Miscellaneous Letters Concerning 
Italian POWs at Camp Atterbury

SPMGA (47) 201
War Department, ASF, PMGO, Washington 25, D. C. 5 August 1943
To: the Commanding General, Fifth Service Command, Fort Hayes, Columbus 18, Ohio

1.  It is requested that subject prisoner of war be transferred, under guard, from Station Hospital, Fort Hayes, Ohio, to Prisoner of War Camp, Atterbury, Indiana.

2.  All personal effects of this prisoner of war, including money, baggage, basic personnel and medical records, should be transferred with him. If this prisoner requires medical attention it is requested that you make necessary arrangements for adequate care during the transfer.

3.  In accordance with an existing directive from the Secretary of War, this prisoner should not be handcuffed for any reason whatsoever.

4.  It is requested further that you inform this office date of completed transfer.

For the Provost Marshal General:
I. B. Summers
Colonel, CMP
Director, Prisoner of War Division

ARMY SERVICE FORCES
Office of the Provost Marshal General
Washington

9 September 1944

Subject: Transfer of Italian Medical Officers, Prisoners of War
To:         The Commanding General, Fifth Service Command
              Fort Hayes, Columbus 18, Ohio

1.  The Commanding General, Eighth Service Command, has been requested to transfer, under guard, with least practicable delay, two (2) Italian medical officers, prisoners of war, from Prisoner of War Camp, Monticello, Arkansas, to your custody at Prisoner of War Camp, Camp Atterbury, Indiana.

2.  The Commanding General, Eighth Service Command, has been requested to inform you, in advance, approximate date and time of arrival of these prisoners at Prisoner of War Camp, Camp Atterbury, Indiana.  Direct communication is authorized.

3.  This transfer is being made in order to supplement the present prisoner of war medical personnel at Camp Atterbury.

4.  It is requested that, upon arrival, you accept custody of these prisoners of war from the Commanding General, Eighth Service Command, and intern them at Prisoner of War Camp, Camp Atterbury, Indiana.

For the Provost Marshal General:
Earl L. Edwards
Major, CMP
Assistant Director
Prisoner of War Division

WA490 V CL187 NR 25
FROM EAGER C G 5TH SVC FORTHAYES OHIO NOV 1 2012Z

TO THE PROVOST MARSHAL GENERAL, WASHINGTON, D. C.

GR 72

REURTELP TWENTY EIGHT OCT THE FOLLOWING ITALIAN NCO POW SPEAK AND READ GERMAN LANGUAGE COLON COPORALE MAGGIORE MEVIO COMMA ANGELO COMMA FIVE WI DASH FOUR THREE NINE SIX FIRST VERIFIED DATE OF US CUSTODY FIFTEEN JUN FORTY THREE AND CAPORALE MAGGIORE COMMA LUGIA COMMA FIVE WI DASH FOUR EIGHT ZERO FIVE FIRST VERIFIED DATE OF US CUSTODY SIX JUL FORTY THREE BOTH CAMP ATTERBURY IND PERIOD BOTH CONSIDERED RELIABLE END SPVDS

SECRET

HEADQUARTERS
1537th Service Unit
Prisoner of War Camp
Camp Atterbury, Indiana

7 March 1944

Subject: Transfer of Pro-Fascist Italian Prisoners of War
Thru:      Commanding Officer
              Camp Atterbury, Indiana
To:         Commanding General, Fifth Service Command
              Fort Hayes, Columbus 18, Ohio
              Attn: Chief, Prisoner of War Section

1.  Reference Paragraph 6, secret letter your headquarters dated 2 March 1944, Subject: same as above, File: SPVID 383.6, which requests that the names of any Pro-Fascist Italian Prisoners of War not named in the list attached to the letter should be reported to your headquarters.

2.  Attached hereto is the list as requested, of 35 Pro-Fascist Italian Prisoners of War, by rank, showing named, internment serial number and the reasons for such classification.

3.  In compliance with telephone directive, your headquarters, 6 march 1944, these 35 prisoners of war have been ordered transferred to The Commanding General, Eighth Service Command, at Prisoner of War Camp, Monticello, Arkansas, together with 109 Prisoners of War named in the list attached to the letter referred to in Paragraph 1, above.

