Tony Chiado

The story of Sparta’s 300 is one of the Western World’s most famous histories. It speaks to courage and camaraderie, duty and execution. But have you heard of Gli Arditi del Popolo (The People’s Braves)?

During WWI, Italy was bogged down in brutal trench warfare and sought a way to change the tempo of the war. Creating a new unit called the Arditi, they sought to blitz enemy trenches during artillery shelling in a surprise attack. The Arditi were specially trained in knife fighting and martial arts for the hand-to-hand combat they would initiate in the trenches. Casualties were heavy for this unit at about 30%, but they were highly regarded in Italian society.

After the war, many Arditi and other WWI veterans joined the ranks of the squadristi blackshirts. They were fascist terrorists who sought to crush any dissent to their emerging power. However, not all Arditi joined the fascist ranks. In cities like Parma, Arditi who opposed the fascists joined despite ideological differences. Some were communists, others anarchists, some republicans, and others with different political ideologies. What they all understood was that fascism was a cancer and they need a united militant front to oppose the Squadristi reign of terror.

When the Arditi del Popolo were founded in 1921 under Argo Secondari, they quickly became a formidable opposition to the Squadristi. By 1922, the fascists sought to crush the growing opposition in Parma.

The Arditi del Popolo were extremely popular with the population of Parma as they protected the city against fascist goons. As 10,000 Squadristi blackshirts marched on Parma, the 350 Arditi Del Popolo fortified the narrow streets with the support of the people. Through strong defensive positioning, they repelled the fascist blackshirts dealing a blow to the momentum of Mussolini.

By 1925, continued power consolidation by the fascists throughout Italy became too much for the organized resistance of the Arditi del Popolo to bear, but they would reform during the Italian Civil War from 1943-1945. There is great hope in the stories of history. It should empower the people of today.

I find comfort in these stories. This stand at Parma by the antifascists was one of great bravery and skill. It’s a product of how much the people believed in their resistance.