Military of the Kingdom of Italy
The military of the Italian Social Republic include the Italian Armed Forces and the Fascist Forces, in turn consisting of the National Republican Guard and the Voluntary Militia for National Security. Both Italian Armed Forces and National Republican Guard include their autonomous commands assigned to the Autonomous Republics, while the Voluntary Militia for National Security follows a different organization. These forces total about 733,000 active personnel (including the National Republican Guard). All branches of armed forces fall under the command of Supreme Command of Armed Forces, vested in the Duce of the Republic, and are managed by the Chief of General Staff. The Ministry of War is responsible for planning logistics and funding of the armed forces and is not involved with in-the-field military operational command.
The Italian Armed Forces consist of the National Republican Army (Esercito Nazionale Repubblicano, E.N.R.), National Republican Navy (Marina da Guerra Nazionale Repubblicana, M.N.R.), National Republican Air Force (Areonautica Nazionale Repubblicana, A.N.R.) and Republican Police Corps (Corpo di Polizia Repubblicana, C.P.R.). The regular armed forces have an about 593,000 personnel.
The National Republican Guard (Guardia Nazionale Repubblicana, GNR) has about 140,000 personnel in various branches: its own Naval Force, Aerospace Force, Ground Forces; and the "D" Force (Forza "D", praetorian and special forces), as well as the Cyber Warfare Force and other secondary branches. The National Fascist Party as a whole is a paramilitary volunteer force, controlled for what concerns military preparedeness by the National Republican Guard. The Voluntary Militia for National Security (Milizia Volontaria per la Sicurezza Nazionale, M.V.S.N.) is the Party's territorial force and performs Gendarmerie support duties, such as riot suppression tasks, and proper activiries.
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Italian Constitution
Italian Constitution talks about war and use of military force in three distinct parts. First of all, the declaration of war is described as "the ultimate instrument", not talking about other military actions: Italy considers war as the ultimate instrument for the defence of national sovereignity and as settlement of serious international disputes (art. 11).
The defence of the country is regarded as a sacred duty for every citizen. Military service is obligatory. Its fulfilment does not prejudice a citizen’s job. The organisation of the armed forces shall be based on the Fascist views of the Social Republic (art. 12). And part of article 87 says that the Duce of the Republic is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and make declarations of war or peace.
Military associations
In Italy, retired and discharged military personnel partecipate to their own Military Associations, which are established by the State belong to the Ministries of Defence, Interior and Finance. Military Associations are divided between Corps Associations (Associazioni d'Arma, which include also non-Armed Forces Associations), Veterans associations, associations between the relatives of the Fallen Ones, and Category Associations. As common factor, all of these associations are structures with "non-profit" status and they are directed by Trustees (Fiduciari) appointed every two to five years. They publish periodicals to spread patriotic and military historic content. They also promote cultural activities, technical assistance and propaganda, through conferences, rallies, demonstrations and direct participation to Civil Protection operations.
All Military associations are firmly controlled by the National Fascist Party, which organizes them and considers them as Special Fasces (Fasci Speciali) within the Military Fasces (Fascio Militare). The "Permanent Council of coordination between Arms Associations" (Consiglio Permanente di Coordinamento tra Associazioni d'Arma, ASSOARMA) plays a role of general assistance to the military no longer in active service and brings together all the Military Associations. The ASSOARMA organization is based according to a territorial structure. Therefore, there are provincial, municipal and zonal ASSOARMA sections; each of them depends on the relevant Combat Fasces.
Veterans associations
The Veterans Associations (Associazioni Combattentistiche) gather, beyond the division in Arms, Corps and Armed Forces (Infantry, Cavalry, etc..) and beyond Categories (Officers, Sub-officers, etc.), all those who have fought or are veterans or former prisoners of war. Also the Golden Medal National Association belongs to Veterans Association, and only those who have the requisites can join Veterans associations.
- Associazione Nazionale Medaglie d'Oro (Golden Medal National Association);
- Unione Nazionale Combattenti e Reduci (National Union of Combatants and Veterans);
- Associazione Nazionale Reduci Prigionia di Guerra (National Association of Former Prisoners of War);
- Istituto del Nastro Azzurro fra Decorati al Valor Militare (Institute of the Blue Ribbon between those decorated for Military Valour);
- Associazione Nazionale Volontari di Guerra (National Association of War Volunteers).
Category Associations
The Category Associations group all military personnel according to their category: Officers, Subofficers and Troops. Some of these Associations are reserved for retired or discharged personnel, while others can be joined also by active duty soldiers.
- Associazione Nazionale Ufficiali Provenienti dal Servizio Attivo;
- Associazione Nazionale Ex-Allievi Accademia Militare;
- Unione nazionale ufficiali in congedo d'Italia;
- Unione Nazionale Sottufficiali Italiani;
- Associazione Nazionale Militari di Truppa d'Italia.
Arms Associations
The Arms Associations are composed of former members of the various Arms and Corps, regardless of division into categories (Officers, Subofficers, etc..), or into war campaigns waged. These Associations are usually, but not always, divided according the Arm or Corps; however, sometimes the Associations groups a whole Armed Force or only a Specialty within and Arm or a Corps. Also sympathizers can enrol in these Associations.
