The “Gasperi-Gruber” Agreement difficult itinerary: attempts to neutralize the conflicts in the former Austrian Tyrol territories annexed by Italy and its legal effects on the local population (1946-2000)

Abstract

The signing between Austria and Italy of the “De Gasperi – Gruber” Agreement, in 1946, aimed to regulate the annexation of territories of the former Austrian Tyrol by Italy in 1919 without, however, providing a plebiscite for the population. Even so, a significant range of rights was granted to institutions and citizens of the annexed territories. The present study, based on the technique of documental and bibliographic research, and using methods of legal historiography, examines the "De Gasperi - Gruber" Agreement and, mainly, the application of the mechanisms that aimed to "smoothen" the effects of the forced annexation. It is concluded there was an attempt of accommodation by providing protection for the German-speaking population as well as political and economic autonomy for the region, achieving positive results to consolidate the annexation, although opposing the wishes of the population and a large part of the international public opinion.