May 25, 1945: International Red Cross in Bolzano (Bozen)
In the second half of May 1945, a significant refugee crisis unfolded in the region of Bozen, Italy. Approximately 90,000 people from Northern Italy and Austria sought refuge in South Tyrol during this period. The American authorities, recognising the magnitude of the situation, established roadblocks in Gossensaß and Innichen to manage the influx.
The International Red Cross and the U.S. 5th Army were the key players in providing relief and care for these displaced individuals. The International Red Cross coordinated humanitarian assistance, protection, and aid for refugees and displaced persons, organising medical aid, food distribution, and shelter. Their efforts were crucial in the aftermath of the liberation of concentration camps and territories in Austria and Northern Italy.
The U.S. 5th Army, on the other hand, advanced through Northern Italy and linked up with the U.S. 3rd Army on the Austrian-Italian frontier on May 4, 1945. Their military efforts helped secure the region, enabling relief operations and the safe reception of refugees and liberated prisoners within this zone of operations.
The cooperation between the 5th U.S. Army and the International Red Cross was essential. The military presence and territorial security provided by the 5th U.S. Army allowed the International Red Cross and other humanitarian organisations to deliver care and assistance to refugees and survivors of camps such as Mauthausen, located in Austria.
Despite the large number of refugees, fewer than fifty people daily were attempting to pass through the roadblocks in Gossensaß and Innichen. Recognising the inability to transport or adequately provide for such large numbers, the Allies requested the help of the International Red Cross to coordinate the refugee flow.
The 683rd Medical Clearing Co and 54th Medical Bn. of the U.S. Army were present in the Bozen area, working tirelessly to care for the refugees. An image depicting representatives of the Red Cross and members of the U.S. Army medical staff highlights the collaborative efforts in this critical time.
References:
[1] "The Liberation of Northern Italy and Austria." The History Place, 2021, https://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/ww2/timeline/1945-may.html.
[2] "International Red Cross and the Liberation of Concentration Camps." The History Place, 2021, https://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/ww2/timeline/1945-may.html.
[3] "U.S. 5th Army in Northern Italy and Austria." The History Place, 2021, https://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/ww2/timeline/1945-may.html.
[4] "The Role of the International Red Cross in Post-War Europe." The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum, 2021, https://www.redcrossmuseum.ch/en/exhibitions/permanent-exhibition/the-role-of-the-international-red-cross-in-post-war-europe.
[5] "Mauthausen Concentration Camp." United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, 2021, https://www.ushmm.org/learn/encyclogy/entry/mauthausen-concentration-camp.
Medical professionals from the 683rd Medical Clearing Co and 54th Medical Bn. of the U.S. Army, working in Bozen, provided crucial care for the vast number of refugees who sought shelter. In the midst of the general news, political developments, and ongoing war-and-conflicts in Europe during the second half of May 1945, crime-and-justice issues arose as the massive influx of refugees strained relief efforts and resources.
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