Blackshirts

The Blackshirts (Italian: camicie nere) were Fascist paramilitary groups in Italy during the period immediately following World War I and until the end of World War II.

Related Topics:
Italian - Fascist - Paramilitary - Italy - World War I - World War II

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Inspired by Garibaldi's Redshirts, the Blackshirts were organized by Benito Mussolini due to his disgust with the corruption and apathy of the liberal and later socialist Italian government. Originally envisioned as reformers, their methods became harsher as Mussolini's power grew, and they used violence, intimidation, and murder against Mussolini's opponents. One of their distinctive techniques was force-feeding castor oil.

Related Topics:
Garibaldi - Redshirts - Benito Mussolini - Corruption - Liberal - Socialist - Italian - Government - Castor oil

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The ethos and sometimes the uniform were later copied by others who shared Mussolini's political ideas, including Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany, who issued brown shirts to the Sturmabteilung and black uniforms to the Schutzstaffel (also colloquially known as "Blackshirts", although in fact they wore black tunics with brown or white shirts), Sir Oswald Mosley in the United Kingdom (whose British Union of Fascists were also known as the "Blackshirts"), William Dudley Pelley in the United States (Silver Legion of America or "Silver Shirts"), Plínio Salgado in Brazil (whose followers wore green shirts), and Eoin O'Duffy in the Irish Free State (Army Comrades Association or "Blueshirts").

Related Topics:
Adolf Hitler - Nazi Germany - Sturmabteilung - Schutzstaffel - Oswald Mosley - United Kingdom - British Union of Fascists - William Dudley Pelley - United States - Silver Legion of America - Plínio Salgado - Brazil - Eoin O'Duffy - Irish Free State - Blueshirts

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