by Dusibello » Sat Dec 12, 2009 5:02 pm
Could an Italian family living in Rome take a beach holiday in August 1943? Was civilian train travel available at that time? Sicily was of course out of the question, but what if a Roman family had a villa in Puglia, say. Could they still have done their August beach vacation?
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by jwsleser » Sun Dec 13, 2009 5:17 am
Dusibello
Some general comments and then some books to read.
Fascist Italy, like all the nations at war in the 1940s, attempted to maintain normality on the home front as much as possible. The greatest impact on family was rationing. Unlike the other nations, Italy was already rationing key items before the war, and the war rapidly made thing worst. So gas for the few cars in Italy, permission to travel by train, etc., were subject to availability. Of course, means and connections can alter the equation.
There are two factors that affected the situation. The first was the role of the Fascist state. Because of the austerity programs of the thirties, the government provided services to the population to a level not seen in other countries. Vacation camps, social clubs, children programs, etc., were all part of what the government did to placate the public when faced by the lack of wealth in the nation. These programs were continued during the war, as there was little else for the people. The fascist state basically structured family life to a great degree.
The second was the lack of bombing until mid-43. While Italy saw some raids, it never reached the scale of the Allied air offensive against Germany. This was partly an Allied resource issue, but was also partly Allied strategic policy. The heavy raids in 43 were start more with trying to drive Italy out of the war than an effort to cripple Italian industry. Until May-June of 43, the Italian home front didn’t really feel the effect of war except for rationing and the usual wartime restrictions.
You should read two books (others might have better selections). The first is Mussolini’s Italy by Bosworth. The second is How Fascism Ruled Women by de Grazia. Both will provide some insight to family life during the war.
Pista!
Jeff
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by Gian » Sun Dec 13, 2009 7:06 am
As the conditions of roads and railways rapidly deteriorated, and the war moved literally "into the backyard", the preferred beach resorts for Roman people would have been Ostia, Anzio, or any other location near the shore.
Cars were not common, as Jeff already said. Bicycles were the most widespread vehicles. In the immediate wartime and postwar periods, trains were preferred for the longer distances, particularly "third-class trains" and "Littorinas", i.e. self-propelling diesel trains (some are still in service).
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by Dusibello » Sun Dec 13, 2009 10:00 am
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by Dusib
ello » Sun Dec 13, 2009 10:04 am
Found this image of a Littorina:
Could an Italian family living in Rome take a beach holiday in August 1943? Was civilian train travel available at that time? Sicily was of course out of the question, but what if a Roman family had a villa in Puglia, say. Could they still have done their August beach vacation?
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by jwsleser » Sun Dec 13, 2009 5:17 am
Dusibello
Some general comments and then some books to read.
Fascist Italy, like all the nations at war in the 1940s, attempted to maintain normality on the home front as much as possible. The greatest impact on family was rationing. Unlike the other nations, Italy was already rationing key items before the war, and the war rapidly made thing worst. So gas for the few cars in Italy, permission to travel by train, etc., were subject to availability. Of course, means and connections can alter the equation.
There are two factors that affected the situation. The first was the role of the Fascist state. Because of the austerity programs of the thirties, the government provided services to the population to a level not seen in other countries. Vacation camps, social clubs, children programs, etc., were all part of what the government did to placate the public when faced by the lack of wealth in the nation. These programs were continued during the war, as there was little else for the people. The fascist state basically structured family life to a great degree.
The second was the lack of bombing until mid-43. While Italy saw some raids, it never reached the scale of the Allied air offensive against Germany. This was partly an Allied resource issue, but was also partly Allied strategic policy. The heavy raids in 43 were start more with trying to drive Italy out of the war than an effort to cripple Italian industry. Until May-June of 43, the Italian home front didn’t really feel the effect of war except for rationing and the usual wartime restrictions.
You should read two books (others might have better selections). The first is Mussolini’s Italy by Bosworth. The second is How Fascism Ruled Women by de Grazia. Both will provide some insight to family life during the war.
Pista!
Jeff
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by Gian » Sun Dec 13, 2009 7:06 am
As the conditions of roads and railways rapidly deteriorated, and the war moved literally "into the backyard", the preferred beach resorts for Roman people would have been Ostia, Anzio, or any other location near the shore.
Cars were not common, as Jeff already said. Bicycles were the most widespread vehicles. In the immediate wartime and postwar periods, trains were preferred for the longer distances, particularly "third-class trains" and "Littorinas", i.e. self-propelling diesel trains (some are still in service).
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by Dusibello » Sun Dec 13, 2009 10:00 am
Jeff, thanks for the quality comments and the great references... Was familiar with Bosworth, but de Grazia's work was unknown to me, and it is just where my research was going... Many thanks again,jwsleser wroteusibello
Some general comments and then some books to read...
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by Dusib
Wonderful stuff, Gian. Many thanks for the delightful detail about the Italian rail system. The railroad museum is on my must-do list for my next trip to Italy... Thanks again.
Found this image of a Littorina:
