Fascist squads adopted the fez to recall the uniform of the Arditi (literally The Bolds) of World War I, as they proclaimed themselves the "party of veterans."

The Arditi were in essence the Italian Stormtroopers: heavily armed infantry divisions made up of volunteers, highly motivated and entrusted with the most dangerous missions. One of the most famous divisions was that of the "Black Caimans of the Piave," soldiers covered in grease (for the cold) and soot (to mimic in the dark) who swam across winter rivers in bathing suits and knives for sabotage and reconnaissance operations.

In the first postwar period they were the most celebrated veterans and also politically active. Many of them would follow D'Annunzio in the occupation of Fiume/Rijeka, many joined the Blackshirts, a minority part instead founded the "Arditi del popolo," a far-left paramilitary organization. D'Annunzio and later Fascism would take up many of their mottos and symbols: for example, the black flames, the skull with a dagger in its teeth, the "A noi" (To us) salute and the fez.

Now you may wonder why the Arditi used the fez. They took it in imitation of the Bersaglieri, another elite Italian infantry unit, much older than the Arditi and dating as far back as the Kingdom of Sardinia.

And, finally, the Bersaglieri began to wear the fez in battle after they were given a large quantity of it in the Crimean War (1853-1856) by the Turks at that time allies.