THE TARDY TRIBUTE TO A RESISTANCE WITHOUT ARMS Upon returning from imprisonment, the sacrifice of the IMIs was shrouded in indifference and a deafening silence. Even today, few know of their existence, and Andrea Desana told us of his regret at the incomprehensible minimisation, if not absence, of this historical chapter in school curricula. Post-war poverty, political tensions, and the need to rebuild simply hid their “disarmed resistance” under the rug. Only recently the memory of the IMIs has been receiving a fair tribute: great is the commitment and satisfaction of Andrea for the establishment of the “Day of the Military Internee,” held on September 20, 2025 for the first time and approved unanimously by Parliament (a miracle, right?), also thanks to the commitment of associations such as the National Union of Prisoners of War. The choice of the IMIs was not only courageous but also deeply human: many feared finding themselves fighting against an opposing side made up of their own who had chosen armed Resistance. Yet, theirs was authentic and indelible Resistance. The historical importance of this choice is profound: if the 600,000 internees had joined the Social Republic en masse, the course of the war and of Italy itself would probably have been very different. brothers An entire shelf of the Document Center dedicated to the experiences of the IMI