This may help, or not. Italian badges and badges of rank WW2 look at bottom ones here. crossed swords fascis etc http://www.militarybadges.info/images/italy/02.jpg Alex, you nicked the photo from here perchance? Italian uniforms from North African Campaign
Just driven my eyes all googly looking through this interesting site on Italian Military Heraldry: http://www.saintjohn.nbcc.nb.ca/host/italian/Medals/index.htm to no avail but It still could be in there somewhere. Hunting about has made me realise that not unlike 'eastern front blindness' I'd guess most of us have rather sketchy knowledge of the gear used by the Italians outside of 'crap tanks' and a rather dismissive attitude to their role in the war.
Based on the name of the picture, could it be something to do with the 'black brigades'? Or the MSVN which seem to have been a blackshirt militia. ... Scratch that, Been looking at some pictures and I don't reckon. Unless that's a fascine in the midle of the badge, can't tell.
These guys have same badge. A unit of the LA MILIZIA VOLONTARIA PER LA SICUREZZA NAZIONALE Militaria - Collezione di Carlo Rastrelli - [La Milizia Volontaria per la Sicurezza Nazionale] Another helmet connected to that organisation here.
So we've established that it's probably part of La Milizia Volontaria per la Sicurezza Nazionale. But what part. I think we all need more practise on Italian units.
It is a MVSN Helmet. Milizia Volontaria Sicurezza Nazionale. A black helmet for the Parade Uniform. From a friend on WW2 re-enactment site. I've asked him if it was spesific to a It is a MVSN Helmet. Milizia Volontaria Sicurezza Nazionale unit or if it was a general helemt. So far no reply.
470. Elmo nero Mod. 1933 della Milizia Volontaria per la Sicurezza Nazionale della Milizia Fascista, con tracce della vernice grigioverde sotto la vernice nera. Anteriormente, fregio della M.V.S.N. regolamentare dipinto in giallo a mascherina. Completo di imbottitura, senza soggolo. 470/550 VON MORENBERG - Casa d'aste in Trento The one on the right is 462. Elmetto Mod. 1933 dei Reali Carabinieri, 1940-44 Vernice nera (permane il 99%) e fregio dipinto anteriormente in argento dei Reali Carabinieri, completo di imbottitura, taglia 58, con nome del proprietario, sulla falda interna posteriore impresso M 11, e con il raro soggolo nero. 150/200
http://www.italianfront.net/M33MVSNhelm9WEB.jpg RIPRODUZIONI, REPLICA COPRICAPI, BERETTI REGIO ESERCITO ITALIANO DELLA SECONDA GUERRA MONDIALE, 2GM, sartoria di uniformi d'epoca, ww2 tedesche, italiane, romene, finlandesi, bulghere, ungheresi, spagnole, polacche, inglesi, americane, russe, frances <TABLE height=240 width=695 border=1><TBODY><TR><TD width=263 height=74> </TD><TD vAlign=top width=339 height=74>H10 - Elmetto M33 riverniciato grigio -verde o nero, con apposita mascherina di scelta, qui visto in 5 versioni con accessori per alpini e bersaglieri offerti a parte e non sempre disponibili. Elmetti disponibili solo in taglie 55-61. *clicca qui per l'intero corredo RE scontato. </TD><TD width=71 height=74> H10 € 99.00 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
MSVN?, MVSN?, RSVP.... Can we guess one of the militias then, as the normal military badge seems to have rifles rather than swords?? Presumably the circle normally contains a unit number. Sod this, I'm off to buy a book... Edit: Aargh.. cross-posted with Owen having given up on that very site couldn't handle the music any more.... wonder if the star is significant or just missing on the first lid? officer identification?
It had music? Oh yeah just turned me speakers back up. According to that diggerhistory page, officers, doctors and chaplains had a star on their fascis.
The helmet is that of the Milizia Voluntaria di Sicurezza Nazionale (the MVSN). It was the Italian fascist equivalent of the Nazi SS. The Fascist Action Squads of 1919 -1922 were formed into the MVSN in January 1923, they were disbanded in July 1943. They were also called the CCNN (Camicie Nere, Black Shirts, the doubling of the letters denotes the plural of CN). These were the die-hard fascists, all were volunteers. The model above in Cpl Roote's post, shows the uniform of a Camicia Nera (the equivalent of Soldato). It is identical to the Italian infantry uniform, except for the collar fasci in place of stellette (stars); a black shirt; emblem on helmet showing MVNS divisional number; and a dagger instead of a bayonet. They also used the fascist arm outstretched salute in place of the regular army salute. The second photo shows the colours of the 63rd MVSN Division, the Taglimento. This division fought in Russia and suffered horrendous casualties on the Don: 90% of battalion commanders, 70% of other officers, and 55% of other ranks killed. Three battalions (<I>Montebello<I.MONTEBELLO< i></I>, Leonessa, and Valle Scrivia) were distinguished for outstanding bravery with the honorary letter 'M'. The three Camicie Nere shown with the colours are from the three honoured battalions. You will see their slightly differing uniforms which distinguished these battalions.
The helmet is that of the Milizia Voluntaria di Sicurezza Nazionale (the MVSN). It was the Italian fascist equivalent of the Nazi SS. The Fascist Action Squads of 1919 -1922 were formed into the MVSN in January 1923, they were disbanded in July 1943. They were also called the CCNN (Camicie Nere, Black Shirts, the doubling of the letters denotes the plural of CN). These were the die-hard fascists, all were volunteers. The model above in Cpl Roote's post, shows the uniform of a Camicia Nera (the equivalent of Soldato). It is identical to the Italian infantry uniform, except for the collar fasci in place of stellette (stars); a black shirt; emblem on helmet showing MVNS divisional number; and a dagger instead of a bayonet. They also used the fascist arm outstretched salute in place of the regular army salute. The second photo shows the colours of the 63rd MVSN Division, the Taglimento. This division fought in Russia and suffered horrendous casualties on the Don: 90% of battalion commanders, 70% of other officers, and 55% of other ranks killed. Three battalions (<i>Montebello<i.montebello>< i></i.montebello></i>, Leonessa, and Valle Scrivia) were distinguished for outstanding bravery with the honorary letter 'M'. The three Camicie Nere shown with the colours are from the three honoured battalions. You will see their slightly differing uniforms which distinguished these battalions. Thanks Peter, very helpful. Alex
