Svoboda | Graniru | BBC Russia | Golosameriki | Facebook
Jump to content

8th Alpini Regiment

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
8th Alpini Regiment
8° Reggimento Alpini
Regimental coat of arms
Active1 Oct. 1909 — 13 Sept. 1943
1 April 1946 — today
Country Italy
BranchItalian Army
TypeMountain Infantry
Part ofAlpine Brigade "Julia"
Garrison/HQVenzone
Motto(s)"O là.... o rompi"
Anniversaries24 May 1915
Decorations
1x Military Order of Italy
2x Gold Medals of Military Valor[1][2]
1x Silver Medal of Military Valor
1x Silver Medal of Army Valor[3]
1x Bronze Medal of Army Valor[4]
1x Silver Cross of Army Merit[5][6]
Insignia
Alpini gorget patches
8th Alpini patrol in Afghanistan
8th Alpini Regiment mortar team

The 8th Alpini Regiment (Italian: 8° Reggimento Alpini) is a mountain warfare regiment of the Italian Army based in Venzone in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The regiment belongs to the Italian Army's Alpini infantry speciality and is assigned to the Alpine Brigade "Julia". On 1 October 1909, the Royal Italian Army formed the 8th Alpini Regiment by splitting the 7th Alpini Regiment. The new regiment's recruiting area consisted of the Carnic Alps, Carnic Prealps, and the Western side of the Julian Alps.[7][8][9] During World War I the regiment expanded to ten battalions, which fought separately in the alpine areas of the Italian front. The regiment's anniversary falls on 24 May 1916, the first day of the war on the Italian front, on which the regiment's Alpini battalions "Tolmezzo" and "Val Tagliamento" earned a shared Silver Medal of Military Valor for having taken and held the summits of Pal Piccolo, Freikofel and Pal Grande.[6][7][8][9]

History

[edit]

On 1 October 1909, the 8th Alpini Regiment was formed in Udine. On the same day the regiment received the Alpini Battalion "Tolmezzo" and the Alpini Battalion "Gemona" from the 7th Alpini Regiment, and also formed the Alpini Battalion "Cividale", which consisted of the 16th and 20th Alpini companies, which had been ceded by the 2nd Alpini Regiment, and the newly formed 76th Alpini Company. The regiment's battalions, like all Alpini battalions at the time, were named for the cities and towns, where their base was located. Since 1886 Alpini soldiers and non-commissioned officers were issued thread tufts, called Nappina in Italian, which were clipped to the Cappello Alpino headdress, and colored white for the troops of a regiment's first battalion, red for the troops of a regiment's second battalion, green for the troops of a regiment's third battalion, and blue for the troops of a regiment's fourth battalion. After its formation the 8th Alpini Regiment consisted of the following units:[8][9]

The regiment was assigned together with the 6th Alpini Regiment and 7th Alpini Regiment to the III Alpini Group, which on 9 August 1910 was renamed III Alpine Brigade.[8][9]

Italo-Turkish War

[edit]

On 29 September 1911 the Kingdom of Italy declared war against the Ottoman Empire and the regimental command of the 8th Alpini Regiment and the Alpini Battalion "Tolmezzo" was deployed to Libya for the Italo-Turkish War. In October 1912 the regimental command was used to form the 8th Special Regiment, which was led by Colonel Antonio Cantore. The regiment included the Alpini Battalion "Tolmezzo", as well as the 3rd Alpini Regiment's Alpini Battalion "Susa", the 5th Alpini Regiment's Alpini Battalion "Vestone", and the 7th Alpini Regiment's Alpini Battalion "Feltre". On 23 March 1913, the 8th Special Regiment fought in the Battle of Assaba, and on 18 June 1913 in the Battle of Ettangi against local rebel forces. For its conduct in the Battle of Assaba and its conduct in the Battle of Ettangi the Alpini Battalion "Tolmezzo", was awarded two Silver Medals of Military Valor, which were affixed to the flag of the 8th Alpini Regiment and added to the regiment's coat of arms. During the war the 8th Alpini Regiment also provided four officers and 250 troops to augment other units fighting in the war.[6][8][9]

