VE Day: Patriotism & Communists - ITALY

Communists in Italy played heroic role in fighting fascism in their country and defending democracy for over two decades.

The Italian Communist Party (PCI) was outlawed when Mussolini first gained power in the 1920s. Its members and leaders went underground, into exile or were imprisoned including Antonio Gramsci, one of the party's founders.

Antonio Gramsci tragically spent over 11 years in prison and died at the age of 46 from health problems. In prison, Gramsci wrote dozens of essays about politics, history, culture and society which was later discovered and published after the war as his Prison Writings and Notebooks.

His prison notebooks developed Marxist theory in the 20th century and, in turn, made a huge contribution to understanding the obstacles and gaps that can exist between politics and wider society, and how to better-connect them

The illegal PCI had to operate undercover for years with its members scattered, isolated and vulnerable. But over the years, Italian communists became active in the resistance and built a strong reputation for their patience, trustworthiness, knowledge, wise tactics and co-operation with other non-communist resistance groups.

Later in the war, allied troops including many Scottish soldiers landed in Sicily in 1943. As they fought their way into southern Italy, communist partisans worked with them in the push northwards. When Italy finally surrendered to the allies in the autumn of 1943, German forces then turned on Italy and unleashed more repression, destruction and atrocities on the population.

Italy was divided under opposing forces. In north and central Italy, communists in rural and urban areas including Tuscany, Florence, Bologna, Milan, Turin and Genoa played diverse roles in the Italian resistance. Men and women, young and old, contributed in all kinds of ways including with intelligence, roadblocks, sabotage, workplace strikes and armed fighting in towns, countryside and mountains.

Italian Resistance fighters

As Nazi forces gradually retreated, they targeted Italian factories for destruction or removal to Germany. In turn, Italian partisans defended their factories with armed force.

In 1945, Italian communist partisans finally captured Mussolini and other fascists in northern Italy as they were driving towards Switzerland. Accounts vary on the exact details but is it generally accepted that communists executed Mussolini, his mistress Clara Petacci and others. The bodies were later taken to Milan and hung by their feet in public view.

After the war, the resistance, the Italian Communist Party and founder-leader Palmiro Togliatti played a key role in establishing the modern republic of Italy and early democratic governments. Togliatti died in 1964 but left behind a huge legacy with the PCI, which grew hugely after the war to a membership of over two million Italians.

The first translations of Gramsci's writing into English after the war were done by a Scottish soldier, Hamish Henderson, who served in Sicily and Italy alongside allied troops and Italian partisans. After the war, Henderson became active in politics, writing and folk music and in cultural events that evolved into the early Edinburgh Festival.

Hamish Henderson, fourth from left on front, and Italian partisans

Today, the Italian resistance is remembered and honoured across Italy. Communists continue to remind Italy of their part in liberating the nation from two fascist dictatorships and two decades of repression and terror.

Italian communists continued in their wide-ranging activities which in recent decades included brave work against the Mafia by leading PCI member Pio La Torre, who was assassinated by the Mafia in Palermo in 1982. 

Contemporary books about Italian communists
including Pio La Torre who fought the Mafia 

In towns and cities across Italy, streets and public squares bear the names of communists such as Antonio Gramsci and other radical Italians. Gramsci institutes across Italy and Sicily publish books, conduct vital research and support events to consider Italian and global political issues, past, present and future.

Italian communism represents a proud and continuing tradition of bravery and service to people, democracy and liberty.

PHOTOS: 
Black-and-white pictures of Italian partisans shooting on the streets of Florence, defending a FIAT factory in Turin against German troops and a woman resistance fighter are all taken from 'The Italian Resistance' by Tom Behan, published by Pluto Press. 
The large group photo showing Scottish soldier Hamish Henderson with Italian partisans and flags is taken from Hamish Henderson: A Biography by Timothy Neat, published by Polygon.