IBMT member Robert Macdonald looks forward to an event this Saturday (26 April) in Salford to mark 80 years since the defeat of fascism in Italy…

The liberation of Italy during the Second World War and the lives of ordinary Italian people who resisted fascism over many years, despite huge risks and suffering, will be marked at an event in Greater Manchester in late April to celebrate its 80th anniversary.

Various Italian organisations in Greater Manchester are working on the event and encouraging people from all backgrounds to hear about Italy's experiences. It is called Voices of the Resistance: Stories that Shaped Liberation, and will take place this Saturday, April 26, at The Eagle Inn, Collier Street, Salford, at 11.30am.

Every April, the liberation of Italy is marked with a public holiday in Italy and celebrations, called Festa della Liberazione. This reflects historic events in April 1945 when liberation movements in Italy declared a general insurrection against Nazi German forces and remaining Italian fascist garrisons, and began issuing decrees to assume power. Days later, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was captured while trying to flee Italy and executed.

But liberation came after 20 long years of a brutal fascist dictatorship in Italy, which began with Mussolini’s rise in 1922. The regime tried to crush all opposition, terrorising the Italian people generally and targeting opponents with persecution, violence, imprisonment, torture and death.

Later, Mussolini's regime backed Hitler's Nazi Germany in the Second World War. But as events gradually turned, Italy's fascist regime dismissed Mussolini in 1943 and then declared an armistice with the Allies. However, in turn, Nazi Germany then treated Italy as an enemy nation, with more atrocities and reprisals.

But throughout all the years of suffering under the changing regimes, many ordinary Italians resisted fascism in different ways and contrtibuted to its eventual defeat - men, women and children. Examples included disobedience and defiance in many aspects of life, from workplaces to sport, along with intelligence gathering, sabotage, armed fighting and working with the Allies.

Giulia Sirigu (second from left), one of the event's organisers, speaking at last year's event.

One of the Greater Manchester event organisers is Giulia Sirigu, Secretary of the Manchester chapter of the Italian Partito Democratico political party. She said: “The event on Saturday will reflect on how fascism impacted the lives of ordinary people and how they resisted it. There will be speakers, literature, poetry, videos and songs from the Open Voice Community Choir. Additionally we will draw connections with today’s world and current affairs.

“Everyone is welcome, regardless of whether you have Italian links or not. It is an opportunity to listen, learn and engage with the voices of Italy's past and beyond. This will be a meaningful gathering to celebrate resilience, courage and the spirit of liberation.”

The event is free but booking is required on Eventbrite. There will be pizza provided while drinks will be available to buy

Represenatatives of local groups at Italian Liberation Day in April 2024.

Organisations involved include the Partito Democratico, the INCA UK-CGIL advice organisation, the NDIL CGIL Italian trade union, the Associazione Nazionale Partigiani d'Italia (ANPI) which highlights the Italian resistance; and ACLI, a Christian association of Italian workers.

Also involved is the Open Voice Community Choir and the North-West International Brigade Memorial Group. It highlights Greater Manchester and Lancashire’s links to the Spanish Civil War and volunteer fighters from this region who joined the International Brigade. 

During the 1930s Spanish civil war, anti-fascist volunteers from around the world joined the International Brigade to support the Spanish government against a coup by army general Francisco Franco. Later, Italian volunteers then return to Italy and joined the resistance in Italy including during the Second World War, which ended in 1945.