The Bersaglieri, singular Bersagliere, are a speciality of the infantry corps of the Italian Army. They were originally created by General Alessandro La Marmora on 18 June 1836 to serve in the Army of the Kingdom of Sardinia, later to become the Royal Italian Army. They have always been a high-mobility light infantry unit, and can still be recognized by the distinctive wide brimmed hat that they wear, decorated with black capercaillie feathers. The feathers are usually applied to their combat helmets. Another distinctive trait of the Bersaglieri is the fast jog pace they keep on parades, instead of marching.
Italian prisoners of war in the Soviet union is the narrative of POWs from the Italian Army in Russia and of their fate in Stalin's Soviet Union during and after World War II.
The Italian participation in the Eastern Front during World War II began after the launch of Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union, on 22 June 1941. To show solidarity with his Axis ally, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini ordered a contingent of the Italian Royal Army to be prepared for the Eastern Front and, by early July, an Italian force was in transport.
The 1st Mountain Artillery Regiment Italian: 1° Reggimento Artiglieria da Montagna) is a field artillery regiment of the Italian Army, specializing in mountain combat. Since their formation the Mountain Artillery Regiments had served alongside the Alpini, a mountain infantry corps of the Italian Army, that distinguished itself in combat prior to World War I to World War II. The Alpini and Mountain Artillery regiments share, besides their close history, the distinctive Cappello Alpino.
The 2nd alpine Artillery Regiment Italian: 2° Reggimento Artiglieria Alpina) was a field artillery regiment of the Italian Army, specializing in mountain combat. Since their formation the Mountain Artillery Regiments have served alongside the Alpini, a mountain infantry corps of the Italian Army, which distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II. Besides their close history, the Alpini and Mountain Artillery regiments share the distinctive Cappello Alpino. The regiment was disbanded in 2013 and its FH-70 towed howitzers were transferred to the re-raised 185th Parachute Artillery Regiment Folgore of the Folgore Parachute Brigade in Bracciano.
The 3rd Mountain Artillery Regiment Italian: 3° Reggimento Artiglieria da Montagna) is a field artillery regiment of the Italian Army, specializing in mountain combat. Since their formation the Mountain Artillery Regiments have served alongside the Alpini, a mountain infantry corps of the Italian Army, that distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II. The Alpini and Mountain Artillery regiments share, besides their close history, the distinctive Cappello Alpino.
The 12th Alpini Regiment was a short lived light Infantry regiment of the Italian Army, specializing in Mountain Combat. It was formed for the first in 1936 to command the units of the 7th Alpini Regiment not sent to fight in the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. After the war's conclusion and the return of the 7th regiment's command the 12th Regiment was disbanded.
The 18th Alpini Regiment was a short lived (1997–2004) light Infantry training regiment of the Italian Army, specializing in Mountain Combat. The regiment was formed on 13th September 1997 by elevating the Edolo Battalion and based in the city of Meran. First subordinated to the Alpine Brigade Tridentina it was ceded on 1st March 1998 to the Alpine Corps Command. The Alpini are a mountain infantry corps of the Italian Army, that distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II.
The 15th Alpini Regiment was a short lived (1992–1995) light Infantry regiment of the Italian Army, specializing in Mountain Combat. It was created by elevating the existing Cividale Battalion to regiment. The regiment, as the battalion before it, was part of the Alpine Brigade Julia and based in the city of Chiusaforte. The Alpini are a mountain infantry corps of the Italian Army, that distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II. With the downsizing of the Italian Army after the end of the Cold War the regiment was disbanded on 11th November 1995.
The 14th Alpini Regiment was a short lived (1993–2005) light Infantry regiment of the Italian Army, specializing in Mountain Combat. It was created by elevating the existing Tolmezzo Battalion to regiment. The regiment, as the battalion before it, was part of the Alpine Brigade Julia and based in the city of Venzone. The Alpini are a mountain infantry corps of the Italian Army, that distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II. In 2005 the army downsized its forces and the 14th Alpini Regiment was disbanded on 14th October 2005 with the Tolmezzo battalion passing to the 8th Alpini Regiment.
Cavalleggeri were an inferior category of cavalry during the classic period of feudal cavalry. This included knife-armed cavalry, lancers' pages and mounted crossbowmen. Later, cavalleggeri became a subsidiary arm of the gendarmerie.
The Aosta Mechanized Brigade is a mechanized infantry brigade of the Italian Army, based on the island of Sicily. The Brigade is one of the oldest of the Italian Army and the name connects the brigade to its original area of recruitment the Aosta Valley and its coat of arms is modeled after Aosta's coat of arms.
The Istituto Geografico Militare (IGM), or Military Geographic Institute is an Italian public organization, dependent on the Italian Army general staff. It is the national mapping agency for Italy.
The SRCM Mod. 35 is a hand grenade that was first issued to the Royal Italian Army in 1935, serving through World War II and into the 1980s. Nicknamed "Red Devils" by the British in 1941-1942 during the North African Campaign after the red color of the most common type.
The Chief of Staff of the Italian Navy is the commander of the Italian Navy
The SPA Dovunque 35 prottetto is a wheeled armored troop carrier, produced in Italy and employed by the Black Brigades of the Italian Social Republic during World War II.
The Fiat 665NM protetto (protected) or scudato (shielded) was a wheeled armoured personnel carrier, produced in Italy and employed during World War II by the Royal Italian Army, the National Republican Army and the Wehrmacht.
Greca is the term for the symbol of general rank or equivalent in the Italian Army, Italian Air Force, the Carabinieri and the Italian Navy. It is also used for those of high rank in the Vatican Gendarmerie and for generals in the military of San Marino. It is named after 'greca', the Italian term for Greek key or meander. It resembles a double reversed letter W with a horizontal line across it.
The Battle of Campo delle Mosche took place on 23 July 1359 in the district of Pontedera in the state of Pisa, Italy between the forces of Florence and those of the mercenary Great Company. It resulted in a victory for the Florentine forces.
The Battle of Misrata was fought between June and July 1912 during the Italo-Turkish War between the Italian and Ottoman forces for the control of the Libyan town of Misrata (Tripolitania), a major supply base for the Ottoman–Arab forces.
