Does anyone know if there were ever any genuine Italian volunteers amongst the Nationalist Forces? The Black Flames, Black Arrows etc are always protrayed as professional soldiers or conscripted men sent to Spain on Mussolini's orders without any say in the matter.
Were there any Italian civilian or military volunteers who went of their own free will in those or any other units?
Italian Volunteers
Littorio Division was a regular division, soldiers going where ordered. The other 1st - 3rd CCNN Divisions were blackhirts, so presumably volunteers. After the Battle of Guadalahara the CCNN divisions shrank to two then one then the remaining Italians were used as technical personel and officers in the Flechas Divisions that were mainly manned by Spaniards. Littorio Division stayed in being as before. Aparently duty was more reliable than volunteer or political enthusiasm once things got tough.
Charm000, many Italy facisit black shirt militia units were virtually "shanghaied" to spain, they were supposed to emigrated to Italy colony at North or East Africa, next thing they knew, they found themself at Spain, in the cold spain winter, many still wore their summer cloths. However most Italy units fought well in the spanish civil war.
Myth.mars wrote:Charm000, many Italy facisit black shirt militia units were virtually "shanghaied" to spain, they were supposed to emigrated to Italy colony at North or East Africa, next thing they knew, they found themself at Spain, in the cold spain winter, many still wore their summer cloths.
Asiaticus' post is correct.