Shortly after his rise to power in October 1922, Mussolini transformed the 'action squads' of the Fascist party into a national militia. These paramilitaries - the Blackshirts - were raised in 1928, and fought in both conventional and counter-insurgency operations. Blackshirts fought against the Senussi tribes in Ethiopia and - unofficially - for Franco during the Spanish Civil War, where thousands were killed. When Italy entered World War II, the Blackshirt legions fought on the Eastern Front as well as in Greece and North Africa. Following the Italian surrender, most joined the German forces and continued to fight - chiefly against the partisans, both in Croatia and in Italy - until the war's end. This new history of the Blackshirts details the lives of these famous paramilitaries in peace and in combat, from the peak of Mussolini's power to the close of World War II.

Introduction -- Chronology -- Organization and development : The early years -- World War II -- The 'M' battalions -- Blackshirt unit organization -- Weapons -- Recruitment and enlisting -- Training -- Belief and belonging : Conditions of service -- Appearance and equipment -- The experience of battle -- The final years : 1943-45.