Georg Grote,The South Tyrol Question,1866–2010: From National Rage to Regional State

Reviewed by: Elgin K Eckert, The Umbra Institute, Italia

Over the last two decades, Italian politics have often (not unjustly) been at the receiving end of disparaging remarks or outright scorn. What has gone virtually unremarked upon within the borders of Italy, however, is the auspicious resolution of the question surrounding South Tyrol: in 1992 the historical arch-enemies Italy and Austria withdrew their dispute over the region from the United Nations General Assembly. South Tyrol is a small region (2857 square miles; population 511,750) in Northern Italy, where the German-speaking majority makes up 69.5% of the population and Italian- and Ladin-speaking residents make up 26% and 4.5% of the population, respectively; the region can be seen as a ‘microcosm of the political, economic and social issues that dominated the history of twentieth-century Europe.’ In his short volume The South Tyrol Question, 1866–2010: From National Rage to Regional State, George Grote gives a comprehensive overview of South Tyrol’s history and ethnic conflict and shows how the region has become ‘a success story in minority protection of the European Union.’

Grote’s book is structured into 13 chapters. The first 11 chapters provide a chronological history of the region from its roots under the Austro–Hungarian Empire up to the ethnic (and ethnicized) conflicts taking place in the modern autonomous province. The last two chapters focus on the South Tyrolian collective identity as expressed in literature as well as ‘memory acts’ and places. The chapters are brief and to the point, ranging in length from seven to just over 20 pages, making them suitable for quick consultations on the major issues surrounding specific time periods as well as class readings in courses that do not focus on South Tyrol in particular.

Three chapters are especially valuable. Chapter 4, ‘Italianization under Mussolini, 1923–1932,’ focuses on the Italianization of the region under Mussolini, when Italian became the only official language, topographical names were changed, German surnames (as well as inscriptions on graves) were italianized, and ‘ethnic’ memory markers, such as the Walther von der Vogelweide monument in Bozen/Bolzano, were removed. Chapter 6, ‘The Option and German Rule in South Tyrol, 1939–1945,’ covers the 1939 ‘Option’ agreement and its aftermath. In 1939, before this was considered a crime against humanity, Mussolini and Hitler agreed on a population transfer based on ethnicity. South Tyrolians were given the choice to emigrate to Nazi-occupied territories or stay in Italy and accept their complete italianization. This issue is of central importance because members of both groups – the Dableiber (14% of the population, those who opted to stay in South Tyrol) and the Optanten (86% of the population, those who opted to emigrate to Nazi territories) – would play a central role in later 20th-century South Tyrolian (and thus Italian) politics, and also because discussions about the ‘Option’ would continue throughout the century. Chapter 9, ‘Explosions and Settlements, 1961–1972,’ analyzes the Bombenjahre (Years of Bombing), during which the Befreiungsausschuss Südtirol/South Tyrolean Liberation Committee (BAS) tried to advance its agenda – which was a separation from Italy, rather than an autonomous status for the region – first with the bombing of public buildings and fascist monuments, and later also with attacks against Italian military installations and military personnel. These actions, especially the Feuernacht (Night of Fire) of June 11–12, 1961 in which 37 electricity pylons were destroyed, led to ongoing allegations of terrorists/liberation activists being tortured at the hands of the Italian police forces, as well as the trials of 10 carabinieri and 94 terrorists/activists, which would mar Italian–German ethnic relations for many years to come. Overall, 21 lives were lost during those years (15 members of the Italian security forces, two civilians and four terrorists).

Grote’s book makes for a fascinating read and is an important contribution to Italian Studies and European history, especially in light of the fact that most contemporary academic studies on the subject are available only in German (Rolf Steininger’s 2003 book South Tyrol: A Minority Conflict of the Twentieth Century is the only other book available in English, while no contemporary books in Italian on the history of the region are currently in print). Although Grote does not elaborate further on the idea that South Tyrol can be seen as a paradigm for similar situations of ethnic conflict in Europe and globally, the interested reader will see many parallels between the situations described in his book and other ‘issues which arise from the problematic interface between politics and culture for minority communities worldwide.’