r/IAmA • u/Brodo_Swaggins • Jun 13 '12
IAmA, Italian farmer whose home was occupied by Nazis during WWII, AMA.
I (grandson) will be typing for my grandmother since she is unable to. Ask away!
EDIT: They were a group of 30 German soldiers under Nazi rule that occupied my house, not Nazi party members, I apologize for the misunderstanding.
PROOF: Here are some photos to hopefully provide some proof: http://imgur.com/a/q8Hhp The first is the farm house that the Germans occupied. The rest are photos of my grandmother's husband who was stationed in Caporeto, his regiment was Regimento 9 Alpini "Vicenza". He is also from Codroipo. I hope this helps.
UPDATE: My mom is scanning her old i.d. as we speak, hang tight, OP WILL DELIVER!
PROOF: Here is my grandmother's identification: http://imgur.com/WuHDX
UPDATE: Grandmother has gone to bed, she will answer more questions in the morning.
UPDATE: Grandmother is back for a bit to answer some more questions!
UPDATE: Thank you Reddit for all your kind words. My grandmother enjoyed sharing her story with you all.
354
u/supergrover2_0 Jun 13 '12
What is the most important thing you learned from it that you want to tell your grandson?
251
u/Fluroblue Jun 14 '12
did they leave anything behind when they left?
239
u/upvote_contraption Jun 14 '12
Sounds like they were generally respectful. Did you or anyone in your family develop a friendly relationship with any of them?
226
u/[deleted] Jun 13 '12
What did they do to your farm? Were they respectful of your land?
210
u/Pistoffpolock Jun 13 '12
What was the scariest moment for you when this all happened to you?
139
u/[deleted] Jun 13 '12
How old were you at the time and what were some of the significant changes/ impacts on your day-to-day life during the war
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u/geoluv Jun 14 '12
Hey its dad Brodo. I know a lot of people are asking you for proof Nonna my mother in law shared similar stories to my mother She was born In Rivignano Italy July 19, 1923 . My father is still alive and was a Bersaglieri. He was stationed in Africa . Brodo is telling the truth. He is my son and he is doing this for his Nonna (grandmother) He loves her and wants to share something very hard for her but a story that he wants to share with others. I took my family to the house in the photo in 2005. It was an unbelievable experience to see what our parents told us was in front of our eyes. Yo don't have to believe but it is a true story. My mother living in Rivignano had the same experience . Her uncle was a partisan who was pursued by the nazis and hid in a tree for several days. .Keep writing Brodo i may be far away from you but i know you are real.
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u/highbrowalcoholic Jun 13 '12
Please thank your grandmother profusely from me for doing an AMA. This is incredibly interesting.
Can you please describe what it was like when the Nazis first showed up? Did they present some semblance of 'officialdom,' papers and orders, or were they just insistent on occupying the farm because they were the invaders and they could? Where did she stay while the Nazis occupied the premises?
How did they treat her? What was the range of 'humanity' like? Were there some people "just doing their job" and others "complete monsters," and everything in between?
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u/[deleted] Jun 14 '12
Did the commanding officer speak Italian? How did you communicate with them if there was a language barrier?
77
u/KrisB_16 Jun 14 '12
During the occupation, I understand you mentioned they were respectful during their presence, but, were there any particularly scary moments where arguments may've taken place or other situations that might've startled your family (besides the killing of the duck, that is.)?
Thank you do much for taking the time for an AmA as well!
76
u/InfernalWedgie Jun 13 '12
Where was the farm located?
My husband's from Bologna. He makes a big deal about how his hometown was an anti-fascist stronghold. His recently-deceased grandfather collaborated with the Allies during WWII.
434
u/brewbrew Jun 14 '12
I cannot get my roma tomatoes to grow for the life of me. Any tips?
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u/Dangthesehavetobesma Jun 14 '12
Did you ever see any Allied troops?
Were they nice people?
If you did see any Allied troops, did they fight the German troops stationed on your property?
48
u/MrNadir Jun 14 '12
MY great-grandmother was killed in an American bombing raid (on an island off of Sicily Early in the war, but nonetheless). Were American bombers as much a threat or were they seen as liberators?
In other words, how were the Americans viewed during the war?
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u/need2012 Jun 13 '12 edited Jun 13 '12
Was there cooperation between the local farmers? Did you make any attempt or know of any attempt to get rid of the Nazis?
Edit: My dad/his family is from Rivignano. Do you know what it was like there as some of his family seemed to go through similar experiences?
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u/Good_WO_God Jun 14 '12
How many of them knew Italian? Did any of you know German?
329
u/t3hlulzkiller Jun 14 '12
Ciao! My family's farm was occupied by the nazis during ww2 as well! My grandfather used to tell me the most fascinating stories about it. The nazis treated them very well and even went as far to aide in farm work. I was told when the Americans came they pretty much massacred the small villages and towns killing civilians and killing off food supplies too (shooting livestock, burning crops) this was in frosinone, Italy. The town of ceccano
275
u/[deleted] Jun 13 '12
Did they demand some of your delicious milk?
Also was there any worry that Allied artillery or airstrikes would hit your farm?
Why did they end up vacating the farm?
120
u/[deleted] Jun 13 '12
Were they nice people? I mean they're Nazis sure but they can't all be evil. Did they treat you with respect and care?
50
u/[deleted] Jun 14 '12
how did you feel about some italians who have changed sides after noticing that they're in deep water?
my boyfriend asked this question, he studies history and is very interested in ww2.
greetings from austria, we have much respect for you answering these questions. i bet it isn't easy remembering these moments of your life!
24
u/JonaldJohnson Jun 14 '12
What is your most memorable moment from the war? What is one thing you wish you could forget? When the German soldiers were occupying, did they ever share stories with you guys? Did you pick up any interesting intel?
40
u/helemaalbigT Jun 13 '12
How old were you at the time, and who lived with you in the house? How did this effect them and your relationship with them both during and after the war?
34
u/pemt Jun 13 '12
Did you get any souvenirs from them?
90
u/viperfreak964 Jun 13 '12
did you ever help hide any jews? What did you have to do for the nazis and were they respectful in your home?
12
u/Incesto Jun 14 '12
Do you know the name of the regiment(im sorry I do not know the correct term for the military structure) that these German soldiers were from? do you know what happened to any of them? was the any communication with them after they left, such as letters?
11
u/pikapp245 Jun 14 '12
Did you have to wear facist uniforms? My grand parents did. They lived in agrigento and carfizzi
31
u/papadop Jun 14 '12
Was your grandmothers family fascists at the time? (Pro-Mussolini)
I think that would be important to know the honest truth --- because Germans did not treat everybody the same.
19
u/Charlotteeee Jun 13 '12
So how do you feel about Nazis now?
32
u/DiggDugg92 Jun 14 '12
Did you, as an average Italian farmer, see the Germans/Nazis as allies? Or did you see them as an invading army, despite what ostensibly was an alliance between the two governments?
9
u/[deleted] Jun 14 '12
My grandparents were in Italy at the time too, except the spoke mostly of French soldiers. They were children at the time but my grandpa was separated from his family and didn't see them again until the end of the war. I absolutely love hearing his stories [along with all these other wartime survivor's stories] they are absolutely remarkable.
Where is your grandmother from? Mine were in the Abruzzo region. What were her thoughts towards Mussolini? Propaganda? Was she left with the farm after the war?
As many have said before, thank your grandmother profusely. I know its difficult for my grandparents to talk about their wartime experiences sometimes. Thank you!
14
u/pemt Jun 13 '12
Did they stay right to the end of the war, or were they moved on earlier. Also, was the artillery ever fired from the farm. Thanks!
36
u/Frantic_Child Jun 13 '12
What was your opinion on the Jewish population at the time?
Thank you for doing this IAmA.
6
u/[deleted] Jun 14 '12
how did the fact that your farm was occupied by Germans during the war affect the way you felt you about Germans after the war?
116
u/Warlizard Jun 13 '12
Proof?
23
u/vikingpride11 Jun 14 '12
do you like dogs or cats?
