Fascism Archives - Contested Histories

76th Infantry Regiment Memorial in Hamburg

Contested Histories Admin — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000

The 76th Infantry Regiment Memorial was built in Hamburg, Germany, in 1936 to commemorate soldiers who had died in the Franco-Prussian War and the First World War. The memorial, constructed during National Socialist rule, has been criticised for glorifying military conflict. This case study examines the actions and decision-making processes of multiple stakeholders, including the creation of counter-memorials as alternative forms of public remembrance.

The post 76th Infantry Regiment Memorial in Hamburg appeared first on Contested Histories.

Italo Balbo Monument and Drive in Chicago, Illinois

Contested Histories Admin — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 13:12:12 +0000

Italo Balbo was an Italian fascist General who served as Mussolini’s Marshal of the Air Force and
then as Governor of Libya. While being celebrated for his aerial feats, he remains a controversial
figure as the Governor of Libya. In 1933, the Illinois monument was erected after his transatlantic
flight to Chicago to attend the Century of Progress World Fair. Ever since it has been a source of
controversy. However, all petitions to remove the monument have been rejected. The
Italian-American community in Chicago have consistently defended the monument. This case
study examines one possible trajectory when lawmakers contend with physical vestiges from past
celebrations of fascist and white supremacist leaders while seeking to balance constituent
interests, latent and reignited cultural identification and honour, and the interests of the
decision-makers themselves.

The post Italo Balbo Monument and Drive in Chicago, Illinois appeared first on Contested Histories.

Mussolini’s Birthplace in Predappio

Contested Histories Admin — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 10:00:00 +0000

The small Italian town of Predappio has developed a controversial reputation as a site of neo-fascist ‘pilgrimage’ by virtue of its historical affiliation with the fascist dictator, Benito Mussolini. The town retains the peculiar distinction as both the birthplace of Mussolini and the location where he was eventually interred in 1957. His crypt and other buildings and artefacts have attracted far-right tourism, provoking debate and discussion over the crypt’s opening and the public image of Predappio as a haven for the extreme right. To counter this reputation, the town developed a controversial plan to build a museum that provides context to the town’s fascist history. This case study outlines the origins, evolution, and contestation surrounding Mussolini’s birthplace, the town’s challenges in coming to terms with the physical symbols and countermeasures related to Italian fascist history.

The post Mussolini’s Birthplace in Predappio appeared first on Contested Histories.

Salazar Statue in Maputo

Contested Histories Admin — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 10:00:00 +0000

A life-sized bronze statue of Portuguese dictator António de Oliveira Salazar (b. 1889-1970) currently stands in the courtyard of the National Library in Maputo, Mozambique. Its move to this location in 2002 is part of an eventful prior itinerary, charted below by drawing on various sources while acknowledging the presence of certain gaps in the data. The statue can be seen as part of a political project of the Portuguese Estado Novo (New State) enacted via public monuments. Its history and present setting relate to the tensions inherent in the relationship between this project and Mozambican anti- and post-colonial reality.

The post Salazar Statue in Maputo appeared first on Contested Histories.

Victory Monument in Bolzano

Paula — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 10:00:00 +0000

The Victory Monument in Bolzano was erected on the orders of Benito Mussolini in 1928. Since then, it has been at the symbolic centre of ethnic clashes between the German- and Italian-speaking communities and a symbol of the unresolved legacy of Italian Fascism. Until recently, the monument has been one of the key regional, political, and ethnic grievances in the South Tyrol region. However, the 21st-century public policy efforts to historicize and modify the monument brought about a significant change in attitudes towards the Victory Monument. This case study traces nearly 100 years of contestations surrounding the Victory Monument and explores the decision-making process that led to the contextualization of the monument.

The post Victory Monument in Bolzano appeared first on Contested Histories.

Dr Karl Lueger Ring Street in Vienna

Paula — Fri, 02 Sep 2022 10:01:00 +0000

In Vienna, over 160 streets bear the names of controversial historical figures. One of these streets, once called Dr-Karl-Lueger-Ring, was named after a prominent anti-Semitic agitator whose ideology inspired the dogmatic policies of Adolf Hitler. In 2011, an archival report investigated the acts of controversial historical figures with names in public spaces. A year later, the city government of Vienna voted to rename the street Universitätsring. This case study examines the importance and consequences of altering controversial street names in light of revised historical narratives.

The post Dr Karl Lueger Ring Street in Vienna appeared first on Contested Histories.

Stumbling Stones in Munich

Paula — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Stolpersteine or ‘stumbling stones’ are components of a project initiated by German artist Gunter Demnig in 1996 to commemorate victims of the Holocaust. The memorials, in the form of cobblestones installed in public streets, now number in the tens of thousands across Europe and beyond. However, they have also been criticised, and some cities, including Munich, have banned their installation. This case study examines individuals’ and groups’ competing opinions and responses and the difficulties associated with Holocaust remembrance in public spaces.

The post Stumbling Stones in Munich appeared first on Contested Histories.

Mussert’s Wall in Lunteren

Paula — Thu, 14 Jul 2022 10:00:00 +0000

In 1936, the Dutch fascist party NSB constructed a complex in the town of Lunteren called Mussert’s Wall (Muur van Mussert), where they would hold political rallies. After being neglected for decades after World War II, in 2015, a national discussion arose following requests by local and national heritage organisations to turn Mussert’s Wall into an educational memorial. A complex decision-making process followed until 2018 when the Wall was transformed into a national monument. This case study analyses the process of contestation and posterior institutionalisation of the Wall.

The post Mussert’s Wall in Lunteren appeared first on Contested Histories.

Human Impact of World War II

Contested Histories Admin — Fri, 01 Jan 2021 12:44:00 +0000

This lesson plan should be precluded by an overview of the Second World War, and can be used as a supplementary lesson that offers a deeper lens into the war’s violence and its driving forces. Students should have a basic understanding of the historical context of the war, including its major causes, players, and impacts.

The post Human Impact of World War II appeared first on Contested Histories.

Holocaust Memorial Days

Contested Histories Admin — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 20:06:00 +0000

This publication provides information on when, where and how OSCE participating States promote the commemoration and study of the Holocaust, including the genocide of Roma and Sinti, in line with their OSCE commitments. The information was provided via an online questionnaire disseminated by ODIHR to all participating States.

The post Holocaust Memorial Days appeared first on Contested Histories.