The virtual exhibition “1944: the year of the turning point”, created by CGIL Lombardia and Archivio del Lavoro, together with categories, Chambers of Labor and Stoic archives of Lombardy, is available from 27 March.
(Click here)
History on virtual display
In Italy occupied by the Nazi-fascists the March 1, 1944 in the factories of the northern regions, still occupied by the Germans and fascists, the strike begins. Unique event in the history of occupied Europe. With the strikes, workers take back the scene and, together with the vast resistance movement, allow Italy to be free, to be able to choose its own Constitution and its own form of State, preventing its being placed under commissionership as happened in Germany.
The requests are simple: Bread, Peace, Freedom. But the goal is high: free Italy from Nazi-fascism and defend the factories from destruction during the German retreat.
In Milan and Lombardy
In Milan, next to the factory workers, the tram drivers stop, paralyzing the city’s public transport. In Lombardy they are calculated in total approximately 350,000 strikers. The repression of the fascists and the Germans will be terrible. Many workers were arrested and deported to Germany. Many will never return home.
The strikes of ’44 are the first insurrectional attempt, which will culminate with the strike of 25 April: the only major general strike that took place in Europe occupied by Nazi-fascism. Their struggle gives us democracy, Article 1 of our Constitution: Work is the foundation of the democratic Republic.
In the exhibition you will find stories, images, voices, documents and videos. A precious work that will remain a testimony and collective memory.
