page_title: National Unity and Armed Forces Day
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: National Unity and Armed Forces Day / History
caption_attribution_description: Italiano: Commemorazione del 4 novembre 1932 ad Iglesias; si riconoscono Sardus Fontana ( terzo in prima fila da sinistra) e suo padre Pietro ( terzo in prima fila da destra )
context_page_description: National Unity and Armed Forces Day is an Italian national day since 1919 which commemorates the victory in World War I, a war event considered the completion of the process of unification of Italy. It's celebrated every 4 November, which is the anniversary of the armistice of Villa Giusti becoming effective in 1918 declaring Austria-Hungary's surrender.
context_section_description: Established in 1919, 4 November is the only Italian national holiday which has gone through decades of Italian history: from the liberal period to  fascist and  republican Italy. In 1921, during the National Unity and Armed Forces Day, the Italian Unknown Soldier (Milite Ignoto) was solemnly buried at the Altare della Patria in Rome. 
  In 1922, shortly after the march on Rome, the holiday changed its name to Anniversario della Vittoria (Victory Anniversary) to emphasize Italian military power, while after the end of World War II, in 1949, the original meaning was restored, becoming the celebration of Italian armed forces and the achievement of  Italian Unity. 
  In fact, after the WWI victory, Italy completed the national unification begun with the Risorgimento, conquering Trento and Trieste. For that, WWI has been called the fourth Italian war of independence, although nowadays this definition has lost relevance.
  4 November was a holiday until 1976. From 1977, during austerity, it became a moveable feast according to the calendar reform of national holidays introduced by law n. 54 of 5 March 1977,  and celebrations occurred every first Sunday of November.
  During the 1980s and 1990s, its importance declined but in the 2000s, thanks to the impulse given by former president of the republic Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, who has been a main protagonist of a general valorization of Italian national symbols, the holiday gained more widespread celebrations.
caption: 4 November commemoration in Iglesias (1932)
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