• Getting about

    Getting about

    Back
    • Rentals
    • Taxi services
    • Bus services
    • Park areas
  • Stays
  • Eat
  • Sea

    Sea

    Back
    • Beaches
    • Bathing establishments
    • Diving centers
    • Sailing
  • Guided excursions
  • Sports
  • Places to see
  • Special offers
  • Last minute offers
  • Ferries
Infoelba
  • Get to Elba
    • How to get there Getting to the Island of Elba
    • Ferries The shipping companies that connect the island
    • Getting about on the island Public transport and taxis
    • Hire Car, motorbike and boat hire/rental
  • Stay
    • Accommodation that is open all year round Booking a holiday farm centre, hotel or B&B all open in winter too
    • Hotels Hotels to meet all needs
    • Residences For an independent holiday
    • Bed & Breakfasts Always ready to discover the island
    • Apartments Feeling at home in Elba
    • Small villas and detached houses For an autonomous holiday
    • Villas Surrounded by luxury and relaxation
    • Farm holiday centres Nature and flavours everywhere
    • Campsites Socializing and having a good time surrounded by nature
    • Camper and caravan Parking, water tank and facility areas
    • Farm holiday campsites An open air holiday
    • Luxury accommodation For a dream vacation
    • Tourist agencies and realtors Let your holiday be organised for you
  • Eat
    • Restaurants and Pizzerias Typical sea, home or more refined cuisine
    • Food & Wine Experience Experiences of gastronomy and wine tasting
    • Local recipes The best dishes of the Elba cuisine
    • Wines Aleatico, Moscato and Ansonica: Elba wines
    • Herbs and typical products Honey, beer, oil, wild and aromatic plants
    • Typical dishes History and origins of Elba dishes
  • Useful information
    • ElbaOK Insurance The anti Covid-19 policy and much more
    • Useful phone numbers and addresses Public and emergency utilities
    • Weather Temperatures and weather forecast
    • Webcams A window always open on the Elbe
    • Apps for your smartphone Elba on your mobile
  • Visit Elba
    • Beaches and coasts A different beach each day
    • Places to see Museums, ancient monuments, breathtaking views
    • Tuscan Archipelago National Park Seven pearls rising up from the sea
    • Guided excursions Letting others take you round the island
    • Useful advice What to do if...
    • Maps of the Island of Elba The Island in the palm of your hand
    • I am... Elba just as it suits you
    • Recommended itineraries What can we go and see today?
  • Sports and free time
    • Water sports Scuba diving, going snorkelling, fishing, sailing
    • Land sports Cycling, trekking, free climbing!
    • Elba not to be missed The unmissable experiences to do on holiday
    • Outdoor sports Elba: A paradise for lovers of outdoor sports
    • Enjoyment and relaxation Night life, cinemas and much more
    • Courses and study trips Learn while you have fun
    • Shopping Scents, colors and flavors of Elba
    • Special events and exhibitions What shall we do this evening?
  • Discovering Elba
    • How many beaches are there in Elba? 126 beaches of 1000 colours
    • Paths and tracksin Elba 1000 paths to live the island to the full
    • Elba in winter Making the most of Elba all year round
    • Interesting facts A different Elba
    • History of Elba Historical notes concerning Elba and its origins
    • Geology of Elba Geological origins of the Island of Elba
    • Towns of Elba Administration of Elba and its eight Communes
    • Media Gallery Live and feel Elba through photographs
  • Webcams
Infoelba - Dove natura è vacanza
  • 0

Contemporary history in Elba

  • Looking for accommodation
  • Accommodation price and availability
  • Last minute booking
  • Offers
  • Ferry tickets
  • Real estate ads
  1. Island of Elba
  2. Discovering Elba
  3. History of Elba
  4. Contemporary history in Elba

Italian Elba and the two world wars

With the Congress of Vienna the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, including Elba, was once again handed over to the Lorraine family, in the hands of Ferdinando III, and within a few years the Tuscan administrative system took the place of the French one.

When the first War of Independance broke out, both the Tuscan islands and Elba, were mainly used as prisons for the enemies of the state. In 1860 Elba too became member of the Kingdom of Italy, but, not being granted any exemptions or priviledges on behalf of the Grand Duke it underwent a heavy economical depression.

In the final two main wars the strategic position and the possibility of producing arms thanks to its iron resources were the main reasons for the logistic interest on behalf of the European arms.

