The Victory Monument (Italian: Monumento alla Vittoria; German: Siegesdenkmal) is a monument in Bolzano, northernmost Italy, erected on the personal orders of Benito Mussolini in South Tyrol, which had been annexed from Austria after World War I. The 19 metre wide Victory Gate was designed by architect Marcello Piacentini and substituted the former Austrian Kaiserjäger monument, torn down in 1926–27. Its construction in Fascist style, displaying lictorial pillars, was dedicated to the "Martyrs of World War I".
Victory Monument in Bolzano-BozenSculpture portraying Cesare Battisti, by Adolfo WildtMultilingual signpost of the Permanent Exhibition «BZ '18–'45: One Monument, One City, Two Dictatorships»The Austrian president Heinz Fischer and his wife Margit visiting the monument in June 2016
The following Latin script can be seen on the main façade:
HIC PATRIAE FINES SISTE SIGNA / HINC CETEROS EXCOLVIMVS LINGVA LEGIBVS ARTIBVS
Here at the border of the fatherland set down the banner. From this point on we educated the others with language, law and culture.
The monument was inaugurated on 12 July 1928 by King Victor Emmanuel III and major representatives of the fascist government.
The inscription, referring to Roman imperial history, was seen as provocative by many within the German-speaking majority in the province of South Tyrol. On the day of the inauguration there was a counter-demonstration with 10,000 people in Innsbruck.[1]
Since its construction, the monument has been a focal point of the tensions between the Italian and German speaking communities in Bolzano and in the whole region; after various attempts to blow it up carried out by South Tyrolean separatist groups in the late 1970s, it has been fenced off to protect it from further defacement.[2]
Only in 2014, by a joint decision taken by the Italian Ministry of Culture, the South Tyrolean Provincial Government and the Municipality of Bolzano, the Monument has been reopened to the public along with a permanent exhibition (under the title "BZ '18–'45: one monument, one city, two dictatorships") focussing on the history of the monument, within the context of Fascism and the Nazi occupation.[3]
In 2016, the exhibition was granted a special commendation by the Judging Panel of the European Museum of the Year Award which pointed out that "the exhibition reintegrates a controversial monument, which has long served as the focal point of battles over politics, culture, and regional identity. The project is a highly courageous and professional initiative to promote humanism, tolerance and democracy."[4]
Similarly to the Victory Monument, in 2017 also the former Casa del Fascio and its monumental fascist bas-relief have been recontextualized on behalf of the Provincial Administration by adding an illuminated inscription quoting Hannah Arendt.[5]
Hökerberg, Håkan (2017), "The Monument to Victory in Bolzano: desacralisation of a fascist relic", in International Journal of Heritage Studies, vol. 24, pp. 1–16.
Obermair, Hannes (2017), "Monuments and the City—an almost inextricable entanglement", in Matthias Fink; et al. (eds.), Multiple Identitäten in einer "glokalen Welt"—Identità multiple in un "mondo glocale"—Multiple identities in a "glocal world", Bozen-Bolzano: Eurac Research, pp. 88–99, ISBN978-88-98857-35-7
Kraus, Carl; Obermair, Hannes (2019). Mythen der Diktaturen. Kunst in Faschismus und Nationalsozialismus – Miti delle dittature. Arte nel fascismo e nazionalsocialismo. Südtiroler Landesmuseum für Kultur- und Landesgeschichte Schloss Tirol. pp. 116–17. ISBN978-88-95523-16-3.
di Michele, Andrea (2020), "Storicizzare i monumenti fascisti. Il caso di Bolzano", in Geschichte und Region/Storia e regione, vol. XXIX, 2, pp. 149–67; also in English transl. (2022), "Fascist Monuments on the Border. The Case of Bolzano/Bozen, South Tyrol", in Id., Filippo Focardi (eds.), Rethinking Fascism. The Italian and German Dictatorships, Berlin/Boston, de Gruyter, pp. 247–74. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110768619-013
Schnapp, Jeffrey (2020), "Small Victories («BZ ’18–’45»)", in Kay Bea Jones, Stephanie Pilat (eds), The Routledge Companion to Italian Fascist Architecture. Reception and Legacy, Routledge, London-New York. ISBN978-0-367-34851-9, pp. 533–45.
