Hello everyone,
My name is Matthew, and I am currently researching my grandfather’s service in the Italian Army during World War II. I am hoping to gather more information about his unit, movements, and experiences, and I would greatly appreciate any guidance or insight from the knowledgeable members of this forum.
My grandfather, Giovanni Nupieri, was born in June 1922 in Calabria. He served in the 78ª Divisione Fanteria 'Lupi di Toscana' and was allegedly taken prisoner by the Germans following the Armistice of September 8, 1943.
From what I understand, this division was stationed in southern France before the armistice, but I am unsure if that is where my grandfather was at the time. Unfortunately, he rarely spoke about the war before his sudden passing in October 1994, when I was only 9 years old.
I do have a military pension document from 1989, which states that he served as a partisan in Bologna from June to October 1944. His name also appears in the Storia e Memoria di Bologna archives:
https://www.storiaememoriadibologna.it/archivio/persone/nupieri-giovanni
After the war, he returned to Calabria and later emigrated to Argentina in 1949, not for political reasons, but in search of better opportunities for his family.
I am particularly interested in finding any official records related to:
If anyone has recommendations on archives, documents, or research avenues, I would be extremely grateful.
Beyond my family research, I am also developing a one-man stage show that interweaves my grandfather’s life story with my own journey to uncover his past. Through this project, I aim to explore not only his wartime experiences but also the broader themes of memory, migration, and the lasting impact of history on future generations.
Any insights, resources, or advice would be deeply appreciated!
Thank you for your time, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Best regards,
Matthew Silva
My name is Matthew, and I am currently researching my grandfather’s service in the Italian Army during World War II. I am hoping to gather more information about his unit, movements, and experiences, and I would greatly appreciate any guidance or insight from the knowledgeable members of this forum.
My grandfather, Giovanni Nupieri, was born in June 1922 in Calabria. He served in the 78ª Divisione Fanteria 'Lupi di Toscana' and was allegedly taken prisoner by the Germans following the Armistice of September 8, 1943.
From what I understand, this division was stationed in southern France before the armistice, but I am unsure if that is where my grandfather was at the time. Unfortunately, he rarely spoke about the war before his sudden passing in October 1994, when I was only 9 years old.
I do have a military pension document from 1989, which states that he served as a partisan in Bologna from June to October 1944. His name also appears in the Storia e Memoria di Bologna archives:
https://www.storiaememoriadibologna.it/archivio/persone/nupieri-giovanniAfter the war, he returned to Calabria and later emigrated to Argentina in 1949, not for political reasons, but in search of better opportunities for his family.
I am particularly interested in finding any official records related to:
- His service with the 78ª Divisione Fanteria 'Lupi di Toscana'
- His whereabouts and status as a POW between September 1943 and June 1944
- His partisan activities in Bologna in 1944
If anyone has recommendations on archives, documents, or research avenues, I would be extremely grateful.
Beyond my family research, I am also developing a one-man stage show that interweaves my grandfather’s life story with my own journey to uncover his past. Through this project, I aim to explore not only his wartime experiences but also the broader themes of memory, migration, and the lasting impact of history on future generations.
Any insights, resources, or advice would be deeply appreciated!
Thank you for your time, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Best regards,
Matthew Silva