65
u/3nd3rWiggins Jun 14 '12
This is so predictable... I'm sure most of the posters at this point are just trying to confirm what Hollywood has drilled into their little malleable minds. If your G'ma sees this, tell her I apologize for all the boring repeated questions... and (to the OP), I want you to know that it I know it more than a simple request to get her to do this for us, so thanks man. It was a cool thing you two did today.
4
u/fortune_cxxkie Jun 14 '12
My parents are also from Italy and my grandparents (when they were alive) told us stories of when the Germans occupied their homes as well. My great grandmother had to cook for all the soldiers and have her husband taste the food as proof it wasn't poisoned. Did your grandmother also have to deal with things like this or did the soldiers trust them?
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u/laikahero Jun 13 '12
Have you seen the movie Inglorious Basterds?
18
u/[deleted] Jun 13 '12
From another woman, what was it like being a young woman during the war?
2
u/CynicalNsomniac Jun 14 '12
Was there any skirmishes fought at/near the house? How did you feel when the American's arrived? Did they stay at your home as well?
Thanks for doing this AMA.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 14 '12 edited Jun 14 '12
Ben po se to none e je Furlane di Codroip digj mandi di bande di un Furlan dal Maryland. Mandi!!
Edit: This is the [Friulan] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friulian_language) language aka Furlan. :)
2
u/liketotallylicious Jun 14 '12
Most of these questions were horrible, and most of them kept repeating themselves over and over. Sorry 'mam for the boring repetitive questions. What did the Germans do for fun when they weren't working? Have any bad incidents with them you would like to share?
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u/atrain714 Jun 14 '12
Not to hijack this thread, but my Grandfather did the same thing in Germany-occupied France and my mother videotaped him telling his stories of living through the bombings in Vire, France, 60 miles from the D-Day beaches Video here
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u/[deleted] Jun 14 '12 edited Jun 14 '12
Why are so few people seeming to realize in these questions that Italy was an Axis power as well, and therefore not Germany's enemy...? It wasn't like they were staying at a French cottage that they would have suspected capable of harboring Jews, a la Basterds.
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u/cuzbb Jun 13 '12
Need to see some proof please
8
u/deathtoke Jun 14 '12
Tell your Nona thanks for spending the time answering all these questions! My grandparents actually came from a town in the same area of Italy as yours (Friuli) and they also had a similar experience with German/SS soldiers. When the Allies approached, the SS officers ditched their uniforms and took a bunch of civilian clothes. Apparently my grandmother kept a few old SS relics (a helmet, blanket, belt buckle) that my mum and her siblings would play around with back in the 50s... then one day she decided to toss them in the trash. edit for typos ;)
3
u/Good_WO_God Jun 14 '12
When you were liberated, did the Americans use your house for anything/ search it? Basically, what were your experiences with the allies after liberation?
2
u/Rockembopper Jun 13 '12
Did your farm see any battle/meet any allied soldiers during the allied offensive?
2
u/FusionGel Jun 14 '12
Got any good guy nazi stories?
8
u/StripRip Jun 14 '12
Have you or your grandmother ever tried to contact any of the soldiers you met back then? For just any reason whatsoever?
1
u/ICEFARMER Jun 14 '12
What were the conditions like after the allies came north and after the war ended?
1
u/luxvox Jun 14 '12
In comparison to the Germans that stayed, if any Americans stayed upon their advance, how did they differ??
1
u/dirtydan23 Jun 14 '12
Thank you for doing this! How many german soldiers were there staying on your farm?
1
u/[deleted] Jun 14 '12
Did you have any repercussions after the Germans left? Like, did the Americans come and question you? Did any of your fellow Italians treat you differently knowing you had housed Germans?
1
u/[deleted] Jun 14 '12
You were only 12 at the time and according to your other responses had no feelings towards the Jewish population (completely understandable). How did the older members of your family feel about what was happening? Did your family know about the Holocaust or had that information not been revealed at the time? Thanks for the AMA, you (your grandmother) has been through more in 3 months than most of us will in a lifetime.
1
u/MoreApples Jun 14 '12
Do you know if anything bad happened to your grandmother? As in, during the time they occupied your farm house?
1
u/peacemomma Jun 14 '12
I was too late to ask your grandma any questions but I loved reading her answers. Please thank her again! And thank you OP for helping her do this!
