In the US, "Una Storia Segreta" (The Alien Restriction and Internment Laws that were put into effect vs 600,000 Italians at the beginning of WWII ) was hidden in "Secret" vaults, until forced to open them up to US Congressional Investigation in 1990s, and any mention by the victims was hidden behind a veil of "shame" for having been thought of and treated so poorly by their adopted country.
Likewise, in Britain, Italians who may have been living in England for 20 to 60 years and integrated into the communities, at the entry of Italy into WWII were subject to even worse treatment than in the US, but numbered only 19,000. As in the US, while Italians were being "Interred" or "Restricted" the Italians would have sons and relatives serving in the British Military.
The worst of the treatment was the shipping of Italian Internees from England to Canada for Incarceration, under the MOST Negligent, Incompetent, and Indifferent circumstances that resulted in a German U Boat to torpedo "The Arandora Star" causing the death of 446 Italian Males and others.
While the American government, interned many Japanese civilians during the war, subsequently made an apology to each and every one - and made a payment of compensation. as far as we can ascertain, no Japanese civilians suffered loss of life resulting from internment by the American authorities. (No compensation was ever paid to Italians or Germans who suffered Internment or Losses/Coniscations)
Yet in England there has never been even an Apology, let alone Compensation for those Interred or those who DIED!!!!!!!!!!!!
Footnote: The HMT Dunera left Liverpool on 10 July 1940 with 2,542 men, classed as enemy aliens, including 451 German and Italian POWs.
Incredibly, the survivors of the Arandora Star disaster had been added to the transportees to Australia The ship had a maximum capacity of 1,500 - including crew - and the resultant conditions have been described as "inhumane".The transportees were also subjected to ill-treatment and theft by the 309 poorly trained British guards on board. The 57 day voyage was also made under the risk of enemy attack. On arrival in Sydney, the first Australian on board was medical army officer Alan Frost. He was appalled and his subsequent report led to the court martial of the army officer-in-charge, Lieutenant-Colonel William Scott. The television movie "The Dunera Boys " depicts their experiences
In early June 1940, immediately Italy entered the Second World War, all Italian male civilians between the ages of 18 and 70 years were arrested by the police and military - forcibly and hurriedly taken from their homes or their places of business - to be interned under instructions of the War Cabinet.
As is shown from the Red Cross and other reports, these internees were maltreated by the authorities and were held in inhumane conditions, without proper food, sanitary facilities and medical care. Following a decision to transport a number of internees to Canada and Australia the liner "Arandora Star" left Liverpool for Canada carrying some 1,570 Italian, German and Jewish internees.
On the morning of 2nd July 1940, off the coast of Ireland, the Arandora Star was torpedoed and sank with the loss of nearly 700 lives - which included 446 Italian Nationals who had made their permanent home in the United Kingdom.
Even today memorial masses are held annually by those Italian communities in Britain and Italy who lost loved ones. We will never forget the prejudices and hardships suffered by our fathers and grandfathers at this time, may they rest in peace.
TRAGIC FACTS
446 Italian males lost their lives.
These men were civilians most of whom had made their homes in this country in the early 1900's. Many of the internees had sons and other relatives serving in the British Armed Forces.
The internees had no rights whatsoever, and were denied even the basic rights allowed to prisoners under the Geneva Convention. Many were robbed of their valuables whilst in internment.
Relatives of the internees were not advised what became of their husbands, brothers or fathers after their arrest in early June 1940.
Under Government regulations families of many of the internees living in coastal areas were forced to leave their homes and seek refuge outwith main cities - wives and children with no home, no means of support, and no assistance whatsoever.
Many internees were shipped overseas with their families being unaware of the fact and receiving no notification.
The Arandora Star, on course to Canada, sailed without convoy, was grossly overloaded, and with no regard to the capacity of the ship's lifeboats.
The Arandora Star put to sea with 80% of the crew newly signed on that morning. No emergency drill or instruction was given either to the crew, the military guards or to the internees.
The ship had been overpainted in battleship grey and had the appearance of a troop carrier. It carried no Red Cross or other means of identification.
All the lifeboats had been secured behind heavy wire mesh. The number of lifeboats being grossly inadequate, having been designed for the ship's maximum complement of only 500 passengers.
The internees were harshly treated and held in overcrowded conditions. Many of the Italians, sleeping on the ballroom floor, being severely injured with breaking of the large mirrors when the torpedo struck.
The survivors of the Arandora Star were again harshly treated when brought ashore and, despite their ordeal, many were put on board other ships for internment in Australia.
No apology or compensation has ever been made to the Arandora Star victims. The American government, having interned many Japanese civilians during the war, subsequently made an apology to each and every one - and made a payment of compensation. As far as we can ascertain, no Japanese civilians suffered loss of life resulting from internment by the American authorities.
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ALSO AVAILABLE AT THE WEB SITE :
Ancoats Little Italy
See 'The War Years'
Book - 'Isle Of The Displaced'
An Italian-Scot's Memoirs of Internment during the Second World War by Joe Pieri
Caduti di Arandora Star
Surname listings of the Italian civilians who lost their lives on the Arandora Star
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The Star of Shame
Des Hickey and Gus Smith
Madison Publishing, Dublin
The failings of the authorities, and the tragic events which followed the sinking of the Arandora Star have been vividly recorded in a book published in 1980 entitled "Star of Shame" - the only book of the disaster based on factual accounts of many of the survivors Italian, British and German. This book, written in English, was not available for sale in Britain. For enquiries as to availability contact arandorastar@onetel.com
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Arandora Star
Una Tragedia Dimenticata
Maria Serena Balestracci
In 2002, in Italy, the book "Arandora Star, una tragedia dimenticata" by Maria Serena Balestracci was released. The book makes use of historical reconstructions, documents, as well as direct testimonials from people who were struck by the tragedy, today living in Italy, and
who for years had kept their suffering quiet. Following the release of the book in Italy last year we have helped re-awaken interest in this so far ignored event. Many newspapers have concerned themselves with the Arandora Star, and two influential journalists, Gian Antonio Stella and Corrado Augias have spoken of the tragedy in their new books
"L'orda" and
"I segreti di Londra" respectively, mentioning Maria Serena Balestracci's book. This book is available in Italian language only at present. Details of availability can be obtained from
arandorastar@onetel.com
1 comments:
Hey, Ricardo.
Just saw your comment on my golf post. Bitter sauce that day? Take it to heart too much and you'll end up bitter and jaded. John Miller is not launching an attack on I-A. If you saw me, you'd know I am the farthest thing from a goombah. Head shots only tell so much of the story.
--RonMon
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