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At the beginning of the 20th century, the Italian trade union movement, bolstered by its strong national presence, made its first appearance on the international scene, addressing the diverse realities that existed in the other leading European countries. The “free” German trade union provided a vital organisational model for socialists, particularly for federation leaders. From a political perspective, however, British Labourism remained the dominant model, while the maturity of the British system also proved appealing to republicans. The French model, on the other hand, mostly attracted the attention of more revolutionary elements, including trade unionists and anarchists. For Catholics, German faith-based associations constituted both an organisational and ideological reference point.