The Old Joel on Software Forum: Part 4 (of 5) - OT...need Europeans' help ;-)

OT...need Europeans' help ;-)

This is completely off-topic, but I've googled for an hour and found no leads...

Does anyone know if there's an online searchable database of fallen soldiers for European (specifically italian) soldiers in World War 2?

My 88 year old grandfather has been asking me to try to find one of his best friends he had in the military who went off to Russia (and never heard back from him - not encouraging eh?) Since they weren't from the same town/region, even if he would have came back, there would have been no easy way to find each other back then. My written italian is so-so, and I have no idea who to contact over there that would be able to give me useful info. Thanks!

GiorgioG
Friday, April 23, 2004

I'm assuming you're in the US - forgive me if I'm wrong.

http://www.italyemb.org/

Philo

Philo
Friday, April 23, 2004

doh! I never thought about the embassy ;-) Thanks Philo...

GiorgioG
Saturday, April 24, 2004

Hi,
I'm a swede living in Germany.
I think there are a lot of groups in Germany that studdies the second world war. I found some websites online that might be of help in your quest.

http://www.geocities.com/~orion47/
specifically
http://www.geocities.com/~orion47/ABResearchServices.html
http://forum.axishistory.com/

I assumed your grandfather was a member of the Italian (Axis) forces. Feel free to contact me with more details and I can see what I can find in the german language homepages. Your best bet is probably to find an Italian veteran interest group and ask where to go from there.

Fredrik Svensson
Saturday, April 24, 2004

My first start would be with the Red Cross.

anon
Sunday, April 25, 2004

GiorgioG, try this addresses:

1) U.N.R.R. Unione Nazionale Reduci di Russia Via Marco Burigozzo 4/a 20122 Milano Tel. +390258310229
2) Unione Nazionale Reduci di Russia Via Castelfidardo 11 Bologna
Seguono indirizzi, ufficiali del Ministero della Difesa, utili per ricerche su
3) Ministero Difesa Direzione Generale della Leva VII Divisione - Albo d'oro dei Caduti dell'Esercito Italiano Via Sforza 4 ROMA
4) ONORCADUTI (Commissariato Generale Onoranze Caduti in guerra) Piazzale Luigi Sturzo 23 00100 ROMA
5) Stato Maggiore dell'Esercito Ufficio Storico Via Lepanto 4 Caserma 00100 ROMA

Giovanni Corriga
Sunday, April 25, 2004

Sorry, drop the 'Seguono indirizzi...' line

Giovanni Corriga
Sunday, April 25, 2004

Thanks All! I'll check out these good leads.

GiorgioG
Sunday, April 25, 2004

This might also help as it gives geographical distribution of surnames and might help narrow down the search to a local veterans association, or branch of UNRR or ONORCADUTI if your grandfather's friend was lost in Russia. This is particularly so if the surname was unusual, as many Italian surnames are.

I don't vouch for it's accuracy (although for what I was looking for it was spot on), but every little helps.

http://www.gens.labo.net/it/cognomi/genera.html

If his friend was lost in Russia, local memorials are very common, should he ever wish to pay his respects.

What may also help, as you may know, is that unless the family emigrated or moved from the south to the north as many did from the 50s onwards, Italian family ties are very close, so families are very localised. Does you grandfather not remember more details, things like dialects are very diverse and particular.

Pietro
Monday, April 26, 2004