Alpine Brigade Cadore
Encyclopedia
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 Italian provinces of Belluno
and Vicenza
. The headquarter was in the city of Belluno
. It was disbanded in 1997.
. The brigade’s name "Cadore" alludes to the Cadore
Alps in the northernmost part of the province of Belluno. Most of the Brigades recruits came from the north-eastern Veneto Region
. The brigade was tasked with defending the Piave valley against an attack by forces of the Warsaw pact
. The brigade’s strength was around 3600 men and initially it was composed of the:
In the following years the brigade was augmented with further units:
The Alpini Parachutist Platoon merged with the other four Alpini Brigades Parachutist Platoons in 1964 to form the Alpini Parachutist company under direct command of the IV Army Corps Command
.
.
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 ....
Brigade Cadore was a light Infantry
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...
brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
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 warfare
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...
. Its core units were 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 ....
, the 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 brigade was based in the Italian provinces of Belluno
Province of Belluno
TheThe Province of Belluno is a province in the Veneto region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Belluno.It has an area of 3,678 km², and a total population of 214,026 .-Geography:...
and Vicenza
Province of Vicenza
The Province of Vicenza is a province in the Veneto region of northern Italy. Its capital city is Vicenza.The province has an area of 2,723 km², and a total population of 840,000 . There are 121 comuni in the province...
. The headquarter was in the city of Belluno
Belluno
Belluno , is a town and province in the Veneto region of northern Italy. Located about 100 kilometres north of Venice, Belluno is the capital of the province of Belluno and the most important city in the Eastern Dolomiti's region. With its roughly 37,000 inhabitants, it the largest populated area...
. It was disbanded in 1997.
Constitution
The Cadore was constituted on July 1, 1953 in the city of BellunoBelluno
Belluno , is a town and province in the Veneto region of northern Italy. Located about 100 kilometres north of Venice, Belluno is the capital of the province of Belluno and the most important city in the Eastern Dolomiti's region. With its roughly 37,000 inhabitants, it the largest populated area...
. The brigade’s name "Cadore" alludes to the Cadore
Cadore
Cadore is a "comunità montana" in the Italian region of Veneto, in the northernmost part of the province of Belluno bordering on Austria, the Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol and Friuli-Venezia Giulia. It is watered by the Piave River poured forth from the Carnic Alps...
Alps in the northernmost part of the province of Belluno. Most of the Brigades recruits came from the north-eastern Veneto Region
Veneto
Veneto is one of the 20 regions of Italy. Its population is about 5 million, ranking 5th in Italy.Veneto had been for more than a millennium an independent state, the Republic of Venice, until it was eventually annexed by Italy in 1866 after brief Austrian and French rule...
. The brigade was tasked with defending the Piave valley against an attack by forces of the Warsaw pact
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Treaty Organization of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance , or more commonly referred to as the Warsaw Pact, was a mutual defense treaty subscribed to by eight communist states in Eastern Europe...
. The brigade’s strength was around 3600 men and initially it was composed of the:
-
7th Alpini Regiment with the battalions
-
Pieve di Cadore -
Belluno - 7th Mortar Company
-
-
6th Mountain Artillery Regiment with the groups
- Lanzo
- Pieve di Cadore
- Agordo
-
Logistic battalion (from 1956 onwards) - EngineerMilitary engineerIn military science, engineering refers to the practice of designing, building, maintaining and dismantling military works, including offensive, defensive and logistical structures, to shape the physical operating environment in war...
company - Signals Company
In the following years the brigade was augmented with further units:
-
Feltre Alpini battalion (constituted June 1, 1956) - XIX° Frontier Defense Battalion (constituted on January 1, 1957; renamed Val Cismon Alpini Battalion on July 1st, 1963)
- Alpini Parachutist Platoon (1956)
The Alpini Parachutist Platoon merged with the other four Alpini Brigades Parachutist Platoons in 1964 to form the Alpini Parachutist company under direct command of the IV Army Corps Command
COMALP
- External links :*...
