Colonial POWs

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bertamingo
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Re: Colonial POWs

#16

Post by bertamingo » 24 Jul 2018, 14:34

Sid Guttridge wrote:
22 Jul 2018, 12:02
There were, I believe, never any Libyan troops deployed in AOI.

However, the reverse was true in the 1920s and 1930s, when Eritrean troops played an important role in conquering Libya. They were also important in conquering Somaliland in the early 1920s. I believe all the Eritreans in Libya may already have been withdrawn home by the outbreak of WWII.

The senior Eritrean units were the only Italian colonial troops of any real substance, having been in existence for some 50+ years and campaigned successfully in Somaliland, Libya and Ethiopia. However, the Somalis, Libyans and Ethiopians had only been raised in the 1920s and 1930s and were not very reliable.

Cheers,

Sid.
Thank you for the story Sid, the Eritreans were indeed the backbone of the Italian colonial corps. Like above mentioned, some of them were still serving in Libya when ww2 broke out there!

bertamingo
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Re: Colonial POWs

#17

Post by bertamingo » 24 Jul 2018, 14:34

zaptiè wrote:
23 Jul 2018, 11:48
The indian Btg not deserted ,but was disarmated and ex POW returned POW.The few non POW where turned on propaganda office and , later , goes to Germany.
Thank you for the correction!


Sid Guttridge
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Re: Colonial POWs

#18

Post by Sid Guttridge » 24 Jul 2018, 20:15

Hi Bertamingo,

What specific units did the Eritreans in Libya in 1940 belong to?

There seem to have been no Eritrean units in the Ragruppamento Maletti in 1940. Were they in a different formation?

Cheers,

Sid.

bertamingo
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Re: Colonial POWs

#19

Post by bertamingo » 25 Jul 2018, 02:05

Sid Guttridge wrote:
24 Jul 2018, 20:15
Hi Bertamingo,

What specific units did the Eritreans in Libya in 1940 belong to?

There seem to have been no Eritrean units in the Ragruppamento Maletti in 1940. Were they in a different formation?

Cheers,

Sid.
Hi Sid,
According to Berto, possibly some Eritreans were still in Ragruppamento Maletti in 1940. Since you said no Eritrean units were inside that formation, I'd presume those serving were on an individual basis?

Rgs
Bertamingo

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Andy H
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Re: Colonial POWs

#20

Post by Andy H » 04 Jul 2020, 21:12

Hi

I hope these are of some interest

http://samilitaryhistory.org/journal.html

ITALIAN P.O.W. IN SOUTH AFRICA (MEDICAL SERVICES)
and scroll down to Military History Journal Vol 1 No 4 - June 1969 and click on title listed above

ITALIAN PRISONERS OF WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA 1941 - 1947
and scroll down to Military History Journal Vol 1 No 1 - December 1967

Regards

Andy H

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