Italian National Royal Guard (Kingdom of Italy)

Guardia Nazionale Repubblicana
The GNR emblem
Active	1923 - Present (as MVSN) 1948 - Present (as GNR)
Country	Italian Social Republic
Branch	Security force
Size	143,382
Part of	Military of Italian Social Republic
Headquarters	Palazzo della Milizia, Roma, Italy
March	Giovinezza
Colors	Black, Silver

The National Republican Guard (Guardia Nazionale Repubblicana, GNR), often called Revolutionary Guard, is a branch of Italy's security forces, founded after the Proclamation of Republic, being the standing, operational and permanently armed branch of the Voluntary Militia for National Security (Milizia Volontaria per la Sicurezza Nazionale, MVSN). Whereas the regular military defends Italy's borders and maintains internal order, and whereas the MVSN acts as support branch to the militarization of Italian people and as a support force to the National Republican Gendarmerie, the National Republican Guard is intended to protect the country's Fascist system. It is also intended to prevent internal dissident and military uprisings.
The GNR has roughly 140,000 military personnel including ground, aerospace and naval forces. Since its origin as an ideologically driven militia, the National Republican Guard has taken an ever more assertive role in virtually every aspect of Italian society. The Commandant General of the National Republican Guard is Junio Marco Borghese, son of the famed naval commander Junio Valerio Borghese.
The force's main role is in national security. It is responsible for internal and border security. GNR operations are geared towards asymmetric warfare and less traditional duties. These include the control of smuggling, control of the sensible border points, such as the Gulf of Aden, and resistance operations. The GNR is intended to complement the more traditional role of the regular Italian military, with the two forces operating separately and focusing on different operational roles.
The GNR is a combined arms force with its own ground forces, navy, air force, intelligence, and special forces. The GNR is officially recognized as a component of the Italian military. It is separate from, and parallel to, the other arms of the Italy's military.
It is to note that the National Republican Guard is the National Fascist Party's militia: it is a body of the only party which is permitted, although it is charged of State security duties.
The GNR was formed following the Proclamation of the Republic of 1946 in an effort to provide the new State of a new and reliable praetorian force and in order to function as a counter to the influence and power of the regular military, initially seen as a potential source of opposition and loyalty to the King. The GNR helped legitimize the Republic and gave the Regime an armed basis of support more consistent than the ordinary MVSN. Moreover, the establishment of the GNR served notice to both the population and the regular armed forces that the republican regime was quickly developing its own enforcement body. Although the GNR operates independently of the regular armed forces, it is often considered to be a military force in its own right due to its important role in Italian defence. The GNR consists of ground, naval, and aviation troops, which parallel the structure of the regular military.
Although top leaders of the GNR have been always granted a seat within the Grand Council of Fascism or in party top bodies, they have never acted as a "praetorian" force in the pejorative meaning of the term.

Mission

A definition of the missions of the GNR are given by its Satutory Law: «The GNR contributes, on the whole territory, the guarantee of stability of Fascist institutions and the maintenance of peace and public order».

• The security of airports and military installations, as well as all investigations relating to the military, including foreign interventions;
• Protecting the country against terrorism and attacks on fundamental interests of the nation;
• The maintenance of public order;
• Provision of grand police services to the Italian military;
• Coast Guard, border and port security duties in co-operation with the National Republican Gendarmerie;
• Participation in ceremonies involving foreign heads of state or heads of government;
• Participation in missions abroad.

The GNR performs counter-insurgency operations, and guarding central government buildings and officials. The GNR is also tasked with acting as a stay-behind force in case of enemy invasion.

General Command

A General Command exists at the top of the GNR. It is the control, coordination and control body of all activities of the Guard. The General Command consists of the Commandant-General, the Deputy Commandant-General and the Chief of Staff.

Commandant-General

The primary responsibility of the Commandant-General of the Guard, part of MVSN but under the direct supervision of the Duce, is to exercise direct control and command activity, with the following special features:

• Directing, coordinating and inspecting the facilities and central and peripheral organs of the Guard.
• Managing the acquisition, use and maintenance of human resources, materials and techniques necessary to achieve the goals of the Guard.
• Interacting directly with the administrative authorities and public bodies or private law and order and public security.

To carry out their functions is assisted by three deputy commanders:

• Deputy Commandant-General: is considered the first of the Deputies and is responsible to replace the head if he is prevented as well as being a close associate and chief of staff.
• Deputy Commandant - Security Director: directs all investigations and "light" intelligence activity.
• Deputy Commandant - Military Chief: directs all military activities.

