Mario Blasich (18 July 1878 – 3 May 1945) was an

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, a Romance ethnic group related to or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance languag ...

politician and physician, and an important member of the Autonomist Party of Fiume, during the short-lived autonomy of the

Free State of Fiume The Free State of Fiume () was an independent free state that existed from 1920 to 1924. Its territory of comprised the city of Fiume (today Rijeka, Croatia) and rural areas to its north, with a corridor to its west connecting it to the Kingdo ...

Life

Blasich graduated in medicine and participated in politics alongside Riccardo Zanella, leader of the Fiuman Autonomist Party or Independent Party (as it was known to everyone in the city of

Rijeka Rijeka (; Fiume ( �fjuːme in Italian and in Fiuman dialect, Fiuman Venetian) is the principal seaport and the List of cities and towns in Croatia, third-largest city in Croatia. It is located in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County on Kvarner Ba ...

). In 1914, upon the outbreak of the

First World War 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 ...

, Blasich was inducted into the Austro-Hungarian army alongside Zanella, and was sent to the Eastern Front. There he surrendered to the enemy, claiming to be an Italian

irredentist Irredentism () is one state's desire to annex the territory of another state. This desire can be motivated by ethnic reasons because the population of the territory is ethnically similar to or the same as the population of the parent state. Hist ...

and asked to be sent to Italy to join the Italian army. His request was granted and upon arrival in Italy, he was enlisted with the rank of Captain Doctor, fighting for the duration of the war on the front line. The Hungarian government, however, due to his initial surrender, condemned him to death for

desertion Desertion is the abandonment of a military duty or post without permission (a pass, liberty or leave) and is done with the intention of not returning. This contrasts with unauthorized absence (UA) or absence without leave (AWOL ), which ...

. At the end of the war in 1919, Blasich continued to work closely with Zanella and the Independent Party. Initially, he approved the companionship of Gabriele d'Annunzio; however, he later politically opposed the poet. After the Treaty of Rapallo on 12 November 1920, which established the

in Rijeka, Blasich became the deputy to the Constituent Assembly and the Minister of the Interior of the Zanella Government, formed in October of that year. On 3 March 1922, the Government of the Free State of Fiume was overthrown by a coup d'etat lasting 18 months by Italian fascists and ex-legionnaires with the active participation of 2000 armed Trieste Fascists (Trieste being annexed earlier by Italy in 1920) led by

Francesco Giunta Francesco Giunta (21 March 1887 – 8 June 1971) was an Italian Fascist politician. A leading figure in the early years of fascism, he helped to build the movement in several regions of the country and was particularly active in Trieste. Duri ...

. Zanella and Blasich, as a result, were forced to flee to Yugoslavia. After the annexation of Fiume to Italy and the

Treaty of Rome The Treaty of Rome, or EEC Treaty (officially the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community), brought about the creation of the European Economic Community (EEC), the best known of the European Communities (EC). The treaty was signe ...

signed on 27 January 1924, almost all members of the Constituent Assembly in exile (except Zanella) returned to the city, and Blasich resumed his medical profession. Blasich lost the use of his legs due to illness, following the armistice of 8 September 1943. He, along with other supporters of the movement such as Giuseppe Sincich, Leone Peteani, and Vittorio Sablich, was contacted by Yugoslav communist partisans, who saw them as the greatest obstacle to Yugoslav goals in Fiume, now that the Fascists were practically out of the picture. Blasich stated that he was willing to cooperate with the partisans in liberating the country from Axis occupation; however, Blasich refused to state publicly that he supported the annexation of the city to Yugoslavia, as was required by the emissaries of

Josip Broz Tito Josip Broz ( sh-Cyrl, Јосип Броз, ; 7 May 1892 – 4 May 1980), commonly known as Tito ( ; , ), was a Yugoslavia, Yugoslav communist revolutionary and politician who served in various positions of national leadership from 1943 unti ...

Death

In the night between 2 and 3 May 1945, while the last German troops abandoned the city that was captured by Yugoslav partisans, Blasich was killed in his home by Communist partisans. On 3 May 1945 and in the days immediately following his death, other separatist leaders, such as Giuseppe Sincich and Nevio Skull,Salvatore Samani, Biographical Dictionary of Rijeka, Dolo-Venice 1975, Letterpress Editorial Institute. Hamlet Ballarini, The antidannunzio in Rijeka. Riccardo Zanella, Trieste 1995, published by Italo Svevo. were also murdered in the Fiume Autonomists purge.

References

*Autonomy flood (1896–1947) and the figure of Riccardo Zanella (Proceedings of the Conference held in Trieste November 3, 1996), Rome 1997. *Studies Society Fiume Rome - Hrvatski Institut za Zagreb Povijest, Victims of Italian nationals in and around River (1939–1947) / u Žrtve talijanske nacionalnosti Rijeci the okolici (1939.-1947.), Rome 2002, Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Cultural Activities - Directorate General of archives. *Stelli John (ed.), The memory lives. River and witness interviews, Rome 2008, Society for the Study Fiumani. *Antonella Ercolani, From Rijeka in Rijeka. Profile political history from 1918 to 1947, 2009 Soveria Mannelli, Rubbettino, esp. 312-316. {{DEFAULTSORT:Blasich, Mario 1878 births 1945 deaths 20th-century Italian politicians 20th-century Italian physicians 19th-century Italian people Austro-Hungarian military personnel of World War I People convicted of desertion People sentenced to death in absentia Prisoners sentenced to death by Hungary Italian prisoners sentenced to death People killed by Yugoslav Partisans Italian military personnel of World War I

Life

Death

See also

References