The Association Montessori Internationale is the sole Montessori organisation founded by Montessori herself. It was founded in August 1929 by Maria and her son Mario in Helsingør, Denmark during a period in which they were enduring increasing hostility with the rise of fascism in Germany, Italy and Spain. During the period leading up to World War II Montessori relocated her family and AMI several times, first to Berlin, then Rome, then Barcelona, penultimately London and finally to Laren, in 1935, just prior to World War II.