Xª Flottiglia MAS Flag

The Xª Flottiglia MAS – Decima Flag combines two important elements of Italian naval assault-unit tradition: the distinctive skull-and-rose emblem of the Decima and the historic motto “Memento Audere Semper”.

The origins of the Xª Flottiglia MAS predate the Italian Social Republic. The unit developed within the Royal Italian Navy, initially as the 1ª Flottiglia MAS, and on 14 March 1941 was redesignated the 10ª Flottiglia MAS, commonly written Xª.

Specialised in underwater and surface assault operations, its personnel took part in some of the best-known Italian naval special operations of the Second World War, including attacks against Souda Bay, Gibraltar and Alexandria. The unit received Italy’s Gold Medal of Military Valour in June 1943.

The armistice of 8 September 1943 divided the history of the formation. Some personnel continued the war alongside the Allies, while the group remaining at La Spezia under Junio Valerio Borghese continued as the Xª Flottiglia MAS within the Italian Social Republic.

The distinctive emblem reproduced on this flag belongs to this 1943-1945 Decima.

Its central design consists of a large red Roman numeral X with a small “a”, indicating Xª, above the inscription “FLOTTIGLIA MAS” on a dark field. Above the numeral is the famous skull holding a red rose between its teeth.

The skull-and-rose motif is connected with the memory of Italian naval officer Salvatore Todaro, who was killed in December 1942. The graphic design that became associated with the Decima was subsequently developed by the painter Giovanni Fumagalli.

The badge became one of the most recognisable pieces of the unit’s uniform and was normally worn on the left sleeve. Several different variants were manufactured during 1944 and 1945.

Known makers included the Milan firm Bregonzio. Period badges were produced in different materials, particularly zinc alloys and brass, with noticeable variations in the shape of the skull, rose and X, as well as differences in colouring and finish.

Before metal badges became widely available, embroidered cloth versions were also worn. The emblem additionally appeared on helmets, documents and propaganda material associated with the unit.

From 1 May 1944, the expanding infantry component was organised as the Divisione Fanteria di Marina Xª, comprising numerous battalions and autonomous units, while naval and special-operation components continued to operate separately.

The motto “Memento Audere Semper” has a much earlier origin. It was created by Gabriele D’Annunzio during the Beffa di Buccari on the night of 10–11 February 1918.

D’Annunzio transformed the initials M.A.S. into the Latin phrase Memento Audere Semper, meaning “Remember to always dare”. It subsequently became permanently associated with the tradition of Italian MAS craft and naval assault personnel.

The wartime Xª Flottiglia of the Royal Italian Navy officially used “Per il Re e la Bandiera” – “For the King and the Flag”. Memento Audere Semper instead represents the wider historical tradition of the MAS, originating during the First World War and later reused in numerous Decima emblems and commemorative flags.

A lesser-known detail concerns the Decima sleeve badge itself: there was no single perfectly identical wartime version. Production was distributed among several manufacturers, resulting in recognisable differences particularly in the skull and rose design, metals and finishes. These variations have become an important field of study in the collecting of Italian Social Republic militaria.