The Milizia Volontaria per la Sicurezza Nationale (MVSN) was created from the Fascist Squadristi, the black shirt wearing paramilitaries who broke up strikes, political demonstrations, and enforced the policies of the National Fascist Party.  Once il Duce gained power, the Squadristi were disbanded and merged into the military.  Mussolini's intent was to model the new Milizia after the armies of Imperial Rome and to attach a "legion" (battalion) to every infantry regiment in the Royal Italian army.  The Blackshirts were present in all theaters of operation, being first employed extensively in the Italo-Ethiopian War.  Later, the MVSN would serve in North Africa, Albania, Yugoslavia, France, Greece, and the Soviet Union.  Blackshirt units wore silver fasces on their lapel insignia instead of the Savoia Star on all other uniforms of the military.  Units which distinguished themselves particularly in battle were recognized, starting in 1941, by a crimson "M" in Mussolini's handwriting with a fasces within worn on their lapel insignia (mostrine).  These "M" Battalions were the elite shocktroops of the MVSN and that is what we have chosen to portray.