Servizio Ausiliario Femminile

[Alpini Arditi]

The Servizio Ausiliario Femminile (Female Auxiliary Service) was established on April 18, 1944 with Ministerial Decree no. 447, in support of the war effort for the RSI. The command was entrusted to Brigadier General Piera Gatteschi Fondelli, former national inspector of the Fasci di Combattimento Femminile. As regards recruitment and training, the SAF was placed under the direction of the Fascist Republican Party through a General Command of the Auxiliary Service, and was divided into Provincial and Group Commands. The Corps General Command was placed first in Venice and then, from 1945, in Como.
At the end of the training courses, the auxiliaries were sworn in according to the formula of the Republican Armed Forces, and were considered militarized personnel with the qualification of war volunteers. For operational use, the auxiliaries were placed under the command of the Republican Armed Forces or the Republican National Guard where they served, including the 10th MAS Flotilla, but not in combat roles. Around 6,000 women in total volunteered during the twelve months of the service's existence.

SAF Volunteers

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X Decima Mas rifle training

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Decima Mas physical exercise

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[Alpini Arditi]

Uniforms of the SAF and X Decima Mas volunteers:

SAF Uniforms

SAF Summer

X Decima Mas Winter

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Brigate Nere

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