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 some 112,000 active duty personnel, around 70% male, 30% female. ...

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. The soldiers were recruited from 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.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. 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 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 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 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

A Capello Alpino of an Alpini 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 "Capello 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 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1887 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 trough their baptism of fire during the First Italo-Abyssinian War. On March 1st 1896 during the battle of 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 Ten. Col. Menini. Africa is the worlds second-largest continent in both area and population, after Asia. ... The First Italo-Abyssinian War was one of the very few instances of successful armed African resistance to European colonialism in the 19th century. ... Battle of Adowa Conflict First Italo-Abyssinian War Date March 1, 1896 Place Adowa, Ethiopia Result Ethiopian victory; end of First Italo-Abyssinian war The Battle of Adowa (also known as Adwa or sometimes by the Italian name Adua) was fought on March 1, 1896 between Ethiopia and Italy near...

During the 1900 Boxer Rebellion a Alpini Artillery Battery participated in the lifting of the siege of the International Compound in Beijing. Boxer forces in Tianjin The Boxer Rebellion (Traditional Chinese: 義和團起義; Simplified Chinese: 义和团起义; pinyin: ) was an uprising against Western commercial and political influence in China during the final years of the 19th century. ...

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. Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... The Alps is the collective name for one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria in the east, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany, through to France in the west. ... This article refers to the natural event known as an avalanche. ...

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 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. Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km (over 11 miles) into the air. ... Lasting seven months from 1935-1936, the Second Italo-Abyssinian War is often seen as a precursor to World War II and a demonstration of the inefficiency of the League of Nations. ...

During World War II the divisions saw combat in France, Albania, Yugoslavia and Greece, before Tridentina, Julia and Cuneennse were sent to fight in the Soviet Union, a disastrous expedition from which only parts of the Tridentina division were able to escape, while 47,735 of the 61,155 men strong Alpine Army Corp did not make it back.

Alpinis today

After World War II 5 Alpini Brigades were formed and assigned to the IV (Alpini) Army Corps: Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km (over 11 miles) into the air. ...

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 reinforced battalion size strength Alpini regiments, that still carry the "fiamme verdi" collar insignia: The Cold War was the open yet restricted rivalry that developed after World War II between the United States and its allies and the Soviet Union and its allies. ...

6° Alpini Regiment (High Altitude Warfare) in San Candido, South Tyrol

4° Alpini Paracadutisti (Paratroops) Regiment “Monte Cervino” in Bolzano (Special Forces)

2° Mountain Artillery Regiment “Vicenza” in Trento

2° Alpini Signal Regiment in Bolzano

24° Maneuver Logistics Regiment “Dolomiti” in Merano

as part of the Julia Alpini Brigade in Udine (Friuli):

Julia Logistics and Support Battalion in Udine (Friuli)

5° Alpini Regiment in Vipiteno (South Tyrol)

7° Alpini Regiment in Belluno (Veneto)

8° Alpini Regiment in Tarvisio (Friuli)

14° Alpini Regiment in Venzone (Friuli)

3° Mountain Artillery Regiment in Tolmezzo (Friuli)

2° Alpini Engineer Regiment in Trento (Trentino)

as part of the Taurinense Alpini Brigade in Turin (Piedmont):

Taurinense Logistics and Support Battalion in Turin (Piedmont)

2° Alpini Regiment in Borgo S. Dalmazzo (Piedmont)

3° Alpini Regiment in Pinerolo (Piedmont)

9° Alpini Regiment in l'Aquila (Abruzzo)

1° Mountain Artillery Regiment in Fossano (Piedmont)

32° Alpini Engineer Regiment in Turin (Piedmont)

South Tyrol (German Autonome Provinz Bozen-Südtirol, Italian Provincia autonoma di Bolzano-Alto Adige, Ladin Provinzia autonóma de Bulsan-Südtirol) is an autonomous province of Italy. ... Special forces or special operations forces is a term used to describe relatively small military units raised and trained for reconnaissance, unconventional warfare and special operations. ... A view of Trento from Castello del Buonconsiglio. ... Bolzano is The name of the capital of South Tyrol (Trentino-Upper Adige, Italy), see Bolzano-Bozen The airport of this city, see Bolzano (airport) A synonym for the Italian province South Tyrol (Trentino-Upper Adige), see South Tyrol Short for the Bolzano project, a refuge in Italy for divorced... 360° panoramic view from Marmolada (Photo: Mg-k) The Dolomites are a section of the Alps. ... Meran (German) / Merano (Italian) is probably best known as a spa in the South Tyrol. ... Sterzing-Vipiteno is an Italian commune in the province of Bolzano in Trentino-Alto Adige. ... Location Region Piedmont Province Turin Area   – Total   – Water 130 km&sup2 (50 mi²) ##.# km² (#.# mi²) #.##% Population   – Total (2002)   – Density 857,433 6,596/km² Time zone CET: UTC+1 Latitude Longitude   45°04′ N 7°40′ E1. ... Location Region Piedmont Province Turin Area   – Total   – Water 130 km&sup2 (50 mi²) ##.# km² (#.# mi²) #.##% Population   – Total (2002)   – Density 857,433 6,596/km² Time zone CET: UTC+1 Latitude Longitude   45°04′ N 7°40′ E1. ...

National Alpini Association

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