Italian WWII para uniforms

[Paolo Marzetti]

Here's the first uniform adopted by the Royal Italian Army for its paratroops
in 1940:tunic & trousers were the common grey-green woollen M.40 issued
to all the Army;instead of puttees there were 'alpine' socks, and jump boots.
It is shown the M.41 para helmet (IInd version) with neck pad, and the M34/35
o/s cap (bustina). The paratroops that made the first jum of 1941 on
Cefalonia, were dressed in this way, either with special grey-green long overall, or without.

[Paolo Marzetti]

M41 wool sleeveless tunic and trousers of OR of the Folgore Division:

Look the concealed buttons typical of these para tunics, and the rear cut.
Officers, WOs, NCOs and O.R.s wore the same type of uniform.

There's the same version , tailored with grey-blue wool cloth for the paras
of the Regia Aeronautica.

[Paolo Marzetti]

The same version of tunic for a NCO of the APAR RSI in Italy. The beret , issued on 1941, reached all the paratroops in the late 1942.

[Paolo Marzetti]

Here a M.41 tunic, made with grey-green wool, of a NP (Nuotaori Paracadutisti)
Ltn of the X^Mas.These wool tunics, had not concealed buttons, and were
typical either of the R. Navy or of the MNR.During the RSI period these tunics,
together with those with concealed buttons, were widely adopted by all the
RSI armed forces, without difference.

[Paolo Marzetti]

Very interesting M.41 khaki cloth tunic & pants of a Major MD of the
Folgore Division. The belt of the tunic has been never used by the
owner, in fact it was inside a pocket.On the contrary it is clearly
visible the trace on the shoulder and on the abdomen,of the Officer's Sam Browne belt.The ensemble is clearly faded by the African sun.

[Paolo Marzetti]

M.41 light grey-green jump smock:

[Paolo Marzetti]

M41/42jump camo para smock.Same version as the above, but camo:two
colours overprinted on the grey-green background.That was used by all
the paras of the R. Army, R.Aeronautica and R. Navy, and also, when available,
during the RSI period by the APAR and NP paratroops.
(Courtesy IWM)

[Paolo Marzetti]

An Officer paratrooper of the R. Aeronautica ADRA and particulars of the issue compass)PaoloM

[Paolo Marzetti]

Tunic of a Ltn paratrooper instructor of the RSI Nembo para Batallion
that fought with the 4th FJ para Div in Anzio and Nettuno (1944).The
tunic is still grey-green, as heritage of the former Nembo para Division
of the Royal Army.Later,these units, becoming part of the RSI-ANR,
changed their uniforms into grey-blue.
Below other RSI para uniforms worn:

[Paolo Marzetti]

Two samples of RSI-A.P.A.R. (Arditi Paracadutisti Aeronautica Repubblicana)
tunics.The one on top has been issued to an ANR pilot, that for lacking of
planes, reached the paratroops:look the pilot's wings,but not yet a paratrooper.
The second is a wool version, with different rear cut, of a NCO paratrooper that fought on Anzio/Nettuno Area 1944.

[Dennis S]

Supermagnifico!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Patrick Dempsey]

Agreed,


just superb. Have there been many books/articles published on these uniforms showing how they were made etc?

They are inspiring me to collect WW2 items again...



Patrick.

[Darwin M]

Nice photo's and collection!

What is the price of a Italian paratrooper tunic these days?

thanks in advance!

Darwin M

[Paolo Marzetti]

@Darwin:Not easy to answer. However you've to bear in mind that every
Italian WWII para item is rarer and scarcest than the German FJ ones, so
you can imagine its value.

@PatricK: Some photos have been just published on the Italian magazine Uniformi &Armi for which I write articles mainly dealing with Italian paratroops
of WWII.Some have been published also on the Richards' book: WWII Troop type Parachutes, AXIS,Schiffer Ed.
I'm working with other people to a new book on Italian WWII paratroops.

Ciao, PaoloM

Below a X Rgt Arditi paratrooper uniform, worn and issue beret:

[Gene]

Fantastic, Paolo. Simply fantastic.