Elite Italian assault troops or commandos, particularly famous as daring special forces units in World War I and subsequent conflicts.
From Italian 'ardito,' meaning bold or daring, derived from Latin 'ardere' (to burn or glow with passion). The term crystallized into a military designation during early 20th-century warfare.
The Arditi were Italy's answer to elite shock troops—they wore distinctive blackshirts and pioneered tactics like night raids and infiltration that influenced modern commando training worldwide. They were basically the original special forces.
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