The migratory flow of Italian workers beyond the Brenner Pass in the years 1938-1942 originated in economic needs also linked to preparations for the future war, which required Germany to find a workforce to meet demand in every productive sector: from agriculture and industry to construction firms and mining companies. Germany was experiencing a period of strong economic recovery, after the crippling economic crisis of the years 1929-1932 which allowed Hitler and National Socialism to reach political power, and needed additional manpower. Italy, in the same period, was grappling with a problem that the regime had completely failed to solve:…
