Black Shirts

Black Shirts

Black Shirts colloquial term originally used to refer to the members of the Fasci di combattimento, units of the Fascist organization founded in Italy in Mar., 1919, by Benito Mussolini . A black shirt was the most distinctive part of their uniform. The Black Shirts were mainly discontented ex-soldiers. Ultranationalist, they posed as champions of law and order and violently attacked Communists, socialists, and other radical and progressive groups. They broke up strikes, destroyed trade union headquarters, and drove socialist and Communist officials from office. In Oct., 1922, their activities culminated in the famous march on Rome, which brought Mussolini to power. Afterward, while the term "Black Shirts" continued to be used to refer to party militants in general, the name Fasci di combattimento designated the local party units.

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"Black Shirts." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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Blackshirt

Blackshirt The colloquial name given to the Squadre d'Azione (Action Squad), the national combat groups, founded in Italy in 1919. Organized along paramilitary lines, they wore black shirts and patrolled cities to fight socialism and communism by violent means. In 1921 they were incorporated into the Fascist Party (see FASCISM) as a national militia. The SS in Nazi Germany and the followers of Oswald MOSLEY's British Union of Fascists in the 1930s were also known as Blackshirts.

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"Blackshirt." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Blackshirt." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-Blackshirt.html

"Blackshirt." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-Blackshirt.html

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blackshirt

black·shirt / ˈblakˌshərt/ • n. a member of a fascist organization, in particular: ∎  (in Italy) a member of a paramilitary group founded by Mussolini. ∎  (in Nazi Germany) a member of the SS.

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"blackshirt." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"blackshirt." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-blackshirt.html

"blackshirt." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-blackshirt.html

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blackshirt

blackshirt a member of a Fascist organization, in particular, (in Italy) a member of a paramilitary group founded in the 1920s by Benito Mussolini, and (in the UK) a supporter of Oswald Mosley's British Union of Fascists, founded in 1932.

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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "blackshirt." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "blackshirt." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-blackshirt.html

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "blackshirt." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-blackshirt.html

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Blackshirt

Blackshirtadvert, alert, animadvert, assert, avert, Bert, blurt, Burt, cert, chert, concert, controvert, convert, curt, desert, dessert, dirt, divert, exert, flirt, girt, hurt, inert, insert, introvert, Kurt, malapert, overt, pert, pervert, quirt, shirt, skirt, spirt, spurt, squirt, Sturt, subvert, vert, wort, yurt •Engelbert • Colbert • sweatshirt •nightshirt • pay dirt • Frankfurt •miniskirt • underskirt • expert •Blackshirt • redshirt • T-shirt •Brownshirt • undershirt • extrovert •ragwort • milkwort • pillwort •nipplewort • lungwort • bladderwort •liverwort

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"Blackshirt." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Blackshirt." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Blackshirt.html

"Blackshirt." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Blackshirt.html

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

Eugenia Paulicelli. Fashion under Fascism: Beyond the Black Shirt.(ITALIAN...
Magazine article from: Annali d'Italianistica; 1/1/2004
Rugby Union: World Cup: FEAR THAT DROVE ME TO BLITZ ENGLAND: ENGLAND 16 NEW...
Newspaper article from: The Mirror (London, England); 10/11/1999
Fashion under Fascism: Beyond the Black Shirt.(Nazi Chic?: Fashioning Women...
Magazine article from: Canadian Journal of History; 12/1/2005
Black Shirts images
Black Shirts. Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)