Some 100 Cossacks perished in resistance to forcible repatriations at Rimini and Bologna. Initially, there were 2,400 internees although this number was reduced, by repatriations during the war. The rapid repatriations meant that many citizens were unaware of the refugees. Following the Bleiburg repatriations, the Partisans proceeded to brutalize the POWs. Several other repatriations took place elsewhere in Carinthia during May 1945. Many of them were killed by the Yugoslav partisans after the Bleiburg repatriations. This was part of the events referred to as the Bleiburg repatriations. He was 16 years old when he survived the Bleiburg repatriations. On May 15, the Bleiburg repatriations began. The US federal government has not apologized for the repatriations. Motorcyclists from The Royal British Legion Riders Branch attended repatriations held in the town. The BBC later reported that repatriations had started. The German-Romanian convention which sanctioned these repatriations was signed on 22 October 1940. Both French and American wars were concluded in 1815, and repatriations began. The repatriations were a good will gesture and no conditions officially were attached.