Ferramonti di Tarsia
Encyclopedia
Ferramonti di Tarsia, located near Cosenza in Southern Italy
, was an internment camp for Jews
and foreigners. It was the largest of the fifteen internment camps established by Benito Mussolini
between June and September 1940. Over 3,800 Jews were imprisoned at the camp.
The construction of Ferramonti began on June 4, 1940, less than a week before Italy entered World War II
.
The arrest of Jewish citizens began on June 15, and prisoners began arriving at the camp on June 20. Between June, 1940, and August, 1943, there were 3,823 Jewish internees at Ferramonti, of which only 141 were Italian. The majority, 3,682 people, were foreign-born.
The camp was never a concentration camp in the German
sense of the term. Internees were allowed to receive food parcels and visit sick relatives. In addition, there were no mail restrictions. None of the internees were killed or subjected to violence. In fact, the internees were constantly protected from deportation to Germany, as the Nazis requested. The main protagonists of this unique example of human solidarity and tolerance were the director of the camp, Paolo Salvatore, and the Capuchin monk
, Fra Callisto Lopinot. Prisoners were allowed to organize a nursery, library, school, theater and synagogue. Several couples got married at the camp and 21 children were born. Rabbi Riccardo Pacifici
was the spiritual advisor to the Jewish inmates from 1942 to 1943.
Six weeks after Mussolini's downfall
(September, 1943), the prisoners were released. Many of these internees joined the Allied armed forces
. About 1,000 of the refugees were shipped to the United States
and interned at Camp Oswego
, New York
. Ultimately, they were released and were permitted to stay in the United States.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, was an internment camp for Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
and foreigners. It was the largest of the fifteen internment camps established by Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
between June and September 1940. Over 3,800 Jews were imprisoned at the camp.
The construction of Ferramonti began on June 4, 1940, less than a week before Italy entered World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
The arrest of Jewish citizens began on June 15, and prisoners began arriving at the camp on June 20. Between June, 1940, and August, 1943, there were 3,823 Jewish internees at Ferramonti, of which only 141 were Italian. The majority, 3,682 people, were foreign-born.
The camp was never a concentration camp in the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
sense of the term. Internees were allowed to receive food parcels and visit sick relatives. In addition, there were no mail restrictions. None of the internees were killed or subjected to violence. In fact, the internees were constantly protected from deportation to Germany, as the Nazis requested. The main protagonists of this unique example of human solidarity and tolerance were the director of the camp, Paolo Salvatore, and the Capuchin monk
Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin is an Order of friars in the Catholic Church, among the chief offshoots of the Franciscans. The worldwide head of the Order, called the Minister General, is currently Father Mauro Jöhri.-Origins :...
, Fra Callisto Lopinot. Prisoners were allowed to organize a nursery, library, school, theater and synagogue. Several couples got married at the camp and 21 children were born. Rabbi Riccardo Pacifici
Riccardo Pacifici
Riccardo Reuven Pacifici was a rabbi from an Italian Jewish family of ancient Sephardic origins, with roots in the Jewish Spanish and rabbinical traditions.-Life:...
was the spiritual advisor to the Jewish inmates from 1942 to 1943.
Six weeks after Mussolini's downfall
Italian Campaign (World War II)
The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...
(September, 1943), the prisoners were released. Many of these internees joined the Allied armed forces
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
. About 1,000 of the refugees were shipped to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and interned at Camp Oswego
Oswego
Oswego is a word from the Iroquois language, meaning "The Outpouring". The word may refer to:-Place names:In the United States:*Oswego, Illinois, a village in Kendall County*Oswego, Indiana, an unincorporated place in Kosciusko County...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Ultimately, they were released and were permitted to stay in the United States.
External links
- Judaica Philatelic Resources-Italy
- Museum of Tolerance - Italy, Ferramonti di Tarsia
- Ferramonti di Tarsia Internment Camp--Fall 1941
- The Lager in Italy
- Jewish inmates in their barracks at the Italian concentration camp Ferramonti di Tarsia Photographs of Jewish inmates in their barracks at the Italian concentration camp Ferramonti di Tarsia
- Table-tennis champion retires his game but not his memories Story of Allan Herskovich, who along with his three other brothers, fled Yugoslavia, and were imprisoned in several camps, including Ferramonti di Tarsia