Monte Cervino Battalion
Encyclopedia
The Alpini Parachutist battalion Monte Cervino is the sole battalion of the Italian Army
's 4th Alpini Parachutist Regiment. The 4th Alpini Parachutist Regiment is one of the Italian Army's (Forces for Special Operations
) units. The Alpini
are a mountain infantry corps of the Italian Army, that distinguished itself in combat during World War I
and World War II
. To this day this is the only unit of "mountain paratroopers" in the world.
in northern Italy. Initially only fielding a single Alpini company (133rd Alpini company "La nobile tonante") it was augmented quickly by the 87th and 103rd Alpini companies, which were reserve companies of the Aosta Alpini battalion of the same regiment. After a short training regime in the village of Tirano
the battalion was sent in April 1916 to the Asiago
plateau to reinforce the front, arriving just in time to feel the full brunt of the Austrian "Strafexpedition" offensive
on the Asiago Plateau. After fierce fighting on May 15 the 103rd company was overcome and had to surrender the Borcola Pass to the advancing Austrians. The 87th and 133rd companies were able to withdraw from the advancing Austrians. With the commence of the Italian counter-offensive the remaining soldiers of the Monte Cervino fought in the Caldiera e Posina valleys.
In 1917 the battalion was employed on the Isonzo Front in a futile attempt to take Monte Vodice. In November of the same year the battalion was tasked to defend the Melette di Gallio on the Asiago plateau in the a renewed Austrian on the Asiago plateau. Afterwards it was sent to the back of the front to rest and refit. In June 1918 the battalion defended the Monte Fior and Monte Castelgomberto mountains against the last Austrian attempt to break through the Italian lines on the Asiago plateau and thus open up a way into the Padan plain
. 30 officers and 1,000 Alpinis of the battalion died during the defence of Monte Fior - 2/3 of the units men at the onset of the Austrian offensive. For this sacrifice the battalion was awarded Italy's second highest military order the Silver Medal of Military Valor
.
After being augmented with new recruits the battalion spent the last months of the war on Monte Pasubio and later Monte Grappa. With the cessation of hostilities the battalion was dissolved in 1919.
on the Albanian border with Greece. After the German invasion of Greece
and subsequent cessation of hostilities the battalion was dissolved in May 1941. For the successful operations in the Greek theatre the battalion was awarded Italy's highest military order the Gold Medal of Military Valor
.
Five months later the battalion was again reformed and with two Ski companies and the 80th Support Weapons Company and sent to the Soviet Union
as part of the Italian Army in Russia
. There the battalion distinguished itself in heavy combat with Soviet forces
in the Italian campaign on the Eastern Front, barely escaping annihilation in the Battle of Nikolayevka
. After its return to Italy in spring 1943 the battalion was awarded its second Gold Medal of Military Valor. The battalion was now assigned to the XX Alpini Skier Group, but did not participate in combat until the battalion surrendered to German Forces in France in September 1943 after the Armistice between Italy and Allied armed forces.
the IV Alpine Army Corps
in Bolzano raised an Alpini Parachutist Platoon in all its five brigades. The first to become active was the platoon of the Alpine Brigade Tridentina
, which officially was added to the brigades units roll on September 1, 1952. Said platoon was quickly followed by platoons raised in the Alpine Brigade Julia
, Alpine Brigade Taurinense
, Alpine Brigade Cadore
and Alpine Brigade Orobica
. On April 1, 1964 the five platoons were merged into an Alpini Parachutist company (COMPALPAR) under direct command of the IV Alpine Army Corps. On January 1, 1990 the company received the name Monte Cervino and became the heir to the battalions colours
and traditions. In 1993 the company was sent to Mozambique
as part of the Italian contribution to the United Nations Operation in Mozambique
.
On July 14, 1996 the Alpini Parachutist company Monte Cervino became the first company of the reformed Alpini Parachutist battalion Monte Cervino, which quickly augmented its personnel by adding a second Alpini Parachutist company. From 1997 onwards the battalion is employed in Bosnia
as part of SFOR
. Beginning in 2002 the battalion is constantly present with at least a company of its troops in Afghanistan
as part of the International Security Assistance Force
.
's (Forces for Special Operations
) units and its structure is as follows:
As one of the best trained and equipped units of the Italian Army the Alpini Paracadutisti have recently served in Iraq and one company is constantly deployed to Afghanistan
.
