Alpine Brigade Tridentina
Encyclopedia
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
. The Tridentina Alpine Brigade carried on the colours and traditions of the WWII era 2nd Alpine Division Tridentina
.
The brigade was based in the eastern half of the Italian province of South Tyrol
. The headquarter was in the city of Brixen
. The brigade was disbanded in 2002, however the name and traditions were carried on by the newly raised Tridentina Division, a deployable military headquarter of the Italian Army.
. The brigade’s name "Tridentina" was taken from the name Venezia Tridentina, which was the name invented by the linguist Graziadio Isaia Ascoli
for the region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol and was officially in use for the area between 1919 and 1948. The brigade was based in the region and drew the majority of its recruits from it. The brigade was tasked with defending the Puster Valley, ensuring that invading Warsaw Pact
troops would be unable to cut the vital supply line over the Brenner Pass
. To aid in the defense of the valley part of the pre-WWII fortifications of the Alpine Wall
were reactivated and upgraded. The brigade’s strength was around 4200 men and initially it was composed of the:
In 1953 the 21st Frontier Defense Regiment was attached to the Brigade. It consisted of the battalions
This 21st Frontier Defense Regiment was dissolved on June 30, 1964 with the exception of the Val Brenta Alpini battalion, which absorbed the companies of the Val Leogra Alpini battalion. The companies of the Val d'Adige Alpini battalion were transferred to the Val Cismon Alpini battalion of the Alpine Brigade Cadore
.
. The Adige along with the United States Army
's 11th Field Artillery Detachment, based at Site Rigel in Natz-Schabs
, were tasked, in case the defense of the Puster Valley would fail, to destroy the entire valley with W33 nuclear artillery
warheads fired from the Adiges M115 203mm howitzers, as part of the US-Italian nuclear weapons sharing
program.
The new composition was:
. With the suppression of the Alpine Brigade Orobica
in 1991, that Brigades remaining units (Alpini Battalions Morbegno and Edolo, Bergamo the Artillery group, the Orobica Logistics battalion and the Anti-tank company) passed to the Tridentina. In August 1992 the Anti-tank company and the 262nd Alpini Company were dissolved and the battalions took the names of historical Alpini regiments to carry on the regimental traditions. Each regiment consisted of one of the brigades Alpini battalions and an additional support company. Furthermore in 1993 the Command and Signals battalion was merged with the Engineer company into the newly formed Command and Tactical Support battalion. Thus the new composition was:
The brigade and its last remaining units were dissolved on December, 31st 2002. On the next day the Tridentina Division Command was activated in Bolzano which carries on the traditions of the 2nd Alpine Division Tridentina
and the Alpine Brigade Tridentina.
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 Tridentina 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 Tridentina Alpine Brigade carried on the colours and traditions of the WWII era 2nd Alpine Division 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...
.
The brigade was based in the eastern half of the Italian province of South Tyrol
South Tyrol
South Tyrol , also known by its Italian name Alto Adige, is an autonomous province in northern Italy. It is one of the two autonomous provinces that make up the autonomous region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. The province has an area of and a total population of more than 500,000 inhabitants...
. The headquarter was in the city of Brixen
Brixen
Brixen is the name of two cities in the Alps:*Brixen, South Tyrol, Italy*Brixen im Thale, Tyrol, AustriaBrixen may also refer to:*Bishopric of Brixen, the former north-Italian state....
. The brigade was disbanded in 2002, however the name and traditions were carried on by the newly raised Tridentina Division, a deployable military headquarter of the Italian Army.
Constitution
The Tridentina was constituted on May 1, 1951 in the city of BrixenBrixen
Brixen is the name of two cities in the Alps:*Brixen, South Tyrol, Italy*Brixen im Thale, Tyrol, AustriaBrixen may also refer to:*Bishopric of Brixen, the former north-Italian state....
. The brigade’s name "Tridentina" was taken from the name Venezia Tridentina, which was the name invented by the linguist Graziadio Isaia Ascoli
Graziadio Isaia Ascoli
Graziadio Isaia Ascoli was an Italian linguist.- Life and work :Ascoli was born in an Italian-speaking Jewish family in the multiethnic town of Gorizia, then part of the Austrian Empire...
for the region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol and was officially in use for the area between 1919 and 1948. The brigade was based in the region and drew the majority of its recruits from it. The brigade was tasked with defending the Puster Valley, ensuring that invading 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...
troops would be unable to cut the vital supply line over the Brenner Pass
Brenner Pass
- Roadways :The motorway E45 leading from Innsbruck via Bolzano to Verona and Modena uses this pass, and is one of the most important north-south connections in Europe...