Bevan, Robert (2022). Monumental Lies. Culture Wars and the Truth about the Past. London-New York: Verso. pp. 22–27, 283–84. ISBN978-1-83976-187-4.
Referencesedit
^Marilena Pinzger: Steinernes Zeichen des Imperiums. University of Vienna, 2011, p. 92
^Sabrina Michielli, Hannes Obermair (eds): BZ ’18–’45: ein Denkmal, eine Stadt, zwei Diktaturen. Begleitband zur Dokumentations-Ausstellung im Bozener Siegesdenkmal. Vienna-Bozen/Bolzano: Folio Verlag 2016. ISBN978-3-85256-713-6, p. 134.
^"Faschistisches Siegesdenkmal entpolitisiert". Der Standard. Vienna. 25 July 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
^European Museum of the Year Award 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
^Obermair, Hannes (2017), "Monuments and the City—an almost inextricable entanglement", in Matthias Fink; et al. (eds.), Multiple Identitäten in einer "glokalen Welt"—Identità multiple in un "mondo glocale"—Multiple identities in a "glocal world", Bozen-Bolzano: Eurac Research, pp. 88—99 (98—9), ISBN978-88-98857-35-7
External linksedit
Official Website
Sakalis, Alex (January 18, 2022). "What happens to fascist architecture after fascism?". bbc.com.
Niland, Josh (January 20, 2022). "This small Italian town could be the answer to debate surrounding monuments removal". archinect.com.
Wann, Ann (August 25, 2022). "Italy's decision not to tear down statues, with Dr Hannes Obermair". Coffee & Cocktails Podcast. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
Obermair, Hannes (January 26, 2022). "The Bas-Relief in Bolzano-Bozen". Contested Histories Onsite. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Bolzano Victory Monument.
December 20, 2023
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The Victory Monument Italian Monumento alla Vittoria German Siegesdenkmal is a monument in Bolzano northernmost Italy erected on the personal orders of Benito Mussolini in South Tyrol which had been annexed from Austria after World War I The 19 metre wide Victory Gate was designed by architect Marcello Piacentini and substituted the former Austrian Kaiserjager monument torn down in 1926 27 Its construction in Fascist style displaying lictorial pillars was dedicated to the Martyrs of World War I Victory Monument in Bolzano BozenSculpture portraying Cesare Battisti by Adolfo WildtMultilingual signpost of the Permanent Exhibition BZ 18 45 One Monument One City Two Dictatorships The Austrian president Heinz Fischer and his wife Margit visiting the monument in June 2016The following Latin script can be seen on the main facade HIC PATRIAE FINES SISTE SIGNA HINC CETEROS EXCOLVIMVS LINGVA LEGIBVS ARTIBVS Here at the border of the fatherland set down the banner From this point on we educated the others with language law and culture The monument was inaugurated on 12 July 1928 by King Victor Emmanuel III and major representatives of the fascist government The inscription referring to Roman imperial history was seen as provocative by many within the German speaking majority in the province of South Tyrol On the day of the inauguration there was a counter demonstration with 10 000 people in Innsbruck 1 Since its construction the monument has been a focal point of the tensions between the Italian and German speaking communities in Bolzano and in the whole region after various attempts to blow it up carried out by South Tyrolean separatist groups in the late 1970s it has been fenced off to protect it from further defacement 2 Only in 2014 by a joint decision taken by the Italian Ministry of Culture the South Tyrolean Provincial Government and the Municipality of Bolzano the Monument has been reopened to the public along with a permanent exhibition under the title BZ 18 45 one monument one city two dictatorships focussing on the history of the monument within the context of Fascism