POW - CAMP PG 57



POW - CAMP PG 57

LOCATION INFORMATION:

The POW CAMP PG 57 is in the locality of Campo – San Mauro, in the municipality of Premariacco, Province of Udine, approximately 130 km. north-east of Venice.

If travelling by plane, the nearest airports are Trieste and Venice.

If travelling by train, the nearest railway stations are Cividale del Friuli and Udine.

If travelling by car, from Udine take the SS54 towards Cividale del Friuli. Pass the towns of Remanzacco and Moimacco. At the roundabout, take the first exit and follow the sign to “Campo PG 57”

CAMP PG 57 ADDRESS: Località Campo – San Mauro – Premariacco (UD) – Italy

GPS Co-ordinates: Latitude 46.075553, Longitude13.38654

VISITING INFORMATION:

The Chapel is normally closed. For visits and further information please contact us at camppg57@

HISTORICAL INFORMATION:

On 1st September 1939 Germany invaded Poland. Two days later, Polish allies France and Britain declared war on Germany, marking the start of World War II.

On 10 June 1940 Italy entered the war as an ally of Germany invading southern France and continuing war campaigns in Ethiopia and North Africa. Many British, Australian and New Zealand prisoners of war were captured and sent to Italian camps, among which was Camp P.G. 57 in Grupignano, in north-east Italy.

Between 24th October 1941 and 13th September 1943, almost 5,000 prisoners were held at Camp P.G. 57 under the severe surveillance of officers and guards.

In 1942 two important events occurred at the Camp. The first one was the attemp of escape by 19 prisoners who had dug a tunnel beyond the barbered wire fence, but were soon re-captured and sent back to the Camp.

The second event was the request by some catholic prisoners to build a chapel, which has today become the only remaining visible evicence of the Camp. With the support of the Chaplain of the Camp, Father Giovanni Cotta, the prisoners obtained permission to erect the sacred building (8.36 m. long, 7 m. wide, 24.55 m. high), dedicated to “Our Lord Jesus Christ Crucified”, which was completed in August 1943, just a couple of weeks before the Germans started evacuating the Camp.

Just months after Italy signed the armistice on 8th September 1943 the Camp was abandoned. The barracks were dismantled and all the materials retreived were recycled.

Today little remains of Camp P.G 57: the outline of the foundations of the barracks and the chapel that has recently been restored by the members of ANGET (National Association of Italian Military Engineers and Signallers) and which hosts the precious wooden cross with the signatures of all Pow's who had built the church.

CONTACTS:

campopg57@

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