A date that has often been discussed, but it is a day not to be forgotten. In the respect that is given to every victim. With the law of March 30, 2004 the Italian Republic has recognized February 10 as "Day of Remembrance". With a law, therefore, so that the memory of the tragedy of the Italians and of all the victims of sinkholes can be preserved and renewed. As the first article of the law states, remember the victims "of the exodus from their lands of the Istrians, Rijeka and Dalmatians after World War II and the more complex affair of the eastern border".
Foibe, the memory of Mattarella
And on this day dedicated to the memory of victims of the sinkholes, despite the pandemic, many celebrations have been promoted in Italy. The President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella wrote a message for this 10 February. "Suffering, grief, uprooting, exodus - he said - to which tens of thousands of families were forced in the areas of the eastern border, of Istria, of Rijeka, of the Dalmatian coasts are inscribed with an indelible mark". "The crimes - Mattarella added - against humanity unleashed in that conflict did not end with the liberation from Nazi-fascism, but continued in persecution and violence, perpetrated by another authoritarian regime, the communist one". “The horror of the sinkholes affects our consciences".
A little history, what happened
The term foibe indicates those cracks found in the karst region of Friuli Venezia Giulia and Istria. Huge caves, but vertical, once used for many uses. But they went down in history for a serious event that took place after the Second World War. In fact, over time the term sinkhole is used to describe the massacres against the Italians. Massacres that date back to shortly before the end of the second conflict and after the war by the Yugoslav partisans. Unfortunately, however, this day was not remembered for a long time, as well as the whole drama. Until 2005: to commemorate the victims of the sinkholes massacres, the Day of Remembrance was established, a commemorative day celebrated every year on 10 February.
Here's what happened. After the signing of the Armistice in 1943, the Yugoslav partisans in Istria and Dalmatia began to claim possession of those territories. And for this they tortured and threw many Italian fascists into the sinkholes. Then Tito's army occupied Trieste and Istria, forcing the Italians to abandon their land. Many killed, thrown into sinkholes or deported to Slovenian and Croatian camps. The slaughter of the sinkholes began to cease only from 10 February 1947, when Yugoslavia regained the provinces of Fiume, Zara, Pola and other territories.
The victims
From the researches, the victims of the Foibe massacre were between five thousand and ten thousand. Fascists and political opponents were killed, but also women, children, elderly people. Find more than 1700 sinkholes in the area. Today therefore marks an important moment not to forget the victims and a tragic fact of history for a long time little known.
