Felice Platone (born 11 January 1896 in

Rignano Flaminio Rignano Flaminio is a (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Rome in the Italian region of Latium, about north of Rome. It is across the Via Flaminia. Rignano Flaminio borders the municipalities of Calcata, Capena, Civitella San Paolo, ...

, Italy, d. 8 October 1962 in

Asti Asti ( , ; ; ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) of 74,348 inhabitants (1–1–2021) located in the Italy, Italian region of Piedmont, about east of Turin, in the plain of the Tanaro, Tanaro River. It is the capital of the province of Asti and ...

, Italy) was an Italian

politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...

partisan Partisan(s) or The Partisan(s) may refer to: Military * Partisan (military), paramilitary forces engaged behind the front line ** Francs-tireurs et partisans, communist-led French anti-fascist resistance against Nazi Germany during WWII ** Ital ...

and lawyer. He earned a ''laurea di giurisprudenza'' (equivalent to an

LL.B. A Bachelor of Laws (; LLB) is an undergraduate law degree offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree and serves as the first professional qualification for legal practitioners. This degree requires the study of core legal subje ...

) at the

University of Turin Department of Law The University of Turin Department of Law is the law school of the University of Turin. It is commonly shortened ''UNITO Department of Law''. It traces its roots to the founding of the University of Turin, and has produced or hosted some of the m ...

. Mobilized during both

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

and

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, Platone, known by his ''

nom de guerre A ''nom de guerre'' (, 'war name') is a pseudonym chosen by someone to use when they are involved in a particular activity, especially fighting in a war. In Ancien régime, ''ancien régime'' Kingdom of France, France it would be adopted by each n ...

'' "Gamba" during and after the Second World War

Italian resistance movement The Italian Resistance ( ), or simply ''La'' , consisted of all the Italian resistance groups who fought the occupying forces of Nazi Germany and the fascist collaborationists of the Italian Social Republic during the Second World War in Italy ...

, was discharged with the rank of major of artillery. During the 18-year Mussolini dictatorship, the legal profession did not hinder Platone from performing clandestine

anti-fascist Anti-fascism is a political movement in opposition to fascist ideologies, groups and individuals. Beginning in European countries in the 1920s, it was at its most significant shortly before and during World War II, where the Axis powers were op ...

activities. Not surprisingly, immediately after the 1943

Armistice of Cassibile The Armistice of Cassibile ( Italian: ''Armistizio di Cassibile'') was an armistice that was signed on 3 September 1943 by Italy and the Allies, marking the end of hostilities between Italy and the Allies during World War II. It was made public ...

, "Gamba" was among the organizers of the

Resistance.Felice (Gamba) Platone
''Associazione Nazionale Partigiani d'Italia'', 25 July 2010. Accessed 7 May 2016. A member of the anti-fascist

National Liberation Committee The National Liberation Committee (, CLN) was a political umbrella organization and the main representative of the Italian resistance movement fighting against the occupying forces of Nazi Germany and the fascist collaborationist forces of the ...

, Platone served as mayor of Asti (1945–1951) after Italian liberation. He was a Communist (PCI) member of the

Constituent Assembly of Italy The Italian Constituent Assembly ( Italian: ''Assemblea Costituente della Repubblica Italiana'') was a parliamentary chamber which existed in Italy from 25 June 1946 until 31 January 1948. It was tasked with writing a constitution for the Ital ...

from 25 June 1946 to 31 January 1948, and from 8 May 1948 until 24 June 1953, he was a member of the

Italian Senate The Senate of the Republic (), or simply the Senate ( ), is the upper house of the bicameral Italian Parliament, the lower house being the Chamber of Deputies. The two houses together form a perfect bicameral system, meaning they perform iden ...

.Felice Platone
''Camera di deputati, Portale storico'' (Chamber of deputies historical portal), accessed 7 May 2016.
Senato della Repubblica. Platone was credited with implementing a coherent plan for the city's postwar reorganization and enhancement of its cultural traditions through public works programs and improving conditions for the lower classes in health care, welfare, education and the supply of basic necessities.
Asti, l'ex Sala Consiliare sarà titolata a Felice Platone
', 21 April 2015, Langhe-Roero-Monferrato.net. Accessed 7 May 2016. After a September 1948 flood and subsequent storm in the

Piedmont Piedmont ( ; ; ) is one of the 20 regions of Italy, located in the northwest Italy, Northwest of the country. It borders the Liguria region to the south, the Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna regions to the east, and the Aosta Valley region to the ...

region, he led an immediate emergency response and secured city council approval of a recovery plan for the most hard-hit neighbourhoods. Platone also supported cultural institutions and arranged a 1949 celebration of the bicentenary of the birth of Italian poet and dramatist

Vittorio Alfieri Count Vittorio Amedeo Alfieri (, also , ; 16 January 17498 October 1803) was an Italians, Italian dramatist and poet, considered the "founder of Italian tragedy." He wrote nineteen tragedies, sonnets, satires, and a notable autobiography. Early l ...

, who had been a native of Asti.

Honours

On 24 April 2015, the ''Sala Consiliare'' (council chamber) of Asti's city hall was formally named in honour of Felice Platone. Dignitaries present at the renaming ceremony included Mayor

Fabrizio Brignolo Fabrizio Brignolo (born 1 December 1968 in Asti) is an Italian politician. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He was elected Mayor of Asti on 21 May 2012 and took office on 22 May. Brignolo served as President of the Province of Asti from ...

, Deputy Mayor David Arri and Counc. Maria Bagnadentro, as well as surviving members of the ANPI.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Platone, Felice 1896 births 1962 deaths People from Asti Italian Communist Party politicians Members of the Constituent Assembly of Italy Senators of Legislature I of Italy Mayors of Asti Politicians of Piedmont Italian military personnel of World War I Italian military personnel of World War II Italian resistance movement members