Page 157 - NONOSTANTE IL LUNGO TEMPO TRASCORSO…Le stragi nazifasciste nella guerra di liberazione 1943–1945

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own lives and those of their families, opposed the sacrilegious religion of violence and abuse.
the dictatorship and systematic violence, hiding When Italy joined the war, alongside Hitler, it
Allied soldiers, supporting the partisan struggle, was the direct and inevitable consequence of
falsifying documents to save Jews from deporta- that fanaticism.
tion, printing and distributing propaganda leaflets. April 25th is, for Italy, a fundamental anni-
It was the civil Resistance, the Resistance versary: the celebration of peace, of rediscov-
without weapons, a broad and widespread move- ered freedom, and the return among democratic
ment, which also saw the rebirth of the leading nations. That peace and freedom, which - origi-
role of women, finally removed from the subordi- nating in the resistance of a population against
nation the fascist ideology had assigned them. Nazi-fascist barbarity - produced the republican
Claudio Pavone writes about this commit- Constitution, in which everyone can recognise
ment: “Being merciful towards other human be- themselves, and which represents a guarantee of
ings was in itself a manifestation of anti-fascism democracy and justice, of firm denial of any form
and resistance, regardless of its inspiration, sec- or principle of authoritarianism or totalitarianism.
ular or religious. Fascism had an intrinsic ideology I hereby add - quoting what Aldo Moro said
of violence, mercy was not contemplated…” in 1975 - that "around anti-fascism, popular unity
The Resistance, in its many different forms, is possible and necessary, without compromising
contributed significantly to the advance of the Al- on the other hand the variety and richness of the
lies and the defeat of Nazism. national community, social and political pluralism,
Italy expresses its gratitude with emotion the free and changeable articulation of majorities
and respect to the approximately 350 thousand and minorities in the democratic game".
soldiers, who came from distant countries and Unlike their enemies, permeated in the ma-
died to liberate our Country and the world from cabre cult of death and war, the patriots of the
the nightmare of Nazi-fascism. Resistance used weapons so that one day they
We feel those boys, who rest under the white would be silenced and the world would finally be
tombstones of the Allied cemeteries that are spread characterised by peace, freedom and justice.
across our Peninsula, as our fallen, as our sons. Today, in a time of great concern, marked, in
Liberation, therefore, from the Nazi invad- Europe and on its borders, by aggression, wars
ers, liberation from a terrible war, but also from a and violence, we trust, constantly and with con-
ruthless dictatorship that, over a period of twen- viction, in that hope.
ty years, had suffocated political and civil rights, And for this reason we must repeat:
crushed fundamental freedoms, persecuted Long live Liberation, long live freedom, long
Jews and minorities, educated young people in live the Republic!

STORIA GIUSTIZIA MEMORIA HISTORY JUSTICE MEMORY 157

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