Model

Object number2014.52.1 a-e

Date1945

OriginBenicia, CA

MediumWood; Metal; Paint; Adhesive

Credit LineGift of Fabio Ruberto

DescriptionGreen, red, and black wooden model of a WWII Italian Fiat tank. The body of the tank is painted green and has two hatches in the front and two in the back. The turret on top has red detailing and black gun barrels. The tank tracks are black as is the drive mechanism and suspension.Dimensionsa: H) 10.0" x W) 10.5" x L) 19.0"
b: H) 3.0" x W) 2.25" x D) 0.25"
c: H) 3.0" x W) 2.25" x D) 0.25"
d: H) 1.75" x W) 3.75" x D) 0.25"
e: H) 1.0" x W) 2.25" x D) 0.25"
Inscriptions(a)
Small wooden plaque on the back of the tank reads "RUBERTO DONATO / P.O.W. AL NIPOTE / FORTUNATO"; translation: "Ruberto Donato / P.O.W. His Nephew / Lucky".
Historical NotesHand-crafted model of WWII era Fiat tank. Donato Ruberto made this tank during his tenure as a POW in Benicia, California. Born in Cairano in Avellino province, Campania, he was drafted into the Italian Army in the early 1930s. In 1939, he was called to serve in the infantry as a sergeant and was sent to Libya. He was taken prisoner by British troops on February 11, 1941. Ruberto was held as a POW in camps in Egypt, England, Scotland, and Canada before he was sent to the United States. In the United States, he was held at Pine Camp in New York, Camp Clark in Missouri, and at the Benicia Arsenal in California. While in Missouri in 1943, Ruberto was visited by his older brother Peter (Pietro), who had immigrated to Pittsburgh in 1911. Peter was a naturalized American citizen and had a barber shop on Centre Avenue. On this same trip down south, Peter also visited his son Fred (Fortunato), who was serving at Maxwell Force Air Base in Alabama for the United States Army. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette chronicled the story of the family’s visit in the article, “Son Fights for, Brother Against U.S.” In 1945, Italy surrendered and Italian POWs were offered the opportunity to become collaborators and were given more freedom despite still being prisoners. Ruberto became a collaborator while held in Benicia, CA and was given the task of disassembling fruit crates. From the wood and wires he constructed this model of the Fiat tank that the Italian Army used from memory, which he gave to his nephew Fred as a gift. He returned to Italy in October of 1945 and immigrated in 1949, first to Venezuela, then to Pittsburgh in 1953. He eventually settled in Bloomfield with his wife and children.

Subjects