Ruth Deutschman

Benjamin Epp

Wien

2008-04-29

Sylvia Manning - Baumgartner

Nicole D´Incecco

1945

I do have to say, not as an excuse but to point out, that the situation in South Tyrol was very different than here, because: By the conditions of capitulation, the German troops were ordered to remain where they were. The single units, for example a company had to lock up all their weapons. They were allowed to keep 12 rifles and a box of hand grenades for their own safety. The rest had to be sealed up and locked away. Only ? the German troops were present. And also the entire German administration was still there. That's why there was hardly any leeway for the South Tyroleans to do anything. That has to be said in all honesty, because many were disappointed that not more happened. But there was this dualism. South Tyrol was suddenly ? after September 1943 ? under German administration. That's why ? that changed everything. And one of the difficulties was that South Tyrol didn't take any measures against this German administration. It is comprehensible but also regrettable. Another example: The German military intelligence regiment headquarters was posted in my friend's house in the Puster valley, in St. Lorenzen. The following happened: I dialled a phone number in Innsbruck and reached the military intelligence regiment headquarters... After the occupation the Americans shut down the entire phone system in Innsbruck, in the town. From my phone I could still reach the military intelligence regiment headquarters. Even though there were nine GI's quartered in our apartment I could telephone South Tyrol. That was really unbelievable. I could ask: "What's going on?" ...and the person at the headquarters asked: "Who do you want to speak with?" And I said: "With the eldest daughter", she was the best informed one there. And he would connect me with her. She obviously had her own extension at the headquarters. Really bizzare! And that's how we found out what was going on in South Tyrol.