PARTISANS

The partisans were armed fighters who did not belong to a regular army but to a resistance movement and who usually organized themselves into bands or groups to face one or more regular armies.  The initial concept of partisan warfare involved the use of troops raised from the local population in a war zone (or in some cases regular forces) who would operate behind enemy lines to disrupt communications, seize posts or villages as forward-operating bases, ambush convoys, impose war taxes or contributions, raid logistical stockpiles, and compel enemy forces to disperse and protect their base of operations. 

History

In Italy, the partisan movement began in 1943, after the fall of Mussolini's fascist regime. The partisans were organized into different groups, each with its own ideology and strategy. Some groups focused on sabotage and guerrilla tactics, while others worked to gather intelligence and form alliances with Allied forces. The partisan movement was particularly strong in Northern Italy, where the terrain provided good hiding places and support from the local population. The Italian partisans carried out numerous attacks against German troops, sabotaged rail lines, and destroyed military installations. In Yugoslavia, the partisan movement was led by Josip Broz Tito. Under his leadership, the partisans were able to mount a successful resistance campaign against the German occupation forces. They also fought against the Ustase regime, a Croatian fascist government allied with the Nazis. The role of the partisans in World War II was crucial in the liberation of Europe from Nazi occupation. They provided critical intelligence and fought alongside Allied forces in various battles. Many partisans were also involved in the post-war political struggle, which led to the formation of new democracies throughout Europe. After a drawn-out period of combat, the Italian partisans achieved victory. thanks to  Third Reich, which  nullified the attacks from German occupation On 25 july 1943 Mussolini was captured and executed by Italian partisan Walter Audisio.Today, the partisans are celebrated as heroes and symbols of resistance against oppression and dictatorship. Their brave actions and sacrifices have left a lasting legacy of freedom and democracy.

Partisans in Friuli 

The Osoppo-Friuli Brigades were autonomous partisans formations active in Carnia and Friuli founded on the initiative of volunteers of catholic, secular and socialist inspiration. The name of Osoppo was given to the brigade as a symbolic link with the history of the region that, during the Risorgimento, saw the city of Osoppo withstand for seven months the siege of the Austrian troops.

At the time the German had just established the Operationszone Adriatisches Küstenland (Operation zone of the Adriatic coast) annexing Friuli and Istria to the Third Reich.

The goals of the Osoppo were to cooperate with the Garibaldi’s communist formations to fight against the germans SS, the cossacks and italian fascist troops of the Republic of Salò. The Osoppo Brigades, even if they were partly socialist, they often had conflicting relationships with Garibaldi’s partisans and were at odds with the Slovenian-Yugoslav partisan forces.


Monument to the partisans in Udine 

The city of Udine hosts the Monument to the Resistance inaugurated on 25 April 1969. The choice of form is motivated as functional to the meaning of the Resistance. It exalts the values of the partisan Resistance and perpetuates the memory hrough the conception of an isolated space enclosed in a concrete quadrilateral that extends towards the semicircular basin, a metaphor for a balance generated by the tenacity of those who firmly believed in the construction. The desired effect is to recall the waterfalls where the partisans took refuge and fought. The low plants recall the vegetation of the region where the partisans marched.

A true homage to the static paradox, the monument survived the 1976 earthquake unscathed, giving concrete proof of resistance and confirming the engineer's structural design. This the monument continues to tell the story of the Resistance and it is still exciting to read the words of Pietro Calamandrei which describe the moment in which one chooses to behave like men.Impossible to remain indifferent to this symbolic monument which, in keeping with its double etymology of "memory" and "admonition", spurs us to have the courage to think about building in the most difficult moments, to become resilient. 

Below is a video in which we made a partisan tell his story as we imagine it.

Monument to the Resistence, viale G. Duodo, Udine

Photos from https://www.unipopudine.it/   and http://eliovarutti.blogspot.com/