|
The Fascist Youth organization was founded only a few months after Mussolini's march on Rome (October 1922). The initial organization was for boys 8 to 14 years of age. They were named the "Balilla" after a heroic young boy of that name. During the Austrian occupation of Genoa during 1746. The boy incited a riot against the Austrian soldiers by throwing the first stone at an artillery piece. This led to a city-wide riot that drove the Austrians out of the city. Mussolini saw the boy's courage was the perfect image for Italian youth. As the Fascist Youth organization developed, the Balilla became the name of certain age groups. The precise name of the Fascist Youth organization as a whole was the "Gioventu Italiana Del'Littorio"which meant The Fascists Youth of the Lictors. The Lictor was bundle of rods with the protruding axe blade, carried in ancient Rome by the Magistrates to demonstrate their power of life and death in the courts.
Navigate the Historic Boys' Uniform Web Site:
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronologies]
[Countries]
[Essays]
[Garments]
[Organizations]
[Religion]
[Other]
[Introduction]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Questions]
[Unknown images]
[Boys' Uniform Home]
Navigate the Historic Boys' Uniform Web organizatiion pages:
[Return to the Main Italian Balilla page]
[Return to the Main Italian nationalist page]
[Boys' Brigade]
[Camp Fire]
[Hitler Youth]
[Nationalist groups]
[Pioneers]
[Royal Rangers]
[Scout]