Italian 1942 Wool Collection for the Military

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JLEES
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Italian 1942 Wool Collection for the Military

#1

Post by JLEES » 05 Sep 2005, 20:42

Hello,
I've had a postcard sometime in my collection and have a question about the history behind this card’s issue. The card was issued as Mussolini’s plans were firmly set in place to raise the Corpo di Spedizione in Russia, or Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia (CSIR), to the VIII Army on the Eastern Front. At some point the Fasci di Combattimento office in Parma, in central Italy, held a wool collection for the military. When the CSIR was sent to the Eastern Front in 1941, they found themselves poorly equipped with clothing unsuitable for the severe cold weather conditions. For example, the standard Italian single-breasted M1934 greatcoat and the hobnailed boots were found to be lacking in the extreme winter conditions and large numbers of CSIR troops because casualties with frostbite. Therefore, after hearing of these difficulties and possibly copying the Nazi Winterhilfsspende, or Winter Relief Contribution, held in Germany to collect warm clothing for the Wehrmacht troops on the Eastern Front, from December 21, 1941 to January 11, 1942, the fascist office in Parma established collection points for their citizens. Promoting this wool collection campaign the local PNF office had this multicolored postcard printed depicting an Italian soldier in Russia wearing the two-piece white camouflage suit, with a non-camouflaged four-pouch ammunition belt, canvas pull over-boots and white canvas helmet cover, which was usually issued to the Alpini troops, putting on a new pair of wool cloves. Below this image it states, A small sacrifice for a larger sacrifice – Wool all the Armed Forces – Collection Week 21-30 April 1942 – On behalf of the Propaganda Press Bureau of the Federazione Fasci di Combattimento – Parma. Published by Ind. Graf. Fratelli Zafferri of Parma, 1942.

Does anyone know was the wool collection a local one, or part of a much larger nation collection of wool for the Italian military? Was it a collection like the German Winterhilfsspende?

Thanks,
James

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Lupo Solitario
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#2

Post by Lupo Solitario » 06 Sep 2005, 22:55

sincerly James I ignore relation with german use but the collection of wool was frequently made in wartime italy in different periods and places. AFAIK it was a typical duty for secondary school students...


JLEES
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Joined: 26 Apr 2002, 05:01
Location: Michigan, USA

Wool Collection

#3

Post by JLEES » 07 Sep 2005, 00:25

Lupo,
Was the collection a national one, or was it local collections? Was the clothing for the VIII Italian Army in Russia? You also say school children did most of the collecting. Was it accomplished by the local schools, or was it the Balilla's task?
James

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Lupo Solitario
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#4

Post by Lupo Solitario » 07 Sep 2005, 14:59

collections were locally organized by insitiutions as schools or fascist party sections (there was no a so big difference anyway).
They were done "for military" but certainly in spring 1942 an explicit citation of Corps in Russia could be useful for image...

JLEES
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Posts: 1992
Joined: 26 Apr 2002, 05:01
Location: Michigan, USA

Collection of Italian Wool

#5

Post by JLEES » 07 Sep 2005, 15:43

Lupo,
This is most interesting. I'm sure the collections started during the Winter of the Italo-Greek Campaign 1940-41.
James

JLEES
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Posts: 1992
Joined: 26 Apr 2002, 05:01
Location: Michigan, USA

Italian 1942 Wool Collection for the Military

#6

Post by JLEES » 11 Oct 2005, 22:04

Here is a copy of the postcard.
James
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