1	WW II Italian POWs in Utah Kathy Kirkpatrick
2	Overview The Italian POWs in Utah had very positive results from their experiences under difficult circumstances, as did the community.
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4	"The Italian POWs were captured..." The Italian POWs were captured between 1939 and 1943 in North Africa and Europe. They first arrived in the US from 1943 through NY. Eventually, over 7000 Italian POWs arrived in Utah, out of the 51,000 who were held in the US. 8000 German POWs also arrived in Utah, out of the 382,000 in the US.
5	Defense Depot Ogden
6	Camp Preparation In addition to building barracks, mess halls, warehouses, administrative buildings and a hospital, the first commanding officer of the Ogden POW camp designated 50 acres nearby to grow crops to help feed the POWs. The crop yield was so bountiful that it was also used by the Depot cafeteria, the Depot quartermaster, Bushnell Hospital (in Brigham City), and the Ogden Air Service Command at Hill Field nearby.
7	Camp Preparation
8	Cottage Gardens
9	Organization The Italian POWs were placed into companies of 250 men each, 8 companies to a compound, two compounds at Defense Depot Ogden in 1943. Later, one compound at Defense Depot Ogden was composed of Italian Service Units while the other housed German POWs who were willing to work there.
10	Italian POW Barracks at Defense Depot Ogden
11	"Housing and furnishings at first..." Housing and furnishings at first met, then exceeded Geneva Conference requirements.
12	German POW Barracks at Hill Field
13	Health Care A new hospital with 100 beds was built at DDO for the POW camp while a major medical facility (Bushnell Hospital in Brigham City) was nearby. The facilities were staffed by Americans and by POWs. By June 1944, the hospital had admitted over 2000 men to deal with their poor health on arrival due to long imprisonment and poor diet (before and after imprisonment).
14	POW Cooks
15	Food Food was a modified field ration (comparable to US enlisted men) prepared and served by Italian POWs that exceeded their previous experiences.
16	ISU Cooks
17	"Clothing met Geneva Conference requirements..." Clothing met Geneva Conference requirements with repairs undertaken on government time by POW tailors.
18	German POW Tailors at DDO
19	Italian POW Tailors at DDO
20	POW Jobs In addition to tailors, cooks, farmers, and health workers, POWs also worked at shoe repair, the supply office, post exchanges, the Ogden Chamber of Commerce, a number of food processing companies, some agricultural companies, and the following jobs:
21	Construction Crew
22	Woodworking
23	Dye Vats
24	Train Maintenance
25	Services for POWs Entertainment Theaters Bands and Orchestras Canteens Newspapers Education Recreation Art Shows Sports
26	Theaters and Musicians
27	German POW Art Show
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29	Recreation
30	Religion At first religious services were held in the open with an improvised pulpit. Later, a recreation hall was used part time for morning mass. An empty barrack was utilized as a regular chapel for weekdays. Later, the old Compound One Headquarters building became the Main Chapel and accommodated about 300 POWs for daily Mass. When Compound Two was activated, one of its recreational halls was provided for chapel functions and accommodated about 700. Mass held twice on Sunday. All Italian POWs were Catholic. When weather permitted, Mass was held outdoors in one combined service. The Hospital held Mass each Sunday.
31	Religion
32	Contact with Families and Others Visits from Red Cross, YMCA and other welfare organizations permitted. The Swiss government visited as a protecting power. Each POW permitted two letters and one post card per week. Also, when necessary, one business letter per week. Each POW was also allowed, at his own expense, one prepaid cable or telegram per month. In the event of a serious emergency (death or serious illness), and at the discretion of the Base Commander, more than one per month may be sent. Incoming mail for Italian POWs from relatives in the US was enormous. In two or three months alone, from 300-500 packages were received. The POWs sent many gifts to their relatives in this country and to those outside the continental US.
33	Contact with Families and Others
34	Politics POWs were segregated into three groups: those who refused to make a political commitment, Fascists by conviction, and Royalists. A minor group, the Republicans, collected $80 for war bonds and offered to donate blood. When the latter was prohibited (by the Provost Marshall) they offered the money to the Infantile Paralysis Fund because they believed it was a good cause.
35	Politics
36	Security In a successful effort to conserve manpower, it was the experience at DDO that one woman with a dog could patrol the same area as two men. POW work details were guarded with carbines and rifles. Each of the six guard towers in the compound was equipped with machine guns.
37	Security
38	Burials All POW burials were at Ft. Douglas Military Cemetery in Salt Lake City. During WW II; 20 Germans, 12 Italians, and 1 Japanese were buried here. During WW I, 21 Germans were buried here.
39	WW II POWs in Ft. Douglas Cemetery
40	WW I German POWs at Ft. Douglas Cemetery
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43	WW I German POW Plaque
44	Italian Service Units Increased responsibilities resulted in increased privileges for the 65% of Italian POWs who signed up to serve in Italian Service Units. ISU units were held in separate compounds from Italian POWs, in fact those POWs who didn’t join the ISU were shipped out of DDO so that the second compound could be used by German POWs interested in working there.
45	Italian Service Units
46	ISU Increased Privileges Instruction in English stressed Same housing Rules against fraternization between members of ISU and American military do not apply ISU Service Clubs Created Fraternization with local civilians encouraged
47	ISU Increased privileges
48	ISU Service Club
49	ISU Decreased Restrictions Work restrictions imposed by Geneva Conference lifted except for Combat, Work at ports of embarkation within continental US, Work with explosives. Mail restrictions reduced to same standards as American personnel for domestic correspondence. POW regulations for international mail. New ISU Uniforms and Visitation Privileges
50	New ISU Uniforms
51	ISU Community Interaction day passes, each 4-5 prisoners accompanied by US soldier buses to St. Joseph’s for dances on Thursday nights open one night a week for officers and three nights a week for enlisted men Decorating done by ISU ISU Orchestra furnishes the music on Thursday nights jukebox and games provided by Catholic groups in Ogden and SLC greatest attraction was American girls
52	ISU Band
53	ISU and German POWs Ogden is only camp in US where Germans and Italians are being utilized at the same time. No difficulties, even when the supervisor and crew are of different nationalities. 1250 Germans arrived in August 1944 into an expanded POW area. They had been captured after D-Day in Normandy, Toulon, and parts of Italy.
54	ISU and German POWs
55	Return Home Return home (1945-46) Relocation for some in US after returning home
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57	Today Former POWs living and visiting in Utah Growing awareness through books, movies
58	Today
59	Future Preserve photos and artifacts Conduct interviews Educate public