Italy

**cyberia** · February 28th, 2008 6:03 PM

Depicted is a Capitano Italian Decima MAS Marines, a unit that served proudly and well throughout the War.

Decima means "Tenth," and M.A.S. abbreviates the Italian words for "Motor Torpedo Boat," which harks back to the unit's formation as a speedy seaborne attack force in World War I.
This RSI period Capitano wears the distinctive metal arm shield of the Decima MAS. His rank is shown by the braid on his cuffs as the yellow-thread version for battle dress.

The collarless woolen tunic was unique to the Decima MAS and Italy's "Paracadutista" (Paratroop) forces.

The ribbon in his top buttonhole is for the German Iron Cross 2nd Class, which was also awarded to Germany's Italian Axis partners. His single medal ribbon is that of the Medal for Navy Valour in Silver, the Italian Navy's second-highest bravery award. Beneath it is the badge of the Italian Navy's elite "Nuotatori-Paracadutisti," or swimmer-parachutists air-and-sea commandos.

Below this badge is the Iron Cross 1st Class. On his right chest is the "Addestramento Germania" badge, given to members of the many Italian units who trained under the Germans. He also wears the signature Decima MAS M41 beret, with metal officer's insignia instead of the prescribed anchor-design cloth badge.

The weapon is the Carcano M38 "Mannlicher" carbine, for which he wears the standard-issue dual ammunition pouches on his leather utility belt. Tucked in the belt is a German "potato masher" M24 stick grenade.

**Biscuit** · March 3rd, 2008 4:40 PM

Great stuff Cy! I have been looking through all of them and they are great. The explanations for everything accompanying Barry really complete it though!

**cyberia** · March 3rd, 2008 6:29 PM

Thanks, Biscuit. More to come.

**PanzerBob** · March 4th, 2008 2:31 AM

Bravo Zulu,excellent Brief.

My lesson for the day, Didn't know Italian troops were awarded German medals.

**cyberia** · March 10th, 2008 12:18 AM

Capitano Barry Gionelli
Italian Sirte Division

Our WWII Zone CGI uniform model Barry is wearing the For that reason he is wearing the cotton twill tropical uniform and "bustina" (field cap) of the Italian Africa Corps.
The Italian Army served alongside their German Axis partners in the battle for North Africa from 1940 to 1943.

The bustina was unique to Italian uniforms.
It was worn on all fronts, in materials ranging from light cotton to heavy wool. It featured practical ear-flaps for cold & wind, and the split visor could be folded down to shade the eyes when needed.

The red enameled shield ("scudetto") on this Capitano's left arm identifies him as a member of the Sirte Division, which fought with the XXII Corps under Generale di Corpo d'Armata Petassi Manella, headquartered at Tobruk.

This Capitano's ribbon bar displays two high awards: The Order of Military Merit (Officer Class), and the Military Medal for Valor in Gold. The red and yellow ribbon is of a medal that recognizes service in support of Francisco Franco's Nationalist rebels during the Spanish Civil War, and the diamond-shaped pin beneath the ribbons is an Albanian award for participation in the Italian effort against Greece and Yugoslavia in 1940-41.