Civilian accounts of wartime italy

Discussion in 'Italy' started by Phaethon, Nov 5, 2009.

  1. Phaethon

    Phaethon Historian

    (in italian post #7)

    This is a bit of a shot in the dark but I know that a number of italian's read this site so I have a bit of a request.

    I'm interested in obtaining first hand civillian accounts of life in italy during ww2 and was wondering if anyone had any relatives who were alive at the time who were willing to talk about it in an online interview conducted via email?

    This isn't an easy task: the ww2 generation aren't always computer savy, and add to the fact that the nature of the topic isn't pleasant, and the conditions in italy at the time were highly distressing... so I fully understand the magnitude of what I am asking. I have a translator who can translate for me, so if you can read this.

    The civillian account of life in italy is often overlooked in favor of the military side of the conflict and I believe first hand accounts are an important part of understanding the time that is being entirely lost to a new generation. As a result I would like to post relevant sections from the interviews (with permission) here.

    regards,

    adam
     
  2. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

  3. Phaethon

    Phaethon Historian

    Phaethon

    Look no further than this highly evocative article in the BBC WW2 People's War Archives:
    BBC - WW2 People's War - A Childhood in Nazi-Occupied Italy

    The author, Peter Ghiringhelli, is a distinguished forum member.

    Ron

    Thanks Ron; i know you've been highly involved in the BBC project and i'd like to thank you for showing me that (and also for writing some really great articles).

    I know there is a homefront section on this website, however I feel this section is the one that attracts visitors who are interested in the topic.

    What I'm after is really after is some new accounts before they are lost forever, I already have some interviews lined up during my trip to the Gustav line this xmas, and i'll post them here if they're any good... I't depends on the standard of my italian. (she's about 5'4 and brunette)
     
  4. sicily43

    sicily43 Senior Member

    hello adam
    I remember everything that my grandparents told me about those years, but unfortunately are died.
    But still there are many people who have lived.
    I could help you but it is difficult to do a live interview.
    I suggest you send me a questionnaire and then I run the interviews.
    I can be carried out in Sicily, but also in northern Italy.
    perhaps?
     
  5. Kristi

    Kristi Junior Member

    Hi Adam, I just saw your threat and I just had to answer. My nonno was born in 1915 in Limano, Italy ( a small village in Northern Italy) Unfortunately he spent the years from 32-46 working in Germany. However you can pass along any questions or a questionairre that you have, I'll pass them along and we can see what he says, won't hurt to try! No worries about drudging up bad memories, I ask him all the time whenever I see him (which is like everyday practically) and he loves talking about it. The way he talks about Mussolini you think he ranks him right up there with the Pope. Anyways let me know what you think!
     
  6. Phaethon

    Phaethon Historian

    Thank you very much for the replies, private messages are on their way! i think this project needs a bit of time to run, so if anyone else has any stories, please let me know!
     
  7. Phaethon

    Phaethon Historian

    "Sono interessato a sapere di piu' sulle condizioni di vita in Italia durante la seconda guerra mondiale direttamente da persone che hanno vissuto in quel periodo. Se qualcuno ha parenti che hanno vissuto in quel periodo e sono disposti a parlarne potremmo organizzare un'intervista per email. Mi rendo conto che quello che chiedo non e' facile, sia perche' la generazione a cui mi rivolgo non sempre ha familiarita' con i computer, sia per la natura spiacevole dell'argomento e la richiesta di ricordare un periodo spesso duro e difficile. Per questo apprezzo molto l'aiuto che potrete darmi! L'aspetto militare del conflitto e' spesso privilegiato a discapito dei racconti sulla vita dei civili, mentre credo che queste testimonianze siano importantissime per capire a fondo quel periodo e passare quelle informazioni alle generazioni future. Quindi, col vostro permesso, mi piacerebbe anche mostrare parti delle interviste in questo sito."
     
  8. PeterG

    PeterG Senior Member

    Phaethon

    If your Italian is up to it you will find these books of interest regarding civilian life in German occupied Italy:

    Le stragi nascoste by Mimmo Franzinelli (Oscar Mondadori, 2003)

    "Maledetti figli di Giudda, vi prenderemo!": La caccia nazifascista agli ebrei in una terra di confine. Varese 1943-1945 by Franco Giannantoni (Arterigeri Esse-Zeta, 2005)

    Mi own account, kindly mentioned by Ron, was limited to 2,000 words. I have now expanded it to over 80,000 words under the title A British Boy in Fascist Italy to be published by The History Press in September 2010.

    A British Boy in Fascist Italy: Amazon.co.uk: Peter Ghiringhelli: Books

    Best of luck with your project.
     
  9. Phaethon

    Phaethon Historian

    Phaethon

    If your Italian is up to it you will find these books of interest regarding civilian life in German occupied Italy:

    Le stragi nascoste by Mimmo Franzinelli (Oscar Mondadori, 2003)

    "Maledetti figli di Giudda, vi prenderemo!": La caccia nazifascista agli ebrei in una terra di confine. Varese 1943-1945 by Franco Giannantoni (Arterigeri Esse-Zeta, 2005)

    Mi own account, kindly mentioned by Ron, was limited to 2,000 words. I have now expanded it to over 80,000 words under the title A British Boy in Fascist Italy to be published by The History Press in September 2010.

