Luigi Papo (de Montona): A Zealous Fighter for the Italian Istria - from the War to Pseudohistory

Abstract

Luigi Papo was the leader of the Motovun fascist group who participated in the War with other volunteers of fascist militias between 1943 and 1945 in Istria. At the end of the War, after a short imprisonment in Prestranek (Slovenia), he succeeded to escape to Italy to avoid the war crimes indictments launched against him by Yugoslavia. In the following years, now acting politically instead of militarily, Papo continued his activism in associations of Istrian exiles and in their journals. Papo was a prolific author: he wrote numerous publications about the early and modern history of Istria and about his experiences in the war. Through his constant activism, he participated in the development of the narrative discourse on the Istrian exodus and foibe and had a strong influence in the circles of exiles and later in the various sectors of the Italian public. This article presents some moments of Papo’s experience as a fighter, activist and writer, and in particular discusses his dichotomous view of linguistic and national relations in Istria.