MVSN Blackshirt Battalions in Africa Shoulder Boards – “A NOI” Insignia

These shoulder boards of the Battaglioni CC.NN. d’Africa formed part of the uniform insignia of the Milizia Volontaria per la Sicurezza Nazionale, particularly the Blackshirt formations deployed during the Italian colonial campaigns in East Africa during the 1930s.

They are constructed from black cloth, with a pointed upper end secured by the characteristic MVSN button. The central insignia is executed in metallic embroidery and consists of a vertical fasces, two crossed gladii, and a black scroll bearing the motto “A NOI”.

Different shades of metallic thread are used throughout the design, predominantly gold, with lighter details separating individual components of the fasces and weapons. Variations in thread direction give the embroidery a pronounced three-dimensional appearance against the black background.

Gold rank stars could be positioned below the central emblem. Their number identified the wearer’s grade: the Aspirante wore no stars, the Sottocapomanipolo one, the Capomanipolo two, and the Centurione three. Capomanipolo corresponded to a Lieutenant in the Royal Italian Army, while Centurione corresponded to a Captain.

The embroidered central insignia remained essentially common to the different versions, while the number of starsprovided the principal visual distinction between the individual junior officer grades.

A lesser-known detail is that a shoulder board without stars is not an unfinished example: under the MVSN rank system, the deliberate absence of stars identified the Aspirante. The sequence of gold stars began only with the next grade.