Oral History

Isaac (Mike) Danon describes conditions in Yugoslavia and Italian occupation forces there

Isaac lived with his parents and three sisters in Split, on the Dalmatian coast of Yugoslavia. When German and Axis forces invaded and partitioned Yugoslavia in 1941, Italian forces occupied Split along with other coastal areas of Yugoslavia. Italian occupation authorities in Yugoslavia generally prevented violent attacks on Jews. The Italian zone became a safe haven for those fleeing the Nazis or the Ustase (Croatian fascists). After Italy signed an armistice with the Allies in 1943, the area was occupied by Germany. Isaac and his father joined the partisans. They then escaped to Allied-occupied islands off Yugoslavia and Italy. Members of Isaac's family were eventually reunited in southern Italy and arrived at Fort Ontario, New York, on a refugee transport in 1944.

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