Sicilian fasci
Fasci siciliani , short for Fasci siciliani dei lavoratori ([ / ˈfaʃʃi sitʃiˈljani / ], Italian Sicilian workers' union ) was a socialist movement of workers, artisans, intellectuals, but especially farmers in Sicily between 1889 and 1894. It was in the European socialist press perceived as the "first act of Italian socialism", as it was read in the SPD organ Vorwärts in 1893 and was confirmed in a letter from Karl Kautsky to his Sicilian party comrades. Italian government circles, perceived the Paris Commune of 1871 as a worrying but distant occurrence, reacted to the events in Sicily with dismay. The movement was suppressed after tough military operations under the leadership of Prime Minister Crispi .
history
The first fascio in Sicily was founded in Messina on March 18, 1889 , but remained inactive for three years because its founder had been arrested and sentenced to two years in prison. It was not until the Fascios of Catania was founded on May 1, 1891 under the leadership of Giuseppe de Felice Giuffrida (1859–1920) that the Fasci became an effective factor in Sicily. At this point in time, membership was open not only to socialists, but to all workers, because the founder was of the opinion that basic work should first be done and awareness of the social issue should be awakened. On June 29, 1892, a similar association was founded in Palermo , and on August 4, 1892, the party of Italian workers was founded, to which the group from Palermo immediately joined. The movement subsequently spread to rural areas, with sulfur miners and day laborers joining them. On January 20, 1893, a symbolic land occupation by 500 farmers in Caltavuturo ended in a massacre, when soldiers and carabinieri killed 13 villagers and wounded 21.
After the resignation of Prime Minister Giovanni Giolitti on November 28, 1893, the situation worsened. In the following weeks there were further clashes with the police in Giardinello , Monreale , Lercara Friddi , Pietraperzia , Gibellina , Belmonte Mezzagno , Marineo and Santa Caterina Villarmosa , with dozens of dead and injured. On January 4th, 1894, a state of emergency was declared in all of Sicily . Prime Minister Crispi appointed General Morra di Lavriano as special commissioner with military and civil powers and sent him to the unrest area with a force of 40,000 soldiers. In addition to the leaders of the movement, poor peasants, students, professionals and mere sympathizers were also arrested en masse. About a thousand people were sent into exile without trial, and there were also executions. On January 8, 1894, military courts were set up in Palermo, Messina and Caltanissetta . However, the convicted received an amnesty on March 14, 1896 by the new head of government Di Rudinì , with the ban on founding the Fasci or a similar organization.
Individual evidence
literature
- Salvatore Francesco Romano: Storia dei fasci siciliani . Laterza, Bari 1959.