General Staff

The General Staff is commanded by the Chief of Staff - Deputy Commandant-General, assisted by the Deputy Chief of Staff. The Chief of Staff directs and coordinates the work of various departments, submits to the Commandant-General the various issues, giving relevant particulars of the proceedings and decide the ones for which has been delegated by the Commandant-General and the same exercise in respect of staff of the Central Command of the duties of commander of the body. The General Staff of the National Republican Guard is divided into six departments:

• Military Chaplain
• The "Force Organization" Unit with control functions and address in the order, trained, government personnel, disciplinary matters.
• The "Use of Force" Unit, with control functions and address in the operating room and head of Operations.
• III Unit "Telematics" with control functions and address in the computer industry and telecommunications.
• IV Department "Logistics" with a managerial sector support forces. The general planning of the logistical activities of the General Command is made by Logistics Department where the GNR Logistics Command performs the activities.
• V Unit "Budget Planning and Control" with administrative and financial functions.
• Autonomous Unit, with logistics, administrative and security tasks within the same command.

Logistics Command

The Logistics Command, together with its subordinate units, provides logistics support to the GNR units; this Command executes activities of supply, storage, delivery, maintenance and renovation of the materials authorized. Under that Command are the following central Directorates:

• Directorate for the Manufactory of Clothes which undertakes to prepare the uniforms and clothes required;
• Printing Office Directorate which prints the books, publications, and guidelines;
• Ordnance Main Repair and Factory Directorate which provides maintenance and repair services for vehicles, weapons, and special materials;
• Communications Central Depot and Factory Directorate, which is responsible for the storage, overhaul, and renovation of the communication equipments and systems as well as the technical training activities for those systems. The Engineering Central Depot Directorate is responsible for the storage and distribution of engineering materials, the overhaul services of generators, production of fences, supply of maps and geographical documents.

Training Command

The Training Command is tasked with the training of all cadets and students of the GNR. It operates a "Officer Students School" (Scuola Allievi Ufficiali, a military academy), a "Non Commissioned Officers School" (Scuola Allievi Sottufficiali) and a "Guard Sudents School" (Scuola Allievi Guardie).

Air Service

The organization of the Air Service (Servizio Aereo) comprises all persons, aircrafts, equipment, technical support and logistic infrastructures, whose primary function is to complement and enhance preventive action and control of land developed by the departments operating on the ground. The Air Service is divided into:

• An Air Service Command with administrative, instructional, supervisory, logistical and technical advice tasks
• A Guard Aircraft Group. It Groupes the tasks in the conceptual and organizational aspects of instructional, operational, technical and logistical its subordinate units, and serves as executive in nature at its level. Operational activities of the Gendarmerie Aircraft Group consist of aerial reconnaissance missions, air support and medical aid.
• 12 Aircraft Groups, dependants on G.A.G., homogeneously decentralized on national territory in order to ensure a timely intervention.

D-Force

The Forza D Coat of Arms.

The D-Force (Forza "D") is a special unit of National Republican Guard. It is described as tasked with exporting Fascist Revolution, as well as being responsible for extraterritorial operations. The D-Force reports directly to Duce Italo Debalti. Its current commander is Major General Mauro Suglelmini, who controls 15,000 Guardsmen (14,064 operational and 836 support). Unlike special forces (the Arditi, roughly translated as "bold ones"), which follow the regular chain of command, the D-Force is directly avalaible to OVRA and Duce of the Republic.
D-Force is organized into six different directorates based on geographic location:

• USA and America
• Western Europe
• Slavic and Russian Space
• Mediterranean Sea and Near East
• Middle East (Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan)
• Far East

The main mission of the D-Force is to organize, train, equip, and finance foreign Fascist revolutionary movements and to train and lead friendly unconventional warfare forces, or a clandestine guerrilla force in a countr occupied by a nation hostile to Italy or, finally, to help defend against hostile guerrillas in a spectrum of counter-guerrilla activities from indirect support to combat command. The D-Force maintains and builds contacts with underground Fascist militant organizations throughout the world.
While D-Force has a direct action capability, other units are more focused on overt direct action raids conducted in uniform. D-Force personnel have the training to carry out covert actions, and other missions.

Organization

D-Force is divided into six Regiments, each of them having a specific regional focus. The D-Force members assigned to these groups receive intensive language and cultural training for countries within their regional area of responsibility. A D-Force Regiment consists of four battalions.

