On Saturday, September 22nd, I concluded the main negotiations with the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Munitions, where a discussion took place as to the possibility of utilizing as factory workers those prisoners who proved unfit for military service. On behalf of Giardino, the Minister of War, Colonel Zanghieri informed me that I could consider the question of the Czechoslovak Army in Italy as settled. The Ministry of War had, in this sense, given its definite answer to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and now only the details were being discussed. After my return from the prisoners’ camps I should receive a formal answer in writing, and the organization of the army would then immediately begin.
Accordingly, I was fairly satisfied when, at the end of September, I started off to spend a few days among our prisoners. I visited several camps in the South of Italy, especially those at Certosa di Padula, Sala Consilina, Citta Ducale, and Pola. At Certosa di Padula, where more than ten thousand of our people were located, my visit was quite a ceremonial affair. My impressions on this occasion and on my subsequent visits in the other camps are unforgettable memories. I saw how the freedom of the nation was being born, and the State was being formed. Our troops, who by detachments had already been collected in a military organization for several months, were only waiting for the command to proceed to the front. They were getting impatient, and through being kept waiting they were beginning to be mistrustful and embittered. Having Zanghieri’s assurance, I announced the joyful news to them, and promised that they would soon be set free. Unfortunately, this occurred rather later than I myself had expected, and this was the same in the other camps.
The Italians were pleased with our prisoners, and they received me with readiness and understanding. As time went on, the local authorities showed a willing spirit. On my return to Rome the Ministry confirmed to me the settlement of our army question, but the actual formation of the army was delayed for several months longer. The result was that after my departure from the camps, it was not long before our prisoners again became sceptical and despondent.
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The note from the Ministry of War, which had been eagerly awaited, reached me on October 4th in the form of a letter
