Italian National Republican Guard

The Italian Republican National Guard ("Guardia Nazionale Repubblicana", or GNR) was a paramilitary force of the Italian Social Republic which replaced the Carabinieri and the MVSN. It was constituted by the decree of 8th December 1943 which appointed General Renato Ricci as commandant. Major General Italian Romegiall was appointed as vice commandant and Major general Nicolò Nicchiarelli became the chief of general staff.

The GNR included former MVSN militiamen, Police officers and former members of the Italian Africa Police (the PAIRS). On 15th August 1944 became part of the army of Italian Social Republic, it continued to carry out security tasks behind the lines and provided aid to German forces. On 21st August 1944 Mussolini assumed direct command. On 23rd August 1944 division, GNR Etna, was formed in Brescia under the command of general Violante, with anti-paratrooper and anti-aircraft duties. A second division, GNR Vesuvio, was formed later.

Organization of the GNR

* 1 Headquarters Command
* 18 Regional Inspectorates
* 94 Provincial Commands
* 94 Legions
* 12 independent battalions
**GNR - 'Mazzarini' GNR Parachute battalion of 300 men. It mainly operated against partisans in the Padovana Plains from August 1944 until 1945.
* 82 companies
* 5 motorized battalions
* 3 squadrons
* 1 school centers
* 2 officers Cadet schools
* 2 NCO schools
* 7 specialist police schools
* 1 arsenal
* 4 clothing and equipment stores
* 2 clothing procurement and issue facilities
* 1 band

pecial military services of the GNR

The GNR had following Special military services:

*1. Railway GNR, of 9 legions
*2. Harbour GNR, of 3 legions
*3. Post and Telegraph GNR, thirty small units
*4. Mountain and Forests GNR, of 7 legions
*5. Frontier GNR , of 5 legions
*6. Highway GNR, many small units (traffic and highway patrol duties)

Disarmaming of ex-Carabinieri

On 5 August summits Germans once had understood that the elements of MVSN were in a minority and that the military ex-Carabinieri tended to join the guerrilla partisan, decided to proceed with a general action to disarm and arrest the Carabinieri. The decision, while taken and implemented under the direct control German, was not the result that the large extent and predictability of the number of Carabinieri remained in service in the cause of GNR will, in fact, failed. Of 11,000 Carabinieri still in service in the summer of 1944, even 3,000 were sent to Germany before combing and equally few were conducted over the Alps in the aftermath. After August 25, 1944 - when it was decided to dismiss all those who were not neither stain nor the data combined with the partisans - just 1,400 Carabinieri remained in service, employees in the military bureaucracy.

Reorganization

Following the disarmament of the Carabinieri, the GNR was facing a deep crisis: 35,000 troops for the territorial units, 11,000 between Guard Youth and students and less than 5,000 for training autonomous. The weakening of the GNR was not only a number but also on that of the control of the territory: most local districts were dissolved because previously served by Carabinieri hours to stain or Germany. Since September 1944, then Italian Social Republic does not controlled more territory so rooted and effective. With the actual resulting from the dissolution of the head you could nevertheless proceed with the reorganization of GNR through [the Armed Forces of CSR-Pier Paolo Battistelli, Andrea Molinari, p.122] strengthening of territorial departments real, while establishing schools for officers and officers. Previously the Republican Guard Youth was renamed Guard Youth Legionaria, with the transformation of assault battalions legions and training centers. The newly established department of greater importance was the Etna Division, which coordinated the department used in Germany in FlaK (contraerei) and departments antipartigiani employed by the General German Wolff. The Division absorbed, as a result, nine battalions of assault youth (for contraerei) and October five operating divisions, four battalions and an assault battalion paratroopers. The only autonomous departments remained the Legion M Guard of Duce, the Legion Tagliamento M, the Group of wagons Leonessa and Legion Carmelo Borg Pisani [The Armed Forces of CSR-Pier Paolo Battistelli, Andrea Molinari, p.123.] .

Notes

ee also

*national guard
*gendarmerie
*Portuguese National Republican Guard