Eighty years ago, the National Liberation Committee for Northern Italy (CLNAI) proclaimed a general insurrection across all territories still occupied by Nazi-Fascist forces. This marked the beginning of the retreat of German troops and soldiers of the Italian Social Republic from the cities of Northern Italy, which would ultimately lead to the complete liberation of Italian territory, following decisive defeats inflicted by the United Nations with the sacrifice of tens of thousands of American, British, Polish, Brazilian, French, and other Allied soldiers.
Among the documents we have selected for you is the decree of 22 April 1946 establishing 25 April as a national holiday, preserved in the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Library, as well as a series of documents from the Restricted Archive 1943–1947: a telegram from the Minister of Foreign Affairs Alcide De Gasperi dated 30 April, announcing to the embassies in London, Paris, and Washington the enemy’s retreat following the general insurrection in Northern Italy. In the message, De Gasperi urged Heads of Mission to emphasise to the governments of their respective countries the great sacrifice made by the Italian population for the shared cause of defeating Nazi-Fascism. Also included is a press clipping featuring an appeal by De Gasperi to compatriots in the North; a report on the meeting between Prime Minister Bonomi, accompanied by De Gasperi, and British Field Marshal Harold Alexander, Commander of Allied Forces in Italy and the Mediterranean, held in Caserta on 4 May 1945.
Lastly, the collection includes several documents testifying to the strong spirit of cooperation between Italy and the Allies in the liberation of the peninsula from German occupation. Among these are: an article from The Observer dated 2 July 1944, reporting British General Alexander’s great appreciation for the contribution of the Italian civilian population to the liberation effort; a message from British Prime Minister Winston Churchill to Italian Prime Minister Bonomi on 3 May 1945, congratulating Italy on its final liberation and praising the role played by both the regular Italian armed forces and the Resistance; and a letter from Italian Prime Minister Parri (who succeeded Bonomi in June 1945) to US President Truman dated 22 August 1945, expressing Italy’s deep gratitude for the assistance and support provided by the United States during the final years of the war, as well as the Italian people’s feelings of “trust, respect, and friendship” towards the American people.
