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, originals should have the lower leg of the swastika smaller in size as shown on the badges 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.

The "Medagli di Propaganda Anti-Partigiana" (Propaganda Medal Anti-Partisan) was made by the German Propaganda "STAFFEL" (Detachment). This detachment produced and disseminated propaganda leaflets and cards with pro-German and anti-allied scenes and text. The detachment is known for producing series of leaflets and cards with the slashed zero follow by the code 0I through 0IV.
The medal is made of zama. The obverse of the medal illustrates the British national personification of John Bull awarding a partisan below has the inscription "SOGNO" (the Dream). The reverse the partisan is being kicked with the inscription below "LA REALTA" (The Reality). On the top it has the German series marking "ØII/90."

The ribbon is black with a small centered tri-color green-white-red stripe. The ribbon has also been found on other Italian awards and has been reproduced.
This medal is very rare so far no known reproductions of this medal has surface on the internet.
A German propaganda leaflet was produced in February 2, 1945, illustrating this medal.

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.

During WW2 Italy raised elite units referred as "M" battalions (the "M" stood for Mussolini). These units were political voluntary militias and fought under the Kingdom of Italy, operating between 1941 and 1943 and later under the Repubblica Sociale Italiana (RSI) from 1943 to 1945.
One of the famous units that participated was the 63rd Legion CC.NN. Assault "Tagliamento." It was mobilized in February 1941 and was composed of approximately 1191 officers and men. It was later assigned to the Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia.
The group "Tagliamento" was not originally designated as a "M" unit, but were recognized as such because of the courage and valuable contribution it demonstrated during the eastern-front battles when it was part of the CSIR (Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia).

When the new Italian Social Republic was established on 23 September 1943, the 1st Assault Division "M" Tagliamento was immediately formed and composed of mostly veterans and from men from North-East regions. The division mostly fought in the Apennine mountains. It eventually assisted the German defenses in the stretch of the Gothic Line. The unit fought anti-partisans and gained the reputation as fierce and brutal fighters. It was disbanded in May 1945, most of the men captured by partisans were executed.

Above is a pair of metal insignia showing the red painted "M" with fascio. These insignia were attached on the collar tabs.
Next is a very rare medal manufactured during the Italian Social Republic and awarded to members of the "First Legion Assault M Tagliamento." The medal was engraved by Alberto Martinola, who chose as a symbol for this coin the "M" Mussolini.
The medal is bronze but has been blackened over the course of time. The obverse with the right-facing bust of Benito Mussolini surrounded by the inscription "I LEGIONE D'ASSALTO M TAGLIAMENTO" and engraver marked "A. MARTINOLA."
The reverse inscribed in the center is "soli quei forti scesero onta ai fratelli in campo" surrounded by an open-ended wreath composed of oak leaves at the left and laurel leaves at the right. On the top of the wreath is the symbol with "M" and fascio. Attached to the black ribbon is a small clasp showing the red painted "M" with fascio.
In the background is a postal cover mailed dated September 24, 1944 by the Command Legione Mussolini.

The Decima Flottiglia MAS (Decima Flottiglia Mezzi d'Assalto) was an elite Italian commando frogman unit of the Regia Marina (Italian Royal Navy) created during the Fascist regime. Decima MAS was active during the Battle of the Mediterranean and took part in a number of daring raids on Allied shipping. These operations used surface boats (such as the Sinking of HMS York), manned torpedoes (the Raid on Alexandria) and Gamma Frogmen (against Gibraltar). During the campaign Decima MAS took part in more than a dozen operations which sank or damaged 5 warships and 20 merchant ships totalling 130,000 GRT (Gross Register Tonnage). In 1943, after the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was ousted, Italy left the Tripartite Pact and joined the Allies. Some of the Decima MAS men who were stationed in German-occupied northern Italy enlisted to fight for Mussolini's newly-formed Italian Social Republic (Repubblica Sociale Italiana or RSI) and retained the unit title, but were primarily employed as an anti-partisan force operating on land. Other Decima MAS men in southern Italy or other Allied-occupied areas joined the Italian Co-Belligerent Navy as part of the Mariassalto (Naval Assault) unit.

Illustrated is a wondeful rare document signed by the Commander of the Decima Mas the Black Prince "Junio Valerio Borghese" who took command in May 1943.
Also shown is a red collar Tab attached with the metal "San Marco" Lion insignia and below the wreathed gladius insignia.

Members of the Decima Mas were issued with variations of a metal shield that was worn on their left sleeve of their uniforms. The shield shown above was made by the Italian firm "Bregonzio" of Milan. The painter Giovanni Fumagalli was commissioned by the Commander Borghese to study the project for design of the shield. The badge depicts a silver skull holding a red rose between the teeth. It has been said that the Lieutenant commander Salvatore Todaro during his last days of life, coin the representation of the emblem skull holding a rose that "death in combat is something beautiful and fragrant." Below is a large red painted Roman numeral "X" (Tenth). Below is the silver inscription relief "FLOTILLA MAS" on a painted blue-green background surrounded by a gilded chain linked. The distinctive was made of Italian war metal called zama worn on land and of brass for sea duty. The dimensions of the shield is 49 mm. wide by 76 mm. tall and weighs 15 grams.
Next is a very well known propaganda recruitment card designed by the famous RSI artist Gino Boccasile. illustrated is a Decima Mas volunteer and in the background is the face of a lion growling, which represented the unit. The inscription on top says "Alle Armi" (Joined the Army) and below the inscription "PER L'ONORE" (FOR THE HONOR). At the bottom of the card there is the inscription "X FLOTTIGLIA MAS MARINA DA GUERRA REPUBBLICANA" (X MARINE FLOTILLA MAS NAVAL WAR REPUBLIC).

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 badges portraying the republican eagle holding the fascio and the skull were applied in the center of the visor or cap; in some cases the eagle was worn on the left side of the field cap. The badges were 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 badges were held by means of two long prongs.