The Italianization of place names in occupied Yugoslavia during World War II
The Italianization of place names in occupied Yugoslavia during World War II

Summary/Abstract: The article aims at giving an overview of the process of Italianization of local placenames carried out by Fascist Italy in the Yugoslav territories occupied during WorldWar II. A great difference emerges among the three zones under the Italian control.In southern Slovenia, devoid of Italians, the Slovenian names were kept in use. However,in Dalmatia, one of the so-called “unredeemed lands”, with a long-standingpresence of the Italian language due to centuries of Venetian rule, many names werechanged but only the most important settlements were taken into consideration.In the hinterland of Fiume, overwhelmingly Croatian-speaking, but annexed to analready existing Italian province, all the settlement names (around 350) were givenan Italian form. The article analyzes the different strategies employed by the localItalian authorities: restoration of the historical Italian name, adaptation or translationof the Slavic one, and coining of a new form.

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