Police service of africa-italian service
Law enforcement agency
The
Italian African Police
(
Italian
:
Polizia dell'Africa Italiana
, or PAI), was the
provost
, and
police
force of
Italian North Africa
and
Italian East Africa
from 1 June 1936 to 1 December 1945.
[1]
Characteristics
[
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]
Towards the end of the war in Ethiopia (late 1936 and early 1937), Italy created a corps of
Polizia Coloniale
("Colonial Police") for law enforcement in
Italian North Africa
(
Africa Settentrionale Italiana
, or ASI;
Libya
). The corps was created by reorganization of
public safety
units operating in Libya. By March 1938, it was issuing license plates. The corps was later expanded to operate in
Ethiopia
and the rest of
Italian East Africa
(
Africa Orientale Italiana
; AOI).
In 1939, the corps was renamed
Polizia dell'Africa Italiana
("Police of Italian Africa"; PAI). At this time, the corps was supplied with motor vehicles (including armored cars, light tanks, motorcycles, motor-tricycles, and automobiles). The PAI received about 1,000 vehicles and as many motorcycles.
The new corps was initially subordinated to the
Ministry of the Colonies
and, then, to the "Ministry of Italian Africa" (then held by
Alessandro Lessona
). Its first commander, from 1937 to 1943, was General
Riccardo Maraffa
, replaced for a brief period in 1943 by General
Quirino Armellini
.
The PAI had a reputation for discipline and high training levels, and for being provided with good equipment. Even after the collapse of AOI, the PAI were able to keep the peace in
Addis Ababa
, the capital of Ethiopia.
During
World War II
, the Italian colonies in Africa were conquered by the
Allies
; PAI in the colonies were captured. Some PAI were stationed in Italy, for training and administrative functions.
In September 1943, Italy surrendered to the Allies, but German forces occupied northern and central Italy, and established a puppet government, the
Repubblica Sociale Italiana
(
Italian Social Republic
; RSI). The RSI then moved the remnant PAI to the city of
Rome
, where they helped enforce RSI control and maintain public order.
On 4 June 1944, Rome was liberated by the Allies. The PAI was disbanded and its equipment was given to the regular State Police (
Polizia di Stato
).
Origin
[
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]
The Royal Decree of 10 June 1937, n. 1211, established its organic regulations, for which it was a militarily organized civil body and making it part of the
Italian Armed Forces
, with functions of
political
, judicial and administrative police.
Organization
[
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]
The force was a racially mixed organization, made up of Italian agents and many native
askaris
. It was located in police headquarters of major cities like
Tripoli
,
Benghazi
,
Asmara
,
Addis Ababa
,
Mogadishu
,
Gondar
, or in small commissariats otherwhere.
The PAI training school was in
Tivoli
.
Part of the PAI personnel was mounted on
Moto Guzzi
motorcycles, with many armed with the
Beretta M1938A
9mm sub-machine gun.
Strength
[
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]
At the outbreak of World War II the PAI had 7,672 men, of which 6,345 were in AOI (Eritrea, Ethiopia and Italian Somalia) and 1,327 were in ASI (
Italian Libya
). The bulk of the force consisted of indigenous personnel who were trained and equipped to the same standard as Italian personnel. There were 5,146 indigenous personnel, 4,414 from AOI and 732 from ASI.
World War II
[
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]
The PAI fought during World War II in the Italian colonies and in Italy.
Africa
[
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]
During
World War II
, the PAI fought as a combat unit alongside the
Royal Italian Army
. For the garrison of the Libyan littoral way, at the outbreak of the conflict two companies on motorcycles and an armored car were assigned to the Exploring Unit of the CAM (
Corpo armato di manovra
) Battalion "
Romolo Gessi
". They had little fortune since, after a sudden enemy attack, numerous soldiers were hit by
friendly fire
from German aircraft. The battalion repaired in
Tripolitania
and was converted into a mixed company. Several units participated in war actions, at Tripoli,
Benghazi
,
Barce
, but the details regarding effective employment are insufficient.
Defense of Italy
[
edit
]
After the
Armistice of Cassibile
, the evening of 8 September 1943 the PAI participated to the defense of
Rome
engaging the first conflict with the Germans at
Mezzocammino
, near
Castelfusano
, with troops of
Carabinieri
, in aid to a garrison of
Grenadiers of Sardinia
. On the other side of
Rome
, at the same time, some troops protected the escape of the
King
Victor Emmanuel III
along the
Via Tiburtina
, the King and the
Prime Minister
Pietro Badoglio
; once accomplished the task, they were sent along the
Via Laurentina
. On 9 September the PAIRS, with the
Bersaglieri
and cadet police officers, forced for a while the Germans to retreat from the
Magliana
area; however, after some hours, they had in turn to withdraw in direction of
Fort Ostiense
, which was later stormed by the Germans.
The commander and founder of the PAI, General Marraffa, was captured by the
Nazis
and deported to the
Dachau concentration camp
, where he died.
Salo Republic
[
edit
]
Later, there was a reorganization attempt in northern Italy, with the opening of a PAI school at
Busto Arsizio
in the autumn of 1943. However, the troops were absorbed by the
Republican Police Corps
of the
Italian Social Republic
, and finally by the
National Republican Guard
.
Ranks
[
edit
]
Ranks were as for the
Royal Italian Army
with enlisted rank being the older style larger pattern of red chevrons worn on both upper sleeves.
PAI Rank
- Allievo guardia
- Guardia di Polizia
- Guardia scelta
- Vice brigadiere
- Brigadiere
- Aspirante ispettore
- Ispettore aggiunto
- Ispettore
- Primo ispettore
- Ispettore capo
- Vice questore
- Questore
- Ispettore generale
- Capo della polizia dell'Al
|
|
Italian Army Rank
- Soldato
- Caporale
- Caporale maggiore
- Sergente
- Sergente maggiore
- Aspirante
- Sottotenente
- Tenente
- Capitano
- Maggiore
- Tenente Colonnello
- Colonnello
- Generale di Brigata
- Generale di Divisione
|
Uniform
[
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]
Personnel wore the standard Italian khaki tropical uniform but with a blue
aiguilette
fixed from the right
shoulder strap
to the second button down the front of his
tunic
. Personnel also wore a small gold PAI badge on the front of their headgear and small brass
fasces
pinned directly to their collars.
Motorcycle mounted personnel wore a brown leather
crash helmet
, light khaki breeches with brown leather boots and leather leggings to protect the lower legs.
See also
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]
References
[
edit
]
- Crocaini, P. & Viotti, A.
Le Uniformi dell'AOI (Somalia 1889-1941)
.
- Girlando, R.
P.A.I. Polizia dell'Africa Italiana
.
Notes
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]
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Related articles
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Colonial troops
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