Page 114 - Dark Shades of Istria
P. 114
Memories and Dark Tourism in Istria
patriot Nazario Sauro was dedicated in Koper, where King Vittorio
Emanuele i i i and some high-level representatives of the Kingdom were
present as well (Istarsko povijesno društvo – Società Storica Istriana,
n.d.). The plan was first disclosed in the main fascist political magazine
Gerachia back in 1927 – see Giuriati (1927, p. 793) – and formalised by law
in 1922 (Concernente la creazione a spese dello Stato, di un monumento a
Cesare Ballisti in Trento, e di un monumento a Nazario Sauro in Capodis-
tria, 1922; Salata, 1922, p. 78);¹⁷ the monument and its surroundings were
places of social gatherings and political manifestations intended to pre-
serve the collective memory and the consolidating/spreading of fascist
ideology – see Figure 6.2 (F. A., 1941, p. 1). The main speakers (and sup-
porters) of fascism wore characteristic fascist black uniforms – black
shirts (Camicia Nera).¹⁸ The uniforms and many other facts described in
this sub-chapter clearly confirm the militarisation of the society (Altin &
Badurina, 2017, pp. 325–326).
During the Second Italo-Abyssinian War (October 1935–May 1936),
mass rallies, events and occasions contributed to the homogenisation
of the people in the Kingdom of Italy (Berezin, 1997; Orlović, 2014a;
2014b). Events such as the ‘General Assembly of the Forces of the Regime’
(Adunata generale delle forze del Regime) at the announcement of the
start of the war on 2 October, the ‘Day of Faith’ (Giornata della fede) on
18 December, and memorial ceremonies of a mostly religious nature on
18 February and 14 April occurred in order to commemorate/glorify the
fallen soldiers in the colonial campaign. Numerous celebrations of im-
portant victories were constantly organised (from February to May 1936),
including the day of occupation of the capital city of Ethiopia (from May
5 to May 10)¹⁹ (Orlović, 2014a, pp. 119–120).
For all events, appropriate media campaigns and promotions were
organised in order to achieve maximum participation throughout Is-
tria. Based on the report of the local (daily) newspaper Corriere Istriano,
Orlović (2014a, pp. 124–126) states there were 25,000 fascists plus thou-
sands of other participants at the ‘General Assembly of the Forces of the
Regime’ in Pula, whereas, based on the report of the Prefect, she states
¹⁷ There were also many others which were glorified in the time of fascism in the region,
e.g. Fabio Filzi, Damiano Chiesa (Todero, 2010, p. 390).
¹⁸ Term originally used to refer to the loyal members of the Fascist organization founded in
Italy (Fasci di combattimento): ex-soldiers, ultranationalist, militarists, etc.
¹⁹ May was consequently called ‘Radiant African May’ (Maggio radioso africano).
114
patriot Nazario Sauro was dedicated in Koper, where King Vittorio
Emanuele i i i and some high-level representatives of the Kingdom were
present as well (Istarsko povijesno društvo – Società Storica Istriana,
n.d.). The plan was first disclosed in the main fascist political magazine
Gerachia back in 1927 – see Giuriati (1927, p. 793) – and formalised by law
in 1922 (Concernente la creazione a spese dello Stato, di un monumento a
Cesare Ballisti in Trento, e di un monumento a Nazario Sauro in Capodis-
tria, 1922; Salata, 1922, p. 78);¹⁷ the monument and its surroundings were
places of social gatherings and political manifestations intended to pre-
serve the collective memory and the consolidating/spreading of fascist
ideology – see Figure 6.2 (F. A., 1941, p. 1). The main speakers (and sup-
porters) of fascism wore characteristic fascist black uniforms – black
shirts (Camicia Nera).¹⁸ The uniforms and many other facts described in
this sub-chapter clearly confirm the militarisation of the society (Altin &
Badurina, 2017, pp. 325–326).
During the Second Italo-Abyssinian War (October 1935–May 1936),
mass rallies, events and occasions contributed to the homogenisation
of the people in the Kingdom of Italy (Berezin, 1997; Orlović, 2014a;
2014b). Events such as the ‘General Assembly of the Forces of the Regime’
(Adunata generale delle forze del Regime) at the announcement of the
start of the war on 2 October, the ‘Day of Faith’ (Giornata della fede) on
18 December, and memorial ceremonies of a mostly religious nature on
18 February and 14 April occurred in order to commemorate/glorify the
fallen soldiers in the colonial campaign. Numerous celebrations of im-
portant victories were constantly organised (from February to May 1936),
including the day of occupation of the capital city of Ethiopia (from May
5 to May 10)¹⁹ (Orlović, 2014a, pp. 119–120).
For all events, appropriate media campaigns and promotions were
organised in order to achieve maximum participation throughout Is-
tria. Based on the report of the local (daily) newspaper Corriere Istriano,
Orlović (2014a, pp. 124–126) states there were 25,000 fascists plus thou-
sands of other participants at the ‘General Assembly of the Forces of the
Regime’ in Pula, whereas, based on the report of the Prefect, she states
¹⁷ There were also many others which were glorified in the time of fascism in the region,
e.g. Fabio Filzi, Damiano Chiesa (Todero, 2010, p. 390).
¹⁸ Term originally used to refer to the loyal members of the Fascist organization founded in
Italy (Fasci di combattimento): ex-soldiers, ultranationalist, militarists, etc.
¹⁹ May was consequently called ‘Radiant African May’ (Maggio radioso africano).
114