    A British Boy in Fascist Italy: Amazon.co.uk: Peter Ghiringhelli: Books

    Best of luck with your project.

    Thanks Peter, i'll definitely check that out!
     
  10. adamf

    adamf Junior Member

    Hi Kristi,
    Did your nonno return to Limano after the war? I know this beautiful village and would be very interested to hear any war stories from the Lima region. I have heard a story about a British parachutist who hid at Limano, can he shed any light on this?
     
  11. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Phaethon
    I can only confirm Ron's statement of PeterG's article and hopefully the forthcoming book will give you all you need about life in occupied Italy..
    Cheers
     
  12. Dave Homewood

    Dave Homewood Member

  13. TiredOldSoldier

    TiredOldSoldier Senior Member

    A pretty good book in English is Italy's Sorrow by James Holland though it centers more on the fighting rather than everyday life.
    Most people of my parent's generation tend to avoid speaking about the war. The events after the armistice are still politically very hot, there is significant revisionist history going on today, so you will need to speak to a number of people to get "the big picture".
    In the Rome area where my father's family lived the main issue was food shortages, the occupation was relatively short, there was no heavy fighting in the area and via Rasella/Fosse Ardeatine was a rather isolated episode. Those who could left the town for the nearby villages where German presence was minimal or non existent unless the village happened to be on a major transportation route. IMO further North the situation was much worse, partisan activity and reprisals were commonplace and allied bombing was heavier. Fear of a generalized uprising kept about 40% of Kesselring's forces on occupation duties and heavy reprisals for partisan activities were common. The fight between the RSI forces and the partisans had all the characteristics and ferocity of a civil war, with the splt sometimes being across single families, and the option to "stay out of it", that most people living south of the frontlines took, was often unavailable.
     
  14. Firestarblue

    Firestarblue New Member

    I love reading about people's wartime experiences, both military and civilian. I would love to connect with people who have relatives from the area: my father grew up in Bagni di Lucca (Giardinetto), near Limano. He used to tell me about life there before and during wwII: how they used to spend all day fishing in the river, sliding down wet rocky slopes into it, how they cycled everywhere, making ceramic pottery, how his father took him on trips to the walled city of Lucca, and how during wartime he used to ride his bicycle up the hill to Limano, past a creepy cemetery, to play his accordion for some money. He went to the church in limano. During the war his father was away (his father was a truck driver in Africa, then the family didn't hear from him until after the war when he returned home via bicycle from Germany where he had been a prisoner in a forced-labour camp). During the occupation, my father said he lived at his parental home, as well as his mother's family home (near the road up to limano). He told me that his home was occupied by SS troops and he had a close-call with a gun pointed at him for trying to steal a soldier's cigarette from the dining table once. During occupation he said he was forced to be (what he calls) a "water boy" for the German soldiers who were welding (I think). He remembers his family going a very long time without eating meat until one day they noticed the cat missing... that evening they had meat for dinner...and no one in his family asked any questions because they were grateful for a full belly. They stole chestnuts from neighbours trees and ate them, made flour from them after roasting. My grandmother (living) grew up in occupied Holland and shares stories too. earlier this year I showed my father his family homes on google earth - he remembered everything so clearly and with such detail: he said "down this road there should be a water fountain..." ...we scrolled, and there it was! He took control of the mouse and showed me where other businesses and things were...and the many changes. He seemed to look upon it all fondly, as if the good memories of his childhood cancelled out the hardship of wartime...
     
  15. vitellino

    vitellino Senior Member

    Hello,

    I interviewed about twenty Italians for my book 'The Trasimene Line June-July 1944', which was published by the Sorbello Foundation in Perugia in 2002. A new version came out in 2013. James Holland never even mentions the battle except for a brief reference to the village of Gioiella so if you do get his book you won't find that I've duplicated anything.

    Last year the foundation published my book 'Cortona 1944'. About half of it consists of my translation of a book written in 1946 called 'La Piccola Patria', which is a collection of accounts of wartime experiences written by local priests and other people.

    You can order both copies from www.fondazioneranieri.org

    Regards,

    Vitellino (Janet Kinrade Dethick)
     
  16. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    I can recommend the book ‘War in Val D’Orcia’ by Iris Origo as mentioned in post 12 above.

    Val dOrcia (1).JPG Val dOrcia (1a).JPG

    The family house was in the area of Lake Trasimeno (it can be found at 43.024318, 11.779215) and the diary details the trauma of the locals as war raged on their doorstep.

    The book is largely unconcerned with individual regiments or units, other than a fleeting reference to the liberation of Montepulciano by the Scots Guards and the author’s meeting with Colonel Derek Cardiff.

    A preview of the book can be seen at:


    https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=RT2KAgAAQBAJ&lpg=PT10&dq=war%20in%20val%20d'orcia&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false
     

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