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Italy - Military Rank Flags

Last modified: 2021-08-24 by rob raeside
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Overview

I located A link to a webpage containing several state Italian flags and ensigns. This is the website of the Italian navy. The site URL is: www.marina.difesa.it. In the bottom of that page there's an arrow leading to the next page (and then to another
one) with more flag at www.marina.difesa.it/gradi/band1.htm and www.marina.difesa.it/gradi/band2.htm
Pascal Vagnat , 7 January 1999 and Jorge Candeias , 28 July 1999

The flags on the second and third rows of www.marina.difesa.it are Army and Carabinieri (national police) rank flags. I know no Italian, but the white flags with red stars and no border correspond closely enough with Italian general officers' insignia and I can identify them:
four stars: General of Army
three stars + horizontal line: General of Army Corps with Special Appointment (e.g. in command of an army)
three stars: General of Army Corps
two stars: General of Division
one star: General of Brigade
Also I would guess that the white flag with red border and four red stars is that of the army or armed forces commander-in-chief.
The arrangement (but not the color) of the stars on these Italian Army rank flags corresponds to the rectangular rank badges worn on some forms of head-dress.
Tom Gregg, 29 July 1999

The current ranks are General of Army Corps (Special Appointments), 4 stars; General of Army Corps, 3 stars; General of Division, 2 stars; and General of Brigade, 1 star.
Source: Rosignoli's books on army rank badges.
Tom Gregg, 26 March 2000


Minister of Defence

image by Miles Li, 23 December 2020

Flag at www.difesa.it.
Dov Gutterman
, 2 November 2004

The emblems are: Army (upper hoist) Navy (upper fly), Air Force (lower hoist) and the Carabinieri (lower fly). The Air Force eagle has a mural crown to indicate that it is the Aeronautica Militare, not civil aviation. Carabinieri are similar to the Gendarmerie Nationale in France. Under military discipline and "owned" by the defense ministry but under interior ministry control in peacetime.
Joe McMillan, 3 November 2004

The flag of the Italian Minister of the Defence (Army, Navy, Air Forces and Carabinieri) after that Carabinieri became the 4th Armed force (previously they were under the Army command).
Alessandro Rasulo, 5 March 2005

Previous Flag

image located by Miles Li, 23 December 2020

I have a picture with a smaller emblem. Found in 'The International Flag Book in Colour' by Christian Fogd Pedersen ed. Bedells, 1971 [ped71b].
This flag already appeared in Preben Kannik’s ‘Alverdens flag i farver’ (as no. 346) [kan56], same artist.
The emblem combines a bomb, wings, and an anchor.
Jan Mertens, 9 March 2009


Undersecretary of State of Defence

image by Miles Li, 23 December 2020

The flag of Italian Defense Vice-Ministers/Under Secretaries of State's (Sottosegretari di Stato) has changed. The new flag is at www.difesa.it.
The four emblems are those of the ARMY (pennant-top), NAVY, AIR FORCE and CARABINIERI (rotating clockwise). The Flag was modified when the Carabinieri acquired the rank of distinct service (Forza Armata); the central star is a typical State Emblem. The Minister's flag has a double golden square contouring the emblem, as in the Prime Minister Flag.
In origin, each Vice-Minister had a flag related to a single service, reminiscent of the time when there where 3 different ministries ("Min. della Guerra" for the Army, "Min. della Marina" for the Navy, "Min. dell'Aeronautica" for the Air Force).
Adelasia Torres, 16 August 2009

Previous Flag

image located by Miles Li, 23 December 2020


Chief-of-Staff of Defence

image by Miles Li, 23 December 2020

Dark blue field with four white stars placed diagonally inside two white-outlined dark blue rectangles
Source: Album des Pavillons, correction #30 (June 1998), pp. 146-147 [pay]
Ivan Sache, 13 July 1999

According to Italian navy site this is the "Insegna del Capo di Stato Maggiore della Difesa" (Chief-of-Staff of Defence).
Dov Gutterman and Pier Paolo Lugli, 5 September 2000


