Biography of Alcide De Gasperi

Humble and proud political Designer

3 April 1881
August 19, 1954
Born on 3 April 1881 in Pieve Tesino (Trento), Alcide De Gasperi was a protagonist of the political and economic reconstruction of Italy after World War II and leaders of the Governments of the Centre formed since 1947. Since its birth the Trento area still belonged to the austro-Hungarian Empire (albeit in Italian), it is precisely in Austrian political life that the younger De Gasperi begins to take the first steps of what was a long and successful political career. In 1905 he joined the editorial staff of the newspaper "Trentino", who the Manager, supports the motion which advocated the reverting of South Tyrol to Italy. After the passage of the Trentino and South Tyrol the Italian Popular Party continues its political activity in Italy of don Luigi Sturzo. Soon became the Party Chairman and is in a position to succeed Sturzo if they want, or, as in reality will be forced to abandon the Italian political life. Meanwhile, in Italy as well as in other parts of Europe is felt the wind of the Russian Revolution, that in our country determines the split 1921 Socialist, the birth of PCI, and the beginnings of a pre-revolutionary period, the "biennio rosso", which in 1919 and in 1920 he sees the working class protagonist of fierce social struggles and that will contribute not just to scare the bourgeoisie , pushing her into the arms of Mussolini. Decided opponent of fascism De Gasperi is imprisoned in 1926 for his political activities. He was one of the few popular leaders do not accept the agreements with the regime even though it had been, in 1922, conducive to the participation of the first cabinet Mussolini. After the murder of Matteotti, the opposition to the regime and its Leader is firm and resolute though coincides with the withdrawal from active politics following the dissolution of the P.I.P. and withdrawal in the Vatican libraries to escape persecution of fascism. During World War II De Gasperi contributed to the founding of the party of Christian democracy, who inherited the ideas and experience of the people's Party of don Sturzo. De Gasperi isn't so much an achiever, as a "designer" politician (its the DC's policy paper written in 1943), which at the end of the war view of having clear ideas on the party from whom alone, the anti-Communist West. After the collapse of the dictatorship of the Duce was appointed Minister without portfolio in the new Government. He served as Foreign Minister from December 1944 until December 1945, when it forms a new Cabinet. As Chairman of the Board, a position he held until July of 1953, De Gasperi encourages and drives a series of coalitions of Government, composed by his party and by other moderate forces of the Center. Contributes to the exit of Italy international isolation, favoring joining the North Atlantic Treaty (NATO) and participating in the first consultations that would lead to the economic unification of Europe. Main work degasperiana policy was the foreign policy and the creation of the embryo of the future European Union. An idea for European who was born with a great opportunity for Italy to overcome their difficulties. The statesman trentino died in Sella di Valsugana on August 19, 1954, just a year after leaving the Government.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.