1st Alpini Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 1st Alpini Regiment was a light Infantry
regiment
of the Italian Army
, specializing in Mountain Combat
. The Alpini
are a mountain infantry corps of the Italian Army, that distinguished itself in combat during World War I
and World War II
.
"Alto Tanaro", Val Tanaro
and Val Camonica
, named after the valleys and localities from which their soldiers were recruited. In 1886 the Battalions were renamed, taking their new names from the location of their main logistic depot: Ceva
, Pieve di Teco
and Mondovì
.
against Austria’s
Kaiserjäger and Germany’s
Alpenkorps
. The battalions of the regiment in these days were (pre-war raised units in bold, followed by their first and second line reserve battalions):
and the 4th Mountain Artillery Regiment.
At the tine the regiment consisted of 160 officers and 5046 NCOs and soldiers for a total strength of 5,206 men. The regiment also had 23 horses, 1,242 mules and 109 transport vehicles at its disposal. The order of Battle was as follows:
In 1935 the "Pieve di Teco" battalion was sent to fight in the Second Italo-Abyssinian War
, where it distinguished itself during the battles of Amba Aradam
, Amba Alagi
, Worq Amba, Mai Ceu
and Mekan Pass.
. The division was then sent to Albania, where it participated in the Italian attack
on Greece. As the German Wehrmacht
came to the aid of the beaten Italian armies in Albania in April 1941 through an invasion of Yugoslavia
the “Cuneense” was sent north to aid the rapidly advancing German divisions. The Cuneense advanced through Montenegro
and reached Dubrovnik
by the end of the campaign.
In September 1942 the “Cuneense” was sent with the Alpini divisions Julia
and Tridentina
and other Italian units to the Soviet Union
to form the ARMIR
(Armata Italiana in Russia or Italian Army in Russia) and fight alongside the Germans 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
.
After successfully encircling the German Sixth army in Stalingrad the Red Army’s attention turned to the Italian units along the Don. On January 14, 1943 the Soviet offensive Operation Little Saturn began and the three Alpini division found themselves quickly encircled by the rapidly advancing armoured Soviet Forces. The Alpinis held the front on the Don, but within three days the Soviets advanced 200 km to the left and right of the Alpini. On the evening of January 17 the commanding officer of the Italian Mountain corps General Gabriele Nasci finally ordered a full retreat. At this point the Julia and Cuneense divisions were already heavily decimated and only the Tridentina division 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. On the morning of January 28 the men of the 1st Alpini Regiment had walked 200 km, fought in 20 battles and spent 11 nights camped out in the middle of the Russian Steppe
. Temperatures during the nights were between -30°C and -40°C. In the course of that day, the last remnants of the regiment were annihilated by Cossack forces. The last survivors of the 1st Alpini regiment burnt the regimental colours to prevent it from falling in enemy hands, at which point the Regiment ceased to exist.
On February 11, 1943 the survivors were counted and out of 5,206 men of the 1st Alpini Regiment just 722 had survived; none of the soldiers of the battalions Ceva, Pieve di Teco and Mondovì had survived.
The survivors were repatriated and after the signing of the Italian armistice with the Allies
on September 8, 1943 the regiment was dissolved.
Light infantry
Traditionally light infantry were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. Light infantry was distinct from medium, heavy or line infantry. Heavy infantry were dedicated primarily to fighting in tight...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
of the Italian Army
Italian Army
The Italian Army is the ground defence force of the Italian Armed Forces. It is all-volunteer force of active-duty personnel, numbering 108,355 in 2010. Its best-known combat vehicles are the Dardo infantry fighting vehicle, the Centauro tank destroyer and the Ariete tank, and among its aircraft...
, specializing in Mountain Combat
Mountain warfare
Mountain warfare refers to warfare in the mountains or similarly rough terrain. This type of warfare is also called Alpine warfare, named after the Alps mountains...
