An anniversary that recalls the end of a conflict with devastating consequences, with tens of millions of victims, but also the beginning of a new era for humanity: 8 May 1945, the date of the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany and the end of World War II, represents a watershed in history.
Eighty years after those events, the President of the Autonomous Province of Trento, Maurizio Fugatti, commemorated the occasion: "The end of the Second World War in Europe opened a new phase for peoples and also our communities, which had suffered so harshly, could finally glimpse the glimmer of a lasting peace and know the start of the institution of our special Autonomy," said Fugatti. "As Trentino citizens, I believe it is important to remember today above all the work of Alcide De Gasperi, the statesman who believed in the construction of a new European civilisation and the importance of peaceful cooperation and solidarity among peoples. Looking at the current international framework, those who have institutional responsibilities must act by working for peace, as Pope Francis' warning reminded us in the imminence of his death and which we can recognise today as a precious legacy. On this day, it is crucial to remember the importance not only of the values of freedom and harmony among peoples, but also to stand as a bulwark of democratic institutions and self-government, as an indispensable principle of enhancement and development of our communities'.
Publication date: 08/05/2025
