9th Alpini Regiment

9th Alpini Regiment
9° Reggimento Alpini
Regimental coat of arms
Active	1 July 1921 — 8 Sept. 1943 4 Sept. 1991 — today
Country	Italy
Branch	Italian Army
Type	Mountain Infantry
Part of	Alpine Brigade "Taurinense"
Garrison/HQ	L'Aquila
Motto(s)	"Ad ardua super alpes Patria vocat"
Anniversaries	23 April 1941
Decorations	2x Military Order of Italy[1] 2x Gold Medals of Military Valor[2][3] 4x Silver Medals of Military Valor 2x Bronze Medals of Army Valor[4][5] 1x Silver Cross of Army Merit[6] 1x Gold Medal of Red Cross Merit[7][8]
Insignia
Alpini gorget patches

The 9th Alpini Regiment (Italian: 9° Reggimento Alpini) is a mountain warfare regiment of the Italian Army based in L'Aquila in Abruzzo. The regiment belongs to the Italian Army's Alpini infantry speciality and is assigned to the Alpine Brigade "Taurinense". The regiment was formed by the Royal Italian Army on 1 July 1921.^[9][10][11] In 1935 the regiment was assigned to the 3rd Alpine Division "Julia", with which it served during World War II in the Greco-Italian War, during which the division suffered heavy losses. For its service and sacrifice on the Greek Front the 9th Alpini Regiment was awarded Italy's highest military honor the Gold Medal of Military Valor. In summer 1942 the division was transferred to the Eastern Front in the Soviet Union, where it was destroyed in winter 1942-43 during the Soviet Operation Little Saturn. The remnants of the division were repatriated in spring 1943. For its service and sacrifice on the Eastern Front the 9th Alpini Regiment was awarded a second Gold Medal of Military Valor. On 8 September 1943, the Armistice of Cassibile was announced and five days later, on 13 September 1943, invading German forces disbanded the 9th Alpini Regiment.^{[8][9][10][11]}

The regiment's anniversary falls on 10 June 1917, the height of the Battle of Mount Ortigara, during which two of the regiment's battalions, which at the time were assigned to the 6th Alpini Regiment, had earned a Silver Medal of Military Valor.^{[8][9][10][11]}

On 1 July 1921, the Royal Italian Army formed the command of the 9th Alpini Regiment in the newly annexed city of Gorizia. The new regiment received four battalions from three of the existing Alpini regiments. After its formation the 9th Alpini Regiment consisted of the following units:^[10][11]

With the transfer of the battalions also the military awards of the battalions were transferred from their original regiment to 9th Alpini Regiment, which thus received four Silver Medals of Military Valor and two Bronze Medals of Military Valor. The six medals were affixed to the 9th Alpini Regiment's flag and added to the regiment's coat of arms.^[8][11][12]

During 1921 the regiment was assigned to the 3rd Alpine Division, which also included the 7th Alpini Regiment, 8th Alpini Regiment, and 2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment. In 1923, the 3rd Alpine Division was replaced by the III Alpini Grouping, which in 1926 was reorganized as III Alpine Brigade. The brigade included, besides the 9th Alpini Regiment, also the 8th Alpini Regiment and 3rd Mountain Artillery Regiment. In November 1926, the regiment returned the Alpini Battalion "Feltre" to the 7th Alpini Regiment and the Alpini Battalion "Cividale" to the 8th Alpini Regiment.^[10][11][12]

On 27 October 1934, the III Alpine Brigade was renamed III Superior Alpine Command. In December of the same year the command was given the name "Julio". On 21 April 1935, the Alpini Battalion "L'Aquila" was formed in Gorizia with personnel drawn from the battalions "Vicenza" and "Bassano". The new battalion had its recruiting center in the city of L'Aquila in Abruzzo and was therefore assigned the traditions, honors and company numbers of the World War I Alpini Battalion "Monte Berico", which had also recruited in Abruzzo. On 31 October 1935, the III Superior Alpine Command "Julio" was reorganized as 3rd Alpine Division "Julia", which included the 7th Alpini Regiment, 8th Alpini Regiment, 9th Alpini Regiment, and 3rd Alpine Artillery Regiment "Julia". On 31 December 1935, the 7th Alpini Regiment was transferred to the newly formed 5th Alpine Division "Pusteria".^[11][12][13]