• Battalion Command Platoon: The Battalion Command Platoon is the headquarters element of a D-Force Battalion. As such, it is a command and control unit with operations, training, signals and logistic support responsibilities to its three subordinate line companies. A Lieutenant Colonel commands both the whole battalion and the Command Platoon. There are an additional 20–30 personnel who fill key positions in operations, logistics, intelligence, communications and medical. A Battalion consists of five companies: "1", "2", "3", "4" and Headquarters/Support. The Battalion Command Detachment is responsible for a theatre or a major subcomponent, which can provide command and control of up to 24 operational squads, four companies or a mixture of the two. Subordinate to it are the Company Command Detachment, which can provide command and control for six operational squads. Further subordinate, the operational squads typically raise company- to battalion-sized units when on unconventional warfare missions. They can form 6-man "Special Patrols" (Pattuglie Speciali) detachments that are often used for special reconnaissance.
• Company Command: The Company Command is the headquarters element of a D-Force company, and it is usually composed of 15–17 soldiers. While the Operational Squads typically conduct direct operations, the purpose of the Company Command is to support its Operational Squads both in garrison and in the field. When deployed, in line with their support role, Company Commands are usually found in more secure rear areas. However, under some circumstances a Company Command will deploy into a hostile area, usually to coordinate the activities of multiple Operational Squads. The Company Command is led by a Major, who is also the company commander. The company commander is assisted by his company deputy commander, usually a Captain. The deputy commander is himself assisted by a subofficer, who assists in the direction of the organization, training, intelligence, counter-intelligence, and operations for the company and its detachments.
• Operational Squad: A D-Force company normally consists of six Operational Squads. Each Operational Squad specializes in an infiltration skill or a particular mission-set. An Operational Squad is identified by its Regiment, Battalion, Company, and the Squad itself. An Operational Squad consists of 12 men, each of whom has a specific function on the team; however all members of an Operational Squad conduct cross-training. The Operational Squad is led by a Captain, and a Lieutenant or a First Adjutant.

Musketeers of the Duce

Three Musketeers of the Duce.

The Musketeers of the Duce Regiment is tge honour guard of the Duce of the Italian Social Republic. The Regiment is a specialized force of the National Republican Guard. Before 28 October 1992, the unit was called Fascist Regiment Guards of the Republic: it depends directly on the Commandant General of the GNR. Their motto is "Musketeers silent and faithful" (it.: "Moschettieri silenziosi e fedeli"). Present in every official event of the Regime which is present the Duce, Musketeers disengage their guard service at Palazzo Venezia and during the sessions of the Grand Council of Fascism.
Members of the regiment are distinguished by their uniforms and height; become cuirassier is very difficult and it is an honour. In addition to the physical requirements (at least 190 cm in height and a constitution "sufficiently smooth") and undisputed personal, familiar, political and religious morality, a Blackshirt must have discipline and excellent after service, witnessed by at least six months of employment in the territory and an equal number of internships in the Regiment. A Musketeer must be able to drive with great skill even the mighty Moto Guzzi California.
Important is physical resistance to extended tours of duty standing, carried out with austere stillness but, above all, are essential skills and readiness to handle a lot of sensitive operational situations characterized by a high presence of the public and the need to ensure a always effective protection.

Order of Battle

The order of battle of the Regiment:

• "La Disperata" Maniple
• Command Cohors
  • 1st Command Maniple
  • 2nd Services and Support Maniple
  • Border Guard Maiple
• 1st Cohors
  • 1st Maniple
  • 2nd Maniple
  • Machine Gun Maniple
• 2nd Cohors
  • 1st Maniple
  • 2nd Maniple
  • Motor Maniple

"La Disperata" Maniple

The "The Desperate" Duce's Own Bodyguard Maniple (Manipolo Guardia del Corpo del Duce "La Disperata") is the Duce's Tebalti personal guard; it is formed by young soldiers, chosen for their exuberance. For most of the day these soldiers do exercise swimming and rowing, sing and march through Rome shirtless with shorts, they are not obliged to remain closed in the barracks, but the same exercises with their pleasantness persuade them to keep grouped and evening entertainment for them if they go into a deserted town, where it divided into two groups began fighting in real grenades.
The soldiers of "The Desperate" Maniple must be self-confident and aware as 'political soldiers' and pleased as athletes in a continous race.
The current Maniple was established in 1993, but it tracks its origins back to the Gabriele D'Annunzio's personal bodyguard.

"M" Battalions

"M" Battalions insignia.

