A08 Italians on the move

The motivations that have driven and continue to drive millions of people to migrate are very complex and articulate. This section presents the stories of Italians who decided to leave for foreign countries not to find work but to save their lives or to give their lives a new meaning, together with the stories of those who were forced to move.

This is the case of those who fled for political reasons: from the protagonists of the Risorgimento, to all those who were forced to leave Italy during the Fascist regime, from political activists to factory workers, men and women who refused to join the Fascist party, to Italian Jews who were deprived of the most fundamental human rights.

During the Second World War, in addition to the deportations carried out by the Nazi-Fascists, huge numbers of Italian citizens were transferred abroad. These were forced labourers and prisoners of war. At the end of the conflict, the so-called Istrian-Dalmatian exodus began, with thousands of people fleeing the territories assigned to Yugoslavia.

During those same years, the female migratory movement linked to family reunions was consolidated and the practice of marriage by proxy became widespread.

Lastly, an in-depth study is dedicated to missionaries and aid workers who decide to live and work abroad, driven by ideals of fraternity, justice and development on a planetary basis.