Un sacrificio purificatorio? I conti con il fascismo e la commemorazione delle vittime della seconda guerra mondiale

The article “Un sacrificio purificatorio?” by Guri Schwarz examines the cultural and symbolic frameworks through which Italy addressed the collective guilt and trauma of its fascist past and its experiences during World War II. The study focuses on the rhetoric of sacrifice, expiation, and redemption employed in post-war Italy to reconcile national identity with the moral failures of fascism. Schwarz critiques the tendency of post-war narratives to subsume individual accountability into broader allegories of collective suffering and purification, framing the nation's pain as a necessary path to renewal. The analysis explores key themes such as the enduring presence of traditional sacrificial paradigms, the tension between modern justice and sacrificial atonement, and the instrumentalization of victimhood in political and cultural discourse. The article situates Italy’s attempts at historical reckoning within a European context while highlighting the uniquely Italian interplay between Christian motifs, patriotic ideology, and the demands of political transition. Through extensive references to political speeches, literature, and memorial practices, the work illustrates how the concept of collective sacrifice became central to Italy’s post-war reconstruction and international diplomacy, shaping its self-representation and collective memory in profound ways.