Black Brigades: Difference between revisions

Police effectiveness of Black Brigades was feeble at best. Aside from particularly strong and well -equipped Brigades (such as VIIIth "Aldo Resega" of Milan, 2000 strong) that were exceptions, the average Black Brigades were at most 2-300 men strong, poorly equipped and armed, with little if any military training, and were hardly in conditions to defend themselves from partisan attacks, not to mention provide support to military authorities.<ref>G. Rosignoli, RSI - uniformi, equipaggiamenti ed armi</ref>

[[File:Brigata nera mantova.jpg|thumbnail|The Black Brigade "''Marcello Turchetti''" of [[Mantua]], before one of its last actions in the closing days of the war, April 1945]]

Many of their members were obscure figures evicted from the police or army, and conspicuous were also the hardline fascists who were pushed by resentment and revenge towards that part of the Italian population who, in their eyes, betrayed the Fascist regime. Many were also old "Squadristi" fascists who had served in the '20s, and who were eager to retake a first-place role in the ranks of the Fascist Party. In general terms, poor average discipline made all these individuals difficult to control, and prone to abuses.

As the military situation worsened, German mistrust towards the [[Repubblica Sociale Italiana|RSI]] military grew, and even Social Republic authorities looked at the Black Brigades with contempt. All these factors contributed to pushpushing the Black Brigades into political radicalization and an increasingly hostile behaviour towards the population itself, among which they gained a fearsome reputation offor fanatical brutality and summary procedures.