Italian Royal Army Infantry (Arditi & Bersaglieri) WWI – Custom Printed Brick Block Figure

this image showcases a fantastic duo of Custom Printed Brick Block Figures.

Together, they represent two of the most famous and elite infantry branches of the Italian Royal Army (Regio Esercito) during World War I (1915–1918). While they share the iconic Italian grey-green uniform and M15 helmet, their specific insignias and tactical gear highlight entirely different combat roles on the Alpine front.

Here is a detailed, one-by-one breakdown of each character from left to right:

1. Left Figure: WWI Italian Army “Arditi” Assault Trooper

• Specific Name: WWI Italian Arditi Shock Trooper

• Headgear: He wears a dark steel-grey Italian M15 Adrian helmet. Printed on the front is the official Arditi insignia: a gladius (Roman dagger) surrounded by an oak and laurel wreath.

• Facial Features: He features an aggressive, shouting expression with defined facial lines, capturing the fierce and fearless demeanor required of a frontline trench raider.

• Uniform & Insignia:

  • He wears the standard Grey-Green (Grigio-verde) tunic, but uniquely styled with an open collar revealing a black shirt beneath—the ultimate hallmark of the Arditi, symbolizing their defiance of death.

  • His lapels feature black, two-pointed flame patches (Fiamme Nere) pinned with the silver Star of Savoy.

  • His left shoulder proudly displays the printed Arditi corps sleeve badge.

• Tactical Gear: Built for speed and close-quarters combat, he wears a specialized canvas grenade vest/bandolier instead of standard rifle pouches. A signature trench dagger (Pugnale) is tucked directly into the center of his chest rig.

• Footwear: His boots feature highly detailed printed hobnails (metal cleats) on the soles, designed for gripping the icy, rocky terrain of the Alps.

2. Right Figure: WWI Italian Army “Bersagliere” Sharpshooter

• Specific Name: WWI Italian Bersagliere (Historically styled as a Young Benito Mussolini)

• Headgear: He wears the same M15 helmet, but his bears the insignia of the Bersaglieri corps: a bugle horn with a flaming grenade.

• Facial Features: He features a stern, resolute expression with a distinct square jaw and mustache. This specific facial printing is historically modeled after Corporal Benito Mussolini, who served as a Bersagliere in WWI before his rise to political power.

• Uniform & Insignia:

  • He wears the Grey-Green tunic with a traditional closed collar.

  • His collar features the iconic crimson red patches (Fiamme cremisi) adorned with the silver Star of Savoy, instantly identifying his branch. Rank chevrons are printed on his sleeves.

• Tactical Gear: He is equipped as a standard frontline marksman. He wears a canvas cross-strap and a combat belt fitted with black leather ammunition pouches designed to hold stripper clips for the Carcano rifle.

• Footwear: Unlike the Arditi’s hobnailed boots, his lower legs and boots are heavily coated in printed mud weathering, symbolizing the miserable, muddy trench conditions of the Isonzo river valleys.

Historical Background: The Elite of the Italian Front

These two figures perfectly contrast the different tactical approaches used by the Italian Army to fight the Austro-Hungarian Empire in some of the most unforgiving terrain in military history.

• The Bersaglieri (Right): Founded in the 1830s, the Bersaglieri were Italy’s elite light infantry and marksmen. Known for their extreme physical endurance, they traditionally moved at a rapid jog. During WWI, they were deployed as highly dependable shock troops and sharpshooters in the brutal trench warfare of the Alpine and Isonzo fronts.

• The Arditi (Left): As the war stagnated into a bloody stalemate, the Italian command created the Arditi (“The Daring”) in 1917. Considered the world’s first modern special forces, these volunteers bypassed standard rifle tactics. Armed primarily with hand grenades and daggers, they specialized in rushing enemy trenches under the cover of artillery to engage in brutal hand-to-hand combat. Their black shirts and reckless bravery made them legendary, though they suffered immense casualties.