Bust of Lenin in Cavriago, Italy

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One of the few Western European towns with a bust of Lenin in a public square is Cavriago, near Bologna. The town council website explains that fierce debates raged in 1918 between moderates and "maximalists" within the local Socialist Party. The maximalists emerged victorious, and in 1920 Lenin was named honorary first citizen. Later, the town came under attack from Fascists, prompting the administration to resign. The bust is meant to bear witness, in a non-judgmental way, to the strong civil and political passions of those years. Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, also known as Lenin, was born on 22 April 1870 and died on 21 January 1924. He was a Russian communist revolutionary, politician, and political theorist who served as head of government in the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic from 1917 to his death in 1922. Under his leadership, the Russian Empire was dissolved and replaced by the Soviet Union, a one-party socialist state where all land, natural resources, and industry were confiscated and nationalized. Ideologically a Marxist, Lenin's political theories are known as Leninism. This object is part of the "Scan The World" initiative, introduced by MyMiniFactory as a non-profit project to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from across the globe for public access. Scan the World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items nearby and want to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how to get involved.