Sursum Corda was an Italian student movement organized with irredentist purposes before 1914. It may be considered one of the precursors of
fascist
Fascism is a far-right, Authoritarianism, authoritarian, ultranationalism, ultra-nationalist political Political ideology, ideology and Political movement, movement,: "extreme militaristic nationalism, contempt for electoral democracy and pol ...
organizations in Italy and seems to have its origins in the Italian youth organisations from the first years of the 20th century such as the ''battaglioni studenteschi'' founded in 1906 (or so) in Milan. The model were the German
Burschenschaften.
Their Fiuman member was
Nino Host Venturi
Giovanni Host-Venturi, also known as "Nino" Host-Venturi (born Giovanni Host-Ivessich; Fiume, 24 June 1892 – Buenos Aires, 29 April 1980) was an Italian fascist politician and historian.
Italian irredentist
Born as Giovanni Host-Ivessich ...
, According to Host Venturi, he already in 1913 organised a ''Battaglione studenti volontari "Sursum Corda"'' in
Brescia with students and expats from Austria-Hungary. They trained during weekends in the surrounding hills with the support from Italian regular army officers.
In spring 1919 they had already a battalion-strength formation in Trieste.
Nino Host Venturi kept the contacts with
Gabriele D'Annunzio and organised his arrival in
Fiume.
Leo Negrelli Leo Negrelli (born in Trieste, died in Spain in 1974), was an Italian journalist.
Biography
As a member of the Sursum Corda he was one of the organisers of Gabriele D'Annunzio's arrival in Fiume in 1919.
Negrelli continued to play an important p ...
from
Trieste was another affiliate of the “Sursum Corda.”
[Nella notte del 12 settembre 50 volontari della "Sursum corda" ben armati con 15 ufficiali al comando del cap. Leo Negrelli passarono la barra di Cantrida, in CHIURCO GIORGIO ALBERTO, ''Storia della rivoluzione fascista 1919-1922'', I vol, Firenze, Vallecchi, 1929.]
References
Youth organisations based in Italy
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