The Official foundation of the Armed Forces of the "Repubblica Sociale Italiana (RSI)" was on 28 October 1943, which gave birth to the new Republican Army on 9 September 1943. Many Italian units that did not accept the armistice, went on to fight on the German side.
Four Infantry Divisions under the new RSI Government were formed and trained in Germany: The "Italia," "Littorio," "San Marco" and "Monterosa" Divisions.

Please note that in the near future I will be adding more information relating to these Divisions in my Feldpost section under Italian SS Feldpost.

Many types of insignia and awards were issued and used by these RSI volunteers, such as those illustrated in the examples below.

Award given to those Italian troops that finished their military training course in Germany.
This award was instituted on July 15, 1944 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."

A gilded metal for Officers and silvered for NCOs and enlisted. The badge was made of solid stroke metal and the reverse has a safety pin held by a fixed round small plate. The award was worn above the right breast pocket.

There are many reproductions but can easily be detected.
Most fakes have some metal contents on top of the leaf and fascio. In addition, the lower arm of the swastika should be smaller in size as shown on the badge above.

These skulls with crossed bones were made of zama, aluminum or steel sheet by various Italian firms. On the back it has different attachments (safety pins, long pins, cramps). These decorations were worn as cap badges, collar badges and coat badges according to their unit. These decorations were popular with the Italian Black Brigades and were made even before the Armistice.

A rare 1944 pattern field cap made of Italian coarse wool. The period RSI skull is attached to a stiff cardboard, which is inside the crown of the cap. The interior lining is light tan color I believe that is made of Rayon.
A 1939 dagger with black scabbard widely issued to paratroopers and black shirt members and a RSI skull.

Interesting badge worn in 1943 by members of the Aeronautica Nazionale Republicana (ANR), whose pilots represented the newly formed Republica Sociale Italia (RSI). The badge above looks the same as the 1935-1943 style pattern badge but with the Royal Crown removed. Later they were manufactured with no Royal Crown.

In September to the end of February 1943, a separate SS-Battalion was being formed in the SS Heidelager Training Grounds at Debica, Poland. Major Fortunato, who was a former Bersaglieri officer who served in Russia, was tasked in the selection of new recruits loyal to the Germans.
Most of the volunteers came from the Italian XXXI Tank Battalion of the Lombardia Division and the elite Alpine Julia Division.

These volunteers followed a different training program from those of Munsigen. The formation, which had 20 officers and 571 men, was referred as "SS-Battalion Debica." For the most part these troops were considered as Waffen-SS men. By early March 1944, the men of the SS-Battalion Debica were provided with German Parachute uniforms.

On 21 March 1944, the SS-Battalion Debica was deployed to do anti-partisan operations around the Pellice Valley, southwest of Turin. Anti-partisan operations lasted till May 1944.
On 12 April, the SS-Battalion Debica was incorporated into SS Battle Group "Diebitsch." However, it was not deployed to the Anzio Front Lines. During April and May, the battalion fought around Nocera Umbra, Assisi and San Severino Marche. During these anti-partisan operations the battalion suffered 50 casualties. New volunteers were able to keep the battalion with strength of 500 men with 20 officers.

In early June, SS-Battalion Debica, which subordinated to the German 1st Parachute Corps fought on the northern side of Rome along the Tyrrenic Coast. Once again the battalion suffered heavy losses while fighting American tank units in the Tyrrenic Coast and against partisans behind the German lines. The 200 or so survivors were dispersed into small battle groups.

On 16 June the SS-Batalion Debica was ordered to Florence to help guard the defensive positions of the Gothic Line under Army Group von Zangen. Because the battalion was under strength it was sent to Pinerolo for refitting. By August, the battalion was in full strength and was tasked to take part in Operation Nightingale against partisan strong points in the Chisone and Susa Valleys.

On September 7 the SS-Battalion Debica became part of the new "Waffen-Grenadier Brigade der SS (Italian nr. 1). The battalion was converted into the new "Waffen-Fusilier Btl. der SS 59" (59th Waffen-SS Reconnaissance Battalion).

The white metal badge portraying the republican eagle holding the fascio was applied in the center of the visor or cap; in some cases it was worn on the left side of the field cap. The badge was die stamped and produced by FM Lorioli di Milano (minting die no. 04944/D), as a result from the sample approved by the German authorities. The back of the badge was held by means of two long prongs.

According to an article written by Dr. Marco Novarese, he indicates that the "Republican Eagle" clutching a fasces originated in September 1943 from a meeting between Hitler and Mussolini.
Mussolini had asked for a special insignia that would represent the Fascist ideology for his Milizia, hence the founding of the national emblem, which represented the new RSI Government.

The first such insignia were distributed in February 1944, after the formation of the first Sturmbrigade. Initially the republican eagle was embroidered on a red wool background and was worn on the left sleeve of the tunic.

The Italian SS-eagle armshield shown below was made and issued in Italy.

Waffen SS Collar Tabs.

In February 1944, the volunteers of the Italian SS Legion received new collar tabs with red wool backing. The rank insignia was displayed on both sides of the collar.
The Italian made red wool collar tabs were a tad larger in size then the German standard SS tabs, however, because of supply problems not all SS Italian personnel received the insignia. In addition, many of these red collar tabs were German made, which were distributed among the Italian SS volunteers.

In June 1944, the German SS directive authorize certain units the right to wear the more popular black collar tabs. The republican eagle clutching the fasces on red background was also replaced with the black wool color backing.

Above is a pair of German made red collar tabs worn by German-Italian FLAK units and Italian SS volunteers.

The SS-Battalion Debica was the first unit given the honor to wear the black collar tab and the Italian eagle on a black wool background because of their proving combat record during the Anzio campaign.
The SS tabs were not authorized, only Italians that had transfered from other Waffen-SS formations were allowed to wear the SS collar tab.

In autumn 1944, a new collar insignia with the three arrows and the yoke was distributed to the Italian SS combat troops. It should be noted that an Italian special unit that fought during the Spanish civil war was called the "Red Arrows." However Dr Novarese indicates that this symbol was taken from Wewelsburg castle. Two Italians were invited to visit the castle, the philosopher Julius Evola and Waffen-Hauptsturmführer der SS Leale Martelli.
Martelli was the former commander of the recruiting office in Florence.
It is not known whether or not SS-Ogruf. Wolff personally authorized the collar tab. No word of the new Italian collar tab was ever passed on to the SS Main Office in Berlin.

The SS Headquarters had their own ideas of the collar tab, which depicted the fasces with an axe on a black background. These collar tabs were certainly manufactured but never distributed.

The German made Italian SS Insignia shown above was issued to members of the "29. Waffen-Grenadier Division der SS Italienische Nr 1." However, there is no evidence indicating that this collar tab was actually issued or worn most likely they, either were never authorized or never made it to their destination.
The reorganization of the 29th Italian SS Division was constantly being interrupted by the deployment of separate units. Most of these battle groups were engaged fighting desperate battles against well trained strong Partisan formations.

Above on your right side is a black rank collar tab, which was worn by enlisted on both sides of the collar.

There is no evidence that the armshield with the Fasces shown above was issued or worn. The same goes for the armshield showing the Italian national colors, with or without the inscription "Italia."

SS Italian Eagles

Above are German made Italian SS eagles, which were issued to members of the Italian SS Division.