Miniature gilt medal with eyelet for ribbon suspension; the face with three half-length male figures standing in line, a javelin in their right hands, the leading figure with a discus in his left hand; the reverse with an arch of two upright fasces, a square symbol above with a fasces at the slope and the letters ‘ONB’ (for Opera Nazionale Balilla); diameter 20.3mm (0.8 inch); on original ribbon in the Italian national colours. The Opera Nazionale Balilla was created in 1926 for boys aged from 8 to 14 to inculcate Italian and particularly fascist ideals and to prepare youth for military service. In 1937 it was absorbed into the Gioventù Italiana del Littorio (G.I.L.) of the National Fascist Party.
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