Italy has celebrated Liberation Day (Il Giorno della Liberazione) since April 25, 1946; the annual tradition marks the end of the Italian Civil War and the end of the Nazi occupation in 1945.

Technically, not all of Italy was liberated on April 25th.

With Nazi Germany on the verge of collapse, Italy’s resistance called for uprisings across major cities — the first of which took place in Bologna and Genoa on April 23, and then Milan and Turin were liberated two days later.

The resistance was comprised of several different groups and political parties, including the Italian Socialist Party, the Italian Communist Party, the Labour Democratic Party, the Christian Democrats and the Italian Liberal Party, which together made up the National Liberation Committee of Upper Italy (CLNAI).

After the Liberation, all fascist leaders were condemned to death.

Benito Mussolini was fatally shot on April 28th, 1945, after he attempted to flee to Switzerland.

American forces arrived a week later, and the occupying German forces officially surrendered on May 2.

The Liberation represented a major turning point in Italy’s history, as it led to a referendum a month later — on June 2nd — which resulted in the end of the monarchy and the creation of the Italian Republic.

Even today, the history continues to heavily influence Italian politics and culture.

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