Original scientific paper
THE EXODUS OF THE ITALIAN POPULATION FROM ISTRIA 1945-1956
Darko Dukovski
; Faculty of Philosophy, Rijeka, Croatia
Abstract
The politics of violence practiced by the Italian fascist regime of Istria during the interwar period, especially as it was directed against the Croatian and Slovenian population, incited in these people an euphoria of nationalism during the general national uprising of September 1943,
and immediately following liberation in 1945, a “national revenge” against the mainly urban Italian population. National tensions between Croats and Slovenes on one hand, and Croats and Italians on the other, were the result of the unclarified political status of Istria. Tensions peaked as the peacemakers conferred in Paris.
Research revealed that the causes behind the mass exodus of Italians were many in number and complicated. These causes were likewise difficult to follow because it was often hard to disentangle social factors, such as family, upbringing, education, and cultural background from political and economic factors. In this work the author also attempts to show the individual tragedies that often overtook average people who abandoned their homes for the uncertain life of a refugee. They shared the fate of all exiles: unwanted in their old homes, unwelcomed in their new.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
208543
URI
Publication date:
1.12.2001.
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