Italian RSI period Waffen-SS

By Michael Iravani

Italian SS Background

 1st Battaglione "Debica" and 2nd Battaglione "Vendetta," 1. Sturmbrigade Italienische Freiwilligen Legion were the early RSI Volunteer Battalions that eventually were formed into the 29th SS Division and were among the first large reorganized RSI combat formations to fight against the Allies. They were used as attack/assault units and were decimated and reformed several times in 1944-45. At the end of the war the Vendetta battalion surrendered to U.S. tank units. Most members of these units were turned over to Italian red partisans and most all were executed. The two early battalion size formations numbered about 700 to 800 men each. The 29th SS Division they were eventually incorporated into numbered some 15,000 soldatos, but this unit was not officially formed until late 1945.

The Debica and Vendetta Battalions still fit our primary Bersaglieri theme as they were originally formed from Fascisti volunteers from the still-occupied areas in Northern Italy, from hardcase members of the Bersaglieri unit "Fortunato" returned from the Russian front and former inmates of prison and labor camps who volunteered and were released to serve the Germans. These Early RSI units are correct for early Italian Theater reenactment battles as one, or the other of these two Italian SS volunteer battalions guarded the Gothic Line in early 1944, fought at Anzio & Nettuno from March to May of 1944, near Rome in mid 1944, along the Tyrrenic Coast against American tank units and guarded the defensive positions of the Gothic Line again in late 1944. All of these combats were against the allies, so there were a number of times they encountered American and British troops, as well as all the anti partisan operations. After June of 1944 these units were mostly used for anti-partisan combat through to the end of the war.

During early to mid 1944, the period we portray, these units used the Italian M-40 wool uniforms, field equipment & light weapons, so the unit’s Italian look and character is still maintained and obvious. Both battalions wore identical insignia and uniforms. Prior to June of 1944, during the Anzio & Nettuno operational period, unit enlisted personnel wore the Italian SS sleeve eagle embroidered in white thread on red wool backing. Rank insignia consisted of blank left and right SS style collar tabs in red wool, with SS type rank insignia on one, or both tabs. At some point standard SS enlisted sleeve rank chevrons began to be worn under the sleeve eagle. After June of 1944 the unit was authorized to wear the SS collar tabs and eagle with black wool backing, as an award from the Reichsfuhrer-SS for their good combat performance during the Anzio operations. There is also evidence that from late 1944, into 1945 they wore the standard German SS black shoulder boards. Some sources state that these shoulder boards could have also been in red at some point during the unit’s uniform evolution.

 List of Brigade/Division Titles for the Italian Waffen-SS by date:
Sept 1943 to Jan 1944 "Milizia Armata"

Feb 1944 to Sept 1944 "1. Sturmbrigade der Italienschen-Freiwilligen-Legionen"

Feb 1944 "Legione SS Italiana"

Feb 1944 to Sept 1944 " 1.Waffen-Grenadier-Brigade der SS"

April 1944 "SturmBrigade Der Ital. Freiw. Legionen"

Oct 1944 to May 1945 "29. Waffen Grenadier-Division der SS (Italienische NR.1)
also known as "Waffen Grenadier Brigade der SS"

Regiment Titles:

Waffen-Grenadier- Regiment der SS.81 (ital.NR.1)
Waffen-Grenadier-Regiment der SS.82(ital.NR.2)
Waffen-Artillerie-Regiment der SS 29
Füsilier-Battailon 29
Panzer-Jäger Abteilung 29
SS-Pionier-Kompanie 29
SS-Nachrichten-Kompanie 29

The Division was deployed as smaller units, never as a whole. Several Kampfgruppe were formed and listed below:

"Kampfgruppe Heldman" ( 1944 Partisan Actions)
"Kampfgruppe Diebitsch" (Netuno/Anzio front)
"Kampfgruppe Binz" (1945 Last ditch)
"KampfgruppeGardini/Thaler "( 1945 Last ditch)

RSI Awards with historical background of the Italian Waffen-SS

Below are two period photos from Mike Iravani showing Italian Waffen-SS in action.



















Below are two pics of Michael reenacting Italian Waffen-SS. Mike specializes in RSI period Italian history.

