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Title
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Almerini, Giuseppe Giovanni
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Family name
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Almerini
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Given name(s)
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Giuseppe Giovanni
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Alternate name(s) / title(s)
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Pipin
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Pippo Werini
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Il Maligno
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Gender
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Male
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Full biographical data
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Giuseppe Almerini was born in Ospedaletti (Imperia) on January 18, 1911, to his father Antonio, an artisan, and his mother Veronica, who worked in agriculture. From an early age he showed a natural inclination for drawing and painting, a passion not inherited from his family but cultivated independently with dedication and sensitivity. Despite this artistic vocation, he pursued a technical course of study, earning a diploma as an accountant.
At the age of twenty, Almerini completed his military service as a Marò (naval infantryman) in La Spezia, where he remained until 1933. In 1940, as Italy was about to enter the Second World War, he was recalled by the Savona Military District as an infantryman and reported on April 8 to Sarzana, where he was assigned to the 21st Infantry Regiment “Cremona.” After a period of convalescence spent at home, he was assigned with the rank of Sergeant to the 89th Mobilized Infantry Regiment, then to the 205th Complementary Marching Artillery Battalion (7th Mobilized Regiment), and subsequently to the 880th Infantry Battalion.
Deployed to Sicily, Almerini was captured by Allied troops at Capo Feto on July 23, 1943. He was transferred to the United States, where he arrived on September 27, 1943, after passing through Tunisia and Algeria. During his imprisonment in American prisoner-of-war camps, he had the opportunity to resume painting thanks to the commander of Camp Weingarten and his wife, both enthusiasts of flowers and Italian art. Provided with pastels and paints, Almerini returned to artistic activity, leaving behind a valuable visual record of daily life in the prison camps and of his frequent transfers across the United States, as documented in his paintings.
After returning from the war in the spring of 1946, Almerini resumed his artistic activity with renewed energy, participating in numerous exhibitions and events that brought him significant recognition within the Ligurian art scene. His educational background and knowledge of three languages—Italian, French, and English—proved fundamental upon his return, when he found employment at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, at the Provincial Office of Labour and Maximum Employment, Sanremo branch, where he served as Chief Employment Officer. He married in April 1952 and had his only daughter, Ave, in February 1953. Giuseppe Almerini died in Ospedaletti on July 19, 1973.
Biography partially taken from the Biography “Con la tavolozza in mano. Giuseppe Almerini, pittore” written by Claudio Baroni, professional journalist and Almerini’s nephew.
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POW Number
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8W162194
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Birth date
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January 18, 1911
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Country of birth
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Italy
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Death date
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July 19, 1973
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Country of death
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Italy
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Cause of death
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heart failure|illness
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Languages spoken
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Italian (IT, ITA)
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English (EN, ENG)
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French (FR, FRE)
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Bibliographic citation
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“Con la tavolozza in mano. Giuseppe Almerini, pittore” written by Claudio Baroni, professional journalist and Almerini’s nephew.