2 Alpini Regiment
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| 2° Reggimento Alpini | |
|---|---|
 Coat of Arms of the 2nd Alpini Regiment |
|
| Active | 1 Nov. 1882 - 8 Sept. 1943 1 July 1963 - 31 October 1974 28 August 1992 - today |
| Country | Italy |
| Branch | Italian Army |
| Type | Alpini |
| Role | Mountain Infantry |
| Size | 1 Battalion Saluzzo Battalion |
| Part of | 4th Alpine Division “Cuneense” 1935 - 1943 Taurinense Alpine Brigade 1963 - 1974 1992 - today |
| Garrison/HQ | Borgo San Dalmazzo (CN) |
| Motto | "Vigilantes" |
| Anniversaries | 6 June 1916 - Battle of Monte Fior |
| Engagements | World War I Battle of Monte Fior World War II Battle of Nikolayevka War in Afghanistan |
| Decorations | 1 Croce di Cavaliere dell'O.M.I. 1 Gold Medal for Military Valour 4 Silver Medals for Military Valour 2 Bronze Medals for Military Valour |
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.
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[edit] Formation
The 2nd Alpini Regiment was formed on November 1st, 1882. It consisted of the three Battalions: Col Tenda, 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 Dronero) and Dronero (later renamed Saluzzo).
[edit] World War I
The "Saluzzo" battalion saw the regiments first action in the Italo-Turkish War 1911, fighting Ottoman forces in the Libyan desert.
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 2nd regiment in these days were (pre-war raised units in bold):
- "Borgo San Dalmazzo", "Dronero", "Saluzzo", "Val Stura", "Val Maira", "Val Varaita", "Argentera", "Bicocca", "Monte Viso".
[edit] Interwar Period
On October 31st, 1935 the 4th Alpine Division “Cuneense” was formed and was composed of the 1st Alpini 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 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:
- 2nd Alpini Regiment HQ based in Cuneo
- Command Company in Cuneo
- "Borgo San Dalmazzo" Alpini Battalion in Cuneo
- 13rd Alpini Company in Cuneo
- 14th Alpini Company in Cuneo
- 15th Alpini Company in Cuneo
- 104th Support Arms Company in Cuneo
- "Dronero" Alpini Battalion in Dronero
- 17th Alpini Company in Dronero
- 18th Alpini Company in San Damiano Macra
- 19th Alpini Company in Dronero
- 105th Support Arms Company in Dronero
- "Saluzzo" Alpini Battalion in Vinadio
- 21st Alpini Company in Vinadio
- 22nd Alpini Company in Demonte
- 23rd Alpini Company in Demonte
- 106th Support Arms Company in Demonte
- 14th 47/32 M35 Cannon Company in Cuneo
- 2nd Health Company in Cuneo
- 615th Field Hospital in Dronero
- 2nd Sanitary Support Company in Dronero
- 22nd Baggage Train Company in Bene Vagienna
[edit] World War II
On June 21st, 1940 (one day before the French surrender) the “Cuneense” division began to advance with other Italian units into Southern France. 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 Don. On January 14th, 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 river Don, but within three days the Soviets advanced 200km to the left and right of the Alpini. On the evening of January 17th 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 28th the last men of the 2nd Alpini Regiment had walked 200km, 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 February 11th 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 owere repatriated and after the signing of the Italian armistice with the Allies on September 8th, 1943 the regiment dissolved.
[edit] The Cold War
After World War II the "Saluzzo" battalion was reformed on November 23rd, 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 July 1st, 1963 as a training unit with four battalions, which were named for the four Alpini Brigades to which the conscripts were sent after training: Tridentina, Orobica, Cadore and Taurinense battalions. On October 31st, 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.
[edit] Today
On August 28th, 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 Cuneo and part of the Taurinense Brigade.
