What do I have here? Thanks, Joe
-
-
The device is known as an RSI Badge (Republica Sociale Italiana). It was a collar badge used from 1943 to 1945. Based on period photos, these badges were also utilized as sympathy badges Italians could wear to show their support for Mussolini's new Fascist state (nazi-puppet state) formed in 1943. What it is doing on a medal bar is anybody's guess, but the wearer apparently wanted to show that he was a fascist supporter. Some period photos of Black Shirt troops show this badge being worn on their black collar tabs.
Here's a period photo showing the badge being worn (scroll down to view the photo of the Italian soldier)
http://www.raspagnigioielli.com/it/c....html?Itemid=0
The green backing bothers me just a little bit. It looks a tad like modern-day felt and not like Abdecktuch of the period. But it's Italian... so who knows???Last edited by Gardereiter; 10-10-2017, 12:35 PM. -
This item or an identical one was discussed before and the concensus was that it had been embellished post-war for profit.
IanComment
-
Is the ribbon a good one?Comment
-
Hi Joe,
Sorry, but this is not an original medal bar assembled during the Third Reich Period.
It's a postwar put-together and a bad one at that. The mounting hardware is not even original.
Best regards,
TomMihi libertas necessest!Comment
-
Joe,
I agree with the others. The reverse gives this one away more so than the obverse.
ChetZinc stinks!Comment
-
It's a shame when you buy from a Police Officer dealer at the Max and get screwed, will try to get money back, ThanksComment
Comment