Municipality of Sirmione

The Organisation Todt was established as a paramilitary organisation for the construction of military infrastructure necessary for the war effort, both in Germany and the occupied territories. From 1938, the Organisation worked on protection and armament projects. When the war began, forced labourers, prisoners of war, and concentration camp prisoners were used for this purpose.

In Italy, the Organisation Todt had its headquarters in Sirmione on Lake Garda, where the supply department was also based. It was present and operational even before the armistice of 8^th September 1943, and initially dedicated itself to repairing bombed railway lines and infrastructure. The German authorities tried to advertise work with the Organisation Todt through newspaper appeals, leaflets and public announcements, but with little success. Rather, it was the roundups, arrests and service orders that provided the much-needed Italian labour.

With the Allied advance into Italy, the workers of the Organisation Todt constructed fortifications and were joined by the Italian Paladino Organisation, formed in January 1944 by the Italian Social Republic (RSI).

Today, Sirmione is a popular destination for German tourists, but there is nothing to remind us of the Organisation Todt and the Italian forced labourers.