To mark the 40th anniversary of the inauguration of the European Resistance Monument, Como will host a special event entitled “European Resistance Monument: 40 Years of Remembrance for Peace“.
The event will take place on Saturday, May 27, 2023, from 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM, in the conference room of the Paolo Borsellino Municipal Library in Como.
Experts will explore the political, artistic and architectural history of the monument, offering insights into its origins, design and significance.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to hear personal accounts from people connected to those who took part in the resistance against Nazi-Fascist rule.
This commemoration is an important occasion not only for Como and its province but also for Italy as a whole, helping to preserve the memory of those who fought for Italy’s freedom.
Historical Background of the Italian Resistance
The Italian Resistance movement was coordinated in part by the National Liberation Committee (Comitato di Liberazione Nazionale, CLN), established in Rome on September 9, 1943, following the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile.
The Resistance continued until the liberation of Italy in the spring of 1945.
Italy celebrates Liberation Day on April 25, commemorating the 1945 uprising against Nazi-Fascist occupation, particularly in Milan and other northern Italian cities.
This period is also associated with the Italian Civil War, which began following the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on September 8, 1943.
After the armistice, opposing forces emerged in Italy: on one side, Fascist forces supporting the Italian Social Republic and Nazi Germany; on the other, the Partisans, who fought against Nazi-Fascist rule.
Gradually, the Partisans gained control of several areas of Italy, while Allied forces liberated other territories as they advanced through the country.
The conflict came to an end in the spring of 1945, with the surrender of German forces in Italy formalised at Caserta.
The European Resistance Monument in Como
The European Resistance Monument (Monumento alla Resistenza Europea) was built between 1978 and 1983 and officially inaugurated on May 28, 1983, by the then President of the Italian Republic, Sandro Pertini, and Mayor Antonio Spallino.
Created by artist Gianni Colombo, the monument is a memorial dedicated to those who resisted Nazi-Fascist regimes and to the victims of their oppression.
The monument serves as a reminder of the horrors of the Second World War while encouraging visitors to reflect on the power of people to resist oppression and restore freedom and peace.
The structure features three stairways leading to three stone slabs, engraved with words written by people sentenced to death.
The memorial also incorporates stones from Nazi extermination camps and the city of Hiroshima, creating a powerful connection between different tragedies of the Second World War.
How to Attend the Commemoration in Como
To attend the event, visitors could go directly to the conference room of the Paolo Borsellino Municipal Library, located at Piazzetta Venosto Lucati 1, Como, on Saturday, May 27, 2023.
The meeting was scheduled to begin at 2:30 PM and end at 6:30 PM.
Admission was completely free and open to everyone.
Information and Contacts
For further information about the event and other cultural initiatives in Como, visit the official Paolo Borsellino Municipal Library Facebook page.
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