Teaching of and in the German language was banned (Lex Gentile, October 1923) by the authorities of Italy, which had occupied the area in 1918.
German language based education went underground when private lessons were banned in November 1925.
The main organizers were, among many others, priest Michael Gamper and lawyer Dr Josef Noldin.
The penalty for being found out was prison and repeatedly caught teachers were deported to South Italy.
[1][3][4] After the signing of the Lateran treaty in 1929 German language religious lessons on Sunday were allowed.