European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 24, 1948, Darmstadt, Hesse                                In the country s largest military display since 1938, 20,000 italian troops paraded through Rome 11 Days before election time Italy s army photographs by Bernd Lohse. X. Trained by United states and England Italy s army marched in its greatest Post War How of Force for italian elections on april 7, just 11 Days before the italian elections More than 20,000 italian army troops marched through Rome in the strongest display of its own military strength the country had seen since 1938. The Parade was ostensibly intended to Mark the reactivation of the sardinian Grenadier infantry division which lied in the War. But italian minister of Interior Mario Scelba in announcing the event warned citizens that this Force was Only a tiny part of the 330,000 soldiers police men sailors and aviators who would be mobilized by the government on election Day to keep the peace. This meant that no less than four armed men were guarding every voting Booth throughout the country. Of Italy s total armed forces of 330,000, More than 150,000 belong to the regular army of italians which a 300-Man Allied military Mission trained after the 1943 armistice As an interim army. Under the terms of the armistice the allies then turned this Force Over to the italian si5 v la a ostensibly the Parade was to celebrate the reactivation of the flashy Sardinia grenadiers colourful infantry division 8 weekend april 24, ims