On 5 June, in the garden of the Grosseto Historical Institute of the Resistance and Contemporary Age, a series of events will be held for existing members, those wishing to join, and anyone simply keen to find out more about the wide range of activities that Isgrec has been running for over thirty years.

The programme begins at 5.30 pm with the presentation of the book “1944: the year before the end of the war”, edited by Gianluca Fulvetti, Francesco Fusi, Isabella Insolvibile and Matteo Pretelli (Pisa University Press 2026). The book is the culmination of a participatory project initiated and promoted by the University of Pisa and aims to offer an original tool for reflection, through which to understand, from the perspective of the year 1944, both the complex experiences of war and the foundations of the future socio-political structures of the Italian Republic.

Indeed, 1944 was crucial to the outcome of the Second World War; for Italy in particular, it was a decisive year, characterised by high hopes for the end of the war, but also by painful disillusionment for those forced to contend with the presence of German and Fascist occupiers for longer. The Director of Isgrec, Ilaria Cansella, will discuss this with one of the editors, Francesco Fusi, and with the authors of three essays published in the volume: Nicoletta Arena, Federico Creatini and Stefano Campagna. The event is free and open to all.

Following this, from 8 pm, guests will be able to enjoy a generous aperitif and light supper. This event is open to everyone, but there is a small charge (€10 for members and €12 for non-members) and booking is required by email by 4 June (segreteria@isgrec.it).

At 9 pm, there will be a theatrical reading of “1944: Grosseto Liberated” by AnimaScenica.

1944 was a dramatic and decisive year for the Maremma too: war, deportations, bombings, Nazi-Fascist massacres and, finally, Liberation. Irene Paoletti and Emanuele Bocci retrace some of these events through words, music and video projections.

For information and dinner bookings: www.isgrec.it – segreteria@isgrec.it