Trieste and Istria in the 20th century

author: cartesdhistoire/instagram, added on: 2025-04-05

cartesdhistoire:

“Historical atlas of East Central Europe”, Paul Robert Magocsi, University of Washington Press, 3rd Edition, 1993, 2018

When, after the WWI had begun, Italy abandoned its alliance with the Central Powers, its new agreement with the Allies included the secret Treaty of London (April 26, 1915). Among the territories promised to Italy in that document were Istria and Carniola. The new boundary as outlined in the Treaty of Rapallo, reached with Yugoslavia on November 12, 1920, awarded to Italy all of former Austrian Gorizia-Gradisca, Istria, western Carniola (Slovenia), and a few Dalmatian islands.

The city of Fiume (Rijeka) was part of the Hungarian Kingdom until 1918. Together with Budapest, it was the only self-governing city outside Hungary’s county administration. Even before the Treaty of Rapallo was signed, Fiume and the immediate hinterland was occupied (September 1919) by independent Italian troops led by poet Gabriele D’Annunzio. An Italian regency under D’Annunzio’s leadership functioned in Fiume until it was forced out in December 1920 by the Italian government, which the previous month had accepted the Rapallo treaty provision that made Fiume a free city. Despite the Rapallo treaty, however, Fiume’s independent status was short-lived. In March 1922 an Italian fascist coup overthrew the city-state’s government and annexed it to Italy.

At the WWII’s end in 1945, Yugoslavia’s Partisan forces under Tito held all of Istria and Trieste. According to the final peace treaty signed with Italy at Paris (February 10, 1947), the Free Territory of Trieste was created. This, in turn, was divided into Zone A (including the city of Trieste) administered by Anglo-American forces, and Zone B administered by Yugoslav forces. As for the rest of Istria, it became part of Yugoslavia. North of Trieste the Yugoslav boundary was pushed west of the Isonzo River except for the city of Gorizia, which remained in Italy. In 1954, the Free Territory of Trieste was abolished. Zone A was given to Italy; Zone B, with only a slight boundary change, to Yugoslavia.

Collection: european-history - Tags: trieste, istria - Source: instagram.com