World War I

[edit]
See also: Alpini and Mountain Artillery formations in World War I

At the outbreak of World War I the Alpini speciality consisted of eight regiments, which fielded 26 battalions with 79 companies. Each Alpini battalion, with the exception of the Alpini Battalion "Verona", fielded three Alpini companies, while the Alpini Battalion "Verona" fielded four companies. Each company consisted of one captain, four lieutenants and 250 other ranks. After Italy's initial declaration of neutrality 38 additional Alpini companies were formed during the autumn of 1914 with men, who had completed their military service in the preceding four years. These companies were numbered from 80th to 117th and assigned to the existing Alpini battalions. During the same year the regimental command of the 8th Alpini Regiment moved from Udine to Venzone. In January 1915, each Alpini battalion formed a reserve battalion, with men, who had completed their military service at least four years, but not more than eleven years prior. These reserve battalions were named for a valley (Italian: Valle; abbreviated Val) located near their associated regular Alpini battalion's base, and the reserve battalions received the same Nappina as their associated regular Alpini battalion. The companies of the Valle battalions were numbered from 201st to 281st, with the numbers 227th, 233rd, 237th, 271st, and 273rd unused.[8][9][10]

On 23 May 1915, Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary and at the time the 8th Alpini Regiment consisted of the following units:[9][10]

  • 7th Alpini Regiment, in Venzone[9][10]
    • Alpini Battalion "Tolmezzo"[11]
      • 6th, 12th, 72nd, and 109th Alpini Company
    • Alpini Battalion "Gemona"[12]
      • 69th, 70th, 71st, and 97th Alpini Company
    • Alpini Battalion "Cividale"[13]
      • 16th, 20th, 76th, and 110th Alpini Company
    • Alpini Battalion "Val Tagliamento"[14]
      • 212th, 272nd, and 278th Alpini Company
    • Alpini Battalion "Val Fella"[15]
      • 269th and 270th (8th Alpini Company, originally assigned to the Alpini Battalion "Pieve di Teco", joined the battalion in 1916)
    • Alpini Battalion "Val Natisone"[16]
      • 216th, 220th, and 279th Alpini Company

By the end of 1915 the Alpini regiments began to form additional companies with recruits born in 1896. These new companies were numbered from 118th to 157th and were used, together with the 38 companies formed earlier, to form an additional reserve battalion for each regular battalion. These new battalions were named for a mountain (Italian: Monte) located near their associated regular Alpini battalion's base, and the reserve battalions received the same Nappina as their associated regular Alpini battalion. The 8th Alpini Regiment thus added the following Monte battalions:[9][10]

As the mountainous terrain of the Italian front made the deployment of entire Alpini regiments impracticable, the regimental commands of the eight Alpini regiments were disbanded in March 1916. Likewise in April 1916 the pre-war alpine brigade commands were disbanded, and the personnel of the regimental commands and alpine brigade commands used to from twenty regiment-sized group commands and nine brigade-sized grouping commands. Afterwards Alpini battalions were employed either independently or assigned to groups, groupings, or infantry divisions as needed. On 16 May 1916, the Alpini Battalion "Pieve di Teco" of the 1st Alpini Regiment was disbanded and the battalion's 8th Alpini Company was reformed by the 8th Alpini Regiment to complement Alpini Battalion "Val Fella".[9][10][15]

In February and March 1917 the Royal Italian Army formed twelve skiers battalions, each with two skiers companies. On 27 May 1917, the IX and XII Skiers battalions were disbanded and its personnel used to form the Alpini Battalion "Monte Nero", which was assigned to the 8th Alpini Regiment and consisted of the 294th, 295th, and 296th Alpini companies. The battalion was associated with the Alpini Battalion "Cividale" and therefore it troops wore a green Nappina.[9][10][20]

In November and December 1917, after the disastrous Battle of Caporetto, the following retreat to the Piave river, and the subsequent First Battle of the Piave River and First Battle of Monte Grappa, the Royal Italian Army disbanded twenty Alpini battalions, which had suffered heavy casualties during the battles and retreat. Among the twenty battalions were the following battalions of the 8th Alpini Regiment:[9][10]

  • Alpini Battalion "Gemona"; battalion annihilated during the retreat and disbanded on 18 November 1917[12]
  • Alpini Battalion "Monte Canin"; battalion annihilated during the retreat and disbanded on 18 November 1917, with the survivors assigned to the Alpini Battalion "Tolmezzo"[18]
  • Alpini Battalion "Monte Nero"; battalion annihilated during the retreat and disbanded on 18 November 1917, with the survivors assigned to the Alpini Battalion "Tolmezzo"[20]
  • Alpini Battalion "Val Fella"; battalion annihilated during the retreat and disbanded on 9 December 1917[15]