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...
's 4th Alpini Parachutist Regiment. The 4th Alpini Parachutist Regiment is one of the Italian Army's (Forces for Special Operations
Italian special forces
The Italian Special Forces include special forces units from several branches of the Italian Military: the Esercito Italiano or Army, the Marina Militare or Navy, the Aeronautica Militare or Air force and l'Arma dei Carabinieri...
) units. 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...
. To this day this is the only unit of "mountain paratroopers" in the world.
World War I
In November 1915 the Monte Cervino Alpini battalion was raised in the village of IvreaIvrea
Ivrea is a town and comune of the province of Turin in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy. Situated on the road leading to the Aosta Valley , it straddles the Dora Baltea and is regarded as the centre of the Canavese area. Ivrea lies in a basin that, in prehistoric times, formed a great lake...
in northern Italy. Initially only fielding a single Alpini company (133rd Alpini company "La nobile tonante") it was augmented quickly by the 87th and 103rd Alpini companies, which were reserve companies of the Aosta Alpini battalion of the same regiment. After a short training regime in the village of Tirano
Tirano
Tirano is a town in Valtellina, located in the province of Sondrio, Northern Italy. It has about 9,044 inhabitants and is adjacent to the Switzerland-Italy boundary. The river Adda flows through the town....
the battalion was sent in April 1916 to the Asiago
Asiago
Asiago is the name of both a minor township and the surrounding plateau region in the Province of Vicenza in the Veneto region of Northeastern Italy...
plateau to reinforce the front, arriving just in time to feel the full brunt of the Austrian "Strafexpedition" offensive
Battle of Asiago
The Battle of Asiago ' or the Trentino Offensive , nicknamed Strafexpedition by the Austrians, was a counteroffensive launched by the Austro-Hungarians on the Italian Front on 15 May 1916, during World War I...
on the Asiago Plateau. After fierce fighting on May 15 the 103rd company was overcome and had to surrender the Borcola Pass to the advancing Austrians. The 87th and 133rd companies were able to withdraw from the advancing Austrians. With the commence of the Italian counter-offensive the remaining soldiers of the Monte Cervino fought in the Caldiera e Posina valleys.
In 1917 the battalion was employed on the Isonzo Front in a futile attempt to take Monte Vodice. In November of the same year the battalion was tasked to defend the Melette di Gallio on the Asiago plateau in the a renewed Austrian on the Asiago plateau. Afterwards it was sent to the back of the front to rest and refit. In June 1918 the battalion defended the Monte Fior and Monte Castelgomberto mountains against the last Austrian attempt to break through the Italian lines on the Asiago plateau and thus open up a way into the Padan plain
Po Valley
The Po Valley, Po Plain, Plain of the Po, or Padan Plain is a major geographical feature of Italy. It extends approximately in an east-west direction, with an area of 46,000 km² including its Venetic extension not actually related to the Po River basin; it runs from the Western Alps to the...
. 30 officers and 1,000 Alpinis of the battalion died during the defence of Monte Fior - 2/3 of the units men at the onset of the Austrian offensive. For this sacrifice the battalion was awarded Italy's second highest military order the Silver Medal of Military Valor
Silver Medal of Military Valor
The Silver Medal of Military Valor is an Italian medal for gallantry.Italian medals for valor were first instituted by Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia on May 21, 1793, with a gold medal, and, below it, a silver medal...
.
After being augmented with new recruits the battalion spent the last months of the war on Monte Pasubio and later Monte Grappa. With the cessation of hostilities the battalion was dissolved in 1919.
World War II
The battalion was reformed in 1940 as Monte Cervino Ski-battalion ("Battaglione Sciatori Monte Cervino") with the 1st and 2nd Ski Companies and was sent as reinforcement to the crumbling Italian frontGreco-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 the Albanian border with Greece. After the German invasion of Greece
Battle of Greece
The Battle of Greece is the common name for the invasion and conquest of Greece by Nazi Germany in April 1941. Greece was supported by British Commonwealth forces, while the Germans' Axis allies Italy and Bulgaria played secondary roles...
and subsequent cessation of hostilities the battalion was dissolved in May 1941. For the successful operations in the Greek theatre the battalion was awarded Italy's highest military order the Gold Medal of Military Valor
Gold Medal of Military Valor
The Gold Medal of Military Valor is an Italian medal established on 21 May 1793 by King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia "....per bassi ufficiali e soldati che avevano fatto azioni di segnalato valore in guerra" .The face of the medal displayed the profile of the king, and on its reverse was a flag...
