A confrontation between the actions adopted by the Italian authorities in South Tyrol and Istria after the Great War, in order to establish the primary education in areas, which could be differently defined multi-language speaking. In South Tyrol the question was particularly focused in the so called Unterland between Bolzano and Salorno, inhabited also by an Italian minority, weak in dimension and in social condition. The comparison with the Istrian scenario highlights some evident contradictions: while in South Tyrol they attempted to support some Italian peasants’ communities in coming back to their ancient nation, also when integrated from generations to the German cultural and economical surround. On the other hand, in Istria they acted to complete and quicken the italianization of Croatian or hybrid villages, obstructing the re-opening of the schools or substituting them with Italian ones. The research throws light on authorities’ intentions and political ability, and contributes to tell the social conditions of the two regions and how they reacted to the annexation.
