Page 87 - Dark Shades of Istria
P. 87
5.3 Region of Istria: A Brief Historical Overview
Istria began and ended with the sinking of a ship. The Italian imperial-
ist aspirations formally (at least temporarily) ended with the solution of
the eastern border issue. According to the Treaty of Rapallo signed on 12
November 1920 in Rapallo (Italy), almost all the territory of the former
Austrian Littoral, Zadar (Zara) and some islands were annexed to Italy
(Lipušček, 2012; Šuligoj, 2015a).⁴⁴
After the entry of the Italian army into Pula on 5 November 1918, the
golden age of the Arsenal ended (Marsetič, 2013, p. 494). In 1923, the Ar-
senal was officially renamed Base navale di Pola and most of the activities
were simply abolished (Regio Decreto 1426: L’Arsenale Militare Marit-
timo di Pola viene denominato Base Navale di Pola 1923, 1923; Marsetič,
2006a; 2006b). Pula’s economy radically changed and transformed: the
naval base was reduced, the Arsenal was partly converted into a private
shipyard, Cantiere Navale Scoglio Olivi, and some modest private and
state industries, shipyards and workshops were opened. This partial de-
militarisation had not particularly positively influenced the economic de-
velopment of the city which, however, remained one of the major mili-
tary ports of the Kingdom. Just before wwi i, it was strengthened signif-
icantly with submarine capacity. Consequently, all changes between the
two world wars caused a great socio-economic crisis in the city and the re-
gion (Marsetič, 2006a; 2006b; Mrach, 1927; Notizie storiche di Pola, 1876,
p. 13), which, together with the state fascist terror, led to an increased em-
igration of the Slavic population and the Italian anti-fascists (Dukovski,
1998; 2010; Hrobat Virloget & Čebron Lipovec, 2017, p. 47; Šetić, 2011b;
Violante, 2009, p. 98; Žerjavić, 1993) – the second major migration wave
in the 20th century marked by violence and damnatio memoriae. System-
atic refinement was upgraded by the stimulated immigration of the loyal
Italians from the Apennine Peninsula, which influenced the change in
the national structure of the population in the Istrian province (Provin-
cia dell’Istria).⁴⁵
Public use of Slavic languages and cultural activities in the non-Italian
language were prohibited. Slavic names and surnames as well as to-
ponyms were Italianised; the regional, provincial and local authority was
in Italian hands. Loyal members of the National Fascist Party (Partito
⁴⁴ The annexation to Italy was completely in line with the Treaty of London (1915), a secret
pact between the Triple Entente and the Kingdom of Italy. With the Treaty of Rome, the
City of Rijeka was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy in 1924.
⁴⁵ See also Altin & Badurina (2017), Ballinger (2002), or Scotti (2008).
87
Istria began and ended with the sinking of a ship. The Italian imperial-
ist aspirations formally (at least temporarily) ended with the solution of
the eastern border issue. According to the Treaty of Rapallo signed on 12
November 1920 in Rapallo (Italy), almost all the territory of the former
Austrian Littoral, Zadar (Zara) and some islands were annexed to Italy
(Lipušček, 2012; Šuligoj, 2015a).⁴⁴
After the entry of the Italian army into Pula on 5 November 1918, the
golden age of the Arsenal ended (Marsetič, 2013, p. 494). In 1923, the Ar-
senal was officially renamed Base navale di Pola and most of the activities
were simply abolished (Regio Decreto 1426: L’Arsenale Militare Marit-
timo di Pola viene denominato Base Navale di Pola 1923, 1923; Marsetič,
2006a; 2006b). Pula’s economy radically changed and transformed: the
naval base was reduced, the Arsenal was partly converted into a private
shipyard, Cantiere Navale Scoglio Olivi, and some modest private and
state industries, shipyards and workshops were opened. This partial de-
militarisation had not particularly positively influenced the economic de-
velopment of the city which, however, remained one of the major mili-
tary ports of the Kingdom. Just before wwi i, it was strengthened signif-
icantly with submarine capacity. Consequently, all changes between the
two world wars caused a great socio-economic crisis in the city and the re-
gion (Marsetič, 2006a; 2006b; Mrach, 1927; Notizie storiche di Pola, 1876,
p. 13), which, together with the state fascist terror, led to an increased em-
igration of the Slavic population and the Italian anti-fascists (Dukovski,
1998; 2010; Hrobat Virloget & Čebron Lipovec, 2017, p. 47; Šetić, 2011b;
Violante, 2009, p. 98; Žerjavić, 1993) – the second major migration wave
in the 20th century marked by violence and damnatio memoriae. System-
atic refinement was upgraded by the stimulated immigration of the loyal
Italians from the Apennine Peninsula, which influenced the change in
the national structure of the population in the Istrian province (Provin-
cia dell’Istria).⁴⁵
Public use of Slavic languages and cultural activities in the non-Italian
language were prohibited. Slavic names and surnames as well as to-
ponyms were Italianised; the regional, provincial and local authority was
in Italian hands. Loyal members of the National Fascist Party (Partito
⁴⁴ The annexation to Italy was completely in line with the Treaty of London (1915), a secret
pact between the Triple Entente and the Kingdom of Italy. With the Treaty of Rome, the
City of Rijeka was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy in 1924.
⁴⁵ See also Altin & Badurina (2017), Ballinger (2002), or Scotti (2008).
87
