Case – I.P.O.W. Camp Zonderwater

WWII leather cigarette case embossed with «I.P.O.W.» and the South African coat of arms on the front. The reverse shows the name «Zonderwater» along with the heads of South African Prime Minister Jan Smuts and his wife Isie Smuts, symbolizing leadership and humanitarian support during the war. This case originates from the Zonderwater Italian POW camp in South Africa, operated by Allied forces, which held over 100,000 Italian prisoners of war between 1941 and 1947. «I.P.O.W.» stands for «Italian Prisoner of War». Personal items like this case were often handmade by prisoners as tokens of identity, creativity, or gifts to send home.