. The Alpini
Alpini
The Alpini, , are the elite mountain warfare soldiers of the Italian Army. They are currently organized in two operational brigades, which are subordinated to the Alpini Corps Command. The singular is Alpino ....
are a mountain infantry corps of the Italian Army, that distinguished itself in combat during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Formation
The 1st Alpini Regiment was formed on November 1, 1882. It consisted of three Battalions:"Alto Tanaro", Val Tanaro
Tanaro River
The Tanaro , known as Tanarus in ancient times, is a 276 km-long river in northwestern Italy. It rises in the Ligurian Alps, close to the border with France and is the most significant right-side tributary to the Po in terms of length, size of drainage basin and discharge.-Source:The Tanaro proper...
and Val Camonica
Val Camonica
Val Camonica is one of the largest valleys of the central Alps, in eastern Lombardy, about 90 km long. It starts from the Tonale Pass, at 1883 metres above sea level and ends at Corna Trentapassi, in the comune of Pisogne, near Lake Iseo...
, named after the valleys and localities from which their soldiers were recruited. In 1886 the Battalions were renamed, taking their new names from the location of their main logistic depot: Ceva
Ceva
Ceva, the ancient Ceba, is a small Italian town in the province of Cuneo, region of Piedmont, 49 km east of Cuneo. It lies on the right bank of the Tanaro on a wedge of land between that river and the Cevetta stream.-History:...
, Pieve di Teco
Pieve di Teco
Pieve di Teco is a comune in the Province of Imperia in the Italian region Liguria, located about 90 km southwest of Genoa and about 20 km northwest of Imperia...
and Mondovì
Mondovì
Mondovì is a town and comune of Piedmont, northern Italy, located c. 80 km from Turin....
.
World War I
During World War I the regiment consisted of 9 battalions and saw heavy fighting in the AlpsAlps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
against Austria’s
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
Kaiserjäger and Germany’s
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
Alpenkorps
Alpenkorps (German Empire)
The Alpenkorps was a provisional mountain unit of division size formed by the Imperial German Army during World War I. It was considered by the Allies to be one of the best units of the German Army.-Formation:...
. The battalions of the regiment in these days were (pre-war raised units in bold, followed by their first and second line reserve battalions):
-
Ceva, Val Tanaro, Monte Mercantour -
Pieve di Teco, Val Arroscia, Monte Saccarello -
Mondovi, Val d'Ellero, Monte Clapier
Interwar Period
On October 31, 1935 the 4th Alpine Division “Cuneense” was formed and was composed of the 1st Alpini and 2nd Alpini Regiment2 Alpini Regiment
The 2nd Alpini Regiment is a light Infantry regiment of the Italian Army, specializing in mountain combat. The Alpini are a mountain infantry corps of the Italian Army, that distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II...
and the 4th Mountain Artillery Regiment.
At the tine the regiment consisted of 160 officers and 5046 NCOs and soldiers for a total strength of 5,206 men. The regiment also had 23 horses, 1,242 mules and 109 transport vehicles at its disposal. The order of Battle was as follows:
-
1st Alpini Regiment HQ based in MondovìMondovìMondovì is a town and comune of Piedmont, northern Italy, located c. 80 km from Turin....
- Command Company in Mondovì
- Ceva Alpini Battalion in CevaCevaCeva, the ancient Ceba, is a small Italian town in the province of Cuneo, region of Piedmont, 49 km east of Cuneo. It lies on the right bank of the Tanaro on a wedge of land between that river and the Cevetta stream.-History:...
- 1st Alpini Company in Ceva
- 4th Alpini Company in BagnascoBagnascoBagnasco is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 90 km southeast of Turin and about 40 km east of Cuneo...
- 5th Alpini Company in Ceva
- 101st Support Arms Company in Ceva
- Pieve di Teco Alpini Battalion in Chiusa di PesioChiusa di PesioChiusa di Pesio is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 80 km south of Turin and about 13 km southeast of Cuneo, on the border with France....
