The big picture below is the front cover of an
Opera Nazionale Balilla document, a 1932-33 school report. It is a good example of the kind of imagery that appeared on educational establishment documents, aimed at children, at that time. The Balilla were, in fact, a youth organization for young children of elementary school age. The fascist regime utilised Scout-like regimented organizations in order to "form" children and young adults into ideal fascists. Thus, from the Balilla, children progressed to the Avanguardisti, or "frontlinesmen", and then on to the infamous Blackshirts as they got older. These organizations were compulsory, and rotated around the Sabato Fascista, or Fascist Saturday, as it was known: a day devoted to the formation of a new fascist society through group activities, military drills and the like. The fornt cover below shows, in fact, one of the young Balilla in (fascist) uniform, with beret and replica moschetto, or musket (rifle).
