Hello, I'm italian and I'm a passionate about history of WW2. I would like to ask you question. My other grandfather, Dad's Dad, was an Italian infantry officer in Sicily and was captured by the British in July 1943 during the "Husky Operation." To be honest they were not very loyal because after they arrested him they beat him (grabbed an arm) and steal his wallet and clock. He was then taken to Egypt (Alexandria?) And put in a prison camp where he remained until 1946. Then he finally returned to Rome. He has never told much of that odyssey and I would like to know what field was put in (some of my research was perhaps torn into two camps during prison). Are you able to get some news about his imprisonment? I bring the same name and surname that he had: Raffaele Polella. He was 1914. Can you get some information? (sorry for my bad english..) Thanks!
Hi, Your best way forward will be to apply to the International Red Cross in Switzerland via below link - next window for applications will be Jan 2018. Requests for information about people held during the Spanish Civil War or the Second World War: Quarterly limit reached Good Luck Steve Y PS My late father was POW in Italy Jan 1942/Sept 1943.
Hi Raffaele, He was captured by Africa Korps at Antelat, Libya 23rd December 1941 during 8th Army Operation Crusader offensive. He arrived in Naples 1st January 1942. Having past through P.G. 66 Capua he was moved to P.G. 59 Servigliano and finally P.G. 53 Macerata before being taken to Germany in September 1943. I obtained his Red Cross records from Switzerland in 2012. Steve Y List of World War II prisoner-of-war camps in Italy - Wikipedia
Hello Raffaele, Please let us know what you find out when you obtain your grandfather's records. Vitellino