2nd Alpini Regiment
Encyclopedia
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
. The regiment was disbanded in 1943 due to losses on the Eastern Front
, however one of its component battalions, the Saluzzo Battalion, was reformed in November 1945 after the end of hostilities in Europe. The regiment itself was reformed in 1963 as a training unit, however, following a restructuring of the Italian Army in 1974 it was disbanded once again. In 1992 the regiment was raised once again and today it consists of only the Saluzzo Battalion, based at Borgo San Dalmazzo
as part of the Taurinense Brigade
.
, Val Schio
and Val Pesio
, 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: Borgo San Dalmazzo
, Vinadio
(later renamed Saluzzo) and Dronero
.
The "Saluzzo" battalion saw the regiment's first action in the Italo-Turkish War
of 1911, fighting Ottoman forces in the Libyan
desert.
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 2nd Alpini Regiments and the 4th Mountain Artillery Regiment. As part of the 5 Alpine Division Pusteria
the "Saluzzo" battalion fought in 1936 in the Second Italo-Abyssinian War
.
At the time the regiment consisted of 160 officers and 5,046 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:
. 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 a invasion of Yugoslavia
the “Cuneense” was sent north to aid the rapidly advancing German divisions, advancing through Montenegro
and reaching Dubrovnik
at the end of the campaign.
In September 1942 the “Cuneense” was sent together 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 river Don. On 14 January 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 17 January 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 28 January the last men of the 2nd 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. During the 28th the last remnants of the regiment were annihilated by Cossack forces.
On 11 February 1943, the survivors were counted and out of 5,206 men of the 1st Alpini Regiment just 208 had survived; none of the soldiers of the battalions Borgo San Dalmazzo and Saluzzo had survived.
The survivors were repatriated and after the signing of the Italian armistice with the Allies
on 8 September 1943 the regiment dissolved.
, Orobica
, Cadore
and Taurinense
battalions. On 31 October 1974 the regiment was disbanded in the 1974 restructuring of the Italian Army and the colours passed again to the "Saluzzo" battalion. After the disbandment of the regimental level in the Italian Army, the "Saluzzo" battalion came under direct control of the "Taurinense
" brigade.
and part of the Taurinense Brigade.
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...
. The regiment was disbanded in 1943 due to losses on the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
, however one of its component battalions, the Saluzzo Battalion, was reformed in November 1945 after the end of hostilities in Europe. The regiment itself was reformed in 1963 as a training unit, however, following a restructuring of the Italian Army in 1974 it was disbanded once again. In 1992 the regiment was raised once again and today it consists of only the Saluzzo Battalion, based at Borgo San Dalmazzo
Borgo San Dalmazzo
Borgo San Dalmazzo is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 80 km south of Turin and about 8 km southwest of Cuneo...
as part of the Taurinense Brigade
Alpine Brigade Taurinense
The Alpine Brigade Taurinense is a light Infantry brigade of the Italian Army, specializing in Mountain Combat. Its core units are the Alpini, the mountain infantry corps of the Italian Army, that distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II.The brigade’s name "Taurinense"...
.
Formation
The 2nd Alpini Regiment was formed on 1 November 1882. It consisted of the three battalions: Col TendaCol de Tende
Col de Tende is a high mountain pass in the Alps, on the border of France and Italy.It separates the Maritime Alps from the Ligurian Alps. It connects Nice and Tende in Alpes-Maritimes with Cuneo in Piedmont....
, Val Schio
Schio
Schio is a town and comune in the province of Vicenza situated North of Vicenza and East of the Lake of Garda. It is surrounded by the Little Dolomites and Mount Pasubio.-History:...
and Val Pesio
Chiusa di Pesio
Chiusa 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....
, 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: Borgo San Dalmazzo
Borgo San Dalmazzo
Borgo San Dalmazzo is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 80 km south of Turin and about 8 km southwest of Cuneo...
, Vinadio
Vinadio
Vinadio is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 100 km southwest of Turin and about 30 km southwest of Cuneo, on the border with France...
(later renamed Saluzzo) and Dronero
Dronero
Dronero is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 70 km southwest of Turin and about 15 km northwest of Cuneo at the entrance of the Valle Maira.-Main sights:...
.
The "Saluzzo" battalion saw the regiment's first action in the Italo-Turkish War
Italo-Turkish War
The Italo-Turkish or Turco-Italian War was fought between the Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of Italy from September 29, 1911 to October 18, 1912.As a result of this conflict, Italy was awarded the Ottoman provinces of Tripolitania, Fezzan, and...
of 1911, fighting Ottoman forces in the Libyan
Libyan
A Libyan is a person or thing of, from, or related to Libya in North Africa.The term Libyan may also refer to:* A person from Libya, or of Libyan descent. For information about the Libyan people, see Demographics of Libya and Culture of Libya. For specific persons, see List of Libyans.* Libyan...
desert.
World War I
During World War I the regiment consisted of 10 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):
-
Borgo San Dalmazzo, Val Stura, Monte Argentera, Cuneo -
Dronero, Val Maira, Bicocca -
Saluzzo, Val Varaita, Monte Viso
Interwar Period
On 31 October 1935 the 4th Alpine Division “Cuneense” was formed and was composed of the 1st Alpini1st Alpini Regiment
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.- Formation :...
and 2nd Alpini Regiments and the 4th Mountain Artillery Regiment. As part of the 5 Alpine Division Pusteria
5 Alpine Division Pusteria
The 5th Alpini Division Pusteria was a light Infantry division 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...
the "Saluzzo" battalion fought in 1936 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...
