Figure 1.--During the Fascist era the Italian language was mandatory in the German speaking Alto Adige (South Tyrol). The Austrians there, however, established clandestine German schools. Here we see one of the schools in the 1920s. |
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There was a small German community in northern Italy. The Allies had rewarded the Italians for coming over to the Allies rather than honoring their treaty with the
Central Powers in World War I (1915). The Italians received a beautiful area in the North. That was the Austrian province of South Tirol. The only trouble was that the people spoke German and actually looked down on Italians. They were a stubborn people, staunchly Catholic and proud of their own ways. Things became bad under Mussolini. He settled hundreds of Italians from Calabria and Sicily in the cities of Bolzano and Merano to increase the Italian element. German schools were closed and street signs had to be written in Italian only. This was the one German community in Europe that Hitler did not use to stir up trouble. Hitler knew about the oppression of his people there, but never said anything, because he needed the Duce as his Axis ally in his future endeavours. Hitler tried to get the Tiroleans to move to Germany, but very few went. They just waited for better times to arrive. Italy was of course a German ally until late 1943. The Germans after late 1943 seized control of mich of Italy and a number of attrocities were reported, although not on the scale perpetrated in Eastern Europe. As far as I know, the Italians took no action against the Germans in South Tirol. After considerable effort the South Tiroleans got autonomy about 10 years after World War II. All signs are bilingual, people are allowed to have their own organisations, German-language papers, and libraries. The area is very mountanous and tourism is a large source of income. Especially Germans come on vacation. The best Italian skiers, and bobsledders are Tiroleans and when Gerhard Plankensteiner or Oswald Hasenrieder are winning a gold medal at the Winter Olympics, the Italian announcers are not able to pronounce the names of their heroes.
When World War I broke out (August 1914), Italy was allied with the Central Powers. The problem for the Central Powers was that they did not have a great deal to offer Italy and the country had no great desire to fight the British and French. As a peninsular country, Italy would have been particularly vulnerable to the Royal Navy and French fleets. On the other hand, Austria had several territories which the Italians coveted. As a result, Italy decided to enter the War on the Allied side (May 1915). The Allies rewarded the Italians for coming over to the Allies rather than honoring their treaty with the Central Powers in World War I. The Italians received a beautiful area in the North. That was the Austrian province of South Tirol. The Italians did not receive, however, all that they had been promissed which caused a great deal of resentment in Italy after the War.
South irol is a beautifyl area, combining Mediterranean landscape and Alpine peaks. Unlike most of Italy, the province is covered by snow during the winter. South Tirol was once part of Austria. It was historically an Alpine area connectiung Italy to the south and Germny to the north. This is whu the stoneage iceman, Ötzi, was discovered in the mountains nearby. He was apprently attempting to cross Alpine passes. It had been for years part of Austria. After World War I as past of the peace settlement, South Tirol was annexed by Italy and became the country's most northerly province. It was aeward for coming ingo World war I on tghe Allied side. At the time very few Italiand lived there. Italy's Austrian minority is mostly located in South Tirol. In the inter-War era Austrian German-speaking community resisted Mussolini's attempts at Italification. The people not only spoke German, but actually looked down on Italians. Other territories Italy won as a result of the War were heavily populated with ethnic Italians. They were a stubborn people, staunchly Catholic and proud of their own ways. They would have welcomed Hitler;s attempts to reunite them with Austria/Germny. The largest city and capital is Bolzano /Bozen. It is today best know for its archaeology museum where Ötzi is housed.
The situation for Germans in the South Tirol deteriorated with the rise of Mussolini and his Fascist regime. Mussolini settled hundreds of Italians from Calabria and Sicily in the cities of Bolzano and Merano to increase the Italian element. German schools were closed and street signs had to be written in Italian only. Mussolini was a first highly susxpicious of Hitler and the NSZIs thinking that they would demnd return of South Tirol. Although Hitler attempted to use German minorities throughout Europe to justify his expanonist policies, the Tirolians are the one German minority he did not chapion. He abandoned them as part of his foreign policy of forming the Axis Allianc with Italy. Mussolini ,oved troops to the border when he thought Hitler was tryin to seize Tiril (1934). Three years k=later, assured that Hitler was no going toi seiuze South Tirol, Musolini acquisessed with the Anschluss (1937).
Mussoliniar first opposed the Anschluss because he thought Hitler would want the South Tirol back. Mussolini eventually dropped his opposition when Hitler assured him that this would not be the case. This thus was the one German community in Europe that Hitler did not use to stir up trouble. Hitler knew about the oppression of his people there, but never said anything, because he needed the Duce as his Axis ally in his future endeavours. Hitler tried to get the Tiroleans to move to Germany, but very few went. They just waited for better times to arrive. Italy was of course a German ally until late 1943. The Germans after late 1943 seized control of much of Italy and a number of attrocities were reported, although not on the scale perpetrated in Eastern Europe.
As far as I know, the Italians took no action against the Germans in South Tirol. After considerable effort the South Tiroleans got autonomy about 10 years after World War II. All signs are bilingual, people are allowed to have their own organisations, German-language papers, and libraries. The area is very mountanous and tourism is a large source of income. Especially Germans come on vacation. The best Italian skiers, and bobsledders are Tiroleans and when Gerhard Plankensteiner or Oswald Hasenrieder are winning a gold medal at the Winter Olympics, the Italian announcers are not able to pronounce the names of their heroes. South Tirol has also become known as the Italian Christmas capital because of the beautiful snowy scenery at Chritmas time. As a result, a popular Christmas market has become a beloved traditioin.
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