in detail
The Salò Republic used the »New Camp« in Fossoli from 5 December 1943 as a concentration camp for Jews; from January 1944, the site also held political prisoners. On 22 February 1944, the SS administration organized the first deportation of Jews from Fossoli to the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp.
On 15 March 1944, German troops took over command of the camp which now became an official »police transit camp«. 67 political prisoners were shot on the firing range in Cibeno on 12 July 1944. Modern research shows that before the camp closed and its operations were transferred to Bozen-Gries in August 1944, nine transports of a total of 5,000 people left the camp; more than half of those transported were Jews. Five transports went to the extermination camp in Auschwitz-Birkenau, the others to Mauthausen, Buchenwald, Bergen-Belsen and Ravensbrück.
The aim of the »Former Fossoli Camp Foundation« which was established in 1996, and its »Study and Documentation Centre« was to disclose the history of the former camp as well as helping to promote peace, respect for human rights and understanding between cultures.
There are also memorial plaques on the grounds of the site to remember the time of the transit camp during World War II.
From 5 December 1943, part of the prisoner of war camp established by the Italian state in Fossoli was used as a concentration camp for Jews. The first deportations of Jews from this »New Camp« to the extermination camp in Auschwitz-Birkenau took place in February 1944. From 15 March 1944, the camp officially became a »police transit camp«.
Since 1996, the »Former Fossoli Camp Foundation« and its »Study and Documentation Centre« have been researching the history of the camp.
28 May 1942
Establishment of the Fossoli camp by the Italian fascist state as a camp for Allied prisoners of war.
5 December 1943
Use of part of the camp as the 'New Camp' – a concentration camp for Jews; from 1944 also for incarceration of political opponents. Detention of Italian and foreign civilians in the 'Old Camp'.
February 1944
First deportation of Jews to the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp.
15 March 1944
Official take-over of the 'New Camp' by occupying German forces; renamed a 'police transit camp'.
August to November 1944
Use of the 'New Camp' to gather labourers for deportation to Germany, demolition of the 'Old Camp'.
November 1945 to May 1947
Use of the camp for foreign refugees.
May 1947 to August 1952
Use of the site as a 'town' by the Nomadelfía Brotherhood.
July 1954 to March 1970
Use of the camp as the village of 'San Marco' for refugee families from the Julian-Dalmatia region.
1984
Transfer of ownership from the state to the community of Carpi, free of charge.
January 1996
Establishment of the 'Former Fossoli Camp Foundation'.
1998
Start of work to fence off the former 'New Camp' by volunteers; concluded in 2003.
2004
Opening ceremony for the first reconstructed barracks of the Jewish sector.
Fossoli, 1943, the »New Camp«, Archivio Storico e Sezione Etnografica del Comune di Carpi.
Fossoli, 2004, Current condition - the ruins of one of the former huts for Jews, Marcello Pezzetti.
Fossoli, 2004, the only block of the camp that has been reconstructed and is open to the public today, Marcello Pezzetti.
Fossoli, 2004, Entrance to the memorial, Marcello Pezzetti.