.
1975 Reorganization
In 1975 the Val Cismon Alpini battalion was reduced to 264th Alpini Company and the company transferred to the Val Brenta Alpini battalion. The Pieve di Cadore Mountain Artillery group was dissolved. The regimental level was abolished and the remaining units came under direct control of the Cadore Brigade. The new composition was:- Feltre Alpini battalion in FeltreFeltreFeltre is a town and comune of the province of Belluno in Veneto, northern Italy. A hill town in the southern reaches of the province, it is located on the Stizzon River, about 4 km from its junction with the Piave, and 20 km southwest from Belluno...
- Pieve di Cadore Alpini battalion in Pieve di CadorePieve di CadorePieve di Cadore is a comune in the province of Belluno in the Italian region Veneto, located about 110 km north of Venice and about 35 km northeast of Belluno.The painter Titian was born here, c. 1485...
- Belluno Alpini Training battalion in BellunoBellunoBelluno , is a town and province in the Veneto region of northern Italy. Located about 100 kilometres north of Venice, Belluno is the capital of the province of Belluno and the most important city in the Eastern Dolomiti's region. With its roughly 37,000 inhabitants, it the largest populated area...
- Lanzo Mountain Artillery group in Belluno
- Agordo Mountain Artillery group in Bassano del GrappaBassano del GrappaBassano del Grappa is a city and comune in the province of Vicenza, region Veneto, in northern Italy. It bounds the communes of Cassola, Marostica, Solagna, Pove del Grappa, Romano d'Ezzelino, Campolongo sul Brenta, Conco, Rosà, Cartigliano and Nove...
- Command and Signals battalion in Belluno
- Cadore Logistics battalion in Belluno
- Anti-tank company in Belluno
- SapperSapperA sapper, pioneer or combat engineer is a combatant soldier who performs a wide variety of combat engineering duties, typically including, but not limited to, bridge-building, laying or clearing minefields, demolitions, field defences, general construction and building, as well as road and airfield...
company in Belluno
1991 Reorganization
In 1991 the Mountain Artillery group Agordo was dissolved and the remaining battalions took the names of historical Alpini regiments to carry on their traditions. Each regiment consisted of one of the Brigades Alpini battalions and an additional support company. Furthermore the Anti-tank company was dissolved and the Command and Signals battalion was merged with the Engineer company into the newly formed Command and Tactical Support battalion. The new composition was:- 7th Alpini Regiment Feltre Alpini battalion in FeltreFeltreFeltre is a town and comune of the province of Belluno in Veneto, northern Italy. A hill town in the southern reaches of the province, it is located on the Stizzon River, about 4 km from its junction with the Piave, and 20 km southwest from Belluno...
-
12th Alpini Regiment Pieve di Cadore Alpini battalion in Pieve di CadorePieve di CadorePieve di Cadore is a comune in the province of Belluno in the Italian region Veneto, located about 110 km north of Venice and about 35 km northeast of Belluno.The painter Titian was born here, c. 1485...
(dissolved in 1997) -
16th Alpini Regiment Belluno Alpini Training battalion in BellunoBellunoBelluno , is a town and province in the Veneto region of northern Italy. Located about 100 kilometres north of Venice, Belluno is the capital of the province of Belluno and the most important city in the Eastern Dolomiti's region. With its roughly 37,000 inhabitants, it the largest populated area... - 6th Mountain Artillery Regiment Lanzo Mountain Artillery group in Bassano del Grappa (dissolved on July 15th, 1995)
- Command and Tactical Support battalion in Belluno
- Cadore Logistics battalion in Belluno
Today
The brigade was disbanded on January 10th, 1997 and the remaining units (7th and 16th Alpini regiments) passed to the Alpine Brigade JuliaAlpine Brigade Julia
The Alpini Brigade Julia 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....
.