The Auxiliary Corps of the Black Shirts' Action Squads, most widely known as the Black Brigades, was one of the Fascist paramilitary groups, organized and run by the Republican Fascist Party operating in the Italian Social Republic, during the final years of World War II, and after the signing of the Italian Armistice in 1943. They were officially led by Alessandro Pavolini, former Minister of Culture of the fascist era during the last years of the Kingdom of Italy.
Alessandro Pavolini, commander-in-chief of the Black Brigades (left) and Vincenzo Costa (right) review the troops of the 8th Black Brigade "Aldo Resega", summer of 1944
Mussolini reviews 5th Alpine Mobile Black Brigade "E. Quagliata", Brescia, 1945.
The Black Brigade "Marcello Turchetti" of Mantua, before one of its last actions in the closing days of the war, April 1945
Soldiers in Black Brigades, holding submachine guns. Note: the smiling soldier, wearing the unusual-looking, skull cap hat, with a huge skull insignia on the front.
A paramilitary is a military that is not part of a country's official or legitimate armed forces. The Oxford English Dictionary traces the use of the term "paramilitary" as far back as 1934.
Legion of Frontiersmen, Edmonton Command, 1915 – a nationalist paramilitary group not officially affiliated with the Canadian Army