General of Army

image by Miles Li, 16 December 2020

Marshall of Italy during the Mussolini era - Rectangular white flag (2:3) with four five-pointed red stars placed along the upper hoist-lower fly diagonal.
Now used by a General of Army.
Source: Flaggenbuch [neu92].
Ivan Sache, 20 March 2000

According to Italian navy site this is the "Bandiera distintiva per Generale di C.A. o di S.A. con incarico a 4 stelle" (Flag for General of an Army Corp or of the Staff with a charge requiring 4 stars).
Dov Gutterman and Pier Paolo Lugli, 5 September 2000


Chief of the General Staff

image by Miles Li, 23 December 2020

Chief of the general staff during the Mussolini era - As above but with a red border inside the flag and the number of stars according to the rank of the officer. Seems to be still in use.
Source: Flaggenbuch [neu92].
Ivan Sache, 20 March 2000

According to Italian navy site this is the "Bandiera distintiva per i Capi di S.M. di F.A. e per il Segretario Generale della Difesa" (Ensign for the Chief of Staff of Armed Forces and for the General Secretary of Defense) - The flag in the site is with 4 stars. Above we got a 2 stars flag as Chief of the General Staff with remark that "the number of stars according to the rank of the officer"
Dov Gutterman and Pier Paolo Lugli, 5 September 2000


General of Army Corps or of the Staff in charge of an Army

image by Miles Li, 16 December 2020

General of Army during the Mussolini era - Same as Marshall, but with only three stars.
Now used by a General of Army Corps.
Source: Flaggenbuch [neu92].
Ivan Sache, 20 March 2000

According to Italian navy site this is the "Bandiera distintiva per Generale di C.A. o di S.A" (Flag for a General of Army Corp or of the Staff in charge of an Army).
Dov Gutterman and Pier Paolo Lugli, 5 September 2000

image by Miles Li, 16 December 2020

According to Italian navy site there is also a rank flag with 3 stars and bar as the "Bandiera distintiva per Generale di C.A. o di S.A designato d'armata" (Flag for a General of Army Corp or of the Staff on charge of a Corp).
Dov Gutterman and Pier Paolo Lugli, 5 September 2000


General of Division

image by Miles Li, 16 December 2020

General of Corps during the Mussolini era - Same as Marshall, but with only two stars.
Now used by a General of Division.
Source: Flaggenbuch [neu92].
Ivan Sache, 20 March 2000

According to Italian navy site this is the "Bandiera distintiva per Generale di Div. o Div. Aerea" (Flag for a General of Division or  Air Force Division).
Dov Gutterman and Pier Paolo Lugli, 5 September 2000


General of Brigade

image by Miles Li, 16 December 2020

General of Brigade during the Mussolini era- Same as Marshall, but with only one star. Still in use.
Source: Flaggenbuch [neu92].
Ivan Sache, 20 March 2000

According to Italian navy site this is the "Bandiera distintiva per Generale di Brigata o di Brigata aerea" (" Flag for General of Brigade or Air Force Brigade).
Dov Gutterman and Pier Paolo Lugli, 5 September 2000


Commanding General of the Carabinieri

image by Miles Li, 23 December 2020

In the Italian navy site there is the "Insegna del Comandante Generale dell'Arma dei Carabinieri" (Flag for the General Chief of the Carabinieri). (see here)
Dov Gutterman and Pier Paolo Lugli, 5 September 2000


Military Ordinary

The Military Ordinariate of Italy is responsible for the Catholic chaplaincies of all branches of the Italian military.
Miles Li, 18 December 2020

In the Italian navy site there are rank flags as follows:

Military Ordinary (Ordinario Militare d'Italia)

image by Miles Li, 18 December 2020

"Bandiera distintiva per l'Ordinario Militare di Italia" (Flag for the Military Ordinariate of Italy) (see here).
Dov Gutterman and Pier Paolo Lugli , 5 September 2000

Military Vicar General (Vicario Militare Generale per l'Italia)

image by Miles Li, 18 December 2020

Inspector-Episcopal Vicar (Ispettore-Vicario Episcopale)

image by Miles Li, 18 December 2020

"Bandiera distintiva del Vicario Militare Generale per l'Italia" (Flag for the General Military Vicario for Italy) (see here)
Dov Gutterman and Pier Paolo Lugli , 5 September 2000