March 2, 1921: The Albona Republic (Labinska republika) proclaimed in Italian-occupied Croatia -- a short lived communist republic organized by miners of the Istrian city of Albona (Labin) during the miners’ strike and the world’s first anti-fascist uprising.
Before they took over in Italy, fascists occupied headquarters of the Workers' Committee in Trieste in 1921, lit it on fire and attacked representatives of the Raša Mining Trade Union. With regard to this event, a general strike of about two thousand miners broke out. Miners proclaimed the republic in the occupied mines under the motto 'Kova je nasa' (Mine is ours), organized government and Red Guard as a protection from the fascists and started to manage the production of mines by themselves with the support of a part of farmers. The miners declared the foundation of the Republic of Labin, and raised a red hammer and sickle flag.
On April 8, 1921, Italian administration decided to suppress the republic using the military force, and eventually succeeded after suppressing the strong resistance of the miners.
Picture: Graffiti in Albona (Labin) that remained from the period of the antifascist Albona Republic.
