The Arditi Del Popolo (English: People's Daring Ones) was an anti-fascist militia active in Italy to combat fascism from 1921 to 1925. It was the first example of a militant anti-fascist group in history.
History
Founded by Argo Secondari in Rome in late June 1921, it built an alliance of anarchists, communists, socialists and republicans in the structure of a democratic militia. In a few months they had 144 sections with over 20,000 members, and won several gunfights with fascist gangs.
Downfall
The downfall and failure of the Arditi Del Popolo occurred for two main reasons.
- The fascists received large amounts of financial and material support from the rich and police, the Arditi del Popolo did not recieve the same kind of support from anywhere.
- The Leninist Communist Party of Italy and Italian Socialist Party withdrew support from the group for political purposes to try and win the class war through parliamentary means as well as achieve peace with Mussolini. Leaving only the Italian Anarchist Union and Italian Syndicalist Union.[1]
Legacy
Many former members of the Arditi Del Popolo fought in the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War and during the Italian Resistance in World War II.[2]