The Alpini are a highly decorated elite infantry corps of the Italian Army. Ariete Tanks of the Italian Ariete Tank Brigade on exercise Three Bersaglieri ride in a Dardo The Italian Army has recently become a professional all-volunteer force of 112,000 active duty personnel. ...

Origins

A pair of Fiamme Verdi collar patches.

The first 15 Alpini companies were formed in 1872 at the suggestion of Captain Giuseppe Perrucchetti of the necessity of a force capable of defending Italy’s northern mountainous borders. It is worth to remember that in those years the newborn Kingdom of Italy with its new capital in Rome had a huge problem in defending the new terrestrial borders, which after the 1866 war against Austria were coincident with the Alps. Image File history File links Alpini Homepage File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Alpini Homepage File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 100-200 soldiers. ... 1872 (MDCCCLXXII) was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... Giuseppe Domenico Perrucchetti, creator of the Alpini corp, was born in Cassano dAdda, in the Milan province in Lombardy, on 13 july 1839. ... There have been several entities known as the Kingdom of Italy. ... City motto: Senatus Populusque Romanus – SPQR (The Senate and the People of Rome) Founded 21 April 753 BC (mythical), early 1st millennium BC (archaeological) Region Latium Area  - City Proper  1285 km² Population  - City (2004)  - Metropolitan  - Density (city proper) 2,553,873 almost 4,300,000 1. ...

Homeland defense was, until then, planned to happen in the so called Quadrilatero, defending the Pianura Padana and leaving the Alps undefended because unsuitable to military operations. The idea of recruiting the inhabitants of the valleys of Italy’s northern mountain regions, as to take advantage of their knowledge of the frontier territory and their adaptability to Alpine terrain, was revolutionary. In 1877 five Alpini Mountain Artillery Batteries were founded and in the following year the Alpini troops had already grown to 36 companies organized into 10 battalions. 1877 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... In military terminology, a battalion consists of two to six companies typically commanded by a lieutenant colonel. ...

On November 1, 1882 the now 20 Alpini battalions and 8 Alpini Mountain Artillery Batteries were organized into 6 Alpini regiments and respectively into 2 Alpini Mountain Artillery Brigades. The battalions took the names of the valleys and localities from which their soldiers were recruited: 1882 (MDCCCLXXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

A Cappello Alpino of an Alpino Engineer soldier.

1° regiment: Alto Tanaro, Val Tanaro, Val Camonica battalions

2° regiment: Col Tenda, Val Schio, Val Pesio battalions

3° regiment: Val Stura, Val Maira, Monti Lessini battalions

4° regiment: Val Pellice, Val Chisone, Val Brenta battalions

5° regiment: Val Dora, Moncenisio, Valtellina battalions

6° regiment: Val d'Orco, Val d'Aosta, Val Tagliamento, Cadore battalions

On June 7, 1883 the Alpini were awarded the "fiamme verdi" (green flames) collar patch, also they adopted their typical hat – the "Cappello Alpino" with the black feather, which led to them being nicknamed "Le Penne Nere" – the Black feathers. In 1887 the first Alpini Artillery Regiment was formed in Turin, the 7° Alpini regiment was formed in Conegliano Veneto, the number of battalions was increased by two to a new total of 22 and the names of the battalions were changed to the names of the locations of their main logistics depot. (e.g. in 1943 the division "Tridentina" from Trento province, comprised the battalions Morbegno, Tirano, Edolo, Vestone and Verona, plus the artillery groups Bergamo and Vicenza, all named after mountain centres in northern Italy) Image File history File links Picture taken by myself: therefore PD File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Picture taken by myself: therefore PD File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... 1883 (MDCCCLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1887 (MDCCCLXXXVII) is a common year starting on Saturday (click on link for calendar). ... Historically, artillery refers to any engine used for the discharge of projectiles during war. ...

