Italian Fascist Youth Uniforms: Levels


Figure 1.--

I have little information so far the uniforms worn by the members of Italian Fascist youth groups. I do not understand, for example, what the uniform differences were for the various levels. The Figli della Lupa and Balilla wore basically the same uniform. The units for the older boys were different. There are quite a few available images on the younger levels, but fewer on the older boys. We have limited information on changes over time.

Figli della Lupa (Wolf Children)

The Figli della Lupa (Wolf children) were named after Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome who were raised by a wolf. They were boys 6-8 years old. They wore a black wool fez with a badge and tassle, black shirt, gray-green (the color of army uniform) short wool trousers, gray-green socks, and black shoes with laces. The black shirt was the same black shirt that was worn by the Fascist par-military militia which was known as black shits in the sane way that the Hitler Youth were later to adopt the brown shirts of the SA Strom Troopers.They had white belts and white shoulder straps with a metallic brooch that had a large "M" for Mussolini. There was also a gray-green cape, and white gloves, depending on the season and formality of thge occassion.

Balilla

The Balilla was for boys 9-14 years old). The Balilla uniform was very similar to that of the Figli della Lupa. The boys wore the same black wool fez; black shirt, gray-green wool short pants, grey-green kneesocks and black lace-up shoes. There were, however, some differences. The Balilla had knee-length rather than short cut short pants, and black belts. Like the Figli della Lupa they had a gray-green cape for colder weather. We have noted boys wearing neckerchiefs of different sizes. I am not sure about the color, but one source suggests the Balilla boys wore blue neckerchiefs.

Vanguard

: We have little information on the Vanguard uniform. One photograph we have noted shows a boy in a military styles peaked cap with a black shirt and black long trousers. The black shirt had military trim and buttons

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Created: 6:58 PM 2/23/2005
Last updated: 6:58 PM 2/23/2005