Leandro Arpinati
Encyclopedia
Leandro Arpinati was an Italian
politician.
Arpinati was born at Civitella di Romagna
. Before World War I
, he was originally an individualist-anarchist and, together with his friend Benito Mussolini
, collaborated with the socialist newspaper La lotta di classe. He was a fervid interventionist as early as August 1914. In those years he moved to Bologna
, where he worked in the Italian railroad. In the early 1920 he founded the second Fascio di combattimento
in the city.
On 21 November 1920 he was amongst the leader of the squads which took part in the fightings between Fascists and Socialists in Piazza Nettuno and Piazza Maggiore in Bologna (the so-called strage of Palazzo d'Accursio
). The following year he became deputy and, after the March to Rome, he was made national vice-secretary of the Partito Nazionale Fascista (PNF). In 1926 he became podestà
of Bologna, a position which he left in 1929 to became Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interiors. Arpinati held several positions in the Italian sport world, such as the President of Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) and of the Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio
(Italian football federation): he led the reformation of the Serie A
championship on national level, and organized the 1934 FIFA World Cup
. In 1926 he intervened to strip FC Torino of the national football title after a corruption scandal; as the Bologna team had arrived second behind Torino, Arpinati, being a Bolognese, decided to leave the title unassigned (a feat unparalleled until the 2006 Calciopoli) to avoid accuses of personal interest.
In 1930 the PNF secretary Achille Starace
accused Arpinati to be behind the attempt against Mussolini in the Bologna Stadium (31 October 1926). He was therefore charged as enemy of the regime, and confined first in Lipari
(1934-1937) and then to home detention near Bologna.
In 1943 Arpinati refused the personal invitation by Mussolini to join the Repubblica di Salò, the German puppet-state created in northern Italy
after the Allied conquest of the southern peninsula. He was killed on 22 April 1945 at Argelato
, two days after the Allied liberation of Bologna, by a group of partisans.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
politician.
Arpinati was born at Civitella di Romagna
Civitella di Romagna
Civitella di Romagna is a comune in the Province of Forlì-Cesena in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 70 km southeast of Bologna and about 30 km southwest of Forlì....
. Before World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he was originally an individualist-anarchist and, together with his friend Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
, collaborated with the socialist newspaper La lotta di classe. He was a fervid interventionist as early as August 1914. In those years he moved to Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
, where he worked in the Italian railroad. In the early 1920 he founded the second Fascio di combattimento
Fascio
Fascio, plural -sci /'faʃʃo, ʃi/ is an Italian word literally meaning "a bundle" or "a sheaf", and figuratively league, and which was used in the late 19th century to refer to political groups of many different orientations...
in the city.
On 21 November 1920 he was amongst the leader of the squads which took part in the fightings between Fascists and Socialists in Piazza Nettuno and Piazza Maggiore in Bologna (the so-called strage of Palazzo d'Accursio
Palazzo d'Accursio
thumb|260px|Palazzo d'Accursio.Palazzo d'Accursio is a palace in Bologna, Italy. It is located on the Piazza Maggiore and had been the city's Town Hall until 11 November 2008....
). The following year he became deputy and, after the March to Rome, he was made national vice-secretary of the Partito Nazionale Fascista (PNF). In 1926 he became podestà
Podestà
Podestà is the name given to certain high officials in many Italian cities, since the later Middle Ages, mainly as Chief magistrate of a city state , but also as a local administrator, the representative of the Emperor.The term derives from the Latin word potestas, meaning power...
of Bologna, a position which he left in 1929 to became Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interiors. Arpinati held several positions in the Italian sport world, such as the President of Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) and of the Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio
Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio
The Italian Football Federation , also known as Federcalcio, is the governing body of football in Italy. It organises the Italian football league, Coppa Italia, Italian national football team, and the Italian women's national football team...
(Italian football federation): he led the reformation of the Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
championship on national level, and organized the 1934 FIFA World Cup
1934 FIFA World Cup
The 1934 FIFA World Cup was the second FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in Italy from 27 May to 10 June 1934....
. In 1926 he intervened to strip FC Torino of the national football title after a corruption scandal; as the Bologna team had arrived second behind Torino, Arpinati, being a Bolognese, decided to leave the title unassigned (a feat unparalleled until the 2006 Calciopoli) to avoid accuses of personal interest.
In 1930 the PNF secretary Achille Starace
Achille Starace
Achille Starace was a prominent leader of Fascist Italy prior to and during World War II.-Early life and career:Starace was born in Gallipoli in southern Italy near Lecce. He was son of a wine and oil merchant....
accused Arpinati to be behind the attempt against Mussolini in the Bologna Stadium (31 October 1926). He was therefore charged as enemy of the regime, and confined first in Lipari
Lipari
Lipari is the largest of the Aeolian Islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the north coast of Sicily, and the name of the island's main town. It has a permanent population of 11,231; during the May–September tourist season, its population may reach up to 20,000....
(1934-1937) and then to home detention near Bologna.
In 1943 Arpinati refused the personal invitation by Mussolini to join the Repubblica di Salò, the German puppet-state created in northern Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
after the Allied conquest of the southern peninsula. He was killed on 22 April 1945 at Argelato
Argelato
Argelato is an Italian comune in the province of Bologna. It comprises the hamlets of Argelato, Casadio, , Funo, Malacappa, Volta Reno, San Donnino and San Giacomo, that are administratively divided into the main town and the hamlets Casadio and Funo .In the hamlet of Funo are large...
, two days after the Allied liberation of Bologna, by a group of partisans.