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Post-war Refugee Camps: My Family’s Temporary Homes
The refugee camps were dispersed throughout Italy, from Friuli in the North to Sicily in the south. They were utilized to accommodate upwards of 350,000 Italians from Fiume, Istria and Dalmatia, when those territories were ceded to Yugoslavia. The post-war refugee camps in Europe, under the United Nations’ International Refugee Organization, were efficiently managed. Unlike the chaotic, unsanitary and inhumane camps of today's refugee crisis, occupants of the UN camps were housed in safe and orderly lodgings. Food was provided, as was medical attention. From my experience, this led to a spirit of co-operation within the camps because, ultimately, although we were of many different nationalities, we were all “displaced persons.” The following list of refugee camps is in chronological order of my family’s odyssey. TRIESTE is the capital city of the Venezia Giulia Region, 11 kilometres from the Slovenian border. The Silos refugee camp is a series of brick buildings that served as granaries for the Austro-Hungarian army in the 19th century. UDINE, 80 kilometres north of Trieste, is the provincial capital of Friuli. It was the dispersal centre where the Giuliani-Dalmati refugees were assigned their camp of residence within Italy, after having undergone their initial medical exams and inoculations. NOVARA is a city in the Piedmont region, midway between Turin and Milan. The Caserma Perrone, an army headquarters, was built in 1854. It was converted into a refugee camp in 1946. In 2001, the restored building opened as the School of Medicine of the University of Western Piedmont. CAPUA, 42 kilometres north of Naples, was a former P.O.W. camp housing British and American prisoners. CINECITTÁ (Film City) was a refugee dispersal centre in the southern part of Rome. Refugee residences were situated within the film studios. BAGNOLI, the largest of the refugee camps, was located in the western suburb of Naples. It was built in 1940 as a village for students in need. Its modern buildings, including dormitories, workshops, a church and a modern theatre, housed up to 10,000 refugees. It is now the Anglo-Italian School, NATO. VILLA ALBA, in the town of Cava de’ Tirreni, 10 kilometres north of Salerno, was originally built as a sanatorium. Used as a refugee camp after the war, it is now a physiotherapy and rehabilitation facility. PAGANI, 11 kilometres north of Villa Alba, was a sanatorium for refugees with active or suspected tuberculosis. The camp was a walled-in series of barracks within an orange and mandarin grove at the foot of a hill. SANT’ANTONIO A PICENZA, 15 kilometres south of Salerno, was a holding area for refugees who were already cleared for emigration while awaiting their turn to sail. It is now abandoned. LESUM, the last refugee camp where my family lived, was 13 kilometres north of Bremen, Germany. It is now a suburb of Bremen. Originally an army camp, it became one of many post-war refugee camps for those waiting to sail overseas, mainly to Canada and Australia. |
The kidnapping of Baby Dodo.
The pain of that injection was excruciating, but even more painful was its aftermath. I.R.O. Vaccination certificate.
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Scuola Antonio Rosmini , Via Massimo D'Azelio - Novara.
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Torino soccer team killed when the plane slammed into the side of La Superga church on May 4, 1949.
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Left: YMCA sponsored programs for the inmates of the Pagani sanatorium. Me, at age 12, with my barrack mates and YMCA official.
Left: Villa Alba refugee camp in the municipality of Cava de' Tirreni. Formerly a Sanatorium, it is today a rehabilitation centre. One hour's walk from the beach at Vietri sul Mare. |
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Camogli - 1949
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"Souvenir spoon "borrowed" by Aldo from the Lesum I.R.O. camp.
Aboard the Anna Salen - Mrs. Ilinich (standing) holding Croatian national hat. Her son, Carlo, at her right.
The Port Arthur bound contingent aboard the Anna Salen.
Front: Mr. & Mrs. Figus. Centre: Mrs. Macuz with daughter and son. Rear: Wally, Claudio, Aldo & Elsa. |
Elisabetta Nazarko and her three sons, Aldo, Claudio and Wally arrived at Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia aboard the SS Anna Salen on August 3, 1951.
We are officially Displaced Persons - travel documents from Udine to Novara - July 1, 1947.
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My parents' permits to leave Fiume, dated June 27, 1947. Above each photo is written, in both Italian and Croatian: "Death to Fascism, liberty to the people."
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"The persons listed below, in consequence of political international events (the ceding of Fiume to Yugoslavia) are forced to move away from their traditional residence. This certificate entitles them to every form of assistance, moral and material. June 26, 1947"
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Vlado's driver's license - Rijeka - 1946.
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Vlado's train pass, granted to clerks, workers, and students - 1947.
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Offer of employment from the Carlo Casoni firm of Basel, Switzerland. March 23, 1948.
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First post-war elections in Italy - 1948 were won by Alcide de Gasperi's Christian Democrats.
Vlado's Italian passport - 1948
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My 5th Grade report card. Novara 1949.
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Document accepting us as international refugees, Nov, 9, 1949.
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Letter of recommendation, Villa Alba Camp, June 28, 1950.
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Plumber's certificate, Bagnoli, Aug. 7, 1950.
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My mother's immigration document, Identifying us as Yugoslav citizens,Bagnoli, Oct. 18, 1950.
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Our landing papers. Under 'Remarks', the poignant words 'destined to: husband Vladimir Nazarko.'
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Vlado's landing papers, Halifax, Dec. 8, 1950.
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Vlado's completion of contract letter, Dec. 4, 1951.
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Letter from Hon. J.W. Pickersgill on Vlado obtaining Canadian citizenship. Ottawa, Aug. 29, 1956.
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