1918. Italian prisoners in Flanders

[Cnock]

First Italian prisoners arrived in Flanders in Januari 1918.

Italy had been an ally of Germany before the war, but in 1915 it had declared war on Germany and Austria-Hungary.

The Germans never forgave this, and the Italian prisoners were ill-treated and received not enough food.

A lot of them died of exhaustion.

Original and rare pic of Italian prisoners in a camp in the sector of the Marinekorps in West-Flanders, where they were put to work close to the frontline.

[Cnock]

Italian prisoner and a bunch of German guards - West-Flanders 1918

Sometimes Belgian civilians succeeded in throwing bread over the camp fence.

It was strictly forbidden to approach the Italian prisoners.

[Cnock]

Begian Military Cemetery of Houthulst

81 Italian POW's are buried here.

The exact number of Italian prisoners that died in Flanders is not known.

Regards,

Cnock

[Regulus 1]

Hi,

In addition part of a text I wrote on these burials :

These Italians were taken prisoner during the battle for south-Tirol between Italian and Austro-Hungarian troops. Italy lost a lot of battles early in the war and many men over that region. Some of the prisoners of war were brought to Flanders and were used to do all kinds of dangerous jobs near the front, together with other POW’s from Russian nationality. Many times the Italians were in the same POW lagers as the Russians, for example at Izegem and Tielt.

Some examples of the work they had to do are : construction of the railroad Gent-Tielt-Diksmuide, near the canal Roeselare Leie where they had to get bricks from Boom out of the ships, to transport them, do all kinds of restorations with them, construct new gunemplacements and other strongholds, roadconstruction, transport of ammunition etc.

They were also used for the excavation an reburial of German corpses at cemeteries which were to close to the front and which were moved further away from it. The dead Russians and Italians were buried at the German cemetery at Izegem. There were also a number of Belgian troops buried overthere.

After the war the Italians and Belgians of this cemetary were moved to Houthulst cemetery (so the story that they were used here as a living shield to protect the Germans at Houthulst wood when the Belgians attacked on the 28th September 1918 on the first day of the Final Offensive is afairy tale, but a very cruel one, which is still mentioned today in books of respected writers !). The Russians were buried at the German cemetery at Menen. Many died of foodpoisening, bad treatment, lack of nurrishment etc. On the 11th of November every year, many Italians show clearly that they didn’t forget their countrymen.

Best from Johan

[Cnock]

Regulus,

Thanks for the additional info.

I also heared about the Italians having been used as living shields, but I knew this was not true.

Regards,

Cnock

[Jempie]

Hi Cnock!

There are also Italians and Russians buried at Gent-Westerbegraafplaats ! (East-Flanders)

Which might be a bit forgotten seen most ofthese cemetry's are situated in West-Flanders!

I have photos but can't scan them!

There is there a British Cemetry 14-18 and also Dutch and British from 1944-1945 are buried there!

On a part are Italians, French and Russians buried from 14-18 (POWS in general)

But f.e. the graves of Blagrove RNAS and his observator shot down and KIA above Roksem and originally buried 14-18 at Jabbeke civil graveyard (?) are buried there too!

That wondered me a bit!

Stil both Oberleutnants (Van der Haeghen & Ackermann) are buried there under the gravememorial from LZ 37 but's a civil gravememorial erected at charge of the Family from Oberleutnant Ackermann!

So the VDK didn't move these remains to VLADSLO! (Alike the other crew from LZ 37 buried there on the german Friedhoff at the time!)

VBR

Jempie.

[Cnock]

Hello Jempie,

Thank You for the additional info.

Regards,

Cnock