National Republican Army

The National Republican Army (; abbreviated ENR) was the army of the Italian Social Republic (, or RSI) from 1943 to 1945 that fought on the side of Nazi Germany during World War II. The ENR was officially formed 28 October 1943, by merging former Royal Army units still loyal to fascist dictator Benito Mussolini and Italian pro-Fascist units raised by the Germans after the occupation of southern Italy. History As a consequence of the Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943, political forces allied to king Victor Emmanuel III took power in Italy, imprisoned dictator Benito Mussolini and negotiated an armistice between Italy and the Allied armed forces that took effect on 8 September 1943.