.
At the time the regiment consisted of 160 officers and 5,046 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:
-
2nd Alpini Regiment HQ based in CuneoCuneoCuneo is a city and comune in Piedmont, Northern Italy, the capital of the province of Cuneo, the third largest of Italy’s provinces by area...
- Command Company in Cuneo
- Borgo San Dalmazzo Alpini Battalion in Cuneo
- 13th Alpini Company in Cuneo
- 14th Alpini Company in Cuneo
- 15th Alpini Company in Cuneo
- 104th Support Arms Company in Cuneo
- Dronero Alpini Battalion in DroneroDroneroDronero is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 70 km southwest of Turin and about 15 km northwest of Cuneo at the entrance of the Valle Maira.-Main sights:...
- 17th Alpini Company in Dronero
- 18th Alpini Company in San Damiano MacraSan Damiano MacraSan Damiano Macra is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 70 km southwest of Turin and about 25 km northwest of Cuneo...
- 19th Alpini Company in Dronero
- 105th Support Arms Company in Dronero
- Saluzzo Alpini Battalion in VinadioVinadioVinadio is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 100 km southwest of Turin and about 30 km southwest of Cuneo, on the border with France...
- 21st Alpini Company in Vinadio
- 22nd Alpini Company in DemonteDemonteDemonte is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 90 km southwest of Turin and about 20 km southwest of Cuneo, in the Valle Stura di Demonte....
- 23rd Alpini Company in Demonte
- 106th Support Arms Company in Demonte
- 14th 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 Cuneo - 2nd Health Company in Cuneo
- 615th 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 Dronero - 2nd Sanitary Support Company in Dronero
- 22nd Baggage Train Company in Bene VagiennaBene VagiennaBene Vagienna is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 60 km south of Turin and about 30 km northeast of Cuneo....
World War II
On 21 June 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 a 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, advancing 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 reaching 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...
at the end of the campaign.
In September 1942 the “Cuneense” was sent together 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 war in Soviet Union, 1941-1943
The Italian participation in the Eastern Front during World War II began after the launch of Operation Barbarossa on 22 June 1941. Barbarossa was the German war against the Soviet Union...
(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 river Don. On 14 January 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 17 January 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 28 January the last men of the 2nd 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. During the 28th the last remnants of the regiment were annihilated by Cossack forces.
On 11 February 1943, the survivors were counted and out of 5,206 men of the 1st Alpini Regiment just 208 had survived; none of the soldiers of the battalions Borgo San Dalmazzo and Saluzzo 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 8 September 1943 the regiment dissolved.
The Cold War
After World War II the "Saluzzo" battalion was reformed on 23 November 1945 as part of the 4th Alpini regiment and it carried on the traditions and regimental colours of the 2nd Alpini. The regiment itself was reformed on 1 July 1963 as a training unit with four battalions, which were named for the four Alpini Brigades to which the conscripts were sent after training: TridentinaAlpine Brigade Tridentina
The Alpini Brigade Tridentina was a light Infantry brigade of the Italian Army, specializing in mountain warfare. Its core units were the Alpini, the mountain infantry corps of the Italian Army, that distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II...
, Orobica
Alpine Brigade Orobica
The Alpine Brigade Orobica was a light Infantry brigade of the Italian Army, specializing in mountain warfare. Its core units were the Alpini, the mountain infantry corps of the Italian Army, that distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II.- Constitution :The Orobica was...
, Cadore
Alpine Brigade Cadore
The Alpini Brigade Cadore was a light Infantry brigade of the Italian Army, specializing in mountain warfare. Its core units were the Alpini, the mountain infantry corps of the Italian Army, that distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II. The brigade was based in the...
and Taurinense
Alpine Brigade Taurinense
The Alpine Brigade Taurinense is a light Infantry brigade of the Italian Army, specializing in Mountain Combat. Its core units are the Alpini, the mountain infantry corps of the Italian Army, that distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II.The brigade’s name "Taurinense"...
battalions. On 31 October 1974 the regiment was disbanded in the 1974 restructuring of the Italian Army and the colours passed again to the "Saluzzo" battalion. After the disbandment of the regimental level in the Italian Army, the "Saluzzo" battalion came under direct control of the "Taurinense
Alpine Brigade Taurinense
The Alpine Brigade Taurinense is a light Infantry brigade of the Italian Army, specializing in Mountain Combat. Its core units are the Alpini, the mountain infantry corps of the Italian Army, that distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II.The brigade’s name "Taurinense"...
" brigade.
Today
On 28 August 1992, the 2nd Alpini Regiment was recreated again and the "Saluzzo" became its single battalion. Today the 2nd Regiment consists of the “Saluzzo” battalion, the regimental command and a logistic support company. The regiment is based in Borgo San Dalmazzo in the province of CuneoProvince of Cuneo
ayr is a province in the southwest of the Piedmont region of Italy. To the west it borders on the French region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur ....
and part of the Taurinense Brigade.
- Regimental Command
-
Command and Logistic Support Company - Alpini Battalion SaluzzoSaluzzoSaluzzo is a town and former principality in the province of Cuneo, Piedmont region, Italy.The city of Saluzzo is built on a hill overlooking a vast, well-cultivated plain. Iron, lead, silver, marble, slate etc...
- 21st Alpini Company
- 22nd Alpini Company
- 23rd Alpini Company
- 106th Mortar Company
- 217th Anti-Tank Company "Val Maira"
-
-