The Holocaust and Compensated Compliance in Italy: Fossoli di Carpi, 1942-1952 (Italian and Italian American Studies)

This book analyzes the role and function of an Italian deportation camp during and immediately after World War Two within the context of Italian, European, and Holocaust history. Drawing upon archival documents, trial proceedings, memoirs, and testimonies, Herr investigates the uses of Fossoli as an Italian prisoner-of-war camp for Allied soldiers captured in North Africa (1942-43), a Nazi deportation camp for Jews and political prisoners (1943-44), a postwar Italian prison for Fascists, German soldiers, and displaced persons (1945-47), and a Catholic orphanage (1947-52). This case study shines a spotlight on victims, perpetrators, Resistance fighters, and local collaborators to depict how the Holocaust unfolded in a small town and how postwar conditions supported a story of national innocence. This book trains a powerful lens on the multi-layered history of Italy during the Holocaust and illuminates key elements of local involvement largely ignored by Italian wartime and postwar narratives, particularly compensated compliance (compliance for financial gain), the normalization of mass murder, and the industrialization of the Judeocide in Italy. Read more... Abstract: This book analyzes the role and function of an Italian deportation camp during and immediately after World War Two within the context of Italian, European, and Holocaust history. Drawing upon archival documents, trial proceedings, memoirs, and testimonies, Herr investigates the uses of Fossoli as an Italian prisoner-of-war camp for Allied soldiers captured in North Africa (1942-43), a Nazi deportation camp for Jews and political prisoners (1943-44), a postwar Italian prison for Fascists, German soldiers, and displaced persons (1945-47), and a Catholic orphanage (1947-52). This case study shines a spotlight on victims, perpetrators, Resistance fighters, and local collaborators to depict how the Holocaust unfolded in a small town and how postwar conditions supported a story of national innocence. This book trains a powerful lens on the multi-layered history of Italy during the Holocaust and illuminates key elements of local involvement largely ignored by Italian wartime and postwar narratives, particularly compensated compliance (compliance for financial gain), the normalization of mass murder, and the industrialization of the Judeocide in Italy This Study Of The Fossoli Di Carpi Camp, From Its Origins To Its Postwar Functions, Exposes Not Only The Pattern Of Silence That Facilitated Mass Murder, But Also The Religious, National, And International Political Sources Of That Silence. Despite Popular Belief, Italy's Wartime Past Is Far From A Single-note Narration Of Benevolence.-- In The Market Place: Fascist Socialization And Consent In Carpi -- Germany And Its Occupied Ally: The German Occupation, The Repubblica Di Salò, And The Deportations Of Jews -- Fossoli And The Final Solution -- Deconstructing The So-called Silent Assent: The Chain Of Command, Compensated Compliance, And Resistance -- The Politics Of Blame -- From Concentration Camp To Christian Utopia: A Battaglia Per La Moralità. Alexis Herr. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 203-217) And Index. Front Matter ....Pages i-xvi Introduction (Alexis Herr)....Pages 1-9 Front Matter ....Pages 11-11 In the Marketplace: Fascist Socialization and Consent in Carpi (Alexis Herr)....Pages 13-29 Germany and Its Occupied Ally: The German Occupation, the Repubblica di Salò, and the Deportations of Jews (Alexis Herr)....Pages 31-46 Fossoli and the Final Solution (Alexis Herr)....Pages 47-67 Deconstructing the So-called Silent Assent: The Chain of Command, Compensated Compliance, and Resistance (Alexis Herr)....Pages 69-89 Front Matter ....Pages 91-91 The Politics of Blame (Alexis Herr)....Pages 93-112 From Concentration Camp to Christian Utopia: a battaglia per la moralità (Alexis Herr)....Pages 113-136 Conclusion (Alexis Herr)....Pages 137-144 Back Matter ....Pages 145-227 This study of the Fossoli di Carpi camp, from its origins to its postwar functions, exposes not only the pattern of silence that facilitated mass murder, but also the religious, national, and international political sources of that silence. Despite popular belief, Italy's wartime past is far from a single-note narration of benevolence.-- Provided by Publisher