In a month, the European Parliament Elections will be held in all member states, including Italy. Europe is going to vote in a climate of economic crisis which has especially gripped the Mediterranean states, but that could involve the idea of European unity.
The crisis, or better the rather contested austere policies with which it has been addressed, is likely to reinforce a feeling of indifference, if not rejection of the European Union, viewed not as solution, but as the reason of the economic and social problems.
Why remember? Because “just” seventy years ago the peoples of Europe were thrown against each other in a civil war supplied by ferocious competing ideologies. From the Resistance and the very high costs paid in human, civil and economic terms was born not only Italian democracy, but also a great movement of public opinion in favor of the European unification.
On April 25th of the year 1945 the liberation of northern Italy was accomplished. On April 27th Mussolini was captured and executed by a firing squad the following day. In December, (after the Parri provisional government) the De Gasperi Government, composed of all parties in the National Liberation Committee (Comitato di Liberazione Nazionale) was established. One of the most tragic periods in the history of Italy ended.
Seventy years later, we cannot fail to note that the evolution of the historical judgment has seen the development of an animated controversy on the relationship between Resistance and national identity, on the actual consistency and role of armed Resistance.
Thus, we have “discovered” that it is not possible to consider the Resistance a popular movement of mass, which became so only a few days before the German yield; that there was a wide “gray zone” composed of those who, although involved, managed to survive between the “two fires” keeping out from choosing between the two parties. We have accepted the civil war, Italians fighting other Italians in a bloody and ferocious showdown.
In the face of historic reset of Fascism and Anti-fascism, we cannot forget that our Republic and Constitution were born from the Resistance. Certainly the process of constitution of the Italian democracy is born from the meeting of many other ideals and factors, but the legacy of the Resistance is essential.
We also remember because it is impossible to forget the contribution given by the protection of the allied winners’ powers, from aid for reconstruction and economic recovery to the Marshall Plan that have enabled Italy to take the road of the westernization and Europeanization that reflects the overcome obstacles and the sacrifices made.
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