Growing up I learned that there are no enemies to fight, but truths to defend.
Necessary premise to dispel any doubt from the idea that my approach to Andrea Hofer as "different" from the Schutzen is specious, parochial, as supporters or even anti-Habsburg.
The House of Habsburg until Emperor Francis II of Habsburg renounced the title of Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, choosing to retain only the more modest title of Emperor of Austria and Hungary, they held the title of Holy Roman Emperors, title that originated from the coronation of Charlemagne, occurred on Christmas Eve of the year 800. Therefore, those who care and find their model and value reference in Roman classicism, it cannot but benevolently embrace the House of Habsburg. Certainly, as happened in the period of the Roman Empire, even during the regencies of the Habsburgs, not all Emperors were up to and worthy of the task entrusted to them.
For example, Empress Maria Theresa, with a more energetic hand than emperors, who had preceded her centuries earlier - see Conrad II and Maximilian I- implemented an unprecedented Germanization of the Latin-speaking territories, Costa became Kostner, Ciampac divenne Kompatscher, etc.. His son Giuseppe II in the year 1785 on my own initiative I call Trentino South Tyrol. His successor to the throne, brother Leopoldo, enlightened Freemason like Joseph II, both anti-Catholic. Franz Joseph (of whom it is said that he was the son of Napoleon) he wanted and signed the anti-Italian law. This is what the Privy Council expressed itself on 12 November 1866, «His Majesty has expressed the precise order that decisive action be taken against the influence of the Italian elements still present in some regions of the Crown and, appropriately filling the positions of public employees, judicial, of the masters as well as with the influence of the press, operate in South Tyrol, in Dalmatia and on the coast for the Germanisation and Slavisation of said territories depending on the circumstances, with energy and without any consideration. His Majesty reminds the central offices of the strong duty to proceed in this way with what has been established.»
With these precedents, the accusations aimed at the Giolitti government, following the law of the Italian government aimed at the Italianisation of the territories of Trentino and Alto Adige - name changed by Napoleon- they are unjustified, as they fall within the ruthless law of contra and patior, “suffer the opposite”.
To return to Hofer, history ineluctably bears witness, who was a patriot, defender of his land and of Catholic religious principles, he was never anti-Italian, because Italy has existed politically since 1861, he was Italian geographically, as nature established that the Alps marked the northern border of the Italian peninsula, as well as remembered in the divine comedy by the great poet Dante.
Hofer was a Christian hero and martyr, betrayed by one of his fellow villagers Franz Raffl, and by its emperor Francis II of Habsburg. The latter - while Andreas was preparing to take his last breath- at the same time the wedding between Napoleon and Maria Luisa of Habsburg was celebrated in Vienna; Hofer had fought against Napoleon, the same one who sentenced him to death! These were Hofer's last contemptuous words on the scaffold <<Franz, Franz, I owe this to you!>>, thereby referring to Francis I (renouncing the title of Holy Roman Emperor named after Francis II, changed to I), who had gone over to Napoleon's side.

Andreas Hofer was a fervent Catholic, always immersed in prayer, with an exemplary lifestyle. I report the following detail of one of his orders: “Many of my good brothers in arms, and defenders of the country are scandalized that women of all conditions cover their chests and arms too little or with transparent cloths, and consequently they give occasion to sinful stimuli, which cannot but displease God greatly, and to anyone who thinks Christianly. Hopefully in order to keep God's punishment away, they will improve; otherwise they will have to blame themselves if they are defiled in an unpleasant way." The Catholic spirit that animated the battle of Hofer, against the anti-Catholic spirit of the French Revolution exported by Napoleon, today it resides among the Schutzen? I imagine they are all practicing Catholics, none of them are divorced, remarried, no one uses contraceptives, no one has ever had an abortion, etc.! Will be, but Christian Kolmann, Eva Klotz's dolphin, is openly gay (South Tyrol 17 April 2016), Claudio Tessaro de Weth, honorary and emeritus captain of the first Schutzen company of Trento, interviewed about the Dolomiti pride of Trento, he asserted that gays were not their problem (Trentino 8 June 2018), they make us think that Andreas Hofer's Schutzen are interested in an instrumental yet non-existent claim of anti-Italianness, which never existed in the Catholic martyr and hero. It was Italians who tried to redeem Andreas Hofer's life with 5000 shields, fruit of a popular collection, it was the vice King of Italy who asked Napoleon for a pardon for the innkeeper of Val Passiria!
“We don't want the Trentino region to be strengthened- Sudtrol, but the distinctions of this forced marriage! With Trentino they brought us a bride that we didn't choose, with Italy like a bad mother-in-law who gets involved in matters that don't concern them" (Sven Knoll, Sud – Tyrolean freedom)
Ps. In Mantua near the park dedicated to Andreas Hofer, adjacent to Porta Giulio Romano there is an information sign, which defines Andreas Hofer as a Tyrolean independence activist. Maybe, perhaps in the gross error - which none of the Schutzen scholars must have ever noticed -, there is a truth hidden; if Hofer had remained alive, considered the betrayal of Emperor Francis I, he would once again take up arms to ask for the independence of his Tyrol from that empire that turned its back on him!
source – http://www.emiliogiuliana.com/2-uncategorised/45-andreas-hofer-non-trova-pace.html