The dramatic geopolitical shifts of recent years, ongoing wars, and international tensions increasingly tell us of exoduses of entire populations, fleeing weapons, persecution, or hunger. The current images bring to mind the Julian-Dalmatian exodus, when hundreds of thousands of Italians were forced to emigrate from Istria, Fiume, and Dalmatia between 1945 and the following decade, following the climate of intimidation and violence that culminated in the tragedy of the Foibe massacres.

Many exiled students from Istria, Fiume, and Dalmatia found refuge in Florence and sought enrollment and scholarships at the University of Florence to continue their studies, interrupted by the exodus. To reconstruct the personal and collective stories of these young people, forced to flee their homelands, the Provincial Committee of the National Association of Venezia Giulia and Dalmatia (ANVGD) in Florence and the Historical Archives of the University of Florence have been conducting historical research for several months.

Through the documentation preserved in the University Historical Archives, the aim is to restore voice and dignity to a generation that, despite being marked by the tragedy of leaving their homes, was able to rebuild through education and study. The collection of student records preserved in the Archives includes a wealth of documents dating back to the post-World War II period, which tell us about the plight of dozens of young people fleeing the eastern border, alone or with their families. Among the forms of assistance, efforts were also made to facilitate the resumption of education for so-called "veterans or assimilated" by offering special courses, tuition waivers, or contributions towards housing and access to cafeterias.

Between 1945 and 1946, among the 500 applications submitted to the University Office of the University of Florence, there are dozens of requests from students from the Julian-Dalmatian region. These grant applications, handwritten, sometimes on makeshift paper, also mention the consequences of the war on their lives, the loss of family members, prison or extermination camps, and the flight from their birthplace.

An appeal to memory

The appeal by the University of Florence and the Provincial Committee of the ANVGD of Florence aims to trace information, testimonies, and memories relating to some students listed in the census attached to the archive documents, who requested support for the resumption of education between 1945 and 1946, including:

● Giovanni BILUCAGLIA, born in Dignano d'Istria on 7 August 1926, asked to enroll in the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery

● Silvana BABBI (Barbi?), born in Fiume, asked to enroll in the Faculty of Letters

● Pietro CORENICH, born in Fiume on 30 May 1921, asked to enroll in the Faculty of Agriculture

● Licia DE FRANCESCHI, born in Umag on 9 March 1925, asked to enroll in the fourth year of the Faculty of Agriculture

● Luciano ORTALI, an Istrian refugee since 1945, asked to enroll in the third year of the Faculty of Law.

The appeal is open to family members, scholars, citizens, and associations who can contribute documents, photographs, letters, or mementos to piece together these stories of exodus and hope. Anyone wishing to participate in the research or submit useful materials can contact:

ANVGD Provincial Committee Florence – anvgdfirenze@gmail.com
Historical Archives of the University of Florence – manila.soffici@unifi.it 

Professor Daniela Velli
President of ANVGD Florence and National Councillor of ANVGD