- 2nd Alpini Company in Chiusa di Pesio
- 3rd Alpini Company in Chiusa di Pesio
- 8th Alpini Company in Roccaforte MondovìRoccaforte MondovìRoccaforte Mondovì is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 80 km south of Turin and about 20 km southeast of Cuneo....
- 102nd Support Arms Company in Chiusa di Pesio
- Mondovì Alpini Battalion in MondovìMondovìMondovì is a town and comune of Piedmont, northern Italy, located c. 80 km from Turin....
- 9th Alpini Company in Torre MondovìTorre MondovìTorre Mondovì is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 80 km south of Turin and about 30 km east of Cuneo...
- 10th Alpini Company in San Michele MondovìSan Michele MondovìSan Michele Mondovì is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 80 km south of Turin and about 30 km east of Cuneo...
- 11th Alpini Company in VicoforteVicoforteVicoforte is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in Italy. It is located in Val Corsaglia above sea level, 32 km east of Cuneo and 6 km from Mondovì....
- 103rd Support Arms Company in Santuario di Vicoforte
- 9th Alpini Company in Torre Mondovì
- 84th 47/32 M35 CannonCannone da 47/32 M35The Cannone da 47/32 M35 was an Austrian artillery piece produced under license in Italy during World War II. It was used both as an infantry gun and an anti-tank gun....
Company in Mondovì - 1st Health Company in Mondovì
- 612th Field HospitalField hospitalA field hospital is a large mobile medical unit that temporarily takes care of casualties on-site before they can be safely transported to more permanent hospital facilities...
in MondovìMondovìMondovì is a town and comune of Piedmont, northern Italy, located c. 80 km from Turin.... - 1st Sanitary Support Company in BeinetteBeinetteBeinette is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 80 km south of Turin and about 8 km east of Cuneo. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 2,898 and an area of 17.4 km²....
- 21st Baggage Train Company in Mondovì
In 1935 the "Pieve di Teco" battalion was sent to fight in the Second Italo-Abyssinian War
Second Italo-Abyssinian War
The Second Italo–Abyssinian War was a colonial war that started in October 1935 and ended in May 1936. The war was fought between the armed forces of the Kingdom of Italy and the armed forces of the Ethiopian Empire...
, where it distinguished itself during the battles of Amba Aradam
Battle of Amba Aradam
The Battle of Amba Aradam was a battle fought on the northern front of what was known as the Second Italo-Abyssinian War. This battle consisted of attacks and counterattacks by Italian forces under Marshal of Italy Pietro Badoglio and Ethiopian forces under Ras Mulugeta Yeggazu...
, Amba Alagi
Amba Alagi
Amba Alagi is a mountain, or an amba, in northern Ethiopia. Located in the Debubawi Zone of the Tigray Region, Amba Alagi dominates the roadway that runs past it from the city of Mek'ele south to Maychew. Because of its strategic location, Amba Alagi has been the location of several battles...
, Worq Amba, Mai Ceu
Battle of Maychew
The Battle of Maychew was the last major battle fought on the northern front during the Second Italo-Abyssinian War. The battle consisted of a failed counterattack by the Ethiopian forces under Emperor Haile Selassie making frontal assaults against prepared Italian defensive positions under the...
and Mekan Pass.
World War II
On June 21, 1940 (one day before the French surrender) the “Cuneense” division began to advance with other Italian units into Southern FranceBattle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
. The division was then sent to Albania, where it participated in the Italian attack
Greco-Italian War
The Greco-Italian War was a conflict between Italy and Greece which lasted from 28 October 1940 to 23 April 1941. It marked the beginning of the Balkans Campaign of World War II...
on Greece. As the German Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
came to the aid of the beaten Italian armies in Albania in April 1941 through an invasion of Yugoslavia
Invasion of Yugoslavia
The Invasion of Yugoslavia , also known as the April War , was the Axis Powers' attack on the Kingdom of Yugoslavia which began on 6 April 1941 during World War II...
the “Cuneense” was sent north to aid the rapidly advancing German divisions. The Cuneense advanced through Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
and reached Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is a Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea coast, positioned at the terminal end of the Isthmus of Dubrovnik. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations on the Adriatic, a seaport and the centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva county. Its total population is 42,641...
by the end of the campaign.