Combat History of the Italian Waffen-SS

May 15th 1944 Anzio Front

The 2nd company of the Barbarigo Battalion was in reserve at Cistena. In the Line were the 1st Battalion of the 81st Italian SS Waffen Grenadier Regiment and elements of the 16th SS PGD. Their Defense ran along the Mussolini Canal. There main concern was to keep the road junction on Route #7 open so Axis troops had a line of retreat to the north. Among other allied units, the 1st Special Service Brigade was in action against the Italian defenders.

Defending this critical road junction was a Company of the Italian SS and a Platoon of Xth Mas Marines form the 2nd company The Germans supplied one Tiger tank from the 508th Heavy Tank Battalion. For 48 hours the Italian battle group held the road junction while being cut to pieces.

The Xth Mas Platoon was lead by Alessandro Tognoloni. His orders were to hold a strong point with his Platoon. For 48 hours the Maros resisted loosing Heavy weapons and taking heavy casualties form the advancing enemy who was supported by armored forces. Finally Lt. Tognoloni who was already wounded gave the remaining survivors the order to withdraw. Then he rushed an advancing tank with a pistol and hand grenade in hand. Lt. Tognoloni was shot and seriously wounded from a machine gun burst. He was thought to be dead by his own troops and was postmortaly awarded with the military bravery gold medal to the memory. This was premature; he did survive his wounds thanks to his American captures that treated him. It was Fifty years before he was able to receive his Medal.

It was at Anzio that the 29th S.S. was officially recognized by Himmler and allowed to switch from the "red" S.S. collar patches to the "black" collar patches for bravery. Although they never served outside of Italy the 29th S.S. proved to be just as tough as their German Comerades.

List for an Italian Waffen-SS Impression
















 Grey-green painted M-33 helmet, (you can put SS-runes on it if you want; decal or painted on).

 Link to Italian-SS Helmet picture

Grey-green wool Bustina w/METAL SS totenkopf (the same kind used by NCO's crusher caps, so dull-shine not officer's) or a grey-green wool M-42 Bustina with the same SS-totenkopf design.

Grey-green wool M-40 tunic w/red SS-collar tabs and red-backing SS-sleeve eagle. Black collar tabs and black backed eagle we worn after Anzio. Some units retained the red backed insignia, so both were seen at the same time later in the war.























A Grey-green wool M-41 "Folgore"style Sahriana tunic can also be worn (NOT DECIMA style). The difference is the Folgore model has a closed button-front. And there is one scalloped-point in the back. The Decima-style has an exposed button-front with three scalloped points on the back of the tunic. It would be advisable to use shoulder Waffen-SS soulderboards.

The following awards have been observed on tunics: Russian Front badge, Russian Don Front medal, Italian wound stripes on sleeves, War orphan, bronze and silver Italian Valor medals and Italian Ribbon bars.

For both styles of tunic: Waffen-SS shoulder tabs w/white piping (optional). Photos of original tunics where they did not wear them exist, but it would be more common to have the shoulder boards.

Grey-green shirts OR the MSVN black shirt.

Grey-green wool M-40 trousers w/putees OR Grey-green wool M-41 trousers.

German low-quarter boots. Italian boots can be worn as well.













Italian M-29 camo poncho needs to be used with the impression. The previous photos of Mike reenacting the Italian SS show him in an off-duty role.

German mantels (overcoats) were issued on a wide basis for the Italian-SS with Waffen-SS sleeve eagle. This is the only German garment issued on a wide basis to the Italian-SS. An Italian overcoat can be worn, but is unusual.

Grey-green leather belts were issued but also the brown leather officer-stlye belts were given to soldiers to use to cinch-off the poncho garment.

Italian Grey-green leather bandoliers are the most common ammo-pouches issued.

An alternative to the common bandoleer is the split Italian double green rifle cartridge pouch into to seperate singles. These would then be dyed black and worn with one on each side of their belt buckle.

 Below are two depictions of an Italian Waffen-SS impression. The picture on the left is from Uniformi E Armi Volume 58. The picture on the right is from Gregg Dubois' private collection.























Grey-green wool covered canteens are okay for the impression.

M35 gasmask bags were used for extra rations and ammo. M33 gas mask bags are an acceptable alternative.























The infantry of the Italian-SS employed the following arms: Moschetti mod. 91/38, Beretta M.A.B. mod.38, Pistole Beretta mod.34, Machinegun Breda mod.30, Machinegun Breda mod.37, Mortar 81 mm.

During the RSI period Italian and German hand grenades were issued. The picture below shows a well armed RSI period Brigate Nere (Black Brigade) soldier with both Italian and German grenades.