939 thousands of australian residents suddenly found themselves identified as potential threats to australia s national security. Family, military, and social historians will find much of interest in the records of italian prisoners and internees held in india during the second world war. The internment of italian americans refers to the governments internment of italian nationals in the united states during world war ii, similar to that of the internment of german americans. Prisoners of war were also sent to australia from other allied countries for internment in australia. The internment of italian australians during the second world war is to a. By the early 1970s, as a result of recession in australia and growing prosperity in italy, more italian born people were leaving australia than entering. Germans and italians were also interned because of their nationality, particularly. Italian and japanese experience in australia during both world war ii. The diaries importance lies in its potential to interpret the place as a site associated to pows and internment, the internment camp itself, the refugee pow experience. Italian prisoners of war and internees in india untold.
Italian internees at the australian prisoner of war and internment camp, loveday, south australia during ww2. These prisoners consisted of the personnel and patients of italian army hospitals who had previously been stationed in southeastern europe. Top 10 books about postwar britain books the guardian. It reflects the variety of religious and political groups within this community during the wwii period templers. As was customary after italy and the us were at war, they were classified as enemy aliens and some were detained by the department of justice under the alien and sedition act. Oct 25, 2017 civilian internees were generally disregarded in official histories, and few received formal recognition. For those interested in reading about canadas contribution to the italian campaign during ww2 here are a series of books by the canadian military historian, mark zuehlke, that may interest some members. Australia has long imprisoned the fleeing, the desperate, the alien and the radical.
The first trainload of 458 italian internees arrived on 11 june 1941, after having been transferred from the camp at hay in western nsw. Details of italian internees who died in australia 19411946 provides a little of the history for each internee resting at the ossario. Books, images, historic newspapers, maps, archives and more. The outbreak of world war ii triggered a mass fear of invasion by germany and later japan. Australia interned about 7000 residents during world war 2 and a further 8000 people were sent to australia after being detained by australia s allies overseas. Message 6 the story of the italians in britain ww2 posted on. See more ideas about internment, australia and world war. Internees devoted their time to creative pursuits like theatre, musical ensembles, art and photography, while others involved themselves in sporting activities, gardening or studying. From any genre so long as it is about the italian experience of the war or how italy and italians viewed the war. Wwii internment camps in britain posted on february 17, 2018 by dirkdeklein under great britain, history, holocaust, internment camps, world war 2 collar the lot, is what churchill said about the citizens of enemy nations living in the uk, it didnt matter if they were friend or foe.
South australia italian pows footprints of italian. Many scholars argue that the japanese were subjected to disproportionate internment because of racism by the white american government against asian minorities. The book is based on indepth interviews with five groups of surviving german. Australian war memorial id 122983 photo by hedley keith cullen. Beginning in october 1943, in the wake of italys surrender on 8 september, several transports of italian prisoners of war arrived in zeithain. When fascist italy declared war on britain in mid1940, almost 5,000 italians living in australia were imprisoned in internment camps. White covered recipe book with red writing and logo on front cover. Although many german and italian internees had us citizenship, the internment of european enemy nationalities focused on illegal aliens. The writing and recording of australia s war history has been the responsibly of the awm.
Without diminishing its association with other nationalities mainly italian and japanese, the tatura world war ii internment and pow camps collection is particularly associated with the german community in victoria. The duchess of york was the first to sail, with 2,500 internees to canada. Many italians and italianaustralians were interned in australia during the second. The dunera boys 70 years on after notorious voyage bbc. Civilian internees in australia the australian war memorial. Search by first and last name for enemy aliens and internees in the first and second world wars on. Internees were mostly enemy aliens from countries at war with australia. Italian military internees gedenkstatte ehrenhain zeithain. As well as german internees, there were a large amount of japanese and italian being kept in internment camps. The hay internment and pow camps at hay, new south wales, australia were established during world war ii as prisonerofwar and internment centres, due in no small measure to the isolated location of the town. Ww2 civilian internment in australia photographs nikkei. Prisoner of war and internment camps in australia during ww2. For anybody researching a prisoner of war, this could prove to be a crucial source of information, perhaps offering a missing jigsaw piece to your genealogy puzzle.
These are the facts, so far as i know them, partly based on history books and partly. Some 18,400 italian prisoners of war out of 50,000 requested by the australian government, to be employed as farm labourers were transported from india to australia from 1943. Prisoner of war identity card issued by the commonwealth of australia department of the army no. The loveday internment group accommodated german, italian and japanese internees from the various states of australia, and internees and. Enemy aliens or residents of australia with perceived links to axis nations were also placed in camps, for fear of enemy attack, spying or espionage. These prisoners were referred to as italian military internees. World war ii internment camps became home to germanaustralians.
