Born in Dusseldorf, Germany

Not all Dunera Italians were born in Italy. Places of birth outside of Italy highlight the global migratory patterns of Italians: Uruguary, Scotland, Wales, England, Russia and Germany.

Renzo Mazzolini was born in Dusseldorf, Germany on the 12th October 1905 with his family roots in Barga (Lucca) Italy. The Mazzolini family were a transnational family moving between Italy, Germany and Scotland. 

Enrico and Carolina Mazzolini lived in Dusseldorf, Germany when sons Lorenzo (Renzo) (1905) and Lino (1906) were born where the Mazzolini family had a sculpting and casting business in Dusseldorf. The family returned to Barga, Italy then migrated to Scotland in 1916. In 1921, Enrico, Carolina and their three daughters lived at 3 Argyle Street, Glasgow and by 1925, Enrico was tenant at a shop at 63 Rue End Street, Greenock.  Renzo migrated from Italy to Scotland in 1919 and by 1921 lived at 41 West Beach Hall(?), Greenock.

By 1940, Renzo was a fish restaurateur renting a house and shop at 4 Caledonia Street, Paisley in 1925. In addition, he rented a shop at 35 Underwood Road, Paisley. Renzo’s brother Lino, also a restaurateur, was living at 4 Caledonia Street Paisley when he was arrested and interned. Unlike Renzo, Lino would be interned on the Isle of Man until his repatriation to Italy on the 12th November 1945.

Renzo had been arrested in the Paisley Police District on the 10th June 1940. He named his mother Carolina Mazzolini of Barga (Lucca) Italy as his next of kin. Renzo was one of a small group of internees who was not ‘released on parole’ for work and remained in camp until the 1st July 1945 when he embarked the Dominion Monarch in Melbourne. The ship’s register noted the address for a group of six UK Italian internees as c/- Home Office, London. Renzo was re-interned until his release on the 1st October 1945.

On the 27th July 1961, Renzo died at his residence in Bath Street, Largs, Scotland.  He was 55 years old.

The photo below, taken in Tatura Camp 2A illustrates a group of Scottish Dunera Italians.

Tatura, Australia. January 1943. Group of Italian internees from overseas now interned at Tatura Internment Camp. Back row, left to right: A. Pacitti; V. Bechelli; R. Ciuffardi;

R. Mazzolini; C. Pardini; G. Biagioni. Front row: G. Orlandi; C. Barsotti; M. Croci; L. Minchella. (AWM Image 030188/05 Photographer Colin Halmarick)