Life and legacy of patriotism icon Hermine Orian: A farewell

Life and legacy of patriotism icon Hermine Orian: A farewell

Hermine Orian, one of the last living witnesses to South Tyrol's tragic history, died on May 16, 2025 at the age of 106. She was born Austrian in 1919 and experienced the violent Italianization of her homeland first hand. Her resistance to oppression is particularly evident in her role as a catacomb teacher, where she secretly taught German-speaking children in the 1920s, while only Italian was allowed as the language of instruction. These “catacomb schools” were a sign of resistance against the fascist regime, which banned the German language and forced the population to assimilate. Orian joined the network of illegal teachers at the age of 13 and passed on her knowledge and identity in times of repression.

She has been recognized with various honors over the years, including an Order of Merit from the State of Tyrol in the 1960s. After the Second World War, she was finally allowed to officially work as a teacher, but her long search for Austrian citizenship remained unfulfilled until her death. On her 103rd birthday, she expressed the wish to receive a red-white-red passport, which illustrates the ongoing difficulties for the South Tyrolean population in relation to their national identity and citizenship. The FPÖ South Tyrol spokesman Christofer Ranzmaier criticized this omission and described it as shameful that Austria had denied Orian her wish to die as an Austrian.

Dispute over citizenship

The Hermine Orian case is symptomatic of the ongoing problems of South Tyroleans with regard to citizenship and national identity. In recent years there have been numerous public and political initiatives to improve the situation of South Tyroleans. Ranzmaier called for a rethinking of the practice of granting citizenship and appealed to allow South Tyroleans to have dual citizenship. This should also be done as a sign of respect for the strong Austrian self-image of this population. Orian, who was more Austrian than many with a red-white-red passport, fought for her citizenship for a long time, but even after her death, the desire of many South Tyroleans for equality and recognition remains.

In 2019, the National Council passed a resolution to allow South Tyroleans to have dual citizenship, but implementation has not yet taken place. Current procedures for recognizing citizenship are still ongoing at the Ministry of the Interior, but those responsible such as Interior Minister Gerhard Karner and Chancellor Karl Nehammer are not commenting on this explosive issue. This has led to public discontent, which was also expressed through gatherings such as that of the “South Tyrolean Riflemen” in Vienna in April 2023, when they demonstrated for Orian's concerns. In this context, Cardinal Schönborn emphasized the cohesion of the community as a “sign of lived solidarity”.

Historical context of South Tyrol

South Tyrol looks back on an eventful history that stretches from early times to the present. The independent history began with the occupation by Italian troops in November 1918 and the subsequent loss to Austria through the Treaty of Saint-Germain in 1919. According to demographic developments, South Tyrol had a German-speaking majority of 89% at that time. The Italianization phase that began in 1922 under Mussolini led to forced assimilation measures that severely affected the South Tyrolean character and the language of education. The region is therefore an exemplary place for dealing with identity, nationality and the rights of ethnic minorities in Europe.

There are still tensions between the different language groups in South Tyrol, especially in the education system. Despite extensive self-government through the Statute of Autonomy of 1972 and the legal recognition of the South Tyrolean people to a variety of rights, the political climate remains challenging. In 2020, a memorial to the unjust division of Tyrol was inaugurated, which symbolizes the ongoing longing of many South Tyroleans for unity and recognition. Orian's death is a reminder of these high-profile media issues and the ongoing struggle for cultural identity and political equality.