The article examines the evolution of the Dalmatian Fascist University Group (Gufd), which originated from the Society of Italian Students of Dalmatia (Ssid), founded in Zara (Zadar) in 1899. Initially focused on cultural promotion and defending the interests of Italian-Dalmatian students, after 1919 the Ssid transformed into a vehicle for fascism and political irredentism, aiming for Dalmatia’s annexation to Italy. With the rise of the Gufd in the 1920s, there was a growing activism on the part of registered students aimed at raising awareness of the Dalmatian problem among their peers in Italy. However, as initially seen as an ally for Italian cultural preservation in Dalmatia, fascism eventually constrained youthful aspirations, creating conflict between their irredentist ideals and its totalitarian goals.
