The massacre of Rijeka autonomists in May 1945 (also known as the "autonomist purge") was one of the factors that led to the exodus of nearly 40 people from Rijeka. It was a systematic elimination conducted by the OZNA, the Yugoslav secret police, aimed at decapitating the local ruling class who might have opposed the city's annexation to Yugoslavia by demanding a "Free State" or broad autonomy, given its rich history.

Among the victims were Mario Blasich, a doctor and historic figure of the autonomist movement, brutally murdered in his home despite being seriously ill. Nevio Skull, an entrepreneur and representative of the Autonomous Movement, was found in the Eneo River days after his disappearance. Giuseppe Sincich, another prominent figure of the autonomist movement, was also among the victims.

Sincich's son, a doctor who had been exiled with his family in Genoa, bore witness to his father's tragic end throughout his life, reverently guarding his bloodstained shirt. From the early hours and into the night of May 4th, the OZNA began targeted arrests. Their objective was political: the autonomists were considered "enemies of the people" not because they were fascists (indeed, many had been persecuted by fascism), but because their popularity among the citizens hindered Yugoslav expansionist plans. The executions were carried out according to the method: many victims were taken from their homes during curfew, shot without trial, or disappeared. Some bodies were displayed in the streets to terrorize the population and stifle any claim to Italian identity.

For decades, the families have waited for a sign of comfort that now arrives unexpectedly through symbols, the display of the Rijeka flag in front of the monument to the victims of the war, including numerous Italian anti-fascists such as the Duiz brothers, Mario Gennaio, and others, and the homage paid at the Košala Monumental Cemetery by representatives of the Rijeka Region, the Municipality through minority representatives in the City Council, the Free State of Rijeka Association, and the Italian Community of Rijeka.

Just a few days after celebrating the news that the Rijeka dialect had been recognized as an intangible cultural heritage by the Croatian Ministry, the opening of a demonstration in honor of the fallen, including Italians, of May 1945, arouses disbelief and emotion, as if the veil of silence were truly lifting.

From Fiume, snapshots confirm this, but we eagerly await the comments and sentiments of those involved in these days. It's a breath of truth that changes the course of history, no longer a single judgment, but a multifaceted, complex one, yet to be fully explored before it can be recognized and understood. But it's a start, and it's an important one.

"The Association of Fiumani Italiani nel Mondo," declared its President, Franco Papetti, "has followed these events step by step, both in dialect and now in the ceremonies commemorating the fallen of May 1945. We share the families' ever-present condolences, convinced that a free society must reckon with the misdeeds of the past in order to evolve. Only the truth, however painful and terrible, allows us to overcome resentment and ensure that the past does not influence the present and the future. We stand with the courage and resilience of the Italian community, who have lived through difficult conditions while maintaining their language, their traditions, and the dignity of their belonging, that Fiumani humanity that together we intend to support and evolve in every way possible: this is our long-reaffirmed commitment, which now takes on unexpected but therefore extremely important meaning."

Association of Italian Fiumani in the World