Serious theft at the Central State Archives: 970 March on Rome labarums stolen

A serious theft at theCentral State Archives, located in Rome ’s Eur area: as many as 970 labarums that fascists took to the March on Rome on October 28, 1922, were stolen. The heist took place in June, but the facts have only become known in the last few hours. They are important historical documents (these are the banners that the fascists carried with them during the March on Rome representing various Italian municipalities), but on the black market for fascist memorabilia they are coveted collector’s items that could be worth between a thousand and ten thousand euros each: it is estimated that, in all, the total amount of the loot is around five million euros (but the figure, according to investigators, could be even much less).

It was the director of the Central Archives, Elisabetta Reale, who noticed the theft. And now a thousand questions arise about the theft, since such a large and important heist (stealing 970 labaria in one go is by no means easy) is not for everyone, so much so that the carabinieri of the Nucleo Tutela Patrimonio Culturale who are investigating the case suspect the presence of a mastermind inside the institution. Again according to carabinieri, the theft most likely took place bit by bit, because taking away the 970 banners at once is not feasible. And no one would seem to have noticed anything.

It is also thought that, aiding the perpetrators of the theft, was the lockdown of the past few months: then consider that many civil service workers are still on smart working. These are all circumstances that have decreased attendance inside the Central Archives. At the same time, however, it should be pointed out that, in the post-confinement period, access to the Archives is strictly restricted and access is by reservation only: a situation that would favor the hypothesis of the involvement of someone internal to the institution. There is also the fact that no signs of forced entry have been detected.

At the moment, the hypothesis oficonoclasm is not ruled out either, in the wake of recent protests against symbols of the most inconvenient past, even in Italy (and which reached their peak in June), nor that of theft for hire. What is certain is that a culprit may already be identified, namely the security conditions of a building that collects much of our history and therefore deserved to be better protected.

Serious theft at the Central State Archives: 970 March on Rome labarums stolen

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