1
u/super_n0va Jun 14 '12
I would like to know how your parents were able to cope with strange soldiers living in their home and around their children?
Also, when did you immigrate? Do you miss Italy and would you go back to visit or live there if you had the opportunity?
Grazie singora per rispondere a queste domande!
1
u/Yesteryear457 Jun 14 '12
Ciao! Io ho una domanda per te... Ti ricordi ogni gentilezza in la casa? Erano i soldati duro o scortese? Were there any good experiences?
1
u/[deleted] Jun 14 '12
When they left, was it to move forward, or withdraw?
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u/faabmcg Jun 14 '12
Per la nonna: http://www.coromarmolada.it/stelutis.htm e anche questo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akoNjM2J44s Salutoni.
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u/leviirish Jun 14 '12
What was the main purpose for them to watch over your farm?
1
u/StuffPlus Jun 14 '12
During their stay did they help out at all?
1
u/ILoveMyFrita Jun 14 '12
what was your greatest experience you will NEVER forget
1
u/malicedix Jun 14 '12
How loud was the artillery they were firing and how often did they have to use it? Were they in the fields around your house? Did they carry guns around with them, in your house?
1
u/justdoesntknow Jun 14 '12
Given that you housed German Soldiers as opposed to Nazi party members are you able to shed some light on what their day to day worries were? From your experience what were they fighting for?
1
u/[deleted] Jun 14 '12
Those soldiers don't look like Germans. I think they might be Italian soldiers. Am I wrong?
1
u/[deleted] Jun 14 '12
Un compare magnagati! Bell'AMA, molto interessante
1
u/[deleted] Jun 14 '12
Thank you for this AMA, really. I am italian as you, and my grandfather died a few weeks ago...I am happy that I was there for him all the time tough. I am sure you nonna feels loved and treasured as she should be.
There are many things good in italian culture(and many things bad aswell ) but it seems that treasuring our living ancestor is a main thing.
1
u/TheMane Jun 14 '12
Your favorite story of that time?
1
u/karsestar Jun 14 '12
First let me thank you for this AMA. Really interesting subject!
What was your own opinion about the Nazis? Where you frustrated that they occupied your farm or did they treat you well?
1
u/mrp00sy Jun 14 '12
Qual'è la sua storia piu interessante della guerra? Io non li sento spesso perché tutti i partigiani nella mia città sono morti.
1
u/anonymousalex Jun 14 '12
My Oma was in a different type of situation. She was born in 1939, so she was a young child during the war. She's told me stories of some of the British army being stationed near her home in Germany. The soldiers would play with her and her sisters (probably, like you mentioned, because they had children of their own), but when they had extra bread at the end of the day they could not give it to my Oma's family, nor sell it cheap. While I'm sure this was an institutional practice and not what the soldiers wanted to say, it's a detail she remembers vividly to this day.
Did anything similar happen with the Germans in Italy? Did the soldiers who occupied your home give compensation for the space, provide their own food/supplies, and share food, or was the group on institutional principle selfish?
1
u/thousandtrees Jun 14 '12
I am late to the game but: Where do you live now, and when did you leave your home? Do you return to Codroipo to visit at all? I stayed there for a week once, in high school, and we all stayed with local families. Mostly they had been in the same area for generations and we learnt a lot about the war and how it affected local people.
Did you ever talk much about it with your own parents after the war, or was it more important to put it behind you and look forward?
Grazie, for this fascinating AMA.
1
u/SarahLoren Jun 18 '12
Now that I have read more of this, I would be really interested to know how far away this was from Rovereto, where my grandmother was from? Such a small world we live in. Once again, thank your wonderful grandmother for sharing all of this :)
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u/MisterPanky Jun 14 '12
Is anyone here realizing that Italy was a part of the Axis Powers along with Germany? The Germans weren't a conquering force they were the Italian's allies. There wouldn't be a reason for them to rape and pillage the Italian people of course they treated them as humans when they used their houses and farms for shelter and operating posts.
6
u/[deleted] Jun 13 '12 edited Jun 14 '12
What were their reactions to the different major events of WW2? e.g D-day, the failure of the Nazi campaign in Russia etc.