First pow, then partisan

Discussion in 'Prisoners of War' started by micky, Aug 1, 2011.

  1. micky

    micky Member

    Hello, i'm looking for informations about three ex-POW who fought with the first partisan unit of Reggio Emilia province, the "Seven Cervi Brothers Band" in 1943. All the Cervi brothers was captured and executed on november 1943 and after the war was awarded with the gold medal. They was the first partisan unit in Emilia region. Member of the group was also some ex-pow who decided to join the band and hit the germans. More than 60 ex pow found shelter in the Cervi's house, but only these men, with some russians, take active part in the band's activities. When recaptured, they was hedl for some time in Parma, but look like then evaded again and joined the allied lines. They names was: Pte John Peter de Freitas, service no. 19695, Born 25 May 1921, captured in Tobruk - Pte Johannes David Bastiaanse, service no. 14751, Born 13 January 1921, captured in Tobruk - Samuel Conley Boone, irish, unknow s.n. and date of capture. All was in the Gravina and Grumello Pow camp.

    Someone can help? Thanks in advance

    Mick
     
  2. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Mick,

    There are some very knowledgeable people on this forum regarding POW's and there has been mention before on the forum of POW's fighting with the Partisans.

    From what I can recall, soldiers that escaped or evaded as a POW were interrogated when back in Allied hands and there will be a report in the Archives.

    I am sure that one of our resident experts will get back to you and say where you will be able to search and find these records.

    Good luck with your research.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  3. Jedburgh22

    Jedburgh22 Very Senior Member

  4. Za Rodinu

    Za Rodinu Hot air manufacturer

    de Freitas, or just Freitas is as Portuguese as Port :) so no need to go to South Africa.

    If I'm not mistaken, one of the three knights who murdered that 'turbulent priest' Becket was an Andrade, so having a Portuguee aboard would not be unusual.

    What surprises me is that shouldn't members of His Majesty's Armed Forces do all in their power to rejoin if escaped? What latitude might they have to go on their private wars?
     
  5. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    ZA -

    that was only Officers who were bound to escape and rejoin -other ranks were encouraged to escape and rejoin I would go along with the South Africans as they were captured at Tobruk - June '42...

    Monty's step-son Richard Carver was captured in the desert finally escaped from a camp in Northern Italy - took two months to walk- with a South African - to the Sangro to be met by Monty saying - " where the hell have you been....?

    Cheers
     
    Za Rodinu likes this.
  6. micky

    micky Member

    Thank you friends, i add some other informatons i've found:

    De freitas have his own battlename, "Jeppy", and Bastiaanse was simply "Basti". Other determined members of the group was the russians: Anatolij Tarassov, Misha Almakaièv, Victor Pirogov, Nicolàj Armeniev and Alexander Aschenco. A note about this latter: after his capture he decided to talk and rejoin the german side, more than 25 partisan was later killed, someone directly by aschenco himself. The Partisan HQ decided to kill aschenco, succesfully executed on november 1944....
     
  7. ADM199

    ADM199 Well-Known Member

    Thank you friends, i add some other informatons i've found:

    De freitas have his own battlename, "Jeppy", and Bastiaanse was simply "Basti". Other determined members of the group was the russians: Anatolij Tarassov, Misha Almakaièv, Victor Pirogov, Nicolàj Armeniev and Alexander Aschenco. A note about this latter: after his capture he decided to talk and rejoin the german side, more than 25 partisan was later killed, someone directly by aschenco himself. The Partisan HQ decided to kill aschenco, succesfully executed on november 1944....


    De Freitas doesn't have much to say other than captured at Tobruk 21/6/42 - Italy 14/7/42 to 15/4/44 then Stalag 1VB.

    Bastiaanse also capture at Tobruk 21/6/42 Made Escape with De Freitas from Parma 27/11/43. He was in Germany, St. 1VD 7/3/44

    Nothing in either report regarding time spent with partisans. Perhaps they kept quiet so their return Home to Cape Town wasn't delayed.
     
