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The 40 Black Brigades or the brigata nera were the fascist paramilitary operating in northern Italy, also known as the Italian Social Republic, during the final years of World War Two after the signing of the Italian Armistice in 1943. They were officially known as the "Guardia Nazionale Repubblicana" or GNR. Mussolini, who had been captured by the Italian partisans was rescued and installed as the President of the Italian Social Republic. As the MVSN was disbanded by the terms of the armistice, The Guardia Nazionale Repubblicana or GNR was formed on 24 November 1943 out of hard-core former MVSN, ex- carabinieri, ex-army and others still loyal to the fascist cause.
The Black Brigades were formed out of the more fanatical members and they not only fought the Allies, and Italian partisans, but also fought against and murdered their political opponents. Many were killed in the fighting.