After the retreat to the Piave river the Alpini battalions "Val Tagliamento", "Val Natisone", and "Monte Matajur" fought in November and December 1917 in the First Battle of Monte Grappa, during which the three battalions suffered heavy casualties: the "Val Tagliamento" suffered 1,055 among killed, wounded, and missing, while the "Val Natisone" suffered 736 casualties, and the "Monte Matajur" 702 casualties. As the regiment's recruiting areas in Friuli had been occupied by Austro-Hungarian forces after the Battle of Caporetto, the three battalions were, together with four other Alpini battalions, disbanded on 15 February 1918, and the remaining personnel of the "Monte Matajur" was transferred to the Alpini Battalion "Tolmezzo".[9][10][14][16][19]

During the war 145 officers and 5,987 soldiers of the regiment were killed in action, while 294 officers and 8,099 soldiers were wounded.[10] For their service and sacrifice during the war five of the regiment's battalions were awarded a Silver Medal of Military Valor and two a Bronze Medal of Military Valor:[6][9][10]

  • the Alpini battalions "Tolmezzo" and "Val Tagliamento" were awarded a shared Silver Medal of Military Valor for having taken and held the summits of Pal Piccolo, Freikofel and Pal Grande on 24 May - 4 July 1915, and for the "Val Tagliamento" to have take the summit of Cima Busa Alta on 8-10 October 1916.[11][14]
  • the Alpini battalions "Gemona", "Monte Canin", and "Val Fella" were awarded a shared Silver Medal of Military Valor for their conduct from the start of the war on 24 May 1915 to the three battalions' destruction in the Battle of Caporetto on 6 November 1917.[12][18][15]
  • the Alpini Battalion "Cividale" was awarded a Bronze Medal of Military Valor for its conduct on Monte Cimone during the Battle of Asiago on 23-26 May 1916.[13]
  • the Alpini Battalion "Val Natisone" was awarded a Bronze Medal of Military Valor for its conduct on during the Battle of Asiago at Le Buse, Schiri, on Monte Giove, and Monte Chiesa from 10 May to 9 July 1916.[13]

The two Silver Medals of Military Valor and the two Bronze Medals of Military Valor were affixed to the 8th Alpini Regiment's flag and added to the regiment's coat of arms.[6][9][10]

Interwar years

[edit]

After the end of the war the last of the Valle and Monte battalions, the Alpini Battalion "Monte Arvenis", was disbanded. On 1 September 1919, the regiment reformed the Alpini Battalion "Gemona". In 1921, the regiment returned for a short time to its old base Udine before moving to Tolmezzo. During the same year the regiment transferred the Alpini Battalion "Cividale" to the newly formed 9th Alpini Regiment and received in turn the Alpini Battalion "Verona" from the 6th Alpini Regiment. With the transfer of the battalions also the military awards of the battalions were transferred from regiment to regiment and affixed to the respective regimental flags. During 1921 the regiment, which consisted now of the Alpini battalions "Tolmezzo" and "Gemona", was assigned to the 3rd Alpine Division, which also included the 7th Alpini Regiment, 9th Alpini Regiment, and 2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment. In 1923, the 3rd Alpine Division was replaced by the III Alpini Grouping, which in 1926 was reorganized as III Alpine Brigade. The brigade included, besides the 8th Alpini Regiment, also the 9th Alpini Regiment and 3rd Mountain Artillery Regiment. In November 1926, the Alpini Battalion "Cividale" returned to the regiment, which in turn returned the Alpini Battalion "Verona" to the 6th Alpini Regiment. During the same year the regiment left Tolmezzo and returned to its traditional base in Udine.[9][10]

On 27 October 1934, the III Alpine Brigade was renamed III Superior Alpine Command. In December of the same year the command was given the name "Julio". On 31 October 1935, the III Superior Alpine Command "Julio" was reorganized as 3rd Alpine Division "Julia", which included the 7th Alpini Regiment, 8th Alpini Regiment, 9th Alpini Regiment, and 3rd Alpine Artillery Regiment "Julia". On 31 December 1935, the 7th Alpini Regiment was transferred to the newly formed 5th Alpine Division "Pusteria". In 1935-36 the regiment provided nine officers and 525 troops for the formation of the 10th Supply Column, which was sent to Eritrea for the Second Italo-Ethiopian War.[9][10][21]

On 7 April 1939, Italy invaded Albania and by the middle of April the 3rd Alpine Division "Julia" moved to Northern Albania, where its regiments garrisoned the border with the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.[9][10]

World War II

[edit]
See also: 3rd Alpine Division "Julia"