On 25 September 1937, the Alpini Battalion "Bassano" was transferred to the 11th Alpini Regiment. On 7 April 1939, Italy invaded Albania and by the middle of April the 3rd Alpine Division "Julia" moved to Northern Albania, where its regiments garrisoned the border with the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.^[11][12]

On 2 September 1939, one day after the German Invasion of Poland had begun, the Alpini battalions "Val Leogra" and "Val Pescara" were reformed with reservists and assigned to the 2nd Alpini Group. On 10 June 1940, the day Italy entered World War II, the regiment was in Albania and its organization was as follows:^[11][12]

In September 1940, the 3rd Alpine Division "Julia" moved from Northern to Southern Albania and took up positions along the border with the Kingdom of Greece for the upcoming Italian invasion of Greece. On 28 October 1940, Italian forces invaded Greece and the 3rd Alpine Division "Julia" engaged Greek forces in the Battle of Pindus, during which the "Julia" division suffered heavy casualties. On 10 November, the "Julia" division was taken out of the line, but only four days later it had to return to the front in the Berat sector, where it came under heavy Greek attacks until 8 December. On 23 December 1940, the "Julia" division was again attacked by the Greeks; the attack lasted until 31 December and forced the division to retreat to the Mali i Qarrishtës ridge in extreme weather conditions. In late December 1940, the Alpini battalions "Val Leogra" and "Val Pescara" were sent to Albania and attached to the 2nd Alpine Division "Tridentina". On 8 January 1941, a Greek offensive in the Berat sector hit the "Julia" division hard and the following day the division fell back once more. On 21 January 1941, the division was down to a single regiment with three understrength battalions. The remains of the Julia were withdrawn and transferred to Mavrovo, near Vlorë, where the division was reformed.^[11][12]

At the end of February the division, now 10,500 men strong, was sent again to the first line; on 24 February it was deployed on Mali i Golikut and along the Zagoria Valley. On 28 February a new battle was fought in the Tepelenë sector; the "Julia" division, as the last Italian unit defending the town, was attacked by the 2nd Greek Division, but managed to hold the front while suffering heavy casualties. On 7 March the Greeks attacked on Mali i Golikut, and two days later they renewed their attack, causing heavy losses; by 11 March the Greek offensive ended without taking Tepelenë, and both the "Julia" division and the two Greek divisions involved in the attack (the 2nd and the 17th) were worn out by the heavy fighting and losses.^[11][12]

In April 1941, following the German invasion and Axis occupation of Greece, the division was transferred to the Corinth Canal area and occupied the Peloponnese. On 27 April 1941, the Alpini Battalion "Val Cismon", which had been reformed by the 7th Alpini Regiment on 2 January 1941, was assigned as third battalion to the 9th Alpini Regiment. During the Greco-Italian War the division had suffered overall 9,317 casualties: 49 officers and 1,625 soldiers during October-November 1940, 153 officers and 3,644 soldiers between December 1940 and January 1941, and 116 officers and 3,730 soldiers between February and April 1941.^[14] For its service and sacrifice on the Greek front between 28 October 1940 and 23 April 1941 the 9th Alpini Regiment was awarded a Gold Medal of Military Valor.^{[2][8][11][12]} Separately the Alpini Battalion "Val Leogra", which had been attached to the "Tridentina" division, was awarded a Silver Medal of Military Valor for its service and conduct on the Greek Front. Both medals were affixed to the 9th Alpini Regiment's flag and added to the regiment's coat of arms.^[8][11][12]

On 1 April 1941, the regiment formed the Alpini Battalion "Vicenza bis", which was deployed to the Isonzo valley to fight Yugoslav partisans. On 15 February 1942, the regiment formed a support weapons company for each of its three battalions. These companies were equipped with Breda M37 machine guns, and 45mm Mod. 35 and 81mm Mod. 35 mortars. The 117th Support Weapons Company was assigned to the Alpini Battalion "Vicenza", the 118th Support Weapons Company to the Alpini Battalion "Val Cismon", and the 119th Support Weapons Company to the Alpini Battalion "L'Aquila".^[11][12]

