Rab concentration camp

Rab concentration camp is a memorial site on the Croatian island of Rab, commemorating an Italian internment camp established in July 1942. The camp operated during World War II near the village of Kampor, in the north-west of an island then under Italian occupation. Today it is one of the more sobering places of remembrance in the region, visited by people interested in twentieth-century history.

What was this place?

It was one of several Italian concentration camps set up during the war. After the 1941 invasion of Yugoslavia, Italian authorities took over part of the Adriatic coast and the island of Rab, and in 1942 a camp for civilians was created here. It remained in operation until September 1943, when Italy capitulated.

Who was held here?

Inmates were mostly Slovenes and Croats, often suspected of ties to the partisans or swept up in raids on civilians. Entire families were interned, including women and children. Jewish prisoners were held in a separate section. The Italian occupation authorities did not hand them over to the Germans, despite pressure to do so.

What were the conditions like?

Prisoners lived in tents, in the open and exposed to the cold. Rations of food and water were very small. Hunger, exhaustion and disease killed many internees. Estimates of the death toll differ: around 1,500 victims are known by name, while other assessments run to several thousand. Peak prisoner numbers are sometimes given as well over ten thousand.

The end of the camp

After Italy's armistice with the Allies in September 1943, the camp was dissolved. Jewish and Slovenian prisoners joined partisan units and left the island for the mainland. About two hundred elderly, sick and weakened inmates stayed behind.

The memorial park at Kampor

A memorial park and cemetery for the victims stands at Kampor. It was designed by the Slovenian architect Edvard Ravnikar and completed in 1953. The cemetery holds just over a thousand graves, and Slovenia added a separate commemorative plaque. The site is quiet and calls for reflection; it is not a typical tourist attraction.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Rab camp established? In July 1942, on an island occupied by Italy.

Where exactly is the memorial? Near the village of Kampor, in the north-west of the island of Rab, Croatia.

When did the camp close? In September 1943, after Italy's capitulation.

Who designed the memorial park? The Slovenian architect Edvard Ravnikar; it was completed in 1953.

Can I visit? Yes, the memorial park and cemetery at Kampor are a place of remembrance. Visitors should be quiet and respectful, as in any cemetery.

How many people died in the camp? The exact figure is disputed. Around 1,500 victims are known by name, and overall estimates reach several thousand.