Barcelona and Catalonia's government, alongside Parma City Council in Italy, have inaugurated a memorial plaque in Parma. The plaque honours 47 volunteers from the Italian province who joined the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War, according to a statement from the Catalan government.
Visual artist Domènec created the plaque, which lists the names of those honoured. It has been installed under the arches of Parma City Hall. This location already features several monuments dedicated to victims of the World Wars and figures from the 'Risorgimento', Italy's unification movement.
Jordi Font, director of the Memorial Democràtic, and Maite Casado, Secretary General of Justice, attended the ceremony. They explained that "initiatives like this recognise the commitment of those who fought against fascism and help spread democratic values, human rights, and a culture of peace."
Recognising Anti-Fascist Commitment
The Spanish Civil War, fought from 1936 to 1939, saw thousands of international volunteers join the Republican side to oppose fascism. Many came from Italy, despite Benito Mussolini's fascist regime being in power. These volunteers often faced severe consequences upon returning home.
The International Brigades were military units made up of foreign volunteers, organised by the Communist International, to fight for the Second Spanish Republic. They played a significant, though ultimately unsuccessful, role in the conflict.
This joint initiative by Catalan and Italian authorities aims to ensure that the sacrifices of these individuals are not forgotten. It reinforces the historical ties between Catalonia and those who championed democracy against authoritarianism.