On 2 March 1942, the 3rd Alpine Division "Julia" was assigned, together with the 2nd Alpine Division "Tridentina" and 4th Alpine Division "Cuneense", to the Alpine Army Corps. The corps was assigned to the Italian 8th Army, which was readied to be deployed in summer 1942 to the Eastern Front. In preparation for the deployment to the Soviet Union the 9th Alpini Regiment's depot formed on 1 April 1942 the 83rd Cannons Company, which was equipped with 47/32 mod. 35 anti-tank guns.^{[11][12][15][16]}

In June 1942, the depots of the 9th Alpini Regiment formed the IX Replacements Battalion, which consisted of the 646th, 653rd, and 655th Alpini companies, and the 409th Support Weapons Company. On 20 June 1942, the IX Replacements Battalion was assigned to the newly formed 103rd Alpini Marching Regiment, which was assigned to the III Marching Brigade of the 8th Marching Division. The division provided replacement troops for the 8th Army's regiments fighting on the Eastern Front.^{[11][12][16][17]}

In July 1942 the three alpine division arrived in Eastern Ukraine, from where they marched eastwards towards the Don river. The Italian 8th Army covered the left flank of the German 6th Army, which spearheaded the German summer offensive of 1942 towards Stalingrad. ^[8][11] On 12 December 1942, the Red Army commenced Operation Little Saturn, which, in its first stage, attacked and encircled the Italian II Army Corps and XXXV Army Corps, to the southeast of the Alpine Army Corps. On 13 January 1943, the Red Army launched the second stage of Operation Little Saturn with the Voronezh Front encircling and destroying the Hungarian Second Army to the northwest of the Alpine Army Corps.^{[11][12][15][16][18]}

On the evening of 17 January 1943, the Alpine Army Corps commander, General Gabriele Nasci, ordered a full retreat. At this point only the 2nd Alpine Division "Tridentina" was still capable of conducting combat operations. The 40,000-strong mass of stragglers — Alpini and Italians from other commands, plus German and Hungarians — followed the "Tridentina", which led the way westwards to the new Axis lines. As the Soviets had already occupied every village, bitter battles had to be fought to clear the way. On the morning of 26 January 1943, the spearheads of the "Tridentina" reached the hamlet of Nikolayevka, occupied by the Soviet 48th Guards Rifle Division. The Soviets had fortified the railway embankment on both sides of the village. General Nasci ordered a frontal assault and by nightfall the troops of the "Tridentina" division had managed to break through the Soviet lines. The Italian troops continued their retreat, which was no longer contested by Soviet forces. On 1 February 1943 the remnants of the Alpine Army Corps reached Axis lines.^{[11][12][15][16][18]}

On 11 February 1943, the survivors were counted and the worst hit battalion was the Alpini Battalion "L'Aquila", which had returned with just three officers and 159 Alpini out more than 1,500 men. For its bravery and sacrifice in the Soviet Union the 9th Alpini Regiment was awarded a Gold Medal of Military Valor, which was affixed to the regiment's flag and added to the regiment's coat of arms.^{[8][3][11][12][15][16]}

In winter 1942-43, the regiment's depots in Italy reformed the Alpini Battalion "Monte Berico", which was assigned to the 167th Coastal Alpini Regiment. The regiment was sent to occupied France on coastal defense duty.^[11][12]

The 9th Alpini Regiment was still in the process of being rebuilt, when the Armistice of Cassibile was announced on 8 September 1943 and the same day the regiment was disbanded by invading German forces. A fate shared by the 167th Coastal Alpini Regiment in France.^[11][12]

In September 1944, the Italian Co-belligerent Army formed the Alpini Battalion "Abruzzi" in Piedimonte Matese, which was assigned on 1 October 1944 to the Special Infantry Regiment "Legnano". The regiment also included the remnants of the 3rd Alpini Regiment, 4th Bersaglieri Regiment. The regiment then joined the Combat Group "Legnano", which was equipped with British materiel and assigned to the Polish II Corps. On 25 November 1944, the Alpini Battalion "Abruzzi" was renamed Alpini Battalion "L'Aquila". The Combat Group "Legnano"fought on the allied side in the Italian campaign until the German surrender. For its service and conduct in the Italian Campaign Alpini Battalion "L'Aquila" was awarded a Silver Medal of Military Valor.^[8][11][12]

On 15 April 1946, the Alpini Battalion "L'Aquila" was the first battalion to enter the reformed of the 8th Alpini Regiment, first based in Edolo and then in Tarvisio.

