dossier Anarchists Against fascism

Anarchists at Imola
by Gruppi Anarchici Imolesi

Imola Anarchists from the first rise of the fascist movement to and during the Resistance.

The 1920 marks the final reorganization of the Imola anarchists giving birth to two large groups: the anarchist youth group and USI. In all the young people who were actively engaged were eighty: they organized debates, conferences, rallies and tried to establish close unity with the Socialist Youth.
The industrial action was directed primarily to those categories such as bricklayers, nurses, painters, barbers, the metallurgical and the waiters who were not followed by the Chamber of Labour (attached to the CGL) committed as it was in turmoil in Agricultural with the organization of the peasant class.
The preparation of revolutionary anarchists grew every day, so not found lacking in the face of fascism.
In fact, October 28, 1920 Dino Grandi, then a young Mordano lawyer (town near Imola), then one of the biggest fascist, suffers an attack: are the four revolver shots fired at that (unfortunately) do not affect him. It attributes the fact to the anarchists with the socialists claiming not to be liable. In fact, the perpetrators appear to be really anarchists, when the nascent fascism relies on young students inflamed reactionary spirit of patriotism and socialism and hatred, have great insight into a possible future enemy.
1920 ends with the attempt by fascists to create the conditions to penetrate in Imola, but until June 1921 the fascists in Imola do not have a voice.
The anarchists involved with the Young Socialists, which then pass into the mass Communist Party of Italy, the formation of "Red Guards" who are entrusted with the task of defending Imola from the fascist gangs coming from Bologna. The fascists had in fact already "subjected" Castel S. Pietro and they used this town as a base for incursions into neighboring towns, and especially to destroy the myth of "red Imola" and the combativeness of Imola, due to fifty years of socialist and anarchist propaganda and prestige that Andrea Costa had. The fascists in Bologna are several attempts since November, but always discouraged by local authorities and the socialists leaders themselves because the exceptional level of mobilization of the people would cause a "bloodbath." But on December 14th a column of Fascists in truck tries to come to Imola. The information service immediately and the entire population armed, called by the municipal bell that sounds the tocsin, took to the streets. The five teams of "Red Guards" is available ll around the city's and anarchists placed two machine guns at Imola, on the Via Emilia, to take the fascists in a crossfire. Also this time the Fascists are not, it seems that Romeo Galli, socialist, call Mayor Ozzano to beg him to dissuade them. But the fascists had guessed what was the most effective way to get to Imola: let a nerve-wracking waiting weaken the defense of Imola.

squalid figures

So, with the support of the popular, make their first appearances to launch an attack on a grand scale. On 10 April, during a procession organized by the Popular Party, the fascists come from Castel S. Pietro, the army and police occupied the center to defend the squads from the people. On 28 May the fascists give the assault at the socialist meeting club in the course of the evening. A group of them, hidden in the shadows of public gardens, is preparing to attack with knives, hand grenades and revolvers. While some of them enter the circle, others, out, shoot like mad to stop people from rushing.
The budget of the assault is seven wounded and the destruction of part of the furniture, records, etc.., Placed in rooms where he also established the preparation of the socialist weekly “La lotta” and the socialist section.
The reaction begins to take hold even openly at Imola, the socialist leaders flee to S. Marino and come back only on September, at the moment the storm passed.
So the fascist armed reaction affects the avant-garde and the mass is disoriented and frightened.
On June 26 the fascists with Dino Grandi, Gino Baroncini, etc.. usher in the pennant of battle under the eyes of the petty bourgeoisie.
The local fascists, bleak figures, in some cases even the mentally ill, find support in agrarian that exalt them money and get drunk with wine, and the link to the already strong group of Bologna fascism makes them feel suddenly masters of the square when in 100 against one and protected by the police, they rant against the revolutionary vanguard. The first to be affected are the anarchists, socialists and then finally breaks down the reaction over the proletariat.
On 10 July there are the facts of Passetti Brewery where some failed attempt to kill the fascist anarchist Primo Bassi (1892-1972), building a frame to accuse him of the death of rag. Gardi, unconnected with the facts and killed in the shootout.
Tells Primo Bassi: "On 10 July 1921 a team of Imola Fascists began the first actions of indiscriminate violence. At 10 pm, met with a builder - this Campomori - hit him with sticks until the head bleeding, could take refuge in the beer Passetti, at that time crowded with customers. It was then that I noticed a young man, beats the rush on my shoulder, he invited me to come out. Acquiesced, but after a few steps in the large courtyard I was surrounded by the team that claims searched and when palpated pockets, were convinced I was unarmed, began beating. I opened with a push up towards the exit and, gaining the release under the blows, I was joined by a clubbed left cheekbone that I nearly fell to the ground. I was spun around then - only then - that the survival instinct prevailed in me. The fascist Casella was almost upon me with the gun in his hand and - I have already pulled the pistol from the waistband of my pants - I shot against him and shot him in the leg. I fired a shot and still in the air while all around was a shootout, wounded by a bullet bounce, I fled to via Aldrovandi because the police have appeared. Accompanied to the police station first and then the hospital, I was beaten with fists until a nurse, the socialist Maiolani, did not intervene to scold. Meanwhile, a citizen within the brewery - then wanted fascist - was shot from the bottom up by a pistol shot, and died. The fascists took over the dead and began a violent reaction against men and things. "
The same night, several teams of Fascists went through the streets of the town, firing wildly in order to frighten.

