Figure 1.--The Baliall was the first Fascist youth group to be established in Europe. It influenced the Hitler Youthm but the program seems to hace been less effective.

The Balilla was named after an Italian partriotic hero--a Genoese boy who incited a revolt against the Austrians who controlled much of northern Italy in the 18th century. The boy through a rock at an Austrian soldier and the resulting uprising freed Genoa from foreign rule. The Austrians, however, still controlled much of northern Italy into the 19th century. Itlalian unification and independence in the 19th Century required a war with Austria. HBU still has relativlely little information on the Balilla program. We do know that it was virtually compulsory for all boys beginning at age 8 years. Parading was an important activity for the Balilla and they were not amteurs at it like American Scouts. The boys carry rifles. One observer says that they were toy rifles, but I have no confirmation of that yet. The boys in these parades brandished weapons and made very miltaristic displays. We are not sure, however, to what extent military training was incorportaed into the program. Another unanswered program is how effective the political indoctrination was. Many German accounts of adults looking back on their Hitler Youth experience marvel at how totally they were drawn into the NAZI program and view of Germany. We are not sure that the Baliall was nearly as effective.

Symbolism

The Balilla was named after an Italian partriotic hero--a Genoese boy who incited a revolt against the Austrians who controlled much of northern Italy in the 18th century. The boy through a rock at an Austrian soldier and the resulting uprising freed Genoa from foreign rule. The Austrians, however, still controlled much of northern Italy into the 19th century. Itlalian unification and independence in the 19th Century required a war with Austria.

Membership

We do know that it was virtually compulsory for all boys beginning at age 8 years. All Italian Fascist youth groups were separated by gender. There was a comparable group for the girls.

Induction

The Balillas' oath recited by the boys at their induction read, "In the name of God and Italy, I swear that I will execute the Duce's orders and serve the cause of Fascist revolution with all my strength and, if necessary, with my blood". We do not have complete details on how the induction cerempny was conducted. There was a ceremony when the boys got their first Baslilla uniforms. We assumed that it was aublic ceremony wih the family invited. This may not have been the case. In at least some instasnces the boys participated in a ceremony in which they were symbolically reborn as young Fascists. The children waited unclothed while a Fascist party official gave a suitably patriotic speech. When he finished the speech, the boys were given their uniforms. An Italian reader writes,, "This must hasve made a strong impression in the mind of a child aged 6 or 7." HBU might have dismissed this account, but there are photoigraphs to demonstrate that such ceremonies did take place. We note a photograph taken at a Balilla summer camp in the suburbs of Rome (August 3,, 1931). The children are waiting for their uniforms. In the background we can see a tent. What we do not know is how common this was or if there were a variety of other induction ceremonies.

Figure 2.--Chins high, shoulders squared, boy Black Shirts emulate Il Duce's attempts at dramatic posturing. "Eye's left!" as jaunty Balillas quickstep with rifles and blanket rolls during a Rome review. This photograsph was published in 1937 and thus was probably taken in 1936 or early 1937.

Program

H BU still has relativlely little information on the Balilla program. Hopefully HBC readers can add to the limited information we currently have on the program.

Parading

Parading was an important activity for the Balilla and they were not amteurs at it like American Scouts. Many images of the Bailall show the boys lined up or participating in parades and other public displays. In fact we see more images here than for any otgher activity. This was not the case for the Hitker Youth and even less for Scouting. HBU has the impression that the Italian Baliall was more for show than serious military training and indoctrination, but this requires further investigation.

Military training

The boys carry rifles. One observer says that they were toy rifles, but I have no confirmation of that yet. The boys in these parades brandished weapons and made very miltaristic displays. We are not sure, however, to what extent military training was incorportaed into the program. Given the public displays and parades with weapons and mock weaponry, it must have been part of the program. The performance of the Italian Army in World War II military campaigns, however, suggests that the military training was not very effective. The Hitler Youth in Germany in contrast had a very important military role and German recruits entered military service with a host of military skills. In addition, units forned from the Hitler Youth, like the Hitler Youth Division that defended Caen after D-Day were some of the most effective in the German Army--rivaling SS units. Nothing like this seems to have transpired in Italy.

Political indoctrination

Another unanswered program is how effective the political indoctrination was. Many German accounts of adults looking back on their Hitler Youth experience marvel at how totally they were drawn into the NAZI program and view of Germany. Hitler Youth boys, even younger teenagers, fought for the NAZIs even after the War was irevocably lost. Some even tried to conduct resistance activities after their communities were occupied by the Allies. In esssisence an entire generation was throughly indoctrinated. We are not sure that the Baliall was nearly as effective.

Uniforms

We are not entirely sure just howthe children got their uniforms. The parents of most boys may have purchased them. The Balilla was a mass organization. Virtually all boys had to participate. This many that many poor children were involved. A reader tells us, "I read that the Government provided the uniforms except the footwear, at least to poor families."

Effectiveness

Italian Fascist youth organization didn't reach the grade of effectiveness that had Hitler Youth. Nevertheless Fascist and militarist indoctrination was very strong beginning in early childhood. We are not sure why the Italian Fascist youth porogram was less effective than the Hitler Youth. It does not seem to have been a particular problem at the Balilla level. There are two factors to consider here. First, were the Italian youth less suscetable to state manipulation. Second was the program itself less effective than the Hitler Youth program.