4 Alpini Regiment
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| 4° Reggimento Alpini | |
|---|---|
 Coat of Arms of the 4th Alpini Regiment |
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| Active | 1 Nov. 1882 - 8 Sept. 1943 1 January 1946 - 10 October 1975 25 September 2004 - today |
| Country | Italy |
| Branch | Italian Army |
| Type | Alpini |
| Role | Ranger - Parachutist |
| Size | 1 Battalion Monte Cervino Battalion |
| Part of | 1st Alpine Division “Taurinense” 1935 - 1943 Taurinense Alpine Brigade 1946 - 1975 COMALP 2004 - today |
| Garrison/HQ | Bolzano (BZ) |
| Motto | "In adversa ultra adversa" - "Mai strac" |
| Anniversaries | 18 May 1917 - Battle of Monte Vodice |
| Engagements | World War I Battle of Monte Adamello Battle of Monte Vodice Battle of Monte Solarolo Battle of Monte Grappa Battle of Monte Nero Battle of Monte Pasubio Battle of Cosmagnon World War II Battle of Nikolayevka War in Afghanistan |
| Decorations | 1 Croce di Cavaliere dell'O.M.I. 2 Gold Medals for Military Valour 9 Silver Medals for Military Valour 1 Silver Medal for Civil Valour |
The 4th 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 (WWI) and World War II (WWII). Today the 4th Alpini Regiment is a Special Forces unit of elite mountain infantry specialized in the airborne assault role.
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[edit] Formation
The 4th Alpini Regiment was formed on November 1st, 1882. It consisted of the three Battalions: Val Pellice, "Val Chisone" and "Val Brenta, 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: Aosta, Ivrea and Pallanza.
[edit] World War I
During WWI the regiment consisted of 9 battalions and saw heavy fighting in the Alps against Austria’s Kaiserjäger and Germany’s Alpenkorps. The battalions of the 4th regiment in these days were (pre-war raised units in bold):
- "Aosta", "Ivrea", "Intra", "Val d'Orco", "Val Baltea", "Val Toce", "Monte Levanna", "Monte Cervino", "Monte Rosa".
The Aosta Battalion distinguished itself in 1917 during heavy combat on Monte Vodice and in 1918 on Monte Solarolo.
[edit] Interwar Period
On September 10th, 1935 the 1st Alpine Division “Taurinense” was formed and composed of the 3rd Alpini and 4th Alpini Regiments and the 4th Mountain Artillery Regiment. The division participated in 1936 in the Italian conquest of Abyssinia.
[edit] World War II
In 1940 the regiment as part of the Taurinense division fought in the Italian attack on Greece. After the German invasion of Yugoslavia the “Taurinense” performed garrison duties in Montenegro were the regiment disbanded after the signing of the Italian armistice with the Allies on September 8th, 1943. Most of its soldiers joined the Italian Partisan Brigade Garibaldi, which operated in central Yugoslavia.
The reformed 4th Alpini Regiment participated in the liberation of Italy as part of the Partisan Piemonte Mountain Corps.
[edit] The Cold War
After World War 2 the 4th Alpini regiment was reforemd with the battalions Aosta, Saluzzo, Susa and Mondovi and formed the basis for the newly founded Alpine Brigade Taurinense. When Italy dissolved the regimental level in 1975 the battalions came under the direct command of the Taurinense Brigade, except for the Aosta battalion which moved to the Aosta Valley and became a High Altitude Warfare training unit and carried on the traditions and regimental colours of the 4th Alpini.
[edit] Today
On September 25th, 2004 the 4th Alpini Regiment was reformed as 4° Alpini Paracadutisti (Parachutist Alpini) Regiment in the city of Bolzano. The Alpini Monte Cervino battalion became its single battalion. Today the 4th regiment is one of three Special Forces regiments of the Italian Army. The Alpini Paracadutisti have recently served Iraq and one company is constantly deployed in Afghanistan.
