Italian Emigrant Soldiers in the First World War
Italy’s entry into the Great War in 1915 prompted 300,000 men to return to their homeland to join the fight. Were they Italian enough for Italy?
‘War Spirit High in Italian Reservists’ read a headline in the Democrat and Chronicle in Rochester, New York on 25 May 1915. Two days later the Vancouver Daily World proclaimed: ‘Local Italians Keen to Join the Colors.’ Following Italy’s entry into the First World War on 23 May, similar stories appeared in newspapers from Nice to New York, from Sydney to Suez, from Buenos Aires to Boston, as over 300,000 Italian emigrants gathered to answer their country’s call to arms and return to serve in the Italian army.
To continue reading this article you need to purchase a subscription, available from only £5.
Start my trial subscription now
If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in.
Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems.