  8. micky

    micky Member

    THANKS A LOT to you ADM199!!! This mean that the two guys escaped again, only to be recaptured and sent to germany! The Cervi's Band was captured on the night of 25 november 1943, from your informations Jeppy and Basti escaped on 27, only two days after his capture. Another member of the Cervi's band, Dante Castellucci "Facio", act as "French Degaulliste" when captured, he spoke french very well because he lived in France for many years before the war. Facio and the others "strangers" was Held in the "Cittadella" of Parma, a Napoleonic era fortress used by the fascists as gaol. Facio, in his escape account told that he was helped in his escape by the south africans, who start sing a song in loud voices to cover Facio's escape, on the night of 24 december. This fact could be not completely true, because you told me that the two south african was escaped on 27 NOVEMBER!! Can you confirm the date of the escape of Freitas and Basti? This could be very important...
     
  9. ADM199

    ADM199 Well-Known Member

    THANKS A LOT to you ADM199!!! This mean that the two guys escaped again, only to be recaptured and sent to germany! The Cervi's Band was captured on the night of 25 november 1943, from your informations Jeppy and Basti escaped on 27, only two days after his capture. Another member of the Cervi's band, Dante Castellucci "Facio", act as "French Degaulliste" when captured, he spoke french very well because he lived in France for many years before the war. Facio and the others "strangers" was Held in the "Cittadella" of Parma, a Napoleonic era fortress used by the fascists as gaol. Facio, in his escape account told that he was helped in his escape by the south africans, who start sing a song in loud voices to cover Facio's escape, on the night of 24 december. This fact could be not completely true, because you told me that the two south african was escaped on 27 NOVEMBER!! Can you confirm the date of the escape of Freitas and Basti? This could be very important...


    Thanks for the added information Micky.

    The information that they Escaped from PARMA 27/11/1943 is from a report written by Bastiaanse that I have.
     
  10. micky

    micky Member

    Thank you ADM, there is a strong debate about Facio...

    After his escape he returned in Reggio, trying to organize the Cervi evasion, only to find that they was executed on 28 december. Facio himself was convicted to death by some elements of the communist party, suspected to be a betrayer. The partisans ordered to kill Facio did his work very slow (they was ex member of the Cervi's band...) and Facio escaped again to Parma. Here was sheltered by the Communist Party of Parma, and later became one of the most famous and respected partisan commander. Sadly, he died in august 1944, executed by some leaders of a Garibaldini Unit of La Spezia, under the false charge of a stolen mortar. In fact, they eliminated Facio only for political reasons....
     
  11. ADM199

    ADM199 Well-Known Member

    Thank you ADM, there is a strong debate about Facio...

    After his escape he returned in Reggio, trying to organize the Cervi evasion, only to find that they was executed on 28 december. Facio himself was convicted to death by some elements of the communist party, suspected to be a betrayer. The partisans ordered to kill Facio did his work very slow (they was ex member of the Cervi's band...) and Facio escaped again to Parma. Here was sheltered by the Communist Party of Parma, and later became one of the most famous and respected partisan commander. Sadly, he died in august 1944, executed by some leaders of a Garibaldini Unit of La Spezia, under the false charge of a stolen mortar. In fact, they eliminated Facio only for political reasons....


    Thanks Micky.

    very enlightening info on a small piece of a very sad time in Italy's History.
     
  12. micky

    micky Member

    Thank to you ADM199, you put a new light in a very complicated story! Where i can get a copy of Bastiaanse'sreport? Is it available online at the NA?
     
  13. ADM199

    ADM199 Well-Known Member

    Thank to you ADM199, you put a new light in a very complicated story! Where i can get a copy of Bastiaanse'sreport? Is it available online at the NA?

    As I said Micky I have a digital copy so if you send me an Email address in a P.M. I will try and get a copy to you.
    At present my I.S.P. (Virgin) seems to have a problem dealing with mail that has attachments.
     
  14. micky

    micky Member

    Thanks ADM!!! I'll sent you a PM
     
  15. Jonny44

    Jonny44 New Member

    Hi Mick
    That John Peter De Freitas was my mother-in-law's uncle. Did you get any further with the info on this thread - i know it was 10 years ago....
     

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