Mario Blasich (18 July 1878 – 3 May 1945) was an Italian politician and physician, and an important member of the

Autonomist Party of Fiume Autonomism, also known as autonomist Marxism is an anti-capitalist left-wing political and social movement and theory. As a theoretical system, it first emerged in Italy in the 1960s from workerism (). Later, post-Marxist and anarchist tenden ...

, during the short lived autonomy of the

Free State of Fiume The Free State of Fiume () was an independent free state that existed between 1920 and 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 K ...

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 ( , , ; also known as Fiume hu, Fiume, it, Fiume ; local Chakavian: ''Reka''; german: Sankt Veit am Flaum; sl, Reka) is the principal seaport and the third-largest city in Croatia (after Zagreb and Split). It is located in Primor ...

). In 1914, upon the outbreak of the First World War, 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 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 for his initial surrenderment, 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 ar ...

. 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 earlier being annexed by Italy in 1920) led by Francesco Giunta. 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 sig ...

, 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 was contacted by other supporters of the movement, Joseph Sincich, Peteani Leone, and Vittorio Sablich, Yugoslavian communist partisans whose aim was liberation from nazi-fascists, however Blasich refused 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 (; sh-Cyrl, Тито, links=no, ), was a Yugoslav communist revolutionary and statesman, serving in various positions from 1943 until his deat ...

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 Joseph 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 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