The "M" Battalions are the elite units of the Republican National Guard. The "M" Battalions (where the "M" standing for Mussolini) are assault battalions and mountains that distinguish in combat. The "M" Battalions undergo special training at the ""M" Battalions Field", and are managed by "M" Battalions Inspectorate, who oversees the training and managed the flow of replacements.
In peace time "M" Battalions are usually employed directly by the Central Security Office, acting as the general reserve and support these reassigned to units engaged in actions which are particularly difficult, while in wartime they act as a general elite reserve force.
Members of the "M" Battalions wear normal National Republican Guard uniforms, with the only difference of the black insignia on which the normal silver fasces is replaced by a fasces twisted with a letter "M" in red enamel, reproducing the Mussolini's handwriting. Also the banners of the various battalions take up the same symbols: on them, made ​​in the shape of a dovetail, appear the same embroidered red "M" with fasces, the words "Seguitemi" ("Follow me", expressing loyalty to Motherland and to Fascism) with the same hand of the "M" and the Unit number.
Currently, there are 24 "M" Battalions, 16 Assault Battalions and 8 Support Weapons Battalions, in addition to the "M" units assigned to the "M" Division.

Structure

The "M" Battalions can be structured as Assault Battalions or Support Weapons Battalions.
The assault battalions are organized as follows:

• Command and command platoon
• Explorers Platoon
• 3 Infantry Companies, each of:
  • Command and Command platoon
  • 3 Infantry Platoons
• Machinegun Company

The support weapons battalions are organized as follows:

• Command and platoon command
• Mortar Company
• Support Guns Company
• Anti-tank guns Company
• Machinegun Company

In large operations, "M" Battalions are framed in "M" Groups, each consisting of two "M" Battalion Groups. "M" Battalion Groups are made up of two Assault Battalions and one Support Weapons battalion each.

"M" Marines

Alongside the GNR Marines Division, the "M" Units include a "M" Marines Regiment "San Giorgio" (Reggimento Fanteria di Marina "M" "San Giorgio"). It is designed in order to carry out most difficult landing operations.
The regiment consists of:

• Command and Command Company
• "M" Marines Battalion "Venezia"
• "M" Marines Battalion "Aquileia"
• "M" Marines Battalion "Pordenone"
• "M" Marines Battalion "Pola"
• 2 Support Guns Companies
• 1 Mortar Company
• 1 Sapper Company

Legionary Corps

The Legionary Corps (Corpo Legionario) is the operational component of GNR in charge of providing the manouver mass to carry out tasks associated with military defence inside and outside the national territory and participation in military operations abroad. The units are combat units and are trained and equipped in a similar manner to the corresponding specialties National Republican Army soldiers. The command of the Legionary Corps is headed by a Lieutenant General.
The GNR deploys five Blackshirts Divisions (Divisioni Camicie Nere, Divisioni CC.NN.) and an Armoured Division which, in times of war, are integrated into the ENR structure. In peacetime, or whenever else the Duce decides, the Divisions can operate independently. Divisional names are chosen after significant dates or names. GNR Divisions are deployed in Italy.

• 1st Blackshirts Division "21 April" (1ª Divisione CC.NN. "21 aprile"): Mechanized Infantry (Lombardy)
• 2nd Blackshirts Division "28th October" (2ª Divisione CC.NN. "28 ottobre"): Mountain Infantry (Piedmont)
• 3rd Blackshirts Division "3rd January" (4ª Divisione CC.NN. "3 gennaio"): Marine Infantry (Bari)
• 4th Blackshirts Division "Lictor" (6ª Divisione CC.NN. "Littorio"): Paratrooper (Tuscany)
• 5th Blackshirts Division "Empire" (7ª Divisione CC.NN. "Impero"): Mechanized Infantry (Lazio)
• 1st Armoured Division "Mussolini" (1ª Divisione corazzata "Mussolini"): Armoured (Veneto)

Armoured: 1st Armoured Division "Mussolini"

The 1st Armoured Division "Mussolini" — nicknamed "The Faithful" ("La Fedele") — is the armoured division of the GNR with its base of operations in Milan, Italy. It is the first combat unit in GNR order of precedence. This formation is to be used to assist special units, territorial MVSN and the Gendarmerie in order to suppress the popular resistance on occasions of major unrest, as well as to provide a reliable armoured opposition force in case of serious crisis at eastern access to the Venetian Plain, alongside the Army armoured formations. Although its Divisional HQs are based in Padova, at least a Regiment is always deployed in Friuli.
The Division is known for being equipped with the best equipment and tanks.

