Between memory of the Resistance and the Algerian war of decolonisation: Italians and the solidarity to Henri and Gilberte Alleg

Journal title ITALIA CONTEMPORANEA
Author/s Nicola Lamri
Publishing Year 2023 Issue 2023/303
Language Italian Pages 27 P. 39-65 File size 202 KB
DOI 10.3280/IC2023-303002
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The Italian translation of the book La Question, containing the shocking report of the Algerian Communist Party militant Henri Alleg, arrested and tortured during the battle of Algiers in 1957, triggered a series of reactions. This paper focuses on the solidarity actions carried out by intellectuals belonging to the political area of the Italian communist party and the campaign launched by “l’Unità” during the autumn of 1959. In particular, it examines the relationship between intellectuals and the party at the outbreak of the Algerian war; the history of the literary festival “della Resistenza”, organised by the city of Omegna (in Piedmont) and whose first prize was awarded to Alleg; and the vast campaign carried out by “l’Unità”. The analysis of the solidarity letters sent by the readers of the popular communist newspaper allows to shed light on the role of the Algerian question in late 1950s Italy and on the process of “transference” between the memory of the Resistenza and the reception of decolonisation struggles.

Keywords: Italian resistance, decolonization, Algerian war, History of Italian Communist Party, History of intellectuals, antifascism

Nicola Lamri, Fra memoria della Resistenza e guerra di decolonizzazione algerina: gli italiani e la solidarietà a Henri e Gilberte Alleg in "ITALIA CONTEMPORANEA" 303/2023, pp 39-65, DOI: 10.3280/IC2023-303002