Although i am ignorant of italian writing, and i know you love the air war stuff, i wondered if, and. More than 7,000 internees were deported, the majority to canada, some to australia. Australias world war ii concentration camps red flag. Queensland italian internees once released from internment went three ways. The collection comprises various objects including a soccer jumper. Italian historical society database of italian civil internees including people living in australia at the time of capture, people resident in new guinea and the british protectorate of palestine, and passengers and crew from italian ships captured in australian waters. During the second world war, japanese residents were interned en masse. Listen to italian internees on bbc world services witness i was then shown an old log book discovered in a secondhand bookshop of the italians held in.
List of concentration and internment camps wikipedia. Others could leave the camps when fighting stopped. However no book has been written exclusively about the italian australian internment experience. Note the tents in the background which were the living quarters for the inmates. The tatura world war ii internment and pow camps collection is a rare contribution to the little known history of war camps in victoria, the policies implemented by the commonwealth government during world war two, and the stories of the people associated with the camps such as the dunera boys.
Many ships carrying internees were torpedoed at sea in enemy action and these losses led to the end of the policy of deporting internees. This is a guide to finding records of individual internees. On july 10, 1943, two great allied armadas of over 2,000 ships readied to invade sicily. Germans and italians were also interned on the basis of their nationality. During the first and second world wars both sides set up internment camps to hold enemy aliens civilians who were believed to be a potential threat and have sympathy with the enemys war objectives. Interned italians in montana, they rioted over olive oil for the enemy aliens held at fort missoula, suet was an insult. This book deals with the italian frontthe oftenforgotten war between austriahungary and italy during wwi. Pows in india were shipped to south africa to help build the railway there. Unfortunately, a number of them were merely australians from broome who were descended from japanese pearlers. Comparing the us interment of japanese, german, and italian. They wore distinctive burgundycoloured army uniforms that branded them internees. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Italian internees at loveday dyed their uniforms and army staff working at 3rd salvage depot are photographed dyeing salvage uniforms which were possibly used for the italian pows.
When italy joined the war thousands of italians were rounded up too, irrespective of their political allegiances or. It is a littleknown fact that in california during world war ii, italian americans were. Why australia must apologise to italians interned during. In december of 1941 japanese internees were conveyed to the camp from cowra. You may be surprised to learn that there are documents about italians in the india office records. As many italian internees were released during 1943 it was decided to close no 9 compound and transfer the remaining italians to no 14d compound in the loveday internment camp group. Close to the war in the pacific, the area was seen as vulnerable to an invasion by the japanese. A class of german school children whose parents are interned at no. However there were many others who were still free.
The italian born population of australia increased from 120,000 in. Lists of the majority of british military prisoners of war. Upon initial arrival in australia, the italian and nazi prisoners of war disembarked in melbourne, and then once the ship arrived in sydney on 6 september 1940, an australian. List of names of prisoners of war held in australia during ww2. All the books listed here are available at the national archives library in kew. During the first and second world wars both sides set up internment camps to. World war ii enemy alien control program overview brief overview of the world war ii enemy alien control program. Bevege 1993 concentrates on the internment experience of germans and has relatively less to s ay about italians, a 48 minute video documentary on the tatura internment camp which housed mainly german internees and pows was. Bringing together national and international perspectives on italian and other wartime internees, the essays in this book assess the differing interpretations offered of italian internment in canada, the uk, the usa, and australia during wwii.
As was customary after italy and the us were at war, they were classified as enemy aliens and some were detained by the department of justice under. At the start of the war many italian sugarcane cutters and shearers working in queensland with proaxis sentiments were interned. The government deported most internees at the end of the war. Prisoners of war were captured members of enemy military forces, or those who had surrendered. Buy books about australia in ww2 from boffins books. In australia, they were interned with german, italian or japanese nationals. Alternatively, you can browse the digitised collections of enemy aliens and internees. Australian war memorial id 123032 photo by hedley keith cullen.
Museums victoria museums australia victoria victorian government. The greater part of this book is a detailed description of the 12 battles of the isonzo, which did indeed comprise the majority of military action on this front, but which did not take place in the alps. Internees from overseas national library of australia. Internment of enemy aliens australia in world war 2. Captured lives mentions over 30 of the main camps that were spread across australia during the two world wars. Italian internees were also sent to australia from palestine and new guinea. Italian civilian internment in south australia revisited.