hunt for subversives

Then they attack the headquarters of USI, systematically destroying everything they find: devastate the offices of the leghe, the preparation of the anarchist paper "Sorgiamo", the club meeting, a rich library. Anything that can not be given to the flames in the square below is rendered completely useless. On Monday, continues through the streets of Imola hunting subversive.
The anarchist teacher Ciro Beltrandi is arrested for shooting former Republican Mansueto Cantoni, who became secretary of the local fascio. Is savagely beaten with rifle butts in the back, so much that he died in 1941 in Brussels following the tuberculosis, caused by fascist blows.
Even the head of "Il Momento", Journal of Bolognese Communist Provincial Federation and organ of the Imola Labour, Romeo Romei is attacked and seriously wounded in the chest with a revolver shot left on the ground dying; Ugo Masrati, anarchist farmhand, while quietly involved in farmyard straw as the work of threshing, is assassinated by the fascists.
Typography Galeati, otherwise the fire will be prevented to print the anarchist magazine "Sorgiamo." It prohibits the kiosks to sell "subversive" newspapers such as "Umanita’ Nova" and " Ordine Nuovo". But the anarchist movement has not yet been finally demolished, it must then hit it again, even murder it.
On the evening of July 21 '21 five fascists go to the Case Gallettino inn with the clear aim of hitting another anarchist who had always been distinguished for his courage, Vincenzo Zanelli, called Banega, bricklayer, anarchist. Arrested for the motions of the high prices of July 1919, he was arrested again in 1921 without a charge states and released after 20 days. Since then had not been left alone by the fascists. Reached with two other anarchists - Farina e Tarozzi - by the fascists, he is hit, while the other two unarmed fleeing anarchists, he defends himself to the ground and kills his attacker, the fascist Nanni, a professional thief. Almost all Imola most prominent anarchists are eliminated.
The killing of the young fascist Tabanelli Andrea serves as a pretext for operations against the anarchists: the first drop charges against the anarchist Diego Guadagnini, his cousin Enrico Guadagnini is accused and fascists do other reprisals, make another assault on the headquarters and the USI kill with clubs in the head Raffaele Virgulti, anarchist crippled war veteran.

killed, imprisoned or confined

Enabled to do no harm as best mates Diego Guadagnini and Primo Bassi (sentenced to 20 years despite the fact that the ballistics expert had established that the bullet that killed Gardi did not belong to the weapon of Bassi), killed many of the best as Leo Bianconcini, Vincenzo Zanelli, Raffaele Virgulti, like many other prisoners or confined Tarozzi, Baroncini, Farina, Errani, Tinti brothers, Tonini, etc.. the anarchist movement Imola will contribute to the liberation struggle in Italy in 44-45, and previously in Spain in 1936.