National Recreational Club (OND) Badge
National RecreationalClub (OND) Badge - Silvered alloy, maker marked "PICCHIANI FIRENZE" on the buttonhole attachment, light gilt wear, near extremely fine. Footnote: The National Recreational Club (Opera Nazionale Dopolavoro = OND) was the Italian Fascist leisure and recreational organization. Originally formed in 1925 under the demands of the Fascist unions, as a way to compete with the Socialists, who had a network of cultural organizations. Not affiliated with the Fascist Party at the beginning, it gained support of employers and was modelled after the YMCA. This changed in 1927, when it was taken over by Augusto Turati, who turned the OND into an auxiliary of the party. In 1930, under Archelle Starace, the OND transitioned to be primarily a Sports and Recreational organization.