.
Five months later the battalion was again reformed and with two Ski companies and the 80th Support Weapons Company and sent 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....
as part of the Italian Army in Russia
Italian Army in Russia
The Italian Army in Russia was an army-sized unit of the Italian Royal Army which fought on the Eastern Front during World War II...
. There the battalion distinguished itself in heavy combat with Soviet forces
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...
in the Italian campaign on the Eastern Front, barely escaping annihilation in the Battle of Nikolayevka
Battle of Nikolayevka
The Battle of Nikolayevka was fought in January 1943, as a small part of the larger Battle of Stalingrad. The Battle pitted forces of the Italian 8th Army's Alpini Corps against the four Soviet Armies of the Voronezh Front...
. After its return to Italy in spring 1943 the battalion was awarded its second Gold Medal of Military Valor. The battalion was now assigned to the XX Alpini Skier Group, but did not participate in combat until the battalion surrendered to German Forces in France in September 1943 after the Armistice between Italy and Allied armed forces.
The Cold War
During the Cold WarCold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
the IV Alpine Army Corps
COMALP
- External links :*...
in Bolzano raised an Alpini Parachutist Platoon in all its five brigades. The first to become active was the platoon of the Alpine Brigade Tridentina
Alpine 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...
, which officially was added to the brigades units roll on September 1, 1952. Said platoon was quickly followed by platoons raised in the Alpine Brigade Julia
Alpine 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....
, Alpine Brigade 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"...
, 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...
and 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...
. On April 1, 1964 the five platoons were merged into an Alpini Parachutist company (COMPALPAR) under direct command of the IV Alpine Army Corps. On January 1, 1990 the company received the name Monte Cervino and became the heir to the battalions colours
Colours, standards and guidons
In military organizations, the practice of carrying colours, standards or Guidons, both to act as a rallying point for troops and to mark the location of the commander, is thought to have originated in Ancient Egypt some 5,000 years ago...
and traditions. In 1993 the company was sent to Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
as part of the Italian contribution to the United Nations Operation in Mozambique
United Nations Operation in Mozambique
The United Nations Operations in Mozambique was established in October 1992 under Security Council Resolution 797 on the basis of a report submitted by the Secretary-General....
.
On July 14, 1996 the Alpini Parachutist company Monte Cervino became the first company of the reformed Alpini Parachutist battalion Monte Cervino, which quickly augmented its personnel by adding a second Alpini Parachutist company. From 1997 onwards the battalion is employed in Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
as part of SFOR
SFOR
The Stabilisation Force was a NATO-led multinational peacekeeping force in Bosnia and Herzegovina which was tasked with upholding the Dayton Agreement. It replaced the previous force IFOR...
. Beginning in 2002 the battalion is constantly present with at least a company of its troops in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
as part of the International Security Assistance Force
International Security Assistance Force
The International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement...
.
Today
On September 25, 2004 the Monte Cervino became the sole battalion in the reformed 4th Alpini Parachutist Regiment. Today 4th Alpini Parachutist Regiment is one of the Italian ArmyItalian 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...
's (Forces for Special Operations
Italian special forces
The Italian Special Forces include special forces units from several branches of the Italian Military: the Esercito Italiano or Army, the Marina Militare or Navy, the Aeronautica Militare or Air force and l'Arma dei Carabinieri...
) units and its structure is as follows:
-
Regimental Command
-
Command and Logistic Support Company AquileEagleEagles are members of the bird family Accipitridae, and belong to several genera which are not necessarily closely related to each other. Most of the more than 60 species occur in Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just two species can be found in the United States and Canada, nine more in... -
- 1st Alpini Parachutist Company
- 2nd Alpini Parachutist Company
- 3rd Alpini Parachutist Company
-
As one of the best trained and equipped units of the Italian Army the Alpini Paracadutisti have recently served in Iraq and one company is constantly deployed to Afghanistan
International Security Assistance Force
The International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement...
.