Italian Occupation of South France 1942 - 1943
Italian Occupation of South France 1942 - 1943
Between November 1942 and September 1943 the Italians had, in theory at least, administrative responsibility for all of the south of France to the east of the Rhone. While most of the available accounts rightly concentrate on the central and eastern part of this large area, I am trying to find out about their presence at the very western end of their territory; in particular in Arles and the surrounding local area. Local archives ignore the Italians. In anyone knows anything or can point me in the right direction I would be very grateful. Many thanks.
- PT Dockyard
- Member
- Posts: 442
- Joined: 29 Apr 2004, 21:03
- Location: Upstate NY
- Contact:
- Loïc
- Member
- Posts: 1227
- Joined: 14 Jun 2003, 04:38
- Location: Riom Auvergne & Bourbonnais France
- Contact:
Re: Italian Occupation of South France 1942 - 1943
yes, many people from Provence in this forum
even in 1944 there were still Italian units in this area : Pont Saint Esprit (Dept of Gard) the old Vauban citadel had an Italian garrison according to French Resistants imprisoned by the germans in this fortress
Loïc
even in 1944 there were still Italian units in this area : Pont Saint Esprit (Dept of Gard) the old Vauban citadel had an Italian garrison according to French Resistants imprisoned by the germans in this fortress
Loïc
Re: Italian Occupation of South France 1942 - 1943
Sorry about the delay. Other bits of my research diverted me! I an interested to hear that there might still have been Italian troops in the region around Arles in 1944. I assumed that after the surrender of Italy in 1943 they would have scuttled back to Italy with all the other Italian troops who were stationed east of Marseille!
However, the official Wehrmacht war diaries (held in the Leipzig Military Archives) of the 338. I.D. dated 22 January 1943 (a month or so after they established themselves in Arles, list Italian soldiers as being assigned to coastal artillery batteries. 4 heavy, 8 medium and 7 light batteries were manned by Italians and some German "instructors". The noted to the war diaries note that each group of batteries (or perhaps each battery) was manned by some 120 men. This is a lot of Italians!!
Reburg
However, the official Wehrmacht war diaries (held in the Leipzig Military Archives) of the 338. I.D. dated 22 January 1943 (a month or so after they established themselves in Arles, list Italian soldiers as being assigned to coastal artillery batteries. 4 heavy, 8 medium and 7 light batteries were manned by Italians and some German "instructors". The noted to the war diaries note that each group of batteries (or perhaps each battery) was manned by some 120 men. This is a lot of Italians!!
Reburg
Re: Italian Occupation of South France 1942 - 1943
Excellent book on the subject....Mussolinis Army on the French Riviera..Italys occupation of france. By Emanuele Sica.