In September 1942 the “Cuneense” was sent with the Alpini divisions Julia
3 Alpine Division Julia
The 3rd Alpine Division Julia was a World War II light Infantry division of the Italian Army, specializing in Mountain Combat. The Alpini that formed the divisions are a highly decorated and elite mountain corps of the Italian Army comprising both infantry and artillery units...
and Tridentina
2 Alpine Division Tridentina
The 2nd Alpine Division Tridentina was a World War II Mountain Infantry division of the Italian Army. The Alpini that formed the divisions are a highly decorated and elite mountain corps of the Italian Army comprising both infantry and artillery units...
and other Italian units to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
to form the ARMIR
Italian Army in Russia
The Italian Army in Russia was an army-sized unit of the Italian Royal Army which fought on the Eastern Front during World War II...
(Armata Italiana in Russia or Italian Army in Russia) and fight alongside the Germans against the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
. Taking up positions along the Don River
Don River (Russia)
The Don River is one of the major rivers of Russia. It rises in the town of Novomoskovsk 60 kilometres southeast from Tula, southeast of Moscow, and flows for a distance of about 1,950 kilometres to the Sea of Azov....
, the Italian units covered part of the left flank of the German Sixth Army, which spearheaded the German summer offensive of 1942
Operation Blue
Case Blue , later renamed Operation Braunschweig, was the German Armed Forces name for its plan for a 1942 strategic summer offensive in southern Russia between 28 June and November 1942....
into the city of Stalingrad
Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad was a major battle of World War II in which Nazi Germany and its allies fought the Soviet Union for control of the city of Stalingrad in southwestern Russia. The battle took place between 23 August 1942 and 2 February 1943...
.
After successfully encircling the German Sixth army in Stalingrad the Red Army’s attention turned to the Italian units along the Don. On January 14, 1943 the Soviet offensive Operation Little Saturn began and the three Alpini division found themselves quickly encircled by the rapidly advancing armoured Soviet Forces. The Alpinis held the front on the Don, but within three days the Soviets advanced 200 km to the left and right of the Alpini. On the evening of January 17 the commanding officer of the Italian Mountain corps General Gabriele Nasci finally ordered a full retreat. At this point the Julia and Cuneense divisions were already heavily decimated and only the Tridentina division 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. On the morning of January 28 the men of the 1st Alpini Regiment had walked 200 km, fought in 20 battles and spent 11 nights camped out in the middle of the Russian Steppe
Steppe
In physical geography, steppe is an ecoregion, in the montane grasslands and shrublands and temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biomes, characterized by grassland plains without trees apart from those near rivers and lakes...
. Temperatures during the nights were between -30°C and -40°C. In the course of that day, the last remnants of the regiment were annihilated by Cossack forces. The last survivors of the 1st Alpini regiment burnt the regimental colours to prevent it from falling in enemy hands, at which point the Regiment ceased to exist.
On February 11, 1943 the survivors were counted and out of 5,206 men of the 1st Alpini Regiment just 722 had survived; none of the soldiers of the battalions Ceva, Pieve di Teco and Mondovì had survived.
The survivors were repatriated and after the signing of the Italian armistice with the Allies
Armistice with Italy
The Armistice with Italy was an armistice signed on September 3 and publicly declared on September 8, 1943, during World War II, between Italy and the Allied armed forces, who were then occupying the southern end of the country, entailing the capitulation of Italy...
on September 8, 1943 the regiment was dissolved.