. To aid in the defense of the valley part of the pre-WWII fortifications of the Alpine Wall
Alpine Wall
The Alpine Wall was a system of fortifications along Italy's northern frontier built in the years leading up to World War II...
were reactivated and upgraded. The brigade’s strength was around 4200 men and initially it was composed of the:
-
6th Alpini Regiment with the battalions
-
Bolzano -
Trento -
Bassano - Edolo (ceded to the reformed 5th Alpini Regiment of the newly formed Alpine Brigade OrobicaAlpine Brigade OrobicaThe 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...
on January 1, 1953) - 6th Mortar Company
-
-
2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment (Gruppo Artiglieria da Montagna - G.A.M.) with the groups
- Bergamo (renamed "Vicenza" in 1952)
- Verona
- Asiago
-
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 1953 the 21st Frontier Defense Regiment was attached to the Brigade. It consisted of the battalions
- XXIII° (renamed Val Brenta Alpini battalion on July 1, 1963) in InnichenInnichenInnichen is a market town and comune in South Tyrol in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.It is located in the Puster Valley on the Drava river, about 120 km northeast of Trento and about 80 km northeast of Bolzano , on Italy's border with Austria.As November 2010, it had a...
- XXIV° (renamed Val d'Adige Alpini battalion on July 1, 1963) in ToblachToblachToblach is a comune/Gemeinde in South Tyrol in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located in the Puster Valley about 110 km northeast of the city of Trento and about 70 km northeast of the city of Bolzano, on the border with Austria.As of November 30, 2010, it had a...
- XXV° (renamed Val Leogra Alpini battalion on July 1, 1963) in BruneckBruneckBruneck is the largest town in the Puster Valley in the Italian province of South Tyrol. Bruneck lies at the confluence of the Ahr with the Rienz Bruneck is the largest town in the Puster Valley in the Italian province of South Tyrol. Bruneck lies at the confluence of the Ahr with the Rienz...
This 21st Frontier Defense Regiment was dissolved on June 30, 1964 with the exception of the Val Brenta Alpini battalion, which absorbed the companies of the Val Leogra Alpini battalion. The companies of the Val d'Adige Alpini battalion were transferred to the Val Cismon Alpini battalion of the Alpine Brigade 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...
.
1975 Reorganization
In 1975 the Italian Army abolished the regimental level and battalions came under direct command of the Army's brigades. In the same year the Verona Mountain Artillery group was dissolved and the 1st Heavy Artillery Group Adige moved in the vacant base in ElvasBrixen
Brixen is the name of two cities in the Alps:*Brixen, South Tyrol, Italy*Brixen im Thale, Tyrol, AustriaBrixen may also refer to:*Bishopric of Brixen, the former north-Italian state....
. The Adige along with the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
's 11th Field Artillery Detachment, based at Site Rigel in Natz-Schabs
Natz-Schabs
Natz-Schabs is a comune in South Tyrol in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about 90 km northeast of the city of Trento and about 40 km northeast of the city of Bolzano....
, were tasked, in case the defense of the Puster Valley would fail, to destroy the entire valley with W33 nuclear artillery
Nuclear artillery
Nuclear artillery is a subset of limited-yield tactical nuclear weapons, in particular those weapons that are launched from the ground at battlefield targets...
warheads fired from the Adiges M115 203mm howitzers, as part of the US-Italian nuclear weapons sharing
Nuclear sharing
Nuclear sharing is a concept in NATO's policy of nuclear deterrence, which involves member countries without nuclear weapons of their own in the planning for the use of nuclear weapons by NATO, and in particular provides for the armed forces of these countries to be involved in delivering these...
program.
The new composition was:
- Trento Alpini battalion in Welsberg
- Bassano Alpini battalion in InnichenInnichenInnichen is a market town and comune in South Tyrol in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.It is located in the Puster Valley on the Drava river, about 120 km northeast of Trento and about 80 km northeast of Bolzano , on Italy's border with Austria.As November 2010, it had a...
- Val Brenta Alpini battalion in BruneckBruneckBruneck is the largest town in the Puster Valley in the Italian province of South Tyrol. Bruneck lies at the confluence of the Ahr with the Rienz Bruneck is the largest town in the Puster Valley in the Italian province of South Tyrol. Bruneck lies at the confluence of the Ahr with the Rienz...
