The “beffa” (mockery) of the Teatro Goldoni is perhaps the most famous operation carried out by the partisan movement of Venice. It involves a large part of the “Biancotto Brigade” and was overseen by the political commissioner Giuseppe Turcato.
The ‘mockery’ was a very special partisan operation: it was not an action aimed at creating damage or sabotage, but at questioning the control of the territory by Nazi-Fascist troops, a few days after liberation.
In early 1945, the Police Headquarters of Venice, the Black Brigades and the GNR had harshly attacked the Venetian resistance, but at the same time there was a need to prepare the ground for the insurrection.
Turcato then decided to complete this particular operation: the plan was to occupy a theatre during a performance, incite an anti-Fascist rally and leave, so as to begin to break the control of the Fascists. According to Turcato, at that time there was no need to make victims, but rather to make the population understand that the Fascists were not invincible and that it was possible to fight them.
The Goldoni Theater was chosen: Turcato chose it because it is close to the Grand Canal, has several exits and therefore makes it possible to arrive and get away easily.
It is decided to act when on stage there is “Vestire gli Ignudi” by Pirandello, on March 11, 1945. The group taking part in the action consists almost entirely of young people plus older support members. However, the operation jumps to a halt due to an aerial alarm that evacuates the theatre. They decide to act the next night.
As soon as they went into action, the policemen and service personnel did nothing to stop them; in turn, the actors and servants did nothing either.
At 9.16 pm Arcalli, Padoan, Chinello, masked and armed, stepped into a spotlight and addressed the audience. “Nobody moves! If there is a spy and Fascist traitor in the theatre he will receive partisan lead” was shouted inside by Citton’s voice. Chinello put himself in the centre of the spotlight (the lights had been turned on) and uttered to the audience the words of incitement:
“Venetians, Hitler and the fascist traitors final fifteen minutes are about to run out. Fight with us for the cause of national liberation and for the definitive crushing of Nazi-Fascism. Liberation is near! Huddle around the Committee of National Liberation and the flags of the heroic partisans fighting for the freeing of Italy from the Nazi-fascist yoke.
We are fighting to ensure, through progressive democracy and the unity of all anti-fascist parties, the future and reconstruction of our homeland. Death to fascism! Freedom for the people! Long live the Youth front!
Ladies and gentlemen, good evening and goodbye.”
At the same time Arcalli and Padoan, on both sides, always holding at gunpoint the Fascists present…launched numerous pamphlets at the crowd. Before going out, Citton also rose to the spotlight, he cried: “Nobody moves! The theatre will remain surrounded for half an hour.”
Testimony of Giuseppe Turcato “Marco”
In reality they fled immediately, reaching the gondola of one of their squad (Delfino Pedrali “Gastone”) and run away. In the theatre there were not only civilians but also Fascists and Germans in uniform and armed, but no one intervened. The fact that they had low morale, because they knew the war was almost at the end, had been counted on during the planning of the action. The next day, there was a rumour that a partisan brigade was holding the entire theatre hostage. It was a first fundamental blow to the credibility of the Nazi-Fascists, which at that time were essentially based on violence. It was a first step towards the liberation that would take place a few weeks later.
