Katakombenschule

Katakombenschulen (underground schools) were set up in the province of Bolzano-Bozen in the mid-1920s during the period of Fascist Italianization when teaching of the German language was banned (Lex Gentile, October 1923) by the authorities of Italy which had occupied the area in 1918.

School teachers in the province were replaced by Italian ones. The population then organized private lessons which were banned in November 1925. Underground education continued illegally. Persons involved were, among many other, priest Michael Gamper, lawyer Dr. Josef Noldin, teachers Rudolf Riedl and Angela Nikoletti.

In 1928, at least religious lessons on Sunday were allowed to be held in German. Around 30,000 children were affected.

Literature

*Villgrater, Maria: Katakombenschule, Bozen 1984