Captured Italian Brothel

[Andy H]

During Britain's Operation Compass in 1940, when it destroyed the Italian 10th Army in Egypt/Libya, amongst those units captured was the Official Italian Army Brothel.

This 'unit' was sanctioned I presume by the Italian Army.
If so was it given a unit number as such: For example the 10th Italian Field Brothel?

Andy H

[FB]

As far as I know the Army did not managed directly such kind of recreations ( ). Very probably though (and I gather this hypothesis from ww1, when the presence of those brothels, and the authorization to the troops to enjoy them, was, albeit maybe a minor one, one of the morale boosters used by Gen. Diaz. Before him (Cadorna) troops' morale was not an issue at all. Even the mail between the troops and home wasn't considered important, and this was probably the most important improvement that Gen. Diaz brought to "his" Army) the Army authorized some private enterprise to follow the troops and consequently authorized them tofrequent such places. Probably again the Army Medical Corps provided the medical control over the employees.

Best regards

[Topspeed]

I see.

Well I know ( read a story about it ) in Russian Czar army had a problem of homosexuality. Then was issued on order that soldiers had to have a bystanding soldier to watch over him as he went to a brothel to be sure nothing queer was going on. Whole system sounds pretty "queer" to me.

This may have been to assure that a person caught redhanded of a homosexual act would not be doing it again.

JT

[DrG]

The brothels were owned by private metresses, but they were opened only when allowed by the "Direzione della tappe" (more or less the logistics and rear front direction), after having consulted the local command. The women, forniture, etc. were of the metress, while the houses and the transport means were of the Army. The brothels were under strict sanitary and police control.
On 28 June 1942 the command of Cyrenaic Gebel allowed the opeining of 8 brothels in Barce, divided into 5 classes (categorie):
- 1st: only for officers and government employees (tariff: 50 lire)
- 2nd: officers (40 lire), NCOs (35 lire), troop (30 lire), civilians (40 lire)
- 3rd: officers (35 lire), NCOs (25 lire), troop (20 lire), civilians (30 lire)
The following classes employed Libyan women, instead the first 3 classes had Italian women:
- 4th: only for Europeans (from 25 to 15 lire)
- 5th: only for natives (12 lire)

The hours of opening were different for Europeans (9 - 12; 15 - 20; 21 - 24) and natives (9 - 12 and 14 - 19).

On the front brothels were sometimes opened, after official request and with Italian women under medical control, in "activity tents" for "phisiologic service".

(source: Giorgio Rochat, Sulle “case” militari nella seconda guerra mondiale, Storia Militare n.3 dic.1993)

[Andy H]

Thank you for the clarification DrG

Andy H

[UMachine]

The brothels may have been run by private enterprise,but my understanding as told to me by my father-in-law,is that in many places the Blackshirts were also offering services,or controlling them,Yugoslavia is my understanding.

[Ironmachine]

Oh, the 10th Army's brothel. Probably the weirdest unit that has ever appeared in a wargame (in The Gamer's DAK).

brothel.jpg (8.82 KiB) Viewed 4720 times

[Dili]

I suppose Regio Esercito didn't have a symbol for that...

[dor1941]

Ironmachine

It was a severe injustice not to provide the motorized brothel unit counter with a combat factor

After all, any Allied soldier utilizing these services might unwittingly contract some social disease or other issue (like Bob Crisp in Brazen Chariots) and be rendered hors de combat (pun intended)

David R

[enorepap]

I hope this thread is a joke. If so, I'm happy to laugh with you.
If not, remember Alexandria, 12.19.1941.

[Dili]

What?

[Valerio]

I hope this thread is a joke. If so, I'm happy to laugh with you.
If not, remember Alexandria, 12.19.1941.

eeeeeh?????? We are talking about a brothel...
So, your post... honestly, what's got to do with it?

[enorepap]

Since it seems that I am not clear:
Valerio Exactly ... you're talking about a brothel.
To your knowledge, this hilarious story comes from a quote by Correlli Barnett in his book "The Desert Generals" where are mentioned some memories (sometimes in the style of a "fox hunting") of Dorman-Smith (whose career was somewhat controversial) and O'Moore Creagh (later "fired" for the failure of Battleaxe) about a truckload of women who were rouged their noses and sipped tea in the middle of the slaughter of Beda Fomm. Of course, could not miss the presence of a priest in his cassock, apparently responsible for the spiritual care of the prostitutes. In my opinion, these are mere anecdotes that can be found in any army retreats and do not represent a historically significant topic of the first phase of the unfortunate conflict in Italian North Africa. If, however, it is just an ironic emphasis, I think I have answered simply pointing out an example of true italian heroism (without any help of German or prostitution). Best regards

[Dili]

An Army brothel hasn't anything to do with heroism or lack of it.

[David W]

I always thought that it was known as Bordello, rather than a brothel. Splitting hairs perhaps.