Bagnoli DP Camp in Italy

Between 1946 and 1951 Bagnoli was the site of a Displaced Persons camp ; run by the International Refugee Organization (IRO).

It housed between 8,000 to 10,000 refugees, mainly from Eastern Europe, who were being processed for immigration to various countries including Argentina, Australia, Canada, and the USA. At one time there were complaints about disease and children dying.[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagnoli#cite_note-0

The complex occupied by the camp was originally built to provide a home for young people in need. The facility, built in 1930's, was occupied by the Italian War Ministry until 1942 when it was turned over to a Fascist Youth Organization and, later, to the Germans for an OCS wikipedia.org/wiki/Officer_Candidate_School school until 1943.[2] wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagnoli#cite_note-AFSOUTH-1

In 1944 it became an Italian orphanage - Collegio Constanzio Ciano. In mid-February 1944, the 765th US Squadron occupied the area and slept there on the marble floors.[3] wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagnoli#cite_note-2

A very sad and unfortunate part of the history of the refugee camp after WWII was related to Operation Keelhaul which was the last forced repatriation from Bagnoli as well asother refugee camps at Aversa, Pisa, and Riccione, of about one thousand displaced people who were categorized correctly, or incorrectly, as ex-Soviet citizens. Their ultimate fate was death or imprisonment in the Gulag wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulag of Soviet Russia.[4] wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagnoli#cite_note-3

References:
The Canberra Times. Monday 21 November 1949, p.1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagnoli#cite_ref-0

http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/2753827#pstart767693

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagnoli#cite_ref-AFSOUTH_1-0

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagnoli#cite_ref-AFSOUTH_1-1

Veltri, F. (undated) AFSOUTH,1951-2004: Over fifty years working for peace and and stability

http://www.afsouth.nato.int/organization/CC_MAR_Naples/NAVSOUTH/history.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagnoli#cite_ref-2 Post World War II — Refugee Campsand Holding Stations

http://www.istrianet.org/istria/history/1800-present/camps/refugee-camps.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagnoli#cite_ref-3 Tolstoy, N. (1977). The Secret Betrayal http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret_Betrayal.

Charles Scribner's Sons. p. 360. ISBN 0-684-15635-0 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0684156350> .

Regards,
Pavlo Kravchenko lastivka@fastmail.fm
Australa