Quite a few battles and campaigns carry the moniker “the forgotten campaign.” But it is unusual to apply that description to an entire country rather than a single battle.
For many people, the Second World War in Europe is synonymous with D-Day and Normandy. The beaches, the airborne operations, the breakout and the liberation of France have all been widely covered in popular culture. There is no shortage of films, books and documentaries about the landings on Normandy’s beaches.
Even when we delve a bit deeper than the obvious military operations and look at the Resistance movements and the establishment of spy networks, France takes centre stage there as well.
Why the Italian Campaign was forgotten
The Italian Campaign began with the Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943 and continued for almost two years. It saw some of the most difficult fighting of the war in Europe. Yet it remains surprisingly absent from the wider public memory.
Part of the reason may be the rather complex political situation in Italy. So often, a simple statement reduces the Italian armistice of September 1943 to “Italy just changed sides.” For the civilian population however, the reality was considerably more complicated. The armistice not only ushered in full-blown German occupation, but also open warfare across the country.
Add to that a politically very diverse Resistance movement and Allied troops bombing towns and villages they were meant to liberate and it soon becomes easier to just forget about this particular episode.
Gaining awareness
While public memory has shifted with the political tides post-war, there are signs the Italian Campaign is moving out of the forgotten corner.
Over the years, we have seen this particularly at a local level in the towns liberated by the 100th/442nd. Local historians, re-enactor groups and community leaders have taken on restoration projects, created new memorials and brought wartime stories back into public spaces.
Even the Sansei show a growing realisation that a significant part of the Nisei story lives on in Italy. The vast majority used to enquire about tours to the Vosges. Now, the balance has shifted to Italy, and for good reason.
The 100th and 442nd spent considerably more time fighting in Italy than in neighbouring France. And the distinction is not simply one of geography. Of the 21 Medals of Honor awarded to the men of the 100th/442nd, 16 were for actions in Italy compared to five for actions in France.
An Italian Remembrance Day
Last year, the US Senate unanimously declared 9 September – the day of the landings at Salerno in 1943 – National WW2 Italian Campaign Remembrance Day. This to honour the nearly 1 million Americans who served in the longest continual combat campaign.
On the same day this year, our The100th Lands in Italy Tour group happened to be at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery to pay our respects to the men of the 100th Bn buried here and inscribed on the Memorial Wall.
The visit turned particularly meaningful for our group when two members accepted the invitation to lay a wreath, marking the occasion. The day may not yet be an international event, but little by little, the tide turns.
Wreathlayers were Corinne Akahoshi, daughter of PFC Akahoshi and Dean Tsukayama, nephew of 1st Lt Conrad Tsukayama. PFC Akahoshi received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions at Anzio. 1st Lt. Tsukayama was the very first casualty suffered by the 100th Bn, just days after the landing at Salerno.
With every retelling of the stories, the Forgotten Campaign in Italy reclaims a part of the memories crowded out by its neighbour. It’s unlikely the Italian Campaign will ever see the same grand scale events as the Normandy commemorations.
But… taking part in this small ceremony after spending the week filling gaps in family histories gave the campaign a place in the memory of a few more people. And this may be how the Forgotten Campaign stops being forgotten. Not in one mass event, but in smaller occasions where places, communities and descendants continue to share their stories.