19 Facts About Randolfo Pacciardi

Randolfo Pacciardi was a long-time member of the secular, centre-left Italian Republican Party.

Randolfo Pacciardi was born in Giuncarico, in the province of Grosseto, in southern Tuscany.

Randolfo Pacciardi was a staunch opponent of the growing violence of Fascist squads and in 1923 established Italia Libera, an anti-fascist veterans' organization.

In 1933 the Italian government pressured Switzerland to expel all anti-fascist refugees, forcing Randolfo Pacciardi to relocate to Mulhouse, in the Alsace region of France.

In May 1937, when the "Garibaldi" was asked to suppress anarchist and POUM fighters in Barcelona as part of internal purges of the Republican camp, Randolfo Pacciardi instructed acting commander Carlo Penchienati to refuse.

Randolfo Pacciardi showed little interest in the mixed-nationality nature of most International Brigades, having always preferred a self-sufficient all-Italian unit to "the anonymity of internationalism".

Finally, at the urging of Penchienati and Nenni, Randolfo Pacciardi accepted the post of vice divisional commander for the duration of the next offensive, as a gesture to improve the unity and morale of the brigade.

Randolfo Pacciardi finally left Spain for good in October 1937.

Randolfo Pacciardi tried to contact Charles de Gaulle, via Pierre Mendes-France, to ask him to attach the prospective units to the Free French Forces.

Randolfo Pacciardi returned to Italy in June 1944, after the liberation of Rome, immediately becoming a member of the leadership of the re-established PRI.

Randolfo Pacciardi supported Giovanni Conti's hardline opposition to any form of cooperation with the Italian monarchy, which put Republicans at odds with the other anti-fascist parties, who were organized in the National Liberation Committee and held ministries in the royal government.

Randolfo Pacciardi became national secretary of PRI in 1945 and was elected to the Constituent Assembly of Italy the following year.

The party was actually split between Randolfo Pacciardi, who advocated continuing cooperation with PCI in line with his beliefs in anti-fascist unity, and Conti and Facchinetti, who blamed Communists for government inefficiency.

Randolfo Pacciardi became supportive of a presidential system of government, which he believed would be the solution to the instability of Italian politics.

Randolfo Pacciardi said that he was contemplating launching a movement to "save democracy" in the country, and that his views were supported by some high-ranking members of the Catholic Church like Genoa cardinal Giuseppe Siri.

In 1963, when Christian Democratic leader Aldo Moro set up a cabinet that included PSI ministers for the first time in sixteen years, Randolfo Pacciardi voted against it in dissent with his own party and was expelled from PRI.

Randolfo Pacciardi died from a stroke on 14 April 1991, in Rome, aged 92.

Randolfo Pacciardi is buried in the municipal cemetery of Grosseto.

Randolfo Pacciardi joined the "Ombrone" lodge of Grosseto in August 1919, becoming "Companion" the following year.