Highligts for Warspot: Flags in Stripes

In 1882, the Italian colonization of Eritrea began, and soon in Rome they thought about replenishing the military powers in East Africa through local mobilization resources. Over time, the colonial forces in Italian East Africa were mostly made up of Eritrean and Arab-Somali native troops (battaglioni indigeni), recruited, therefore, from 1887 in Italian Eritrea and Italian Somaliland. Their core were Eritrean soldiers, then Somalis and Ethiopians joined them, as well as Arabs — Sudanese and Yemenis.

On the left is the postcard of the 1st Arab-Somali battalion «Savoy», which looks quite strange. We see the lion as a symbol of the Askari manhood, the list of the battalion's merits, and its banner with the cross «For Military Valor» granted to the regiment, but we do not see neither the Askari themselves nor their commander. Isn't it African-style stealth infantry? On the right, the flag bearer of the 4th Eritrean battalion «Toselli» is clearly not doing well, but we can see in all its glory both the black colors of the battalion and the traditional sword «shotel», that is curved forward — so it was more convenient to strike with it from the shield

The Askari soldiers were brave and disciplined because the wages were high enough for these places and the significant rise in social status was good motivation for them. The long-term rivalry, smoldering to this day, with the main opponents of the Italians in the region, the Ethiopians, was also motivated. However, the officer corps was composed entirely of Italians and the non-commissioned officers were mixed.

There is not a «Barcelona» fan in a clash with the police on the left, but a wounded flag bearer of the 8th Eritrean battalion with a grenade in his hand and a red and blue flag, on which the cross «For Military Valor» is also flaunting. On the right, barefoot Askari of the 9th Eritrean Battalion are attacking. The lack of shoes did not prevent them from earning three crosses for their red and white flag

Native troops took part in all African campaigns of Italy, playing a crucial role in the Italo-Ethiopian War of 1935-1936. By 1940, there were 182,000 Askari in Italian East Africa and only 68,000 Italians. Just a year later, they were to face the British and, despite their initial successes, lose. It is notable that Italy, being not in a very good economic condition itself, managed to establish retirement pays for its former colonial soldiers after the Second World War.

Judging by the red and yellow colors, these are soldiers of the 13th Eritrean battalion. A wise gray-haired veteran with two stripes on the sergeant chevron (bulukbashi) explains something to the young and inexperienced. Silver stars on the chevron indicate the length of service: one star is for 12, two stars are for 14 and three stars are for 15 years, accordingly

As for the appearance of the Askari infantry battalions, the uniform of the colonial soldiers in East Africa was prescribed by the 1929 charter and generally followed the tropical uniform of the Italian troops, consisting of a French jacket and breeches with windings. Askari, depending on the conditions, wore both regular shoes and light sandals on the feet or even sported barefoot. The pride of the native battalions were their headgear and belts, which largely served as the reason for today's publication.

On the left, the Askari of the 7th Eritrean Battalion are dying but do not surrender under the black and red flag. Judging by the awards of the regiment, this is not for the first time for them. However, if the 23rd Eritrean battalion from the postcard on the right will arrive in time — everything's not lost

On the heads of the Askari flaunted a high red fez-tarbush made of felt, the hair plume on which was painted in the colors of the battalion. The waist was encircled by a 2.5-meter belt of 40 centimeters wide fabric, in the colors of the battalion as well — as a rule, consisting of alternate bright contrasting stripes. Non-commissioned officers were singled out by large shoulder sleeve insignia. Important was also the flag of a battalion — a small banner in the size of 40×40 centimeters with a distinct number in the middle, written in Latin numerals.

With a flash of lightning, the sergeant of the 11th Arab-Somali battalion «Ferrante», in alliance with the leopard, is attacking. Three red stars on the chevron mean 10 years of service in the colonial troops

Here is a far from complete selection of postcards of a completely unique genre — each unit of the Italian army used for letters home its own postcards with a bright and pretentious picture on the front side. Not only the number and proper name of the battalion were placed on the back, but also its motto, its awards and distinctions, as well as the list of battles in which the regiment distinguished itself — really a godsend for a spy or a historian. Thanks to this layer of material, we can admire the magnificent colors of Mussolini's African soldiers today.

The animal here is actually someone else's — the Abyssinian lion is a symbol of the defeated Ethiopia. The 11th Eritrean battalion in black and blue marches under its motto «Nei nostri colori monito e certezza» — «In our colors is a formidable confidence»

A clear illustration that the numbering of the regiments in the Italian colonial troops was not sequential: the black-and-green 12th Eritrean battalion on the left, and the white-and-green 12th Arab-Somalian battalion on the right. Either Somalis are richer than Eritreans, or the land is hotter, but they have sandals, unlike their colleagues

Who is faster — the lion or the barefoot askari of the 15th Eritrean Battalion «Ambessa»?

Black and white 17th Eritrean Battalion «Nebri» and black and green 21st Eritrean Battalion «Fulmine»