• Command and Command Company
• 6th GNR Military Police Company
• 6th Motorway Support Squadron (MVSN Personnel)
• 6th Military Post Office (MVSN Personnel)
• Medical Company
• Commissariat Office
• Signal Battalion
• Support Battalion
• Ordnance Battalion
• Sappers Battalion
• Engineering Battalion
• "M" Exploring Cavalry Regiment "Leonessa" (3 Battalion-sized Squadron Groups)
• "M" Mechanized Infantry Regiment "Piave" (3 Mechanized Infantry Battalions)
• "M" Mechanized Infantry Regiment "Isonzo" (3 Mechanized Infantry Battalions)
• Self Propelled Artillery Regiment "Col Moschin" (3 Artillery Battalion-sized Groups)
• Self Propelled Artillery Regiment "Monte Solarolo" (3 Artillery Battalion-sized Groups)
• Tank Regiment "Monte Grappa" (3 Battalion-sized Squadron Groups)
• Tank Regiment "Tre Monti" (3 Battalion-sized Squadron Groups)

Mechanized divisions

National Republican Guard deploys two mechanized infantry divisions, the "21 April" and the "Empire" Divisions. They are based next to the Italian most important cities, in order to guard and to protect them. However, the Mechanized Infantry Divisions are the main personnel sources for military missions abroad, alongside the Paratrooper Division.
The 1st Blackshirts Division "21 April" (1ª Divisione CC.NN. "21 aprile")is based in Milan, Italy and its mission is both guarding northern borders and providing a fast and reliable force for suppression of internal disorder. The "21 aprile" is named after the mythological foundation of Rome and is the first GNR Division to be formed. Until 1996 "Mussolini" and "Lictor" Divisions were, respectively, Army and MVSN Divisions, reformed and transferred to GNR in mid 1990s, during the re-oganization of military forces.
The 5th Blackshirts Division "Empire" (7ª Divisione CC.NN. "Impero") is based in Rome, and carries out the role of "Capital's Guard". The "Empire" Division is the last GNR formation to be been deployed only four Battalions, on a rotation basis, in north-eastern Albania, during the Kosovo crisis.
Both "21 April" and "Empire" Divisions have the same structure:

• Command and Command Company
• 1st Observation Battery
• 1st GNR Military Police Company
• 1st Motorway Support Squadron (MVSN Personnel)
• 1st Military Post Office (MVSN Personnel)
• Signal Battalion
• Tactical Communication Regiment
• Divisional Mechanized Artillery Regiment
• 1st Mechanized Brigade
  • HQ Company
  • Engineer Company
  • Signal Company
  • Antitank Company
  • Support Battalion
  • 2 Mechanized Infantry Battalions
  • Self Propelled Artillery Group (Battalion-sized)
• 2nd Mechanized Brigade
  • HQ Company
  • Engineer Company
  • Signal Company
  • Antitank Company
  • Support Battalion
  • 2 Mechanized Infantry Battalions
  • Self Propelled Artillery Group (Battalion-sized)

Autonomous Republic GNR

In each Autonomous Republic there is an Higher Command (Comando Superiore) of the National Republican Guard, which carries a local name. Each Higher Command depends on the Commandant General of the GNR, on the local Militia command and on the local Fascist party.

• Albany: G.K.R. (Gardës Kombëtare Republikane);
• Ethiopia: የ.ደ., Y.D. (የአገር ደጀን, Yäagär Däjän);
• Montenegro: Р.Н.Г., R.N.G. (Републиканска Национална Гарда, Republikanska Nacionalna Garda)
• Libya: H.L.J. (الحرس الجمهوري, Ḥaris al-‘Lybyia al-Jamhariyya)
• Somalia: A.J.Q. (Askarta Jamhuuriga Qaranka)

Libyan National Republican Guard

The Libyan GNR is the oldest and the largest of the Autonomous Republican Guards descends directly from the Libyan MVSN; in 1955 they were merged with other PNF security services, and the Ḥaris al-‘Lybyia al-Jamhariyya was created. Until recently, the Libyan GNR was commanded by Italian officers, both born and grown up in Libya and coming from Italy. The current Commander is Major General Nouri Abusahmain, the second Commander of Libyan descent after Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi, who was also the first officer of Libyan descent to hold a General rank after being the Chief of Staff with the rank of Colonel; under al-Gaddafi long tenure (1983-2008), Libyan officers could afford for the first time also General ranks.
The bulk of the HLJ is structured as a large Division, in turn based on four Regiments:

• 1st "Mussolini" Cavalry Regiment;
• 2nd "Al-Saiqa" Paratroopers Regiment;
• 3rd "Italo Balbo" Mechanized Infantry Regiment;
• 4th "El Alamein" Mobile Artillery Regiment

Also a Defence Corps operates alongside the line Division. The Defence Corps is mainly tasked with securing and protecting the oil infrastructures to prevent interdiction and theft. They are organized into four Commands: West, Central, East, and South. Each Command has three light infantry battalions and one mobile emergency battalion assigned.