Military Training In Germany Badge for Italian Personnel

 Military Training In Germany Badge for Italian Personnel - Silver - Reverse.

 

This award was instituted on 15th July1944. It consists of a pair of crossed swords, which have double-edged blades that widen to the tip.  They have plain hilts with rounded pommels and thick plain cross-guards.  The blade has a raised central spine.  They measure 54 mm from pommel to tip.  At the centre is superimposed a vertical fasces with a swastika superimposed on to it.  From either side of the fasces is a single oak leaf with an elongated stalk protruding from beneath the lower edges of the blades of the swords.  The outline of the leaves is pierced.

The reverse of the badge is plain with a horizontal safety pin type of attachment.  This is secured to the reverse by a round plate in the example used for this description, but other methods were employed.  The overall colour is of patinated silver.  The Gold form is also artificially patinated.  One cautionary note to collectors is that this badge has been heavily copied, mainly in aluminium and great care has to be exercised in the purchase of this rare badge.     

Many Italian units that did not accept the armistice went on to fight on the German side. This created on 9th September 1943 the new Republican Army. The Official foundation of the Armed Forces of the "Repubblica Sociale Italiana (RSI)" was on 28th October 1943. Four Infantry Divisions were formed, namely the "Italia,""Littorio,""San Marco" and "Monterosa" Divisions. The badge was to recognise those Italians who underwent military training in Germany and was rendered to those soldiers of the four RSI Divisions and their German instructors. In accordance to the Italian Decree, Circular no. 160:"Giornale Militare Ufficiale" dated 1944: "In order to cement more and more comradeship ties with the allied army, the Duce has authorized a special badge to be issued to the soldiers of the Divisions under training and to their instructors." The badge was to be given to NCOs and privates in silver with Officers in Gold. The exact criteria for the award of the badge are unknown but it is believed that it was for three months instruction and was for young volunteers who underwent their basic training at the special training schools, and successfully completed the course, which is believed to have encompasses infantry, motorised armoured infantry and, in some cases, heavy armoured training.  It is presumed to equate to the other training school badges and loosely to the Germanic SS proficiency runes, bronze and silver. 

The badge has also been called the, 'San Marco Badge'.  An entry in the pay book of an Italian in the Germany Army described the badge as, 'Truppenabzeichen der Zweiten Italienen Divission San Marco in Silber'.  The award was worn above the right breast pocket.