The Alpini are the Italian Army's specialist mountain infantry. Part of the army's infantry corps, the speciality distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II. Currently the active Alpini units are organized in two operational brigades, which are subordinate to the Alpine Troops Headquarters. The Alpini's name comes from their inceptive association with the Alps, the mountain range that Italy shares with France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia. An individual soldier of the Alpini is called an Alpino.
The 2nd Alpini Regiment is a mountain warfare regiment of the Italian Army based in Cuneo in Piedmont. The regiment belongs to the Italian Army's Alpini infantry speciality and is assigned to the Alpine Brigade "Taurinense". On 1 November 1882, the Royal Italian Army formed the 2nd Alpini Regiment, which had its recruiting area in the Maritime Alps and Cottian Alps. During World War I the regiment expanded to ten battalions, which fought separately in the alpine areas of the Italian front.
The 1st Alpini Regiment in a mountain warfare unit of the Italian Army based in Turin in Piedmont. The regiment belongs to the Italian Army's Alpini infantry speciality and was last active as Alpini Battalion Mondovì. On 1 October 2022, the flag and traditions of the 1st Alpini Regiment were assigned to the Command and Tactical Supports Unit "Taurinense" of the Alpine Brigade "Taurinense", which on the same day was renamed 1st Alpini Command and Tactical Supports Unit. On 1 November 1882, the Royal Italian Army formed the 1st Alpini Regiment, which had its recruiting area in the Ligurian Alps and Maritime Alps. During World War I the regiment expanded to nine battalions, which fought separately in the alpine areas of the Italian front.
The 3rd Alpini Regiment is a mountain warfare regiment of the Italian Army based in Pinerolo