Wikipedia

8th Alpini Regiment

(Redirected from Alpini Battalion "Gemona")

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". The regiment was formed by the Royal Italian Army on 1 October 1909.[7][8][9]

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

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
Main article: Alpini and Mountain Artillery formations in World War I

During World War I the regiment consisted of ten battalions and saw heavy fighting in the Alps regions of the Italian front against Austro-Hungarian and German forces. During the war the regiment consisted of the following battalions (pre-war battalions in bold, followed by their first and second line reserve battalions):[9]

  •   Tolmezzo, Val Tagliamento, Monte Arvenis
  •   Gemona, Val Fella, Monte Canin
  •   Cividale, Val Natisone, Monte Matajur, Monte Nero

Initially the regiment was deployed in the Dolomites and then in the Carnic Alps. In spring 1915 the depot of the Gemona battalion formed the Alpini Volunteers Company "Gemona-Cividale", which was disbanded in March 1917 after suffering heavy losses. During the Battle of Caporetto in October 1917 and the following retreat to the Piave river the regiment suffered extreme losses and the battalions Gemona, Val Fella, Monte Canin, and Monte Nero had to be disbanded in November and December 1917. In February 1918 the battalions Val Tagliamento, Val Natisone, and Monte Matajur were disbanded to bring the regiment's remaining three battalions (Tolmezzo, Cividale, Monte Arvenis) back to full strength.[9]

During the war 145 officers and 5,987 soldiers of the regiment were killed, and 294 officers and 8,099 soldiers were wounded. The regiment's battalions were awarded two Silver Medals of Military Valor, which were shared between the Gemona, Val Fella, and Monte Canin, respectively between the Tolmezzo and Val Tagliamento battalions. The Cividale and Val Natisone battalions were awarded a shared Bronze Medal of Military Valor.[9][6]

Interwar years

edit

On 21 November 1919 the Alpini Battalion "Cividale" was transferred to the newly formed 9th Alpini Regiment. As replacement the Alpini Battalion "Verona" was transferred from the 6th Alpini Regiment. In 1926 both transfers were reversed. After World War I the 8th Alpini was assigned to the 3rd Alpine Division, which was reduced to III Alpine Brigade on 11 March 1926.[11]

On 10 September 1935, the 3rd Alpine Division "Julia" was formed by renaming the III Superior Alpine Command "Julio", which was the their of the III Alpine Brigade.[12]

World War II

edit
Main article: 3rd Alpine Division "Julia"

In mid-April 1939 the 3rd Alpine Division "Julia" was sent to Albania and posted to the Albanian-Yugoslav border until September 1941, when it was 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.[12] 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.[15] On 1 September 1975 the Alpini Battalion "Vicenza" (Recruits Training) was activated in Tolmezzo and assigned the flag of the 9th Alpini Regiment.[16] 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][17]

  •   Regimental Command in Venzone[7][17]
    •   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 "8° Reggimento Alpini - Il Medagliere". Italian Army. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d "8° Reggimento Alpini". Italian Army. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "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 F. dell'Uomo, R. Puletti (1998). L'Esercito Italiano verso il 2000 - Vol. Primo - Tomo I. Rome: SME - Ufficio Storico. p. 489.
  10. ^ "8° Reggimento Alpini". Vecio.it. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  11. ^ "Brigata Alpina Julia - Udine". Truppealpine. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  12. ^ a b "Divisione Julia". Regio Esercito (in Italian). Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  13. ^ F. dell'Uomo, R. Puletti (1998). L'Esercito Italiano verso il 2000 - Vol. Primo - Tomo I. Rome: SME - Ufficio Storico. p. 504.
  14. ^ F. dell'Uomo, R. Puletti (1998). L'Esercito Italiano verso il 2000 - Vol. Primo - Tomo I. Rome: SME - Ufficio Storico. p. 508.
  15. ^ F. dell'Uomo, R. Puletti (1998). L'Esercito Italiano verso il 2000 - Vol. Primo - Tomo I. Rome: SME - Ufficio Storico. p. 494.
  16. ^ F. dell'Uomo, R. Puletti (1998). L'Esercito Italiano verso il 2000 - Vol. Primo - Tomo I. Rome: SME - Ufficio Storico. p. 515.
  17. ^ 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=1238154140"