and the Nazi occupation 3 In 2016 the exhibition was granted a special commendation by the Judging Panel of the European Museum of the Year Award which pointed out that the exhibition reintegrates a controversial monument which has long served as the focal point of battles over politics culture and regional identity The project is a highly courageous and professional initiative to promote humanism tolerance and democracy 4 Similarly to the Victory Monument in 2017 also the former Casa del Fascio and its monumental fascist bas relief have been recontextualized on behalf of the Provincial Administration by adding an illuminated inscription quoting Hannah Arendt 5 Contents 1 Further reading 2 References 3 External links 4 See alsoFurther reading editHokerberg Hakan 2017 The Monument to Victory in Bolzano desacralisation of a fascist relic in International Journal of Heritage Studies vol 24 pp 1 16 Obermair Hannes 2017 Monuments and the City an almost inextricable entanglement in Matthias Fink et al eds Multiple Identitaten in einer glokalen Welt Identita multiple in un mondo glocale Multiple identities in a glocal world Bozen Bolzano Eurac Research pp 88 99 ISBN 978 88 98857 35 7 Kraus Carl Obermair Hannes 2019 Mythen der Diktaturen Kunst in Faschismus und Nationalsozialismus Miti delle dittature Arte nel fascismo e nazionalsocialismo Sudtiroler Landesmuseum fur Kultur und Landesgeschichte Schloss Tirol pp 116 17 ISBN 978 88 95523 16 3 di Michele Andrea 2020 Storicizzare i monumenti fascisti Il caso di Bolzano in Geschichte und Region Storia e regione vol XXIX 2 pp 149 67 also in English transl 2022 Fascist Monuments on the Border The Case of Bolzano Bozen South Tyrol in Id Filippo Focardi eds Rethinking Fascism The Italian and German Dictatorships Berlin Boston de Gruyter pp 247 74 https doi org 10 1515 9783110768619 013 Schnapp Jeffrey 2020 Small Victories BZ 18 45 in Kay Bea Jones Stephanie Pilat eds The Routledge Companion to Italian Fascist Architecture Reception and Legacy Routledge London New York ISBN 978 0 367 34851 9 pp 533 45 Bevan Robert 2022 Monumental Lies Culture Wars and the Truth about the Past London New York Verso pp 22 27 283 84 ISBN 978 1 83976 187 4 References edit Marilena Pinzger Steinernes Zeichen des Imperiums University of Vienna 2011 p 92 Sabrina Michielli Hannes Obermair eds BZ 18 45 ein Denkmal eine Stadt zwei Diktaturen Begleitband zur Dokumentations Ausstellung im Bozener Siegesdenkmal Vienna Bozen Bolzano Folio Verlag 2016 ISBN 978 3 85256 713 6 p 134 Faschistisches Siegesdenkmal entpolitisiert Der Standard Vienna 25 July 2014 Retrieved 30 November 2015 European Museum of the Year Award 2016 Retrieved 1 May 2016 Obermair Hannes 2017 Monuments and the City an almost inextricable entanglement in Matthias Fink et al eds Multiple Identitaten in einer glokalen Welt Identita multiple in un mondo glocale Multiple identities in a glocal world Bozen Bolzano Eurac Research pp 88 99 98 9 ISBN 978 88 98857 35 7External links editOfficial Website Sakalis Alex January 18 2022 What happens to fascist architecture after fascism bbc com Niland Josh January 20 2022 This small Italian town could be the answer to debate surrounding monuments removal archinect com Wann Ann August 25 2022 Italy s decision not to tear down statues with Dr Hannes Obermair Coffee amp Cocktails Podcast Retrieved July 11 2023 Obermair Hannes January 26 2022 The Bas Relief in Bolzano Bozen Contested Histories Onsite Retrieved July 3 2022 See also editTimeline of Bolzano History of South Tyrol46 30 02 N 11 20 42 E 46 50056 N 11 34500 E 46 50056 11 34500 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Bolzano Victory Monument Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bolzano Victory Monument amp oldid 1170247557, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
