Italy
Italy: A Summary
Jews have lived in Italy since Roman times.
In 1516 in Venice Jews made to stay in area called the Ghetto – a former foundry. So could live the ghetto during the daytime.
By 1861 Jews were given equal rights. Jews became more integrated into Italian society.
The Fascist era began in 1922 under the dictator Mussolini. But he did not bring in any race laws until 1938.
When the Germans finally occupied most of Italy in1943, 50,000 Jews were subjected to the Nazi race laws.
With the aid of the Italian police many Jews were rounded up for deportation.
Some Jews joined the resistance.
Other Jews were hidden by people like the priest Hugh 0‘Flaherty who was active in Rome.
Italy
Jews have lived in Italy for around 2000 years. Jews lived in Rome under the Romans. The community was established there in 139 BCE. They were mostly merchants or then as slaves when the Kingdom of Judea was destroyed by the Romans. After the collapse of the Roman empire Jews gradually became established in cities such as Naples and Milan.
But in the Venetian Republic period a degree in 1516 stipulated that they lived in a segregated area which was at or near a foundry which in Italian was called a ghetto. Five synagogues became established there each reflecting different ethnic traditions.
Following the unification of Italy in 1861, many legal restrictions on Jews were lifted. Gradually, Jews became more integrated participating in intellectual and professional activities.
The Fascist era under Mussolini began in 1922 but did not give rise to severe restrictions until 1938, when Italy came under Nazi influence. Various racial laws were enacted against the 50,000 Italian Jews. With German occupation in 1943, Italian Jews faced deportation and possible extermination. Some Jews such as famous scientist and later author Primo Levi joined the resistance fighters.
Many Jews who were trying to hide received help from civilians, clergy, antifascists and civil servants who, as in other European countries, sometimes risked their lives to extend assistance. At the same time, the Italian police were releasing census data to the Germans and many civilians were denouncing Jewish families for a fee. Half of the known arrests of Jews were carried out directly by Italian police and militia. Between these two extremes were civilians willing to render certain services to Jews in hiding or en route to freedom by purchasing and selling goods, or by offering transportation and protection for remunerations that ranged from a reasonable exchange to the ruthless exploitation of people who, faced with a death threat, had no other option.
The work of the Irish priest Hugh O’Flaherty was very important in hiding Jews from the Nazis when they occupied Rome after the collapse of the Fascist regime.