Luigi Longo Activist of the Italian and international communist movement Date of Birth: 15.03.1900 Country: Italy

1. Biography of Luigi Longo
2. Early Activism
3. Editorial Work and Political Endeavors
4. Spanish Civil War and Partisans
5. Later Years and Achievements

Biography of Luigi Longo

Luigi Longo was an Italian and international communist activist, as well as a renowned author. He was born on March 15, 1900, in Fubine, Italy. Longo was a prominent figure in the Italian Communist Party (ICP), joining it since its inception in 1921.

Early Activism

From 1921 to 1928, Longo served in the leadership of the Communist Youth Union of Italy (CYUI). He became a member of the party's city committee in Turin in 1922. Longo was also a delegate at the 4th Congress of the Communist International and the 3rd Congress of the Communist International Youth.

Editorial Work and Political Endeavors

Longo served as the editor of the CYUI's central organ, the newspaper "Avanguardia" from 1924 to 1926. In 1926, he was elected to the Central Committee of the ICP. Following this, Longo was sent to Moscow as a representative of the CYUI at the Executive Committee of the Communist International Youth. He became a member of the Executive Committee in 1928.

In the early 1930s, Longo worked among Italian emigrants in Switzerland and held positions in the ICP's Foreign Bureau in France. In 1931, he was elected to the leadership of the ICP and in 1932, became a representative of the ICP at the Executive Committee of the Comintern.

Spanish Civil War and Partisans

When the Spanish Civil War broke out in 1936, Longo played a significant role in organizing aid for the Republic. He served as a general inspector of the International Brigades under the alias "Gallo" and participated in numerous battles. After the defeat of the Spanish Republic, Longo fled to France where he was interned. In 1941, he was handed over to the fascist government of Italy by the French authorities.

During World War II, Longo was imprisoned and exiled to the Ventotene Island until the fall of fascism in 1943. He then became one of the main organizers and leaders of the partisan movement. Longo commanded the Garibaldi Brigades, the communist-led partisan units, and was a member of the central committee of the National Liberation Front. He also served as the chairman of its military commission and deputy commander of all partisan forces.

Later Years and Achievements

After the war, Longo's political career continued to thrive. He was elected as the deputy of the Constituent Assembly in 1946 and served in the parliament from 1948 onwards. In August 1964, following the death of Palmiro Togliatti, Longo became the secretary-general of the ICP. From 1972, he held the position of chairman of the ICP.

Longo was also an accomplished author, having written memoirs that were translated into Russian. His contributions to communism and activism were recognized with various honors, including the Order of Lenin from the Soviet Union and the Order of the People's Hero from Yugoslavia.

Longo's legacy is further immortalized by having a street named after him in Moscow and a postage stamp dedicated to him in 1981. He passed away on October 16, 1980, in Rome, Italy, leaving behind a lasting impact on the Italian and international communist movements.