The tunnels between Procchio and la Biodola are proof of this, as are the firing positions in Capo Poro, real military structures with small barracks and munitions depots in Capo Enfola and the strong>Beacons in Chiessi and Monte Grosso.

When World War I broke out, the steel implant in Portoferraio became very important from a strategic point of view and the production greatly increased; many workers were exempt from being called to war. Apart from the high number of men killed at war, the only event that directly concerned Elba was on May 23rd 1916 when an Austrian-German submarine torpedoed the blast furnaces in Portoferraio causing serious damage and many victims as well as the sinking of the Washington steamer just off the tiny island of Palmaiola.

At the end of World War I a total of 374 soldiers from Elba had lost their life.

The early years of World War II were a very dramatic period that saw the birth of the early fascists but fortunately there were no real episodes of violence, and thankfully the war that traumitized the rest of Italy up to the end didn't affect Elba in a direct way. The armistice of September 8th 1943 thanks to the British-Americans however made Elba's position complicated during the war.

The entire situation plummeted on the morning of September 16th when the Germans bombed Portoferraio for the first time, followed by the island being immediately occupied by the Reich troops.

The following nine months were full of very hard and difficult events like the sinking of the Andrea Sgarallino steamer just off Nisportino in which 300 civilians perished, as well as the continual bombings carried out by the allies on the town of Portoferraio. That was when the people from Elba fully realised what the violence, hunger and degradation that come with war really was.

The French army had the task of getting rid of the Germans on the Island of Elba, and this was known as the Brassard Operation (17th to 20th June 1944). During these four days of fighting many civilians lost their life while the allied goverment that had become German, found Elba in an absolutely terrible condition.

The major sources of help and assistance on the island had been destroyed, the houses damaged, and all sea connectionshad come to a complete end. All most of the locals could do was to emigrate, while the others, thanks to the aid from the Cassa di Mezzogiorno, were able to build the first hotels, campsites and bathing establishments.

This was the start of a new re-development and re-building of the Island of Elba and its success in the international world of tourism.

Request a free quote 0 My choice
ElbaOk

Ensure your holidays with ElbaOK: the first insurance policy against any unexpected outcomes caused by the Coronavirus emergency, and much more.

Read more

Further reading

Enfola coast battalion
  • Get to Elba
  • How to get there
  • Ferries
  • Getting about on the island
  • Hire
  • Stay
  • Accommodation that is open all year round
  • Hotels
  • Residences
  • Bed & Breakfasts
  • Apartments
  • Small villas and detached houses
  • Villas
  • Farm holiday centres
  • Campsites
  • Camper and caravan
  • Farm holiday campsites
  • Luxury accommodation
  • Tourist agencies and realtors
  • Eat
  • Restaurants and Pizzerias
  • Food & Wine Experience
  • Local recipes
  • Wines
  • Herbs and typical products
  • Typical dishes
  • Useful information
  • ElbaOK Insurance
  • Useful phone numbers and addresses
  • Weather
  • Webcams
  • Apps for your smartphone
  • Visit Elba
  • Beaches and coasts
  • Places to see
  • Tuscan Archipelago National Park
  • Guided excursions
  • Useful advice
  • Maps of the Island of Elba
  • I am...
  • Recommended itineraries
  • Sports and free time
  • Water sports
  • Land sports
  • Elba not to be missed
  • Outdoor sports
  • Enjoyment and relaxation
  • Courses and study trips
  • Shopping
  • Special events and exhibitions
  • Discovering Elba
  • How many beaches are there in Elba?
  • Paths and tracksin Elba
  • Elba in winter
  • Interesting facts
  • History of Elba
  • Geology of Elba
  • Towns of Elba
  • Media Gallery
  • Webcams

Infoelba non si assume alcuna responsabilità per l'uso di marchi e slogan usati dagli inserzionisti e per eventuali errate indicazioni.

Informa inoltre che i listini prezzi, orari, date o altro materiale informativo pubblicato su questo sito è suscettibile a variazioni.

:: Siete quindi invitati a chiedere conferma alle strutture interessate ::

Infoelba

©1999-2023 Infoelba s.r.l. Unipersonale - Viale Teseo Tesei, 12 - Centro Servizi Il Molino - 57037 Portoferraio (LI)

P. IVA e C.F. 01130150491 - capitale sociale €10.000,00 i.v. - registro imprese numero 01130150491 - REA: LI - 100635

infoelba® it is a registered trademark - all rights reserved - Accesso all'area riservata - Privacy Policy - Cookie Policy