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This conference, organized by Arnd Bauerkämper, Grzegorz Rossoliński-Liebe, Anna Lena Kocks and Silvia Madotto, and supported by the Fritz Thyssen Stiftung für Wissenschaftsförderung and Freie Universität Berlin, offered important insights into various aspects of the study of transnational fascism and diverse forms of connections and co-operation between fascist movements and regimes in Europe between 1918 and 1945. It fostered the concept of fascism as a border-crossing phenomenon albeit with strong national and local roots. The conference made clear that even without an institutionalized 'Fascist international,' fascism was a transnational phenomenon, which affected national societies and non-national groups. By widening the perspective on different forms of European fascism, the participants of the conference managed to highlight connections, interactions and entanglements not considered by the previous historical research. The conference demonstrated how this methodological approach proves useful for a more comprehensive understanding of the complex phenomenon of fascism and the numerous interactions between fascist activists, groups, parties, movements and regimes.

Some thoughts on the repatriation and demobilization of Italian-speaking Austro- Hungarian soldiers after World War I. During World War I, general mobilization and conscription forced thousands of Italian-speaking citizens of the Austro-Hungarian Empire to fight in the Eastern front. Those who were taken prisoners became the object of bilateral treaties between Russia and Italy. The others returned to civilian life in a different country, after Italy's annexation of Trentino, South Tyrol and Venezia Giulia. This article outlines how the Italian government managed the repatriation of former Austrian prisoners and the way it treated veterans of the enemy army living within its new borders. Furthermore, the article considers the relationship and mutual interactions between the central government and the authorities of the newly acquired territories concerning the problems of demobilization and assistance to ex combatants. Finally, some remarks are dedicated to the Italian military operations in the Far East and the involvement in the Russian civil war.