Giorno della Liberazione : what's it all about?

posted by Belarmino Dabalos Saguing

Rome,v Italy   26 April, 2018

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Yesterday, Italy celebrated the  Giorno della Liberazione (Liberation Day), also called Festa della Resistenza (Celebration of the Resistance),  held on April 25th each year and has been a public holiday in Italy since 1946. It celebrates the end of the Italian Civil War and the end of the Nazi

On the morning of the 25th, a general strike was announced by partisan Sandro Pertini, who went on to become President of the Republic. The call was answered by different groups that includes all anti-fascists: communists, populars, royalists, republicans, christian socialists, social democrats, and even anarchists.  

The CLNAI first called for an uprising on April 19th and Bologna - considered a communist stronghold - was liberated on April 21st, followed by Genoa on the 23rd.

April 25th was such a significant date because it was the date Milan and Turin were liberated. Milan was the home of the CLNAI, while Turin was significant as a large city of industry. 

Factories were occupied, including the one where Corriere della Sera, which had been connected to the fascist regime, was printed. Partisans used that factory to print news of the victory.

After April 25th, all fascist leaders were sentenced to death, and Benito Mussolini was shot three days later, after he had tried to escape north to Switzerland. The Americans arrived in the city practically liberated by the partisans few days before, on May 1st and German forces eventually officially surrendered on May 2nd. Many werstern media ignored the actions of the partisans and considered the key cities Bolognia, Turin and Milan was liberrated by the allied forces

The Liberation was a key turning point in Italy's history as it led to a referendum on June 2nd, which resulted in the end of the monarchy and the creation of the Italian Republic. The Constitution of Italy was drawn up in 1947.

April 25th was designated a national holiday in 1949 by Alcide De Gasperi, the last Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Italy.

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