Description

This book documents the experiences of the Italian armed Fascist militia, the Camicie Nere (Blackshirts), from the Italian–Ethiopian war of 1935–36, through the Spanish Civil War to the end of World War II. It explores their origins, development, recruitment, training, conditions of service, uniforms and equipment, battle experience, political and ideological motivation. The Blackshirt legions were raised under army control from 1928, and were employed in 1933 in Libya in counterinsurgency operations against the Senussi tribes; from 1935 in Italy's war against Ethiopia; and during the Spanish Civil War. Following the outbreak of World War II, the Blackshirts fought in North Africa, Greece, Croatia, on the Eastern Front and finally in Italy itself following the Allied invasion.

Product details

Published Sep 20 2013
Format Ebook (Epub & Mobi)
Edition 1st
Extent 64
ISBN 9781472806383
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations 35 b/w; 28 col
Series Warrior
Short code WAR 144
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Pier Paolo Battistelli

Pier Paolo Battistelli earned his PhD in military…

Illustrator

Giuseppe Rava

Giuseppe Rava was born in Faenza in 1963, and took…

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