Questions Regarding MVSN General's Shoulder Boards

[dastardly]

I have a question regarding MVSN General's shoulder boards that I have not found an answer to in any of the Italian documentation that I own or could find on the web. Namely, why do some of their shoulder boards have the rank stars above the eagle and others have them below? Did the regulations change over the years that caused this to happen and if so, which version came first, above or below (pictures of examples attached). Also, what did the addition of a crown above the eagle signify (some have them, some don't). Did the crown possibly mean that the General was part of the special militia such as postal, traffic, railway, port service, etc.? Thank you in advance for your assistance, Chris

[dastardly]

Two more questions regarding same. I have encountered two different styles of borders on these MVSN General's shoulder boards (a rope-like version and a leaf-like version, see attached pictures). Were these just done by different manufacturers, was the difference done on purpose and have a meaning, or once again, did the regulations change over the years? Also, who knows the rank/meaning of the attached shoulder board with an eagle in a circle under the fasces (was this meant for officers serving within a Chief of Staff's office)? Once again, thank you for anything, Chris

[Semovente]

Hello Dastardly...what i have info wise is this...details of officers uniforms 1931..

[Semovente]

More...

[dastardly]

I always appreciate you trying to help, Semovente, but I have got this same reference book and it does not mention any shoulder boards with stars below the eagles, nothing at all about a crown, nothing on why the gold borders are different and no photograph or drawing of the fasces shoulder board with the eagle in a circle below it. I'll just have to keep looking/reading. Thank you for the effort, though, Chris

[Semovente]

I always appreciate you trying to help, Semovente, but I have got this same reference book and it does not mention any shoulder boards with stars below the eagles, nothing at all about a crown, nothing on why the gold borders are different and no photograph or drawing of the fasces shoulder board with the eagle in a circle below it. I'll just have to keep looking/reading. Thank you for the effort, though, Chris

Chris as always no problem ...sorry it was the most i could find on it at short notice so to say !! ...but i will keep lookin !....

[dastardly]

Another example of the stars above and below and the addition of a crown. No one has any idea? Plus both of these have the leaf pattern border vice the rope version. Thanks again for anything, Chris

[italianwaffenSS]

MVSN page book

[dastardly]

Thank you for this chart, Gian. It clearly shows the crown with two stars over the eagle in figure 4 versus figure 5 that is missing the crown. After further research, the difference between the two is that the rank in figure 5 with two stars is that of Luogotenente Generale. When the crown is added along with the two stars as in figure 4, the rank is that of Luogotenente Generale Capo di Stato Maggiore (Chief of Staff). I have also been told by an Italian friend that when the stars are on the bottom, it indicates a rank for a General within the CC.NN. (Camiche Nere or blackshirts) in Africa. I've still got nothing on the different border types nor the fasces shoulder board with the eagle in a circle below it. Thank you everyone for the help, Chris

[dastardly]

Update on the different border designs - The model 1931 shoulder boards used the leaf-like design for their borders. The model 1935 shoulder boards were changed to the diagonal rope-like version. Many thanks to my Italian friend Tommaso for this great information, Chris