Why and How Italy Invented an Enemy Aliens Problem in the First World War

Abstract

The article addresses the question of why, during the First World War, the Italian government and nationalist public opinion conformed to other European countries’ campaigns against enemy aliens in spite of the problem’s very minor dimension. After analysing the shift from Germanophilia to Germanophobia, it explores the policies targeting civilians of enemy nationality (mainly Austro-Hungarians and Germans), and assesses their implementation. By using statistical data on the presence of aliens in Italy, official documents, and the nationalist press, it shows that Italy waged a twofold campaign against an often imaginary enemy. The first was conducted mainly by nationalists and resulted in press campaigns, rumours, and brief eruptions of violence against alien targets. The second was conducted through decrees, administrative provisions, police activity, and military orders intended to affect personal freedom and property rights. The article inserts the Italian case into a broader European comparative framework.