1930s
digitized negative
© Archivio Publifoto Intesa Sanpaolo

The precepts instilled by the Gioventù Italiana del Littorio (GIL) and the benefits offered by heliotherapy camps were intended to mould perfect young Fascists. The GIL, which reported directly to the Secretary of the National Fascist Party and was formed by the merger of the Opera Nazionale Balilla and the Giovani Fasci di Combattimento, operated to increase the spiritual, sporting and military prowess of Italian youth, based on the ideological tenets of the regime. The summer camps were widely funded by the Fascist government to combat infantile rickets and to train sturdy, strong young soldiers.