On 2 September 1939, one day after the German Invasion of Poland had begun, the Alpini battalions "Val Tagliamento", "Val Fella", and "Val Natisone" were reformed with reservists and assigned to the 1st Alpini Group. In November 1940 the three battalions were sent to Albania to reinforce the crumbling Italian front in the Greco-Italian War.[9][10]

In September 1941, when the "Julia" moved to the Greek border for the planned Italian invasion of Greece. During the following Greco-Italian war division suffered heavy casualties and only massive reinforcements allowed the Italians to hold the front in the Pindus mountains.[22] These reinforcements included the 8th Alpini's first line reserve battalions: Val Tagliamento, Val Fella, and Val Natisone, which had been formed after the outbreak of World War II. The three battalions were assigned to the 1st Alpine Group "Valle" and sent to Albania as reinforcements for the Alpini units fighting there. After the German invasion of Greece and the Greek surrender the Julia returned to Italy. On the voyage home the ship Galilea carrying the Gemona was torpedoed and sunk by a British submarine on 28 March 1942: 21 officers and 630 soldiers drowned.[9]

For its conduct during the Greco-Italian war the 8th Alpini Regiment was awarded Italy's highest military honor a Gold Medal of Military Valor.[1]

In July 1942 the Julia was sent with the 2nd Alpine Division "Tridentina", 4th Alpine Division "Cuneense" and other Italian units to the Soviet Union to form the Italian Army in Russia (Italian: Armata Italiana in Russia abbreviated as ARMIR) and fight alongside the German Wehrmacht against the Red Army. Taking up positions along the Don River, the Italian units covered part of the left flank of the German Sixth Army, which spearheaded the German summer offensive of 1942 into the city of Stalingrad.[9]

After successfully encircling the German Sixth army in Stalingrad the Red Army's attention turned to the Italian units along the Don. On 14 January 1943, the Soviet Operation Little Saturn began and the three alpine division found themselves quickly encircled by rapidly advancing armored Soviet Forces. The Alpini held the front on the Don, but within three days the Soviets had advanced 200 km to the left and right of the Alpini. On the evening of 17 January the commanding officer of the Italian Mountain Corps General Gabriele Nasci ordered a full retreat. At this point the Julia and Cuneense divisions were already heavily decimated and only the Tridentina was still capable of conducting combat operations. As the Soviets had already occupied every village bitter battles had to be fought to clear the way out of the encirclement. The remnants of the Tridentina were able to break the Soviet encirclement in the Battle of Nikolayevka on 26 January 1943, allowing the survivors of the Julia to reach German lines, which were reached on the morning of 28 January. By then the men of the 8th Alpini Regiment had walked 200 km, fought in 20 battles and spent 11 nights camped out in the middle of the Steppe. Temperatures during the nights were between -30 °C and -40 °C. For its conduct during the campaign in the Soviet Union the 8th Alpini Regiment was once more awarded Italy's highest military honor a Gold Medal of Military Valor.[2]

The few survivors of the regiment were repatriated in spring 1943. After the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943, the regiment and its battalions were disbanded by invading German forces.[9]

Cold War

[edit]
Main article: Alpine Brigade "Julia"

After World War II the 8th Alpini Regiment was reformed on 1 April 1946, in the city of Padua with the battalions Feltre, Tolmezzo and L'Aquila.[8] In May 1947 the regiment moved to Tolmezzo. On 20 August 1948 the regiment reformed the Alpini Battalion "Cividale". On 15 October 1949 the regiment entered the newly formed Alpine Brigade "Julia". On 1 June 1956 the Feltre was transferred to the 7th Alpini Regiment and as replacement the Gemona was reformed. On 26 October 1962 the regiment received the Alpini Battalion "Mondovì" from the 4th Alpini Regiment.[9]

At the end of 1964 the regiment was the largest regiment of the Italian Army and consisted of the following units:[9]

During the 1975 army reform the army disbanded the regimental level and newly independent battalions were given for the first time their own flags. The changes to the 8th Alpini and its battalions were as follows:[9]

Additional changes to the infantry units of the Alpine brigade "Julia" were the following: the name and traditions of the Alpini Battalion "L'Aquila" were transferred to the Alpini Recruits Training Battalion "Julia" in L'Aquila, which was renamed and granted a new flag.[25] On 1 September 1975 the Alpini Battalion "Vicenza" (Recruits Training) was activated in Tolmezzo and assigned the flag of the 9th Alpini Regiment.[26] The reform concluded on 30 September 1975 when the 8th Alpini Regiment was disbanded and its flag and traditions assigned to the Gemona, the regiment's senior battalion.[9]

