Associazione Italiana Combattenti Volontari Antifascisti di Spagna

The Associazione Italiana Combattenti Volontari Antifascisti di Spagna (AICVAS) is an Italian non-profit association established on 16 November 1968. It was initially composed of surviving Italian volunteers who had fought in the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939). Over time, membership expanded to include relatives of the combatants, former partisans, anti-fascist fighters, historians, writers, artists, intellectuals, and students who share the association's principles and values. The association's primary purpose is to provide assistance to former anti-fascist combatants of the Spanish Civil War, or their heirs, in claiming pensions and recognition for periods of war, internment, and persecution suffered under the Fascist regime. This is achieved through the reconstruction of biographies of veterans, fallen, and missing persons. AICVAS succeeded the Fratellanza degli ex garibaldini di Spagna (FEGS), which operated from 1945 to 1968, first in Milan and then in Bologna. AICVAS promotes the ideals that led anti-fascist volunteers to fight and risk their lives in Spain and other European and extra-European scenarios before, during, and after World War II. It commemorates the volunteer fighters who set an example of coherence and courage, facing death, mutilation, and imprisonment in concentration camps while remaining faithful to their democratic convictions. The association also disseminates the values of democracy and solidarity championed by Italian anti-fascist volunteers in Spain and later by partisans in Italy during the national liberation struggle against Nazism and Fascism. To achieve its goals, AICVAS organizes conferences, demonstrations, symposia, and trips to Spain and other European countries. It makes extensive use of mass media and funds studies and research to deepen and spread historical knowledge of the Spanish Civil War and the fight against Nazism and Fascism in Europe and the world. The association maintains contacts and creates synergies with other anti-fascist associations, movements, and groups, particularly with ANPI (Associazione Nazionale Partigiani d'Italia). AICVAS has its legal headquarters at Piazza Gramsci 9, 20154 Milan. It has transferred its rich library, hosted by ANPI, to the Casa della Memoria and deposited its entire archive at INSMLI, also at the Casa della Memoria in via Confalonieri 14, Milan. This centralizes all materials regarding Italian participation in the defense of the Spanish Republic in a single symbolic location, a meeting point for the history of European resistance to Nazism and Fascism, memory of deportation, memory against terrorism, and a center for studies and cultural events. The association is governed by a Direttivo (board) of twenty-four members, including the president, honorary president, and two vice-presidents, with oversight by three auditors and three arbitrators. As of the 2018 assembly, the president was Italo Poma, with vice-presidents Marco Puppini and Boretti Nicoletto, treasurer Nadia Imperato, and secretary Ángeles Aguado López. Previous presidents include Giovanni Pesce (until his death in 2007), Francesco Vaia (after the 2010 statutory reform), and Onorina Brambilla Pesce as honorary president. The association receives public contributions, including from the Ministry of Defense and local entities, to support its activities.

The Associazione Italiana Combattenti Volontari Antifascisti di Spagna (AICVAS) was officially constituted on 16 November 1968. It emerged as a successor to the Fratellanza degli ex garibaldini di Spagna (FEGS), which had operated from 1945 to 1968, first in Milan and then in Bologna. The FEGS itself was formed by veterans of the Garibaldi Battalion and other Italian volunteers who had fought in the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939). Upon its founding, AICVAS was composed of surviving Italian volunteers who had participated in the Spanish Civil War. Its primary mission was to provide assistance to former anti-fascist combatants, or their heirs, in obtaining pensions and recognition for periods of war, internment, and persecution suffered under the Fascist regime. This involved reconstructing the biographies of veterans, fallen soldiers, and missing persons. The association thus played a crucial role in securing social and legal recognition for those who had fought against Franco and Fascism. Over the decades, the original cohort of volunteers aged, and the association evolved. It opened its membership to relatives of combatants and to those who shared its principles and values. Former partisans, other anti-fascist fighters, historians, writers, artists, intellectuals, and students joined. This transformation ensured the association's continuity and broadened its cultural and educational reach. A significant statutory reform occurred in March 2010, after which the association was led by Francesco Vaia as president, with Onorina Brambilla Pesce (known as Nori) as honorary president. Onorina Brambilla Pesce was also president of the Associazione Nazionale Perseguitati Politici Italiani Antifascisti for the Milan section and responsible for the women's commission of ANPI. On 21 June 2014, the ordinary assembly of members elected Italo Poma as president. The board (Direttivo) consists of twenty-four members, including the president, honorary president, and two vice-presidents, with oversight by three auditors and three arbitrators. Throughout its history, AICVAS has been dedicated to promoting the ideals of the anti-fascist volunteers, commemorating their sacrifice, and disseminating the values of democracy and solidarity. It organizes conferences, demonstrations, symposia, and trips to Spain and other European countries. It funds studies and research on the Spanish Civil War and the fight against Nazism and Fascism. The association maintains strong ties with other anti-fascist organizations, particularly ANPI. In recent years, AICVAS has continued its commemorative and educational activities, often focusing on anniversaries. For example, it has organized events for the 90th anniversary of the Spanish Civil War, including film reviews, documentary screenings, and exhibitions. The association also maintains a database of Italian and European anti-fascist combatants and volunteers of the Spanish War, accessible via its website. AICVAS has its legal headquarters at Piazza Gramsci 9, 20154 Milan. It has transferred its library, hosted by ANPI, to the Casa della Memoria, and deposited its archive at INSMLI, also at the Casa della Memoria in via Confalonieri 14, Milan. This consolidation makes the Casa della Memoria a central point for the history of European resistance to Nazism and Fascism, memory of deportation, and a center for studies and cultural events. The association receives public contributions, as documented on its website. For instance, in 2021 it received €30,000 and €31,200 from the Ministry of Defense, and in 2020 it received €5,000 from the Comune di Parma and €6,000 from Regione Emilia Romagna for the theatrical performance "Loro - Vincenti per tutta la vita - Antifascisti parmensi nella guerra di Spagna". These funds support its activities and publications.

• 2021

  Receives €30,000 and €31,200 from Ministry of Defense.

• 2020

  Receives public contributions from Comune di Parma and Regione Emilia Romagna for theatrical performance.

• 2018

  Assembly on 26 May elects new board; Italo Poma confirmed as president.

• 2014

  On 21 June, ordinary assembly elects Italo Poma as president.

• 2010

  Statutory reform in March; Francesco Vaia becomes president, Onorina Brambilla Pesce honorary president.

• 2007

  Giovanni Pesce, president, dies.

• 1968

  AICVAS officially constituted on 16 November, succeeding FEGS.

• 1945

  Fratellanza degli ex garibaldini di Spagna (FEGS) founded, operating first in Milan then Bologna.

Historical memory and anti-fascist solidarity association

1. 1AICVAS – Associazione Italiana Combattenti Volontari Antifascisti di Spagnaaicvas.org
2. 2Chi Siamo – AICVASaicvas.org
3. 3ELEZIONE ORGANI DIRETTIVI ASSEMBLEA 26 MAGGIO 2018 – AICVASaicvas.org
4. 4CONTRIBUTI PUBBLICI fino 2018 -2021 – AICVASaicvas.org
5. 5Associazione italiana combattenti volontari antifascisti di Spagna – Wikipediait.wikipedia.org
6. 6Associazione italiana combattenti volontari antifascisti di Spagna – Wikidatawikidata.org