Robbie MacDonald writes…

Italian volunteers in the International Brigade and resistance to fascism in the past, present and future were highlighted at an event in Greater Manchester.

Members of the IBMT-affiliated North West International Brigade Memorial Group were among speakers at the event called Resistance Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow held at Salford's Working Class Movement Library.

The event brought together various organisations to mark Italy's liberation during the Second World War and also this year's centenary of the murder of Italian socialist politician Giacomo Matteotti by fascists in 1924. The event was well-supported by the Italian community across northern England and others.

Matteotti had warned about fascism in various speeches in Italy and visited London in the spring of 1924 to warn Italians here too. But after returning to Italy, he was kidnapped and murdered in Rome in June,1924. His body was hidden outside the city, adding to the rising fear of violence and terror, and not discovered until August.

An exhibition about Matteotti was held in London this year and he is the focus of a host of new books too. But contemporary fascism and far right movements in Italy and across Europe today were also discussed at the Salford event.

Organisations involved included the National Association of Italian Partisans (Associazione Nazionale Partigiani d'Italia or ANPI), the INCA-CGIL advice service, the Italian Association of Christian Workers (ACLI) and the Partito Democratico political party, which has members in northern England.

Rob Hargreaves (left) and Stuart Walsh (second from left) speaking at the event in the Working Class Movement Library.

Speakers included Simone Rossi, chairman of ANPI in London, and Giulia Sirigu of the Partito Democratico. The ANPI was formed as an association for Italian partisans and supporters. Today, membership is open to all who sympathise with its aims, including young people and those beyond Italy. In Britain, the ANPI is keen to expand its activity. Like the IBMT, it promotes awareness of both historic and contemporary events and issues, and welcomes new members.

North-west IBMT member Stuart Walsh, who is also involved with the Working Class Movement Library in Salford, welcomed guests and highlighted the library, which has a huge archive of left-wing and progressive material representing 200 years of history. The collection was founded in the 1950s by Edmund and Ruth Frow and was moved to its current site near the University of Salford in the 1980s. Its collections include International Brigade and Spanish Civil War material.

Rob Hargreaves, another north-west IBMT group member, spoke about the Spanish Civil War and the role of Italian volunteers in the Garibaldi Battalion of the International Brigade. He highlighted events including the Garibaldi Battalion's defence of Madrid and other key battles. At times, Rob said it was like a 'civil war within a civil war', with Italian volunteers on the republican side facing Mussolini's troops fighting for Franco.

Rob also gave a wider history of the International Brigade and the Spanish Civil War, including volunteers from Britain, Ireland and other countries. He also explained the IBMT's activities today.

Speaking after the event, Giulia Sirigu said: “We received very positive feedback and we hope the event becomes the first of a long series to celebrate the principles of anti-fascism, freedom and international solidarity. We thank all the speakers who took part and the Working Class Movement Library, which is a significant space. Last but not least, we thank members of the Italian Democratic Party in northern England for making the event possible in an historical moment when the principles of Italian and international resistance are much-needed. We would also love to bring the Matteotti exhibition to Greater Manchester.”

The north-west group has had a busy year of events and projects across the region including in Oldham, Manchester, Salford, Ashton, Burnley, Kinder Scout and Wigan. A recent event at Wigan Museum discussed George Orwell in Wigan and Spain with speakers from the IBMT and the Orwell Society.