This is a personal gift from the Blackshirts of the M.V.S.N. to Benito Mussolini, circa 1937. Imposing dagger in the design of the Model 1925 dagger of the MVSN, which was adopted from 1935 by the Moschettieri del Duce, Mussolini's bodyguard. The grip made of silver, with raised oak leaf decoration running up the back of the grip to the pommel and on the front of the grip. On the grip, the fasces applied on both sides in genuine gold. The crossguard terminating in 2 acorns. Imposing square-section steel blade, on the obverse with dedication engraving “L'Impero Alle Camice Nere Della Nella M.V.S.N.” (= The Empire to the Blackshirts of the M.V.S.N.). The scabbard is also made of silver, the two circumferential scabbard bands as well as the rear belt loop decorated with laurel leaf decoration.
Overall length approx. 34.7 cm. The dagger is lightly worn with typical age and wear marks, condition 2.
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini (* July 29, 1883 in Dovia di Predappio, Province of Forlì; † April 28, 1945 in Giulino di Mezzegra, Province of Como) was an Italian politician. He was Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Italy from 1922 to 1943. As Duce del Fascismo (“Leader of Fascism”) and Capo del Governo (“Head of Government”), from 1925 he stood as dictator at the head of the fascist regime in Italy. In October 1922, King Victor Emmanuel III appointed Mussolini to head a center-right coalition cabinet after the March on Rome. Mussolini's foreign policy aimed at hegemony in the Mediterranean region and in the Balkans. In 1929, Mussolini ended the conflict between the nation-state and the papacy with the Lateran Treaties. From 1938, Mussolini received, alongside King Victor Emmanuel III, the highest military rank in the Royal Italian Army as First Marshal of the Empire (Ital. Primo maresciallo dell'Impero). On June 10, 1940, Mussolini entered World War II on the German side. However, the Italian offensives in the Mediterranean and East Africa failed, as did the attack on Greece. From autumn 1942, the political, social and military crisis of the regime rapidly escalated and undermined Mussolini's personal dictatorship. In July 1943, he was overthrown by opposition fascists and monarchists who wanted to break the alliance with Germany and preempt an anti-fascist mass movement. Freed from captivity, he stood at the head of the German puppet state Repubblica Sociale Italiana until 1945. In the final days of the war in 1945, Mussolini was captured and executed by communist partisans.
The MSVN presentation dagger also represents one of the most significant pieces from the personal possession of the Duce.
Ex-Vitetti Collection, Rome.
MVSN. Already on February 1, 1923, the “Milizia Volontaria pro La Sicurezza Nazionale” (MVSN) was founded, which existed until its dissolution as part of the Italian armistice conditions in 1943. In the Italian Social Republic, it was then transferred into the Guardia Nazionale Repubblicana (GNR).
Nominally, Benito Mussolini was Commander-in-Chief; in reality, however, the Blackshirts were led by the Chief of Staff in the comparable rank of an army general. Particularly in the MVSN, the structure of the historic Roman army was replicated. The designations of ranks and organization were taken from the Roman army.
The MVSN participated in every theater of war of the Italians as volunteer elite units and special commandos.
In 1940, the MVSN provided three divisions with a total of 34,000 men; in 1942, a fourth division was formed, which was assigned to each army division as Gruppo di Assalto.
Later, 41 mobile units were formed, from which the third regiment in Italian army divisions was to emerge. Due to undermanning, lack of equipment and inadequate training, these mobile units suffered heavy losses. The three divisions were completely destroyed in combat in North Africa.
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