History of South Tyrol - Rise of Fascism

Rise of Fascism

Up to this time, the German-speaking population had not been subjected to violence and nor had the Italian authorities in any way interfered with its cultural activities, traditions and schooling. This was about to change, with the rise of fascism. The first hint of what was about to come was experienced by the German population on Sunday April 24, 1921. The population of Bozen had organized a Trachtenumzug (a procession in traditional local costume) to celebrate the opening of the spring trade fair. The General Civil Commissioner of the province, Luigi Credaro, had been warned in advance by his colleagues from Mantua, Brescia, Verona and Vicenza of the intention of the fascists there to go to Bozen to disrupt the procession, but did not take any precautions. After arriving by train in Bozen the approximately 280 out-of-province fascists were joined by about 120 from Bozen, and proceeded to attack the procession with clubs, pistols and hand grenades. The artisan Franz Innerhofer from Marling was shot dead and around 50 people injured in the attack. After the attack the military intervened and escorted the fascists back to the station. Although Credaro, under orders from the Italian Prime Minister Giovanni Giolitti, had two suspects in Innerhofer's murder arrested, nobody was ever brought to justice for the attack, as Benito Mussolini had threatened to come to Bozen with 2,000 fascists to free the two suspects by force, if they were not set free immediately. On this occasion Mussolini also made clear his policies regarding the people of South Tyrol:

"If the Germans on both sides of the Brenner don't toe the line, then the fascists will teach them a thing or two about obedience. Alto Adige is Italian and bilingual, and no one would even dream of trying forcibly to Italianize these German immigrants. But neither may Germans imagine that they might push Italy back to Salorno and from there to the Lago di Garda. Perhaps the Germans believe that all Italians are like Credaro. If they do, they’re sorely mistaken. In Italy, there are hundreds of thousands of Fascists who would rather lay waste to Alto Adige than to permit the tricolore that flies above the Vetta d’Italia to be lowered. If the Germans have to be beaten and stomped to bring them to reason, then so be it, we’re ready. A lot of Italians have been trained in this business."