Sepp Kerschbaumer
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Sepp Kerschbaumer (9 November 1913 - 7 December 1964) was a political activist from South Tyrol as a leading member of the BAS (Befreiungsausschuss Südtirol / Freedom committee South Tyrol).
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Background
In 1919, after WWI, Italy gained South Tyrol from Austria. A process of Italianisation started. Sepp Kerschbaumer was one of the leaders in the fight against these attempts.
On the 12 June 1961, the so called Feuernacht (night of the fire), the BAS organised a blowing up of 34 electricity pillars that gave power to the industry zone of Bozen-Bolzano.
Incarceration and Death
Being the leading member of BAS, Sepp Kerschbaumer was convicted to fifteen years and eleven months on July 16 1964 for organising the bombing. On 7 December 1964 he died in the prison of Verona of a heart attack. More than 20,000 people attended the funeral on 9 december (South Tyrol has around 400,000 inhabitants).
Kerschbaumer's role in history of South Tyrol
Kerschbaumer was responsible for founding the BAS and by carrying out its operations he let the wider world know that many South Tyroleans were not happy with their situation. He always believed thought to be a more effective weapon than the bomb and would hand out flyers highlighting the situation in South Tyrol. Kerschbaumer always strived to ensure that no one was injured or killed in his attakcs.
Literature
Fontana Josef, Hans Mayr: Sepp Kerschbaumer; Eine Biographie, Bolzano 2001 (ISBN 88-7283-142-3)
see also: Feuernacht, Option in South Tyrol, Katakombenschulen