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Kingdom of Italy (1848-1946) - Army Rank Flags

Last modified: 2001-02-24 by dov gutterman
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Milizia Volontaria di Sicurezza Nazionale (MVSN)

Commander-General


by Ivan Sache , 13 July 1999

Commander-General , Milizia Volontaria di Sicurezza Nazionale (Kingdom of Italy (Mussolinian era) - Rectangular (2:3) black flag with three yellow five-pointed stars placed along the upper hoist-lower fly diagonal.
Source: Flaggenbuch [neu92].
Ivan Sache , 20 March 2000


Chief of the General Staff


by Ivan Sache , 13 July 1999

Chief of the general staff , Milizia Volontaria di Sicurezza Nazionale (Kingdom of Italy (Mussolinian era) - Rectangular (2:3) black flag including a black rectangle fimbriated in yellow and one, two or three yellow five-pointed stars placed along the upper hoist-lower fly diagonal. The number of stars refers to the rank, here lieutenant-general.
Source: Flaggenbuch [neu92].
Ivan Sache , 20 March 2000


Lieutenant-General


by Ivan Sache , 13 July 1999

Lieutenant-general , Milizia Volontaria di Sicurezza Nazionale (Kingdom of Italy (Mussolinian era) - Similar to Commander-general but with only two stars.
Source: Flaggenbuch [neu92].
Ivan Sache , 20 March 2000


Consul-General


by Ivan Sache , 13 July 1999

Consul-general , Milizia Volontaria di Sicurezza Nazionale (Kingdom of Italy (Mussolinian era) - Similar to Lieutenant-general, but with only one star.
Source: Flaggenbuch [neu92].
Ivan Sache , 20 March 2000


Army Rank Flags

WW II Italian Army general officers' ranks, were as follows (insignia worn on the field service cap):
- First Marshal of the Empire - a gold eagle clutching a fasces (scarlet background). This rank was held only by the King.
- Marshal of Italy - four stars (scarlet frame, white background, gold stars edged scarlet).
- General of Army - three stars; otherwise the same as above.
- General of Army Corps (commanding an Army) - a gold crown and baton between two stars; otherwise the same as above.
- General of Army Corps - a gold crown between two stars; otherwise the same as above.
- General of Division - two stars; otherwise the same as above.
- General of Brigade - one star; otherwise the same as above.
Source: Rosignoli's books on army rank badges.
Tom Gregg , 26 March 2000

The rank of "first marshall of the empire" wasn't only owned by the king (Vittorio Emanuele III), but also by Benito Mussolini. It could seem strange  but they had the same army rank. It was because this new rank was created by the fascist parlament just after the war of Ethiopia and the proclamation of the Italian Empire. This parlament that was all fascist and only depending on Mussolini and gave the same rank to him and to the king (without asking anything from the king who, before that, was the only one to have the highest in rank in italian army).
Guido Malberti, 4 June 2000

Here is the description of army rank flags during the Fascist era:
Army - white flags with red emblems arranged diagonally. All stars were five-pointed.
Army Chief of Staff: stars according to rank inside a red inner border and a white outer border.
Marshal of Italy: four stars
General of an Army: three stars
General of a Corps: a crown between two stars
General of a Division: two stars
General of a Brigade: one star
Miles Li, 21 January 2001


Air Force Rank Flags

Here I will describle the rank flags of Italy's Royal Air Force during the Fascist era:
Air Force - pale blue flags with red emblems arranged diagonally unless otherwise stated. All stars were five-pointed.
Air Force Chief of Staff: stars according to rank inside a red inner border and a pale blue outer border.
Air Marshal: four stars
General of an Air Army: three stars
General of an Air Squadron: a crown between two stars
General of an Air Division: two stars
General of an Air Brigade: one star
Wing (Stormo) Commander: red horizontal strip overall
Group Commander: swallow-tailed, red horizontal strip overall
Squadron Commander: triangular, red horizontal strip overall
Miles Li, 21 January 2001

They are excellently illustrated in Flaggenbuch 1939.
Santiago Dotor, 22 January 2001






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