The Holocaust in Libya: Italian Actions Against Jews


Figure 1.--

Mussolini anxious to share in the spoils with France largely defeated declared war on the Allies (June 10, 1940). Italian authorties in Libya began enforcing the racial laws with vigor. Jews were affected in many ways by the war. Libyan Jews were a mostly urban population. The British began bombing the important port of Tripoli which was in range of air bases in Malta. A principal British tactic in the Desert War was to interdict Axis supply lines. The Jewish quarter in Tripoli was hard hit, in part becauuse the Italians placedd anti-aicraft batteries there. At the time about a quater of the population of Tripoli was Jewish. There were 44 synagogues. The racial laws affected both food and gasoline rationing. Authorities closed Jewish schools, cultural and social clubs. The Italians arrested British (870) and French (1,600) Jews and interened in hastily erected camps (September 1941). The Italians reached an agreement with Vichy authorities to transfer French subjects to Tunisia (January-March 1942). The Italians transported 300 of the British Jews to Italy. They were interned at various locations. [De Felice, p. 174.] Some were used by German military units near Sangro. The NAZIs after the fall of Mussolini began moving forces into Italy. After the Italians declared an Armistice, the NAZIs seized control of Italy. The Germans transported about 100 British Jews to a concentration camp in Insbrook, Austria. Most were eventually liberated by British forces moving into Austria from Italy (May 1945). A few had been sent to Bergen Belsen and Biberach, near Munich (April 1944). Although conditions there were horendous, most managed to survive until they were liberated by the Americans (April 1945). The fact that they were British subjects probably saved them. Other Libyan Jews also suffered, especially when they demonsrated support for the British. Mussolini ordered that Cyrenaica be "cleared out" [De Felice, p. 179.] Authorities arrested 591 Jews in Benghazi. We are not sure if they were foreign or Libyan Jews, but eventually both foreign and Libyan Jews were arrested. The Jews were interned at Giado further west. When that camp filled up, authorities sent some Jews to another camp set up for foreigners in Gharian near Tripoli. The Italians eventually arrested and transported more than 2,500 Jews from Cyrenaica including whole families. Conditions at Giado were verybbad. The food was inadequate. There were outbreaks of typhus. About 500 people died, mostly children and the elderly. The Italians set up another camp at Sidi Azaz, close to Tripoli which eventually held 1,000 people, mostly Jews. The Italians used them for slave labor. A group of 350 were used by the military in Tobruk. Later after El Alemain (October 1942) they were abandoned in the desert, but eventually got back to Tripoli. Overall the Italians interned about 5,000 Jews. The conditions in these camps were very bad [Arbitol] They were not NAZI-styled death camps. Many children died in the camps, but unlike the NAZI camps thry were not selected for death. Some Libyan Jews were deported to the death camps. [Ward] We do not know the specifics here, besides the British Jews described above. In the end, most Libyan Jews survived. Defeat of the Axis and British occupation of Libya saved the bulk of the Libyan Jewish community.

Racial Laws

Pressured by Hitler, Mussolini enacted discriminatory laws ahainst Jews--“Race Protection Laws (1938). Thge laws wre not at first enforced stringrntly in Libya. Italo Balbo, the Fascist governor of Libya and high-ranking Fascist, did not approve of the racial laws or the German alliance (1940). Mussolini anxious to share in the spoils with France largely defeated declared war on the Allies (June 10, 1940). Balno was killed in a friendly fire incident shortly after Mussolini declared war. Italian authorties in Libya began enforcing the racial laws with vigor. The racial laws affected both food and gasoline rationing. Authorities closed Jewish schools as well as cultural and social clubs. The laws as in European countries meant the destruction of the Jewish community of Libya which was two mullebia old. Jews had to remove their children from public and private Italian schools. Inter-marriage with both Aryans became illegal. Jews were banned from state employment and the skilled professions. Jews had their passports stamped 'Jewish race'.

British Bombing

Jews were affected in many ways by the war. Libyan Jews were a mostly urban population. The British began bombing the important port of Tripoli which was in range of air bases in Malta. A principal British tactic in the Desert War was to interdict Axis supply lines. The Jewish quarter in Tripoli was hard hit, in part becauuse the Italians placedd anti-aicraft batteries there. At the time about a quater of the population of Tripoli was Jewish. There were 44 synagogues.

