Italian Settlers in Libya (1911-70)


Figure 1.--This photograph shows a group of Italian boys singing during the feast of parish priest of Tripoli Cathedral (October 1962). In school portraits pupils usually wear formal clothing. Here instead their clothing seems more casual. All the boys wear shorts (the younger very short according with the fashion at the time). They wear white or colored shirts, or t-shirts. Few boys wear very formal white shoes with white socks, but many of them wear more ordinary footwear. We can see dark everyday shoes with colored ankle socks, but also other sort of footwear. Two boys wear sneakers; they was the ankle type (that the Italians call "basketball sneakers"). A boy wears open-toe sandals without socks and, in spite of the quite formal occasion, a boy wears flip-flops. We can assume that in everyday life, t-shirt, sandals and flip-flop were more used because of the warm climate.

Italy began the occupation war of Libya with a war against the Ottomon Empire (October 1911. The Ottomans signed signed the Treaty of Lausanne recognizing the independence of Cyrenaica and Tripolitania (October 1912). A guerilla war ensued, but was largely supressed by a brutal Ialanian military campaign ordered by Mussolini. Libya as an Italian colony was a location where Italian colonists could emigrate. Finding land for Italian settlers was a primary reason for Italy's seizure of Italy. And while not to many Itlians were interested in emigraring to Somalia and Ethiopia, there were a number willing to cross the Mediterranean to nearr by Libya. The numbers of settlers were fairly small at first, but increased as the Fascist forced estblished control over the colony. Italian immigration decrease only when Italy entered World War II (1940). Passages to Libya became very dangerous as the Royal Navy attempted to cut off supplies to first the Italuan army in Libya and than Rommel's Afrika Korps. Finally Libya was occupied by the British 8th Army, permanently ending Italiam emigration (1943). Some of the Italian settlers returned to Italy, but many remained in Libya after the War. The Italians were a big community with their schools and organizations, especially in Tripoli. There were about about 35,000 Italians living in Libya as late as 1962. This changed after Ghaddafi revolution (1969). He forced nearly all the 20,000 Italians remaining in Italy to leave. He also expelled all the remaining Jews to leave (1970). Later he expelled Palestinians. He has also expelled citizes of neigboring Muslim states. He apparently doubts their loyalty to Libya.

Italian Colonization of Libya (1911-42)

Italy began the occupation war of Libya with a war against the Ottomon Empire (October 1911. The Ottomans signed signed the Treaty of Lausanne recognizing the independence of Cyrenaica and Tripolitania (October 1912). A guerilla war ensued, but was largely supressed by a brutal Ialanian military campaign ordered by Mussolini. Libya as an Italian colony was a location where Italian colonists could emigrate. Finding land for Italian settlers was a primary reason for Italy's seizure of Italy. And while not to many Itlians were interested in emigraring to Somalia and Ethiopia, there were a number willing to cross the Mediterranean to nearr by Libya. The numbers of settlers were fairly small at first, but increased as the Fascist forced estblished control over the colony. Italian immigration decrease only when Italy entered World War II (1940). Passages to Libya became very dangerous as the Royal Navy attempted to cut off supplies to first the Italuan army in Libya and than Rommel's Afrika Korps.

Many Italians Remain after World War II

Finally Libya was occupied by the British 8th Army, permanently ending Italiam emigration (1943). Some of the Italian settlers returned to Italy, but many remained in Libya after the War. The Italians were a big community with their schools and organizations, especially in Tripoli. There were about about 35,000 Italians living in Libya as late as 1962.

Gadafi Expulsions (1970)

This changed after Col. Ghaddafi revolution (1969). He forced nearly all the 20,000-25,000 Italians remaining in Italy to leave. Ghaddafi when he and other young officers overthrew King Idris (September 1, 1969) was virtually unknown. He reassured the Italians in Libya that they were no in danger and would be well treated. At the time the Italians operated small businesses and farms. This amicable spirit did not last long. He soon showed in his public statements that he was a fervant Arab nationalist. And he began to promote existing Arab resentment of the Italians. Ghaddafi virtually screamed, "The people have a holy spirit of revenge. They want back what the Italians usurped." Ghaddafi expropriates the property of the Italian settlers and expels them. A press report described what the Italians experienced, "They are getting it back with interest, as the passengers of the Sicilia testified. For two weeks before their departure, they had been forced to stand in long queues at government offices, where they had to submit detailed inventories of their entire holdings. After Libyan authorities were convinced that the lists were accurate, they confiscated all the properties without so much as a single Libyan pound in compensation. Then the Italians were given exit visas and allowed to take with them only the personal belongings they could pack into suitcases and trunks." ["Celebrating ..."]

Other Ghaddafi Expulsions

Ghaddafi also expelled all the remaining Jews to leave (1970). Later he expelled Palestinians. He has also expelled citizes of neigboring Muslim states. He apparently doubts their loyalty to Libya.

Sources

"Celebrating xenophobia," September 7, 1970.






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Created: 1:46 AM 10/14/2007
Last updated: 1:46 AM 10/14/2007