La Valle
A Nazi Concentration Camp in Italy
The Bolzano transit camp was a Nazi concentration camp located in Bolzano during World War II. Prior to being a Nazi Lager, it had been an Italian fascist Lager for Allied prisoners of war from 1942. The camp was located at Via Resia 80. Today, a memorial site named "Passage der Erinnerung" is located at the former Lager.
History of the Camp
During the summer of 1944, the camp began to house prisoners in old Italian military barracks. Over the course of ten months, between 9,000 and 9,500 prisoners were imprisoned in the camp. It is often thought that the number of prisoners was higher, but the numbering in Bolzano did not start from 1, but from approximately 2979, continuing from where they had reached in Fossoli. The prisoners primarily came from central and northern Italy and had been arrested by the collaborationist regime of the Italian Social Republic. Many were then handed over to the SS. Around 20% of the prisoners were arrested in Milan, 10% in the province of Belluno and the rest came from other Italian regions.
Types of Prisoners
The prisoners were mainly political opponents, but there were also Jewish prisoners, South Tyrolean Wehrmacht deserters or their families (Sippenhaft), Roma and Sinti and Jehovah's Witnesses.
Reich Death Camps
Approximately 3,500 prisoners were transferred to Reich death camps. These camps included the Mauthausen concentration camp, the Flossenbürg concentration camp, the Dachau concentration camp, the Ravensbrück concentration camp, and the Auschwitz concentration camp.
Slave Laborers
The majority of prisoners who remained in Bolzano were used as slave laborers, both in the camp workshops and in companies in the nearby industrial zone. They were also utilized by IMI, which had taken refuge inside the Virgolo tunnel to escape Allied bombings. Some were even employed as apple pickers.
Killings in the Camp
During the history of the camp, around 48 killings have been documented, although some sources speculate up to 300. Among the victims, 23 Italians were captured and killed during the Mignone barracks massacre on September 12, 1944.
Liberation of the Prisoners
As the Allies advanced, the prisoners were released in waves between April 29 and May 3, 1945, when the Lager was definitively dismantled.
In summary, the Bolzano transit camp was a Nazi concentration camp located in Bolzano during World War II. Approximately 9,000-9,500 prisoners were imprisoned in the camp, primarily political opponents arrested by the collaborationist regime of the Italian Social Republic and then handed over to the SS. About 3,500 prisoners were transferred to Reich death camps, while others were used as slave laborers. Among the victims were 23 Italians who were killed during the Mignone barracks massacre. The prisoners were released in waves as the Allies advanced. Today, a memorial site named "Passage der Erinnerung" is located at the former Lager.
