Nazi chief in Bolzano (June 1939)

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DavidFrankenberg
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Nazi chief in Bolzano (June 1939)

#1

Post by DavidFrankenberg » 12 Feb 2023, 21:41

Hi,

Ciano in his diary (17th June 1939) talks about an incident. The chief of the nazis in Bolzano was arrested during a sport event. Looks like this guy made some troubles. Ciano ordered him to be freed.
At the time, Italy and Germany had just signed the steel pact and were supposed to be in best terms.
Thé nazi chief was expelled and once in Germany Hitler ordered him to be arrested and jailed.

Does anyone know more about this guy ? What did he become ? What did he do during this sport event ? What were his feelings towards Italy or Hitler ?

GregSingh
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Re: Nazi chief in Bolzano (June 1939)

#2

Post by GregSingh » 13 Feb 2023, 03:58

A small part of the much larger problem.
On the 23rd June 1939 in Berlin, Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany signed an agreement that fixed the absolute relocation of South Tyroleans in territories in Eastern Europe that had yet to be conquered. The South Tyroleans were given just half a year to decide for or against the resettlement. This decision process drove a large wedge between the South Tyrolean people – often it tore entire families apart, with each person fighting for what seemed the best for themselves at that time. Scars from this period of discord were to be felt by the South Tyrolean population for years to come.

The National Socialists launched a huge propaganda campaign to encourage the South Tyrolean population to “opt” for resettlement. Lies were deliberately spread amongst the people to incite hatred against one another. Soon a crack ran through the entire South Tyrolean population – the divide between those willing to resettle and those wishing to stay in their homeland was irreconcilable for a long time. The majority of South Tyroleans decided on resettlement. Ultimately 75,000 emigrated abroad.
South Tyrol Option Agreement
Italianization of South Tyrol

Perhaps one of the leaders of local German nationalist movement who hoped to be "liberated" like Sudeten Germans, but instead he had to pack up his buggy and leave. Apparently Himmler himself provided Italian security police with names of "unhappy local Germans".

The whole affair got attention of foreign press and journalists started to arrive in Bolzano/Bozen. After a couple of days Italian government issued a decree ordering all foreigners to leave Bolzano province immediately.


DavidFrankenberg
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Re: Nazi chief in Bolzano (June 1939)

#3

Post by DavidFrankenberg » 13 Feb 2023, 15:13

Yes. Mussolini feared a lot the German minority of South Tyrol. He feared Hitler and Germany attacked Italy just in order to conquer South Tyrol. That’s why he didn’t like the Anschluss and was a supporter of Dolfuss who was assassinated by the nazis.
When Italy signed the steel pact in march 1939 Hitler agreed to resettle the Germans of South Tyrol.
Maybe this nazi chief in Bolzano was against the operation. But i dont find many infos about the incident.

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