During the 1975 Italian Army reform the 8th Alpini Regiment was disbanded and its battalions became independent. On 1 September 1975, the Alpini Battalion "Vicenza" in Tolmezzo was reformed as Alpini Battalion "Vicenza" (Recruits Training).^[19] The Vicenza received the flag and traditions of the 9th Alpini Regiment, but had to transfer the two Silver Medals of Military Valor awarded to the Alpini Battalion "L'Aquila" to that battalion's newly created flag; while the two Gold Medals of Military Valor, awarded to the 9th Alpini Regiment for its conduct during the Greco-Italian war and on the Eastern Front, were duplicated for the new flag of the L'Aquila battalion. The Silver Medal of Military Valor awarded to the Vicenza battalion for its conduct during World War I, and the Silver Medal of Military Valor awarded to the Val Leogra battalion for its conduct during the Greco-Italian war remained affixed to the flag of the Alpini Battalion Vicenza.^[10]

For its conduct and work after the 1976 Friuli earthquake the battalion was awarded a Bronze Medal of Army Valor, which was affixed to the battalion's flag and added to the battalion's coat of arms.^[4]

With the battalions base in Tolmezzo damaged by the earthquake the battalion moved to Codroipo, with the exception of the 61st Company, which was transferred to Teramo to train the recruits of the L'Aquila Battalion.^[10]

During the same reform the Alpini Battalion "L'Aquila" in Tarvisio was disbanded on 31 August 1975 and the next day the Alpini Recruits Training Battalion "Julia" in L'Aquila was reformed as Alpini Battalion "L'Aquila".^[20] As the traditions and flag of the 9th Alpini Regiment had been assigned to the Alpini Battalion "Vicenza", the L'Aquila was granted a new flag on 12 November 1976 by decree 846 of the President of the Italian Republic Giovanni Leone.^[21] The two Gold Medals of Military Valor awarded to the 9th Alpini Regiment for its conduct during the Greco-Italian war and on the Eastern Front, were duplicated for the new flag of the L'Aquila, while the Silver Medal of Military Valor awarded to the L'Aquila battalion for its conduct during the allied Spring 1945 offensive in Italy and the Silver Medal of Military Valor awarded to the Monte Berico battalion for its conduct in World War I, were transferred from the flag of the 9th Alpini to the L'Aquila's flag.^[22][23]

The battalion recruited from the mountainous Abruzzo region and was operationally assigned to the Alpine Brigade "Julia". To support the battalion the 15th Battery of the Mountain Artillery Group "Conegliano" in Udine was detached to L'Aquila.^[10]

For its conduct and work after the 1980 Irpinia earthquake the battalion was awarded a Bronze Medal of Army Valor, which was affixed to the battalion's flag and added to the battalion's coat of arms.^[5]

On 4 September 1991, the Alpini Battalion "L'Aquila" entered the reformed 9th Alpini Regiment in L'Aquila. As the regiment's original flag had been assigned to the Alpini Battalion "Vicenza" the 9th Alpini continued to use the flag of the L'Aquila. On 27 August 1996, the Vicenza battalion was disbanded and the 9th Alpini Regiment received its original flag in a ceremony on 13 September 1996.^[10]

On 1 September 1997, the regiment was transferred from the Alpine Brigade "Julia" to the Alpine Brigade "Taurinense". In 2001, the regiment raised the 264th Anti-tank Company "Val Cismon", which later merged with the 119th Mortar Company to form the 119th Maneuver Support Company. On 29 May 2017, the regiment raised the Multifunctional battalion "Orta",^[24] which was renamed later in the same year "Vicenza".^[25] As of 2022, the 9th Alpini Regiment is one of two Alpini regiments of the Army with two battalions on its ORBAT.

As of 2024 the 9th Alpini Regiment is organized as follows:^[9][26][27]

The Alpini companies are equipped with Bv 206S tracked all-terrain carriers and Lince light multirole vehicles. The maneuver support company is equipped with 120 mm mortars and Spike MR anti-tank guided missiles.^[9]

• Alpine Brigade "Taurinense"

• Italian Army Website: 9° Reggimento Alpini