3 August, 1943 PURPOSE.~ The purpose of this handbook is te give United States military personnel a better understanding of the principal char~ acteristics of the Italian army. GENERAL.~ contains The Italian or specialities Army (specialita), ential to an accurate conception The most characteristic of these Carabinieri (Carabinieri in the infantry are alse certain distinctive branches, an understanding of which is ese- Reali). of the organization as a whole. is the arm of the Royal Certain specialties highly characteristic. included Divisional infantry (fanteria divisionale), for example, includes the Grenadiers of Sardinia (Grenadieri di Sardegna), who are dif~ ferentiated from other troops reputed superior mcrale. only by their height and their | ROYAL CARABINIERI.~ This arm ig a semi-military body, but it occuples historically the senior position in the Army. The Royal Carabinieri, commonly called the "first arm of the Army," actually compose a select corps of well-trained, well-equipped, — and disciplined military police. The organization, training equipment, and discipline of this arm are under the direct control of the Ministry of “ar, and it is the senior corps of the italian Army. Peacetime functions are variously controlled by _ the Ministry of the Interior, the Yinistry of the Navy, and the Ministry of Italian Africa. : The Soyal Carabinieri are better paid than the personnel of the Regular army, and Carabinieri rank is senior te corresponding Army rank, : FUNCTION.~ The Carabinieri have a dual role: ) (a) They are the military and field security police of the Amy, and are also responsible for the registration of the annual conscript classes and the smooth working of mobilization. (b}) They perform the duties of a civilian police force except in the larger towns, where the “ublic Security police or municipal police operate.