Chloë Brooks-Kistler

IT 320

Dr. Minervini

September 3 2019

Witnesses of Stone: Interpreting Fascist History

Compass: Witnesses of Stone is a documentary created by TRT World which analyzes the

effect on society leaving fascist art and architecture does on modern Italian society and German.

At 8:42, the documentary poses the stance that “preserving Italian history means preserving the

fascist architecture”. In comparison to Italy, which allows for the fascist symbols and

architecture to continue to stand tall in cities all around the country, Germany has banned any

use of symbols which could be related back to the time period of the Third Reich.

In the documentary at 14 minutes in, the host claims that the Italian fascist architecture

can be seen as just a “backdrop in the busy lives of Italians” while in Germany, the architecture

is seen as symbols of a dark time in German history. With the growing Neo-fascist population in

modern day Italy, does preserving the fascist architecture and culture allow for these groups to

continue to preach their violent and hateful beliefs? Does forgetting the past allow it to be easier

for history to repeat itself?

Italy has allowed for the architure of this dark time in Italian history to continue to stand

and blend in with average life. On these buildings, there is clearly fascist propaganda teachings

and sayings printed in bold lettering to be seen everyday. It becomes a norm for people to allow

these fascist symbols in their culture. Fascism will always be a part of Italian culture if the

country continues to allow for these buildings and art to continue to stand and be a part of

average life. Fascist architecture and symbols have become a hegemony in Italian culture
nowadays due to the fact it is seen as a part of the culture and is kept standing despite the

negative connotations the world outside of Italy views fascism as. It will also make it easier for

Neo-Fascist groups to continue to grow due to the fact the ideas they are teaching are clearly still

being expressed without any backlash from society. If the Italian people expressed disgust and

shame for their fascist history, they would not have these symbols shown as parts of daily life.

In Germany, symbols and public rituals from Hitler’s reign were outlawed in 1949 in an

effort to continue to demonize the Nazi party and to ensure people would not forget the dark

history of the Nazis. A hate for Nazis and Hitler became a hegemony in Germany after World

War II. The Nazis were no longer considered a part of German culture unlike in Italy where

Mussolini’s fascist regime are still considered a part of Italian culture.

Italy and Germany should not forget their fascist histories because then history will be

doomed to repeat itself. However, these fascist symbols and architecture should not be

showcased as part of normal life like they are in Italy because in a sense that is forgetting the

history of why these buildings were built. People will just see these symbols as part of life, and

forget the fact that Mussolini created these buildings to exert his power and control over Italy. If

a fascist group in the future began creating buildings and artwork like the ones created by

Mussolini and his regime, it would not stand out or alarm anyone due to the fact it is already

viewed as a cultural norm.