29th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS ( 1st Italian ) The 29th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS ( 1st Italian ) or Legione SS Italiana was created on 10 February 1945 as the second SS - Division numbered 29 . The first on the 29th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS ( 1st Russian ) , was disbanded . The new unit created in November 1943 , was based on the Waffen - Grenadier - Brigade der SS ( italienische Nr . 1 ) . The division is also called " Italia " . Background . The Kingdom of Italy on 8 September 1943 signed a truce with the Allies . In response , the German Army ( " Wehrmacht Heer " ) and the Waffen - SS disarmed Italian troops unless they were fighting for the German cause . The new Italian Social Republic was founded on 23 September 1943 under dictator Benito Mussolini and this allowed Italians to be recruited for Waffen - SS . On 2 October 1943 , Heinrich Himmler and Gottlob Berger devised the " Programm zur Aufstellung der italienischen Milizeinheiten durch die Waffen - SS " which was approved by Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini . Training . In October 15 , 000 volunteers started training at Truppenübungsplatz Münsingen , but 9 , 000 of them were unsuitable and released for training in Police units , the Black Brigades or for labor . The soldiers wore Sig rune ( SS Runes ) on red rather than black , and the left sleeve had a Reichsadler , not with a swastika , but with fasces . On 23 November 1943 , 13 Miliz - Battalions pledged their loyalty before being moved to " SS - Ausbildungsstab Italien " under SS - Brigadeführer s Peter Hansen who led them in a " bloody war among brothers " against partisans . The unit was commanded by SS - Obergruppenführer Karl Wolff and called " Italienische SS - Freiwilligen - Legion " , but soon renamed " 1 . Sturmbrigade Italienische Freiwilligen - Legion " . Soon the unit was called " Legionari " in Italy , also in official reports . Combat . In April 1944 three battalion s fought against Allied bridgeheads of Anzio and Nettuno with surprisingly good results , for which Heinrich Himmler on 3 May 1944 allowed them to wear SS - Runes on black rather than red and be fully integrated into the Waffen SS . Members of the " Vendetta " under former Blackshirt Lieutenant - Colonel Delgi Oddi particularly distinguished themeselves in defeating a determined effort by the U . S . 3rd Infantry Division to overrun their positions and capturing a number of prisoners . On 7 September 1944 renamed to " Waffen - Grenadier - Brigade der SS ( italienische Nr . 1 ) " under Generalkommando " Lombardia " of Heeresgruppe C . New recruits allowed the unit grow in December 1944 to 15 , 000 men . In Spring 1945 the Division under command by SS - Oberführer Ernst Tzschoppe as " Kampfgruppe Binz " fought against French units and Resistenza in Piemont . On 30 April 1945 the last elements of the Division surrendered to US troops in Gorgonzola , Lombardy . Post - war . As with other former members of Nazi combat formations veterans of the Italian SS division found employment in the CIA - orchestrated organizations of illegal and clandestine political warfare in an " anti - communist " role . Several former Italian SS men ( like Pio Filippani Ronconi ) were involved with the deviated branches of Italian Secret Services and Stay - behind formations used to spread insecurity and terror among the general populace in the 60s and 70s ( Strategia della tensione ) , to dissuade Italians from bringing left political parties to power .