Why is Liberation Day celebrated on April 25th? The reason

Why is Liberation Day celebrated on April 25th? The reason

Why is Liberation Day celebrated on April 25th every year? Many Italians (and others) are wondering, we'll give you the answer straight away: on 25 April – as is known – Liberation Day is celebrated in Italy, a very significant anniversary in Italian history because it commemorates the liberation of Italy from Nazi-fascism , with the end of the Nazi occupation and the fall of fascism.

It is a national holiday, symbol of the Resistance, of the partisan struggle waged since 8 September 1943 (the day the Italians learned of the signing of the armistice in Cassibile). However, the war did not end on 25 April 1945. This is in fact “only” a symbolic day, chosen because on this date the retreat of the Germans and the soldiers of the Republic of Salò from Milan and Turin began, following the breakthrough of the Gothic Line from part of the allies and the action of the Resistance.

Who chose April 25th

Who chose April 25th as the date for Liberation Day? On the proposal of Prime Minister Alcide De Gasperi, on 22 April 1946, King Umberto II issued a decree: “To celebrate the total liberation of the Italian territory, 25 April 1946 is declared a national holiday”. The anniversary was also celebrated in subsequent years, but only in 1949 was it institutionalized as a national holiday, together with 2 June, Republic Day.

Since then every year, in various cities of Italy from North to South, public demonstrations are organized on April 25th in memory of the Liberation. Among the events there is the solemn homage, by the President of the Italian Republic and the high officials of the State, to the Unknown Soldier at the Altare della Patria in Rome, with the laying of a laurel wreath in memory of the fallen and Italians missing in the wars.