J. L. Gammell
Colonel, U. S. Army
Commanding

SECRET

HEADQUARTERS
1537th Service Unit
Prisoner of War Camp
Camp Atterbury, Indiana

1 April 1944

Subject: Segregation of Fascist Prisoners of War
Thru:      Commanding Officer, Camp Atterbury, Indiana
To:         Commanding General, Fifth Service Command
              Fort Hayes, Columbus 18, Ohio
              Attn: Chief, Prisoner of War Section

List of Fascist Italian Prisoners of War for whom segregation is recommended, with reasons therefore:

SERGENTI MAGGIORI:

## ####, Nicola, 5WI-3822 - When this man was questioned as to his political beliefs his reply was that he had no reason for giving aid to this Government,  He also was instrumental in causing members of this company, who had signed the applications for service in the Italian Service, to demand the return of their papers.  Upon further investigation, it has been found that his sentiments were for the Fascist Party.

##########, Sestilio, 5WI-5395 - As a Fascist's Propagandist, he has assembled in the company orderly rooms, several times, elements of Fascist organizers and with them he has had long sessions.  In these they used insulting adjectives against Anglo-American and Italian Prisoners of War who are in favor of Badoglio and the King and in favor of the United States.  Each time that they received news favorable to the Germans or Japanese he was one of the first to spread the news and regarded it as of great importance.  He was a great admirer of the Germans and still is.  He assured the men that the Germans and Japanese will be victorious.  He accused the Italian Prisoners of War who are in favor of Badoglio and the United States Government as being traitors.  He has stated many times that he recognized exclusively the Mussolini Government.  He expressed himself in the presence of Colonel Gammell, that he was a Fascist with the same words used by Marshall Taroni.  When the men of a certain detail refused to work, he told them that they did not have to work unless they so desired.  At one time he was told by Lt. Barry to save all waste paper, but he continued to burn it.  He also said, "The hell with the Americans".  He then turned to a Prisoner in favor of the Badoglio Government and said, "What do you say about that, it being that you are an American?"

SERGENTI:

########, Belgio, 5WI-5179 - A staunch Fascist, an enemy of the United States.  A German admirer.  Criticizer of American methods and Officers and of Italians who sympathize with American and the King.

########, Adriane, 5WI-4505 - Has worked against United States, sympathies are definitely Pro-Fascist.

########, Liugi, 5WI-5430 - He is assured that the Germans and Japanese will be victorious.  He is like Stefanelli, but with a much wiser character and a better organizer.  He can keep  secrets against his opponents.  The only way that anybody finds out anything about him is through his friends in public discussions.  He enjoys a great deal his ability to keep secrets from the men in the company, more than Stefanelli, because he can keep a more serious appearance.  The men as a group are not wise to him.  The men told him they would sign up if he would.  He has repeatedly told the men that the Americans have been mistreating them, and that the Americans carried the war to their homes, with the intention of destruction and hunger and not to bring them liberty.  He swore to the men that he is a supporter of the Republican Fascist.

#######, Nardino, 5WI-4292 - He said that he did not want to help anyone who is against Mussolini, and that anyone who signed the application was a traitor.

#######, Camillo, 5WI-4542 - Generally known to be Pro-Fascist and has cleverly worked against the United States.

#########, Andrea, 5WI-3846 - This man stated flatly that he would not care to become a traitor to his country when approached about eh applications for service in the Italian Service Units.  It has been found through investigation and questioning that hw was one of the men that told the members of his company that had signed the application that, upon their return to Italy, they did not have long to live.

########, Ezio, 5WI-4589 - A Pro-Fascist leader.  Influential in spreading Pro-Fascist information.

#######, Giacinto, 5WI-4590 - Well educated and clever, but a strong Pro-Fascist.  Works against American projects.

##########, Brune, 5WI-3872 - Stated that no one could entice him with liberty to change the ideals of his leader.  When questioned further as to whom he gave his allegiance, he stated that it was none of our business. When further investigation it has been found that he had been spreading pro-fascist propaganda.

########, Giovanni, 5WI-3887 - This man has often spoken against serving in any way that might be of help to the American Government.  He also has held long talks with the men who signed the application for service in the Italian Service Units, and then the same men to whom he has talked came back and revoked their applications.  Although he has never openly admitted that he was a member of the Fascist Party, he has admitted that his felling are with the Fascists.

And 94 more - all of a similar nature.