1° regiment: Pieve di Teco, Ceva, Mondovi battalions

2° regiment: Borgo San Dalmazzo, Vinadio, Dronero battalions

3° regiment: Fenestrelle, Susa, Susa 2° battalions

4° regiment: Aosta, Ivrea, Pallanza battalions

5° regiment: Morbegno, Tirano, Edolo, Vestone battalions

6° regiment: Verona, Vicenza, Bassano battalions

7° regiment: Feltre, Pieve di Cadore, Gemona battalions

Baptism of Fire

Although created as a defensive force specializing in Alpine combat, in 1888 a mixed battalion of Alpinis were sent to Africa, where they went through their baptism of fire during the First Italo-Abyssinian War. On March 1st 1896 during the Battle of Adowa the mixed Alpini battalion and the 1° Alpini Artillery Regiment were badly mauled and routed by the Ethiopian forces. The mixed battalion lost over 400 of it 550 men, including the commanding officer Lt. Col. Menini. Africa is the worlds second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia. ... The First Italian-Abyssinian War was one of the very few instances of successful armed African resistance to European colonialism in the 19th century. ... Combatants Ethiopia Kingdom of Italy Commanders Ras Makonnen Oreste Baratieri Strength about 120,000; artillery, machine guns, cavalry; 20,000 were armed only with spears 14,527 men, 56 guns Casualties 10,000 5,900 The Battle of Adowa (also known as Adwa or sometimes by the Italian name Adua...

During the 1900 Boxer Rebellion an Alpini Artillery Battery participated in the lifting of the siege of the International Compound in Beijing. Boxer forces, 1900 photograph The Boxer Uprising (Traditional Chinese: 義和團起義; Simplified Chinese: 义和团起义; Pinyin: Yìhétuán Qǐyì; The Righteous and Harmonious Fists) or Boxer Rebellion (義和團之亂 or 義和團匪亂) was a Chinese rebellion against foreign influence in areas such as trade, politics, religion and technology that occurred in China during the final...

In 1909 the 2° Alpini Mountain Artillery regiment was formed and in 1908 a new Alpini infantry battalion "Tolmezzo" was raised; followed two years later by the "Belluno" battalion. Both were assigned to the 7° regiment. In 1910 the “Tolmezzo” battalion along with the "Gemona" battalion were assigned to the newly formed 8° regiment:

8° regiment: Gemona, Cividale, Tolmezzo battalions

From 1911 until 1914 the Alpini battalions Fenestrelle, Saluzzo, Mondovi, Susa, Ivrea, Verona, Feltre, Edolo, Tolmezzo, Venzone along with batteries from both Alpini Artillery regiments fought during the Turkish- Italian War in the Libyan desert.

World War I

During World War I the 24 peacetime Alpini battalions were increased by 64 battalions and saw heavy combat all over the alpine arch. The war has become know as the "War in snow and ice", as most of the 600 km frontline ran through the highest mountains and glaciers of the Alps. 12 meters (40 feet) of snow were a usual occurrence during the winter of 1915/16 and thousands of soldiers died in avalanches. The remains of these soldiers are still being uncovered today. The Alpinis, as well as their Austrian counterparts: Kaiserjäger, Standschützen and Landeschützen occupied every hill and mountain top around the whole year. Whole cities were drilled and blown into the mountainsides and even deep into the ice of glaciers like the Marmolada. Guns were dragged by hundreds of troops on Mountains up to 3,890 m (12,760 feet) high. Streets, cable cars, mountain railroads and walkways through the steepest of walls were built. Most of these walkways and streets are still viable today. Besides on the Alps is still possible to see what's left of hundreds of kilometers of barbed wire. Combatants Allies: Serbia, Russia, France, Romania, Belgium, British Empire, United States, Italy, and others Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Ottoman Empire Casualties Military dead: 5 million Civilian deaths: 3 million Total of dead: 8 million Military dead: 4 million Civilian deaths: 3 million Total dead: 7 million The First... The West face of the Petit Dru above the Chamonix valley near the Mer de Glace. ... This article refers to the natural event known as an avalanche. ... Marmolada (the Italian name; also Latin: Marmoleda, German: Marmolata) is a mountain in northeastern Italy (just east of Trento) and the highest mountain of the Dolomites (a section of the Alps). ...

Col di Lana after the detonation.

But whoever had occupied the higher ground first was almost impossible to dislodge, so both sides turned to drilling tunnels under mountain peaks, filling them up with explosives and then detonating the whole mountain to pieces, including its defenders: Col di Lana, Monte Pasubio, Lagazuoi, etc. Image File history File links Military Image from 1916 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Military Image from 1916 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...

Climbing and skiing became essential skills for the troops of both sides and soon Ski Battalions and Special Climbing units were formed. It was during these years, that the Alpini, their spirit and their mules became legend, although at the cost of over 120,000 casualties out of a total of 400,000 mobilized Alpinis. Finnish sissi troops on skis. ...

Many of the famous Alpini songs originated during this time and reflect upon the hardships of the "War in Snow and Ice".

