The Pubbliche Assistenze, Italian Associations that provided assistance to the general public, began to form in 1860. Inspired by solidaristic ideals and acting on the belief that people should help one another as brothers and sisters, they were free, secular and democratic associations of volunteers open to anyone’s participation.

1. The History of ANPAS

2. The Birth of the Public Assistance Groups in Italy Ideals from the 19° Century Italian “Risorgimento”

4. Livorno, at the end of the 1800s. Volunteer wearing a protection device against Cholera.

5. The first “Pubbliche Assistenze” in Tuscany & Liguria Why did the P.A.’s have different names? Because, typically, their statutes were written separately and promoted different ideals according to their specific social, economic, and political realities

7. La Croce Verde Would have surely been composed of an administration and volunteers that had republican, socialist, and anarchist ideologies

8. La Croce Bianca Probably composed of conservatives and monarchists

9. La Croce D’Oro The emerging middle class Characterized by new specialized professions (notaries, lawyers, and doctors)

10. La Croce Turchina No longer indicative of this today, but was once linked to farmers.

11. Fratellanza Popolare Typically composed of artisans.

12. Fratellanza Militare Today these are only found in Florence, but originally they would have been war veterans from the “Risorgimento”

16. Croce Verde APM di Milano: Hospital Wagon

18. The “Federazione Nazionale delle Società di Pubblica Assistenza e Pubblico Soccorso” was recognized as an “Organization Devoted to Public Good” by a King’s Decree in 1911

19. The history of the “Pubbliche Assistenze” is strongly connected to political, social, and cultural changes in Italy and played a role in promoting reforms

22. Early 1900s: Piombino (LI), group of “Pubblica Assistenza” volunteers

24. The 30s in Genova, motorcycle with sidecar, P.A. Croce Bianca Genovese

27. The 50s: Piombino. A group of P.A. volunteers posed on their motorcycles.

29. 1961: Volonteers from the P.A. SVS di Livorno during a rally in Sarzana

30. Croce Verde in Lucca

31. Croce Gialla in Ancona

36. 2000: Firenze, First national solidarity meeting

38. Croce Blu – Gromo (BG)

39. Croce Blu – Gromo (BG)

40. Since 1981 ANPAS has been a recognized organization for placement of conscientious objectors and community volunteers (servizio civile nazionale)

42. 1996: Rome, national ANPAS demonstration for conscientious objectors and “servizio civile”

43. The “Pubbliche Assistenze” movement strongly supports non-violent and unarmed civil defense:

51. In 2004 ANPAS celebrated 100 years of solidarity