Balilla

Balilla was the nickname given to Giovanni Battista Perasso, a Genoese boy who, according to tradition, sparked the revolt against the Habsburg forces occupying Genoa in 1746. He became a folk hero, and his name was later adopted by the Fascist regime in Italy for its youth organization.

The Opera Nazionale Balilla (ONB) was an Italian Fascist youth organization established in 1926. It was named in honor of Giovanni Battista Perasso ("Balilla"). The organization served to indoctrinate young Italians with Fascist ideology and values, promote physical fitness, and prepare them for future roles in the Fascist state.

The ONB was structured into various age groups, each with its own activities and uniforms. Boys aged 8 to 14 were known as Balilla, while those aged 14 to 18 were known as Avanguardisti. Girls were organized under the Piccole Italiane (Little Italian Girls) and Giovani Italiane (Young Italian Girls) sections.

The organization's activities included paramilitary training, sports, patriotic ceremonies, and indoctrination sessions. The Balilla aimed to instill a sense of national pride, discipline, and obedience to the Fascist regime. Membership in the ONB was highly encouraged and, over time, became virtually compulsory for young Italians during the Fascist era. The organization was disbanded after the fall of the Fascist regime in 1943.