World War II

After the war most battalions were dissolved, although a 9th regiment was formed. On the onset of World War II 6 Alpini divisions had been built up by the fascist government of Italy and once again one was used for combat in Africa. The Alpini division "Pusteria" participated in the Second Italo-Abyssinian War. Combatants Allies: Poland, British Commonwealth, France/Free France, Soviet Union, United States, China, and others Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan, and others Casualties Military dead: 17 million Civilian dead: 33 million Total dead: 50 million Military dead: 8 million Civilian dead: 4 million Total dead: 12 million World War II... Combatants Italy Ethiopia Commanders Strength 800,000 (only ~330,000 mobilized) 100,000 (some ill-equipped) Casualties 15,000 16,000 {{{notes}}} The Second Italo-Abyssinian War, also called the Rape of Ethiopia, lasted seven months in 1935-1936. ...

During World War II the divisions saw combat in France, Albania, Yugoslavia and Greece, before Tridentina, Julia and Cuneense division were sent to fight in the Soviet Union, where, instead of being deployed in the Caucasus mountains as expected, they were tasked to hold the front in the Don river plains. As a result of this disastrous strategic decision, troops armed, trained and equipped for mountain warfare were pitted in the plains against tanks and mechanized infantry, to counter which they were neither equipped nor trained. Despite this fact, they held the front until January 1943, when, due to the collapse of the Axis front, they were encircled by the advancing Soviet Army. The Alpini were able to break the encirclement and fight their way towards the new line of the front established after the Axis retreat. Only about one third of the Tridentina division (4250/15000 survivors) and one tenth of the Julia (1200/15000) were able to survive this odyssey. The Cuneense division was virtually annihilated. The Eastern Front of World War II was the theatre of war covering the conflict in central and eastern European regions from June 1941 to May 1945. ... The Don (Дон) is one of the major rivers of Russia. ... The Eastern Front of World War II was the theatre of war covering the conflict in central and eastern European regions from June 1941 to May 1945. ...

See also Italian war in Soviet Union, 1941-1943. The Italian war in the Soviet Union started on 14 July 1941, when, despite Hitlers lack of enthusiasm, Mussolini joined Operation Barbarossa by ordering the preparation of a military contingent, destined to the Russian front. ...

Alpini today

After World War II 5 Alpini Brigades were formed and assigned to the IV (Alpini) Army Corps: Combatants Allies: Poland, British Commonwealth, France/Free France, Soviet Union, United States, China, and others Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan, and others Casualties Military dead: 17 million Civilian dead: 33 million Total dead: 50 million Military dead: 8 million Civilian dead: 4 million Total dead: 12 million World War II...

Julia

Taurinense

Tridentina

Orobica

Cadore

After the end of the Cold War all but the Julia and Taurinense Brigades were dissolved, thus leaving the following battalion size strength Alpini regiments, that still carry the "fiamme verdi" collar insignia: The Cold War (Russian: Холодная война , Kholodna-ya voina) was the protracted geopolitical, ideological, and economic struggle that emerged after World War II between the global superpowers of the Soviet Union and the United States, supported by their alliance partners. ...

as part of the Alpini Corps Command:

4° Alpini Parachutist

6° Alpini

2° Alpini Artillery

2° Alpini Signals

24° Alpini Maneuver Logistics Regiment “Dolomiti”

as part of the Julia Alpini Brigade:

5° Alpini

7° Alpini

8° Alpini

3° Alpini Artillery

2° Alpini Engineers

as part of the Taurinense Alpini Brigade:

2° Alpini

3° Alpini

9° Alpini

1° Alpini Artillery

32° Alpini Engineers

360° panoramic view from Marmolada, highest peak in the Dolomites. ...

National Alpini Association

Every year the National Alpini Association or ANA organizes a reunion of former Alpini soldiers. Hundreds of thousands of Alpini congregate with family and friends for a weekend in the late spring to celebrate, drink heavy and have a good time while remembering old times.

Sources

• Mario Rigoni Stern "The sergeant in the snow", ISBN 0810160552

  A first hand account of the odissey of the Alpini on the Eastern Front, 1943

  • Italian: "Il sergente nella neve", ISBN 880634868X
  • French: "Le Sergent dans la neige", ISBN 2264020806.

• Alfio Caruso "Tutti i vivi all'assalto" (Italian only), ISBN 8830419966

  More accounts of the Alpini on the Don front.

• G. Bedeschi "Centomila gavette di ghiaccio" (Italian only), ISBN 8842517461

  Alpini on the Don front.