Difference between revisions of "Eritrean National Princely Guard (Italian Empire)"

Revision as of 14:21, 19 May 2017

Eritrean National Republican Guard
Guardia Repubblicana Eritrea
The M.V.S.N. emblem
Active	1968 - present
Branch	National Republican Guard
Role	Defence force, Internal security force
Size	25,000
Part of	National Republican Guard
Headquarters	Asmara
Commanders
Operational Commander	Brigadier General Ulderico Portolini

The Eritrean National Republican Guard is the defence force of the Eritrean Autonomous Social Republic of the Italian Empire; alongside the Italian National Republican Army, it is responsible for the defence of mainland Eritrea. The Eritrean Autonomous Social Republic faces, within the Italian Empire, significant threats: instability in Yemen, crisis in South Sudan, difficulties with the economic development and general lack of internal political stability. In order to address these issues, Eritrea has developed a large defence force.

Despite the Eritrea lack of significant resources, the Eritrean National Republican Guard is a centrepiece in the public life, and has an experienced, trained, professional officer corps, as well a durable capacity to perform engineering tasks such as construction, bridging, and water provision and to provide sustained transportation of personnel and equipment. The logistics capabilities of the Eritrean National Republican Guard allow it to be a fundamental player and stakeholder in the economic development.

Name

In Eritrea, due to the numerous ethnic groups, the official name of the Eritrean National Republican Guard is provided only in Italian language, and it is "Guardia Repubblicana Eritrea" (literally "Eritrean Republican Guard", G.R.E.); the Italian name is reproduced on vehicles and buildings. Despite the Italian name being the official one, the official name of the Eritrean National Republican Guard is also translated in local languages (e.g. Tigray: ሰራዊት ውግእ ሩፑብሊክ; Arabic: الحرس الجمهوري الإريتري, al'Haras al'Jumhuri al'Iiryitri).

History

The Italian military history of Eritrea dates back to 1885, when Assab was acquired by the Italian Government and then in subsequent decades, when Eritra was formed by carving it out from the Ethiopian Empire. Eritrean units and formations were involved in both the conquest of the Empire and in the African War. The Eritrean National Republican Guard was established in 1968 in order to provide Eritrea with a fully integrated indigenous force. The organization was developed starting from Askari units already in service (both from the Colonial Police Corps and from the Army) as well as draftees. African Eritrean officers have been in service since 1971, while the first Commandant without ethnic European orgins was the present-day Chief of Republic, Joachim Asewerki (1991-1995).

Organization

As of 2015, the Eritrean National Guard consists of 10 Regiments (8 Infantry Regiments and 2 Mechanized Regiments), 1 Commando Regiment and 1 Presidential Brigade. Infantry and Mechanized Regiments are framed under the Operational Command (Comando Operativo, Divisional level), in charge of operations, while the other units are directly attached to either the Commandant of the Eritrean National Guard or the Chief of the Eritrean Autonomous Social Republic. It is to note that the Eritrean National Republican Guard does not have a proper General Staff capable to military handling the G.R.E. units; General staff duties are subdvided between the Italian National Republican Army - East Africa Command and the General Command of the Eritrean National Republican Guard itself.

Command zones

The Eritrean National Guard is deployed throughout Eritrea, and the country is divided into five Command zones. The Command zones are: Gash-Barka (Zone 1); West (Zone 2); South (Zone 3); East (Zone 4); and Centre, including Asmara (Zone 5). Each of them is headed by a Brigadier General.
Chief Asewerki routinely shifts zone commanders around, apparently to encourage rivalries between them, distribute profits, and prevent them from building up too close a rapport with the units under their command. Similarly, deputy commanders are reportedly carefully selected for their loyalty to the Chief of the Republic, who maintains control over zonal commanders through them.

Operational Command

The Operational Command (Comando Operativo) is the core of the military duties of the G.R.E. Its duties include preparing the Eritrean National Guard for wartime and ensuring readiness of the units. In Eritrea, operational forces are divided into 10 infantry and mechanised Regiments, of around 1,500 men each.
Units organization is significantly different from the Italian-model organization; the "Eritrean model" centres around small units called Mäsri composed of 10-15 soldiers each. Three Mäsri form a Ganta, equivalent to a Platoon, with a strength of 30-45 Legionnaires. Three Ganta form a Haile (equivalent to a Company), often equipped with heavy weapons on its own. Three Haile form a Battalion, or Bot`oloni, and three Battalions an autonomous Regiment, capable of performing independent operations. Such Regiments are either Infantry and Mechanized units; they have artillery units up to Company level (if the individual Companies do not have their own heavy weapons Platoons) and, generally speaking, they lack of support forces and assets, relying on the Italian National Army.
Among these 10 Regiments, a Central Brigade exists in order to protect the port city of Massaua:

• Brigade Command;
• 3rd Regiment
• 7th Regiment
• 2nd Independent Artillery Battalion

Presidential Brigade

The Presidential Brigade (Brigata Presidenziale) is the formation of the G.R.E. tasked with the protection of the Chief of the Eritrean Autonomous Social Republic and with maintenance of public order across the Eritrean Autonomous Social Republic. The Brigade contains three separate Presidential guard units of about 2,000 troops each. These elite solders get extra pay, have modern equipment, and receive specialized training. Most are stationed in or near Asmara. Joachim Asewerki's right-hand man commands the 70-man Presidential Bodyguard Detachment. As of 2016, Units under the Presidential Brigade are:

• Special Anti-terror Force;
• Mobile Force;
• Military Police Force.

Specialities

The Eritrean National Republican Guard maintains three Arms in order to deal with its duties; some of these specialities date back before the Italian arrival.

• Arm of Zaptié (Italian: Arma degli Zaptié): Infantry troops, employed in military police and military security tasks; the Presidential Brigade mostly consists of Zaptié Legionnaires. Zaptié is also the term used to refer to soldiers of the Eritrean Gendarmerie.
• Arm of Askaris (Italian: Arma degli Ascari): Line troops, all duties. The 10 line Regiments consists of Askaris.
• Arm of Méharistes (Italian: Arma dei Meharisti): Camel cavalry and border troops, deployed on Eritrea-Sudan frontier.

Uniforms and insignia

Eritrean G.N.R. Legionnaires wear their own uniform: light gray jacket and trousers and a light gray cap. The blackshirt and the Fascist Eagle are common among all M.V.S.N. branches. Aside of uniform colours, both the cloths' cuts and rank insignia are the same across the Italian Empire.

• 

  Eritrean G.N.R. Ordinary On Duty Uniform (General officers).

Related voices

• National Republican Guard (Italian Social Republic)