Ironically, however, civilian internees have become the subject of several influential books and films. Black two ring folder with printed material enclosed in plastic sleeves. Internment started immediately following the outbreak of war in 1939, with a small number of germans being sent to tribunals for assessment as a potential danger to the country. List of world war ii prisonerofwar camps in australia. From there, the men marched the remaining four miles to camp 9. Object name dunera boys hay internment camp collection. The number of enemy aliens from overseas who were interned in australia was. Many internees were italian sugarcane farmers from north queensland. On 2nd july, 1940, he second of these ships, the arandora star, carrying 1,571 german and italian internees to canada, was torpedoed and sunk off the west coast of ireland, with the loss of 682 lives. Most japanese internees, including some who were born in australian, were sent back to japan in 1946.
World war ii italian fiction, italian fiction, books. Internees from britain or europe could stay in australia. Saw italian americans as a threat to homeland security the executive order that forced japaneseamericans from their homes also put immigrants from italy under the. Folio wartimes camps italian internees and prisoners of. During world war i and world war ii, australia held both prisoners of war and internees. Immediately after the bombing of pearl harbor, president roosevelt issued presidential proclamations 2525, 2526, and 2527 to authorize the united states to detain allegedly potentially dangerous enemy aliens. The government released many internees before the end of the war. Italian emigrants went to australia from 1961 to 1970 bosworth, 1988. Objectcollection description a collection of objects from the german and austrian jewish refugees from the ss dunera who were interred at hay internment camp during world war ii. Commonwealth of australia, august warrant for internment of enemy aliens. Were open 7 days a week and deliver for a flat rate, australia wide. German refugees from nazism including the dunera boys.
Records of enemy aliens and internees, first and second world wars. Boffins books is a treasured specialist bookseller in the heart of perths cbd. In particular, the jingoistic fanfare of successive governments war commemorations has drowned out the stories of the tens of. The italians at missoula were just a fraction of the 600,000 italian americans whom the u. During ww2, the internment of enemy aliens in australia fell under the control of the national security act 1939.
The liner arandora star left for canada on 1 july 1940 carrying german and italian internees. By march 1942 many civilians, particularly westerners in the regions european colonies, found themselves behind enemy lines and were subsequently interned by the. Jul 10, 2010 upon initial arrival in australia, the italian and nazi prisoners of war disembarked in melbourne, and then once the ship arrived in sydney on 6 september 1940, an australian medical officer came. The internm ent of italian australians during the second world war is to a large extent una storia segreta. Search and download lists of passengers leaving from uk and irish ports travelling to places such as canada, india, new zealand and australia, including deported internees, on the. Agnes keiths account of internment in sandakan and kuching, three came home 1948, was one of the first of the memoirs. Few italian families escaped the human cost of detention as. Internment during world war ii in queensland took many forms. Mar 30, 2020 the loveday internment group accommodated german, italian and japanese internees from the various states of australia, and internees and prisoners of war from the netherlands east indies, the pacific islands, new zealand, britain and the middle east. Japanese internment a dark chapter of australian history. Dec 05, 2011 italianaustralians were arguably the largest group of almost 5,000 italian civilians incarcerated in any allied nation, yet this remains insignificant in australias wartime story. Easy, secure checkout and flatrate shipping australia wide. This is a list of prisoner of war camps in australia during world war ii. Italian internees at the australian prisoner of war.
Allied prisoners of war pows of german, italian and japanese origin, were brought here following capture in battle overseas. Mia spizzica has only seen her 84yearold father sob once. This collection provides details of foreign nationals interned by the british government during world war two. Authorities took a collar the lot approach, interning 98 per cent of all male japanese aliens registered in australia, compared to 32 per cent of italian and german males. Japanese internees starting to leave the train which brought them from hay on their way to the loveday internment camp group in the barmera area. It allowed for the accommodation of internees and prisoners of war pows in internment camps. Aug 14, 2014 after japan surrendered, all japanese internees were forcibly repatriated to japan unless they were australia born or had an australianborn spouse. Todays refugee concentration camps on manus island and nauru are not really new. During world war ii, the legal basis for this detention was under presidential proclamation 2526, made by president franklin delano roosevelt under the authority of the alien and sedition acts. Or, as the title of her selfpublished book put it more sentimentally years ago, i loved an italian prisoner of war. World war ii internment camps became home to german. Nov 30, 2016 top 10 books about postwar britain from george orwell to john wyndham, novelist linda grant finds compelling reading about the strange interregnum that followed the defeat of nazi germany.
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