Porzûs massacre
Encyclopedia
The Porzûs massacre was an episode of the Italian resistance
during late World War II
, occurring on 7 February 1945. It saw the process and the execution of several partisans belonging to the Brigata Osoppo, a formation of Catholic inspiration, by Communist partisans of the Gruppi di Azione Patriottica. The event is still the object of studies and controversies in Italy.
of Faedis
, eastern Friuli
, with the goal to arrest and execute their members.
Toffanin accused the Osoppo brigade of hindering the collaboration with the Yugoslavia
n partisans, led by Josip Broz Tito
, of having failed to distribute to the other partisans weapons sent by the Allies
and, above all, of having had contacts with the army of the fascist government, in particular Decima Flottiglia MAS
and the Alpine regiment "Tagliamento", in the attempt to avoid the annexation of Friuli Venezia Giulia and Istria
to Yugoslavia.
According to the directives of the General Command of the Corpo volontari della libertà del Nord Italia ("Volunteer Corps for Freedom Northern Italy"), issued in October 1944, any collaboration with soldiers of the Italian Social Republic
(RSI) (the fascist puppet-state established by the Germans in northern Italy) was considered as treason
, and thus to be punished with shooting. The brigade Osoppo had given shelter to Elda Turchetti, a young woman who had been listed by BBC radio
among German spies. Incidentally this young whoman had been handed over to Osoppo by Giacca in order to be examined and eventually put to death. She had been found not guilty. In fact BBC radio was not always fully reliable in this kind of information.
Italian resistance movement
The Italian resistance is the umbrella term for the various partisan forces formed by pro-Allied Italians during World War II...
during late World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, occurring on 7 February 1945. It saw the process and the execution of several partisans belonging to the Brigata Osoppo, a formation of Catholic inspiration, by Communist partisans of the Gruppi di Azione Patriottica. The event is still the object of studies and controversies in Italy.
History
On 7 February 1945 a group of communist partisans belonging to the Gruppi di azione patriottica (GAP), led by Mario Toffanin (codename: Giacca), reached the command of the Group of the Eastern Brigade of the partisan division Osoppo, near the malghe of Porzûs, in the comuneComune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
of Faedis
Faedis
Faedis is a comune in the Province of Udine in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about 70 km northwest of Trieste and about 13 km northeast of Udine, on the border with Slovenia. , it had a population of 3,101 and an area of 46.6 km²...
, eastern Friuli
Friuli
Friuli is an area of northeastern Italy with its own particular cultural and historical identity. It comprises the major part of the autonomous region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, i.e. the province of Udine, Pordenone, Gorizia, excluding Trieste...
, with the goal to arrest and execute their members.
Toffanin accused the Osoppo brigade of hindering the collaboration with the Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
n partisans, led by Josip Broz Tito
Josip Broz Tito
Marshal Josip Broz Tito – 4 May 1980) was a Yugoslav revolutionary and statesman. While his presidency has been criticized as authoritarian, Tito was a popular public figure both in Yugoslavia and abroad, viewed as a unifying symbol for the nations of the Yugoslav federation...
, of having failed to distribute to the other partisans weapons sent by the Allies
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
and, above all, of having had contacts with the army of the fascist government, in particular Decima Flottiglia MAS
Decima Flottiglia MAS
The Decima Flottiglia MAS was an Italian commando frogman unit of the Regia Marina created during the Fascist regime.The acronym MAS also refers to various light torpedo boats used by the Regia Marina during World...
and the Alpine regiment "Tagliamento", in the attempt to avoid the annexation of Friuli Venezia Giulia and Istria
Istria
Istria , formerly Histria , is the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. The peninsula is located at the head of the Adriatic between the Gulf of Trieste and the Bay of Kvarner...
to Yugoslavia.
According to the directives of the General Command of the Corpo volontari della libertà del Nord Italia ("Volunteer Corps for Freedom Northern Italy"), issued in October 1944, any collaboration with soldiers of the Italian Social Republic
Italian Social Republic
The Italian Social Republic was a puppet state of Nazi Germany led by the "Duce of the Nation" and "Minister of Foreign Affairs" Benito Mussolini and his Republican Fascist Party. The RSI exercised nominal sovereignty in northern Italy but was largely dependent on the Wehrmacht to maintain control...
(RSI) (the fascist puppet-state established by the Germans in northern Italy) was considered as treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
, and thus to be punished with shooting. The brigade Osoppo had given shelter to Elda Turchetti, a young woman who had been listed by BBC radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
among German spies. Incidentally this young whoman had been handed over to Osoppo by Giacca in order to be examined and eventually put to death. She had been found not guilty. In fact BBC radio was not always fully reliable in this kind of information.