(put into reserve status in 1986; only the 262nd Alpini Company remained in active service) - Bolzano Alpini battalion in BrixenBrixenBrixen is the name of two cities in the Alps:*Brixen, South Tyrol, Italy*Brixen im Thale, Tyrol, AustriaBrixen may also refer to:*Bishopric of Brixen, the former north-Italian state....
(Reserve unit) - Vicenza Mountain Artillery group in ElvasBrixenBrixen is the name of two cities in the Alps:*Brixen, South Tyrol, Italy*Brixen im Thale, Tyrol, AustriaBrixen may also refer to:*Bishopric of Brixen, the former north-Italian state....
- Asiago Mountain Artillery group in ToblachToblachToblach is a comune/Gemeinde in South Tyrol in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located in the Puster Valley about 110 km northeast of the city of Trento and about 70 km northeast of the city of Bolzano, on the border with Austria.As of November 30, 2010, it had a...
- Command and Signals battalion in BrixenBrixenBrixen is the name of two cities in the Alps:*Brixen, South Tyrol, Italy*Brixen im Thale, Tyrol, AustriaBrixen may also refer to:*Bishopric of Brixen, the former north-Italian state....
- Tridentina Logistics battalion in VahrnVahrnVahrn is a comune in South Tyrol in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about 90 kilometres northeast of the city of Trento and about 35 km northeast of the city of Bolzano.-Geography:...
- Anti-tank company in BruneckBruneckBruneck is the largest town in the Puster Valley in the Italian province of South Tyrol. Bruneck lies at the confluence of the Ahr with the Rienz Bruneck is the largest town in the Puster Valley in the Italian province of South Tyrol. Bruneck lies at the confluence of the Ahr with the Rienz...
- 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 in BrixenBrixenBrixen is the name of two cities in the Alps:*Brixen, South Tyrol, Italy*Brixen im Thale, Tyrol, AustriaBrixen may also refer to:*Bishopric of Brixen, the former north-Italian state....
1990s Reorganization
In 1991 the reserve battalions Val Brenta and Bolzano and the Asiago Mountain Artillery group were dissolved. The mountain artillery group Vicenza passed to the direct command of the IV Alpine Army CorpsCOMALP
- External links :*...
. With the suppression of the Alpine Brigade 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...
in 1991, that Brigades remaining units (Alpini Battalions Morbegno and Edolo, Bergamo the Artillery group, the Orobica Logistics battalion and the Anti-tank company) passed to the Tridentina. In August 1992 the Anti-tank company and the 262nd Alpini Company were dissolved and the battalions took the names of historical Alpini regiments to carry on the regimental traditions. Each regiment consisted of one of the brigades Alpini battalions and an additional support company. Furthermore in 1993 the Command and Signals battalion was merged with the Engineer company into the newly formed Command and Tactical Support battalion. Thus the new composition was:
-
5th Alpini Regiment Morbegno Alpini battalion in SterzingSterzingSterzing is a comune in South Tyrol in the region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, Italy. It is the main village of the southern Wipptal, and the Eisack River flows through the medieval town.-Origin:... - 6th Alpini Regiment Bassano Alpini battalion in InnichenInnichenInnichen is a market town and comune in South Tyrol in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.It is located in the Puster Valley on the Drava river, about 120 km northeast of Trento and about 80 km northeast of Bolzano , on Italy's border with Austria.As November 2010, it had a...
-
11th Alpini Regiment Trento Alpini battalion in Welsberg - Edolo Alpini Training battalion in Meran (renamed 18th Alpini Regiment on September 13, 1997; passed to COMALPCOMALP- External links :*...
on March 1, 1998) -
5th Mountain Artillery Regiment Bergamo Mountain Artillery group in Meran - Command and Tactical Support battalion in BrixenBrixenBrixen is the name of two cities in the Alps:*Brixen, South Tyrol, Italy*Brixen im Thale, Tyrol, AustriaBrixen may also refer to:*Bishopric of Brixen, the former north-Italian state....
- Tridentina Logistics battalion in Brixen
Today
In 2001 5th Mountain Artillery Regiment was dissolved, followed by the 11th Alpini Regiment on March 8, 2002. During 2002 the following units of the Brigade passed to other commands:- 5th Alpini Regiment to the Alpine Brigade JuliaAlpine Brigade JuliaThe 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....
- 6th Alpini Regiment to the Alpine Troops CommandCOMALP- External links :*...
The brigade and its last remaining units were dissolved on December, 31st 2002. On the next day the Tridentina Division Command was activated in Bolzano which carries on the traditions of the 2nd Alpine Division 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 the Alpine Brigade Tridentina.