- Associazione Nazionale del Fante;
- Associazione Nazionale Granatieri di Sardegna;
- Associazione Nazionale Bersaglieri;
- Associazione Nazionale Alpini;
- Associazione Nazionale Carristi d'Italia;
- Associazione Nazionale Paracadutisti d'Italia;
- Associazione Lagunari Truppe Anfibie;
- Associazione Nazionale Arma di Cavalleria;
- Associazione Nazionale Artiglieri d'Italia;
- Associazione Nazionale Genieri e Trasmettitori;
- Associazione Nazionale Autieri d'Italia;
- Associazione Nazionale Sanità Militare;
- Associazione Nazionale Ufficiali Tecnici Italiani;
- Associazione Nazionale Aviazione dell'Esercito;
- Associazione nazionale Marinai d'Italia;
- Associazione Arma Aeronautica;
- Associazione Nazionale Finanzieri d'Italia;
- Associazione Nazionale Corpo delle Guardie di Pubblica Sicurezza;
- Associazione Nazionale Funzionari di Pubblica Sicurezza;
- Associazione Nazionale Guardie Nazionali Repubblicane;
- Associazione Nazionale Militi Volontari per la Sicurezza Nazionale;
- Istituto nazionale per la guardia d'onore alle reali tombe del Pantheon;
- Istituto nazionale per la guardia d'onore alla Tomba del DUCE.
Military Post
The Military Post (Posta Militare) is a support organization of the Armed Forces. During the peace time it is entrusted to the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, using the Postal Administration staff. In wartime civilian personnel is militarized and supported and coordinated by Post-Telegraph MVSN. The decentralized structure in the country is divided into Regional Inspectorates and Military Post Offices. Civilian agencies of the State use the Post Civil.
Military Inspectorate for Labour
The Military Inspectorate for Labour (Ispettorato Militare per il Lavoro, IML) has a mandate to support the Armed Forces in the rear, with the task of drawing up of military infrastructure such as roads, fortifications, defensive structures, depots, warehouses, shelters, trenches, trenches, anti-aircraft, pitches and at the same time rehabilitating roads and damaged by air strikes or other reasons war. The IML is a tool for the restoration of social life and activity of war. The Inspectorate is structured on a General Command, five regional inspectorates and 55 Battalions workers militarized.
Nemesis
Nemesis is the top-secret command of Italian Social Republic that provides locations for the HeadQuarters of Duce, aerospace warning, air sovereignty protection, and ultimate defence for the Country. Headquarters od Duce and the military command centre are both located in the Gran Sasso.
Gran Sasso Nuclear Bunker
The Gran Sasso Nuclear Bunker is a military installation with Nemesis centres. Operations are conducted at five major centres: the Command Centre, Air Warning, Missile Correlation, Operations, Watch, and Space Control.
Headquarters of Duce
The headquarters of the Duce are the heart and brain of the military command of Italian Social Republic, the hub of all activities of military policy coordinating republican military actions.
The headquarters of the Duce have the characteristics of a field Headquarters: Command, the General Staff, the several structures, the technical-logistics, communications centres and transport, defence organization, guard and security units, decentralized operations centre and the necessary service infrastructure: transmission, transportation facilities by land, sea and air, air defence positions with radar equipment, air-defence batteries, fighter squadrons and aircraft connection. It is a joint military organization, composed of personnel of the Armed Forces, National Republican Guard, OVRA and the Militia, specially chosen and selected.
Security is guaranteed by off-limits to traffic areas, checkpoints and mobile intervention units including:
- The "Duce's Own Squadron" ("Squadrone del Duce") (GNR), for the personal protection of the Duce
- Public Security - Nemesis (Republican Police Corps company)
- GNR "M" Legion "Guardia del Duce"
- Motorway MVSN Squadron "Duce's Own Escort" ("Scorta del Duce")
- Motorway MVSN Special Squadron
- PNF Secretary Escort Squadron
- Car Unit
- Guard Unit "Bir el Gobi"
The garrison units include:
- 613th, 614th and 618th GNR Companies
- 1st MVSN Mobile Battalion
- 2nd MVSN Battalion "Carmelo Borg Pisani"
The anti-aircraft defense is provided by:
- 12th Group A.R.CO.
- 12th MVSN Heavy Battery
- Two radar Batteries
- An armoured protection unit "Leoncello" is assigned to ensure security of the near airport.
Communications use a military satellite network, the normal civil network, the radio link of Monte Baldo and radiotelegraph and satellite transmission stations.
RS/33
Cabinet RS/33 (Gabinetto RS/33) is a top-secret government agency framed within the OVRA, funded by Mussolini in 1933, following an air crash of an unidentified flying object. As the name states, the scientific cabinet is focused on special research (Ricerche Speciali, special research). The agency consists of famous scientists, assembled in order to study special phoenomens.
Territorial military organization
The territory of R.S.I. is organized in Military Regional Commands and Provincial Military Command. Each Regional Military Command consists of a Command, a HQ with a delegation of the Superintendency and a battalion. Each province is run by a Provincial Military Command with its own HQ, a company and the Provincial Military District. The Regional Military Commands carry out the functions of the Provincial Military Command of the relevant province.
Special Forces
The Italian Armed Forces, as well as Fascist armed corps, have a number of Special Forces units. According to the specialization, they are called "Arditi" (roughly translated as "Bold Ones", deriving from WWI elite storm troops) if they have a military role, or "Operatori" ("Operators") if they have a police special unit role:
- 10th Arditi Regiment "Col Moschin" (10° Reggimento Arditi "Col Moschin") - National Republican Army;
- National Republican Air Force Arditi Destroyers (Arditi Distruttori Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana) - National Republican Air Force;
- Arditi Incursori (Arditi Commandos) - National Republican Navy:
- Special Intervention Group (Operators) (Gruppo Intervento Speciale) - Republican Police Corps:
- National Security Operators (Operatori per la Sicurezza Nazionale) - Voluntary Militia for National Security.