After the end of the Cold War the 8th Alpini Regiment was reformed on 8 August 1992 in Tarvisio with the Gemona as its sole battalion.[9]

Recent times

[edit]

On 1 November 1997 the regiment moved to Cividale del Friuli.[8] On 14 October 2005 the 14th Alpini Regiment and its sole battalion, the Alpini Battalion "Tolmezzo", were disbanded. To keep the traditions of the other battalions of the regiment alive the Gemona was disbanded on 14 October 2006 and in its stead a new Alpini Battalion "Tolmezzo" was raised with companies from all the traditional battalions of the 8th Alpini:[9]

  • 8th Alpini Regiment
    • Command and Services Company
    • Alpini Battalion "Tolmezzo"
      • 6th Alpini Company (Alpini Battalion "Tolmezzo")
      • 12th Alpini Company (Alpini Battalion "Tolmezzo")
      • 69th Alpini Company (Alpini Battalion "Gemona")
      • 115th Mortar Company (Alpini Battalion "Cividale")
      • 216th Support Weapons Company (Alpini Battalion "Val Natisone")

In 2011 the 216th Support Weapons Company was disbanded and its personnel integrated into the 69th Alpini Company.[9]

Organization

[edit]
8th Alpini Regiment soldier guarding the Altare della Patria in Rome

As of 2024 the regiment is organized as follows:[7][27]

  • Regimental Command in Venzone[7][27]
    • Command and Logistic Support Company
    • Alpini Battalion "Tolmezzo"
      • 6th Alpini Company
      • 12th Alpini Company
      • 69th Alpini Company
      • 115th Maneuver Support Company

The Alpini companies are equipped with Bv 206S tracked all-terrain carriers and Lince light multirole vehicles. The maneuver support company is equipped with 120 mm mortars and Spike MR anti-tank guided missiles.[7]

See also

[edit]
[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "8° Reggimento Alpini". Quirinale - Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b "8° Reggimento Alpini". Quirinale - Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  3. ^ "8° Reggimento Alpini". Quirinale - Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Battaglione Alpini "Gemona"". Quirinale - Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  5. ^ "8° Reggimento Alpini". Quirinale - Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e "8° Reggimento Alpini - Il Medagliere". Italian Army. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e "8° Reggimento Alpini". Italian Army. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h "8° Reggimento Alpini - La Storia". Italian Army. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad F. dell'Uomo, R. Puletti (1998). L'Esercito Italiano verso il 2000 - Vol. Primo - Tomo I. Rome: SME - Ufficio Storico. p. 489.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "8° Reggimento Alpini". Vecio.it. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Tolmezzo". Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  12. ^ a b c "Gemona". Fronte del Piave. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  13. ^ a b c "Cividale". Fronte del Piave. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  14. ^ a b c "Val Tagliamento". Fronte del Piave. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  15. ^ a b c d "Val Fella". Fronte del Piave. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  16. ^ a b "Val Natisone". Fronte del Piave. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  17. ^ "Monte Arvenis". Fronte del Piave. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  18. ^ a b c "Monte Canin". Fronte del Piave. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  19. ^ a b "Monte Matajur". Fronte del Piave. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  20. ^ a b "Monte Nero". Fronte del Piave. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  21. ^ "3ª Divisione Alpina "Julia"". Regio Esercito. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  22. ^ "Divisione Julia". Regio Esercito (in Italian). Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  23. ^ F. dell'Uomo, R. Puletti (1998). L'Esercito Italiano verso il 2000 - Vol. Primo - Tomo I. Rome: SME - Ufficio Storico. p. 504.
  24. ^ F. dell'Uomo, R. Puletti (1998). L'Esercito Italiano verso il 2000 - Vol. Primo - Tomo I. Rome: SME - Ufficio Storico. p. 508.
  25. ^ F. dell'Uomo, R. Puletti (1998). L'Esercito Italiano verso il 2000 - Vol. Primo - Tomo I. Rome: SME - Ufficio Storico. p. 494.
  26. ^ F. dell'Uomo, R. Puletti (1998). L'Esercito Italiano verso il 2000 - Vol. Primo - Tomo I. Rome: SME - Ufficio Storico. p. 515.
  27. ^ a b "8° Reggimento Alpini". Italian Defense Ministry. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=8th_Alpini_Regiment&oldid=1238842956"