Sfollamento

The Cyrenaica (eastern) region of Libya and especially Benghazi was the location for much of the fighting in the Westrn Desert (1940-42). Twice the British army conquered eastern Libya and twice they were driven back by the Afrika Korps. Libyan Jews also suffered, especially when they demonstrated support for the British. When the British forces entered Libya, the Jews suffering under the Itlian race kaws demonstrated support for them, especually when the race laws were repealed. But when the Italians eturned in the wake of Germnan victories they punished Jews for 'collaboration'. Mussolini ordered that Cyrenaica be 'cleared out' [De Felice, p. 179.] Authorities first arrested 591 Jews in Benghazi. We are not sure if they were foreign or Libyan Jews, but eventually both foreign and Libyan Jews were arrested. Mussolini after Rommel's stunning victory at Sidni Barini (June 1942) decided to remove the Jewsonce and fir all. The campaign was termed 'sfollamento'. Sfollamento varied, depending on the where they lived. They were divided into three groups according to their citizenship/:

British and French Nationls

The Italians arrested British (870) and French (1,600) Jews and interened in hastily erected camps (September 1941). The Italians reached an agreement with Vichy authorities to transfer French subjects to Tunisia (January-March 1942). The Italians transported 300 of the British Jews to Italy. They were interned at various locations. [De Felice, p. 174.] Some were used by German military units near Sangro. The NAZIs after the fall of Mussolini began moving forces into Italy. After the Italians declared an Armistice, the Germans seized control of Italy. The Germans transported about 100 British Jews to a concentration camp in Insbrook, Austria. Most were eventually liberated by British forces moving into Austria from Italy (May 1945). A few had been sent to Bergen Belsen and Biberach, near Munich (April 1944). Although conditions there were horendous, most managed to survive until they were liberated by the Americans (April 1945). The fact that they were British subjects probably saved them.

Libyan Jews

Libyan Jews also suffered, especially when they demonstrated support for the British. Mussolini ordered that Cyrenaica be 'cleared out' [De Felice, p. 179.] Authorities arrested 591 Jews in Benghazi. We are not sure if they were foreign or Libyan Jews, but eventually both foreign and Libyan Jews were arrested. The Jews were interned at Giado further west. When that camp filled up, authorities sent some Jews to another camp set up for foreigners in Gharian near Tripoli. The Italians eventually arrested and transported more than 2,500 Jews from Cyrenaica including whole families. Conditions at Giado were verybbad. The food was inadequate. There were outbreaks of typhus. About 500 people died, mostly children and the elderly. The Italians set up another camp at Sidi Azaz, close to Tripoli which eventually held 1,000 people, mostly Jews. The Italians used them for slave labor. A group of 350 were used by the military in Tobruk. Later after El Alemain (October 1942) they were abandoned in the desert, but eventually got back to Tripoli. Overall the Italians interned about 5,000 Jews. The conditions in these camps were very bad [Arbitol] They were not NAZI-styled death camps. Many children died in the camps, but unlike the NAZI camps thry were not selected for death. Some Libyan Jews were deported to the death camps. [Ward] We do not know the specifics here, besides the British Jews described above. In the end, most Libyan Jews survived. Defeat of the Axis and British occupation of Libya saved the bulk of the Libyan Jewish community.

Camps

The Italians set up three camps for the interned Jews.

Giando: The frst Jews arrested in Benghazi were interned at Giado to the west. When that camp filled up, authorities sent some Jews to another camp set up for foreigners in Gharian near Tripoli. The Italians eventually arrested and transported more than 2,500 Jews from Cyrenaica including whole families. Conditions at Giado were very bad. The food was inadequate. There were outbreaks of typhus. About 500 people died, mostly children and the elderly.

Sidi Azaz: The Italians set up another camp at Sidi Azaz, close to Tripoli which eventually held 1,000 people, mostly Jews. The Italians used them for slave labor. A group of 350 were used by the military in Tobruk. Later after El Alemain (October 1942) they were abandoned in the desert, but eventually got back to Tripoli.

Death Toll

Overall the Italians interned about 5,000 Jews. The conditions in these camps were very bad [Arbitol] They were not NAZI-styled death camps. Many children died in the camps, but unlike the NAZI camps thry were not selected for death. Some Libyan Jews were deported to the death camps. [Ward] We do not know the specifics here, besides the British Jews described above. In the end, most Libyan Jews survived. Defeat of the Axis and British occupation of Libya saved the bulk of the 30,000 strong Libyan Jewish community.












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Created: 11:46 PM 4/5/2014
Last updated: 11:46 PM 4/5/2014