Interview

Interview with my

                100 year old father

After many years of asking my father about all the details of his experiences in Italy during WW2, I still have questions. To keep a real life account of his memories, I want to share the conversations here. You might find it interesting or even amusing. My father is a very humorous person and likes to remember the good and funny moments as well. To me it feels like my father is looking now at some frustrating experiences, like the training at the military camp in Rieti, from an observer point of view, who just laughs about the complete silliness of the training, the incompetence of the superiors and the ridiculous decisions which have been made. I hope you enjoy the reading!

???  You were first sent to Rieti to take part in a military training. Who else was there? How was the training/the atmosphere???

Well, you have to remember that all of the soldiers were forced to join the war effort and we all came from abroad. We were Italians who grew up abroad in countries all over Europe. Some of the soldiers have never ever been to Italy and couldn’t even speak the language! We had to translate for them. The superiors were pretty frustrated. Also, the camp was a very improvised setting. It was set up at the outskirts of Rieti and it seemed that the military did it in a rush. We lived in tents, we’ve received a gun and had to practice the shooting. But it was very chaotic, since all of us didn’t have a clue about military and we didn’t really want to be there. Many didn’t understand the commands.’

??? Did the other soldiers have to break off their studies like you had to???

Yes, many of them, which added to the frustration. I was keen on getting away to continue my studies in Germany. I enquired at the Italian Embassy in Berlin but was told that everybody has to break off their studies. Medical students were excempt but just for one semester. It was between February and April 1942, when all young Italian citizens living abroad were drafted to the Italian war effort.  There was no chance to get away just because you lived abroad. 

??? How was the training???

It was a joke. At roll call we were asked: Who can play the piano? Those who stepped forward were told to head to the kitchen to peel potatoes! Later, we were asked where we would like to be deployed. Those who wanted to go to the North of Italy were sent to the South and vice versa. For all of us it was not a question of which troops we had to serve, it was rather about the location. Most of us had relatives somewhere and preferred to stay close to them. 

??? Where would you have liked to be deployed ???

Well, I wanted to stay in northern Italy, but of course, was sent south, to Rome. I believe the superiors were afraid that I would run away across the border back into Switzerland!

??? In Rome you’ve received orders to go to Lampedusa. Did you know about this island? What did you expect???

I haven’t heard of Lampedusa before. My friend from the office at the military airport base in Rome explained to me that this order was kind of a ‘disciplinary transfer’. Lampedusa was considered the ‘punitive island’ for all the opponents of the fascist regime before the war. These opponents were deported to the island and received 5 lira per day. It was nothing. They could hardly survive. Maybe they’ve received a little food from the small community who lived there. And they were completely cut off the mainland. I don’t know where they were sent later on. When I arrived in Lampedusa, I’ve only encountered villagers/locals. Most of the people on the island were military personnels. 

??? You haven’t met any of these prisoners/antifascists on Lampedusa ???

No. We were isolated on the Albero Sole, where the radar station was operated. We only went for errands into the village or if someone became ill. There was not a proper road from the radar military base down to the harbour village. It was more of a gravel path. To drive down from the base into the village took us about 1.5hours and the drive was very bumpy. The rides were tough on the trucks, they constantly needed repair. Once I’ve asked the driver if I could have a go. I didn’t know how to drive at that time and wanted to learn. He let me behind the wheel. It was really hard to steer the truck around the potholes. After a while the driver told me to hand over the steering wheel. I couldn’t do it. He laughed at me and suggested to try a jeep on a smooth road!

??? You were part of the Italian Army but at the same time you’ve spent a lot of time with the German for translations. Was it an advantage to be an interpreter ???

In Rome I was employed by the Italian airfield crew. I had to work with the Italians and Germans but my superiors were Italian. On the island of Lampedusa I was part of the Italian crew but I lived and worked with the Germans. But once the Italian military left the island they didn’t take me with them. I was left behind. At that moment I thought that it was rather a disadvantage. Later on though, I felt it was great, because I was somehow independent. I had my interpreter identity card and could use all kind of services, like eating in military canteens,  either from the Germans or Italians. I had to follow orders as where to go, but once I was there, I felt quite free. I always found a place to eat! And I could head to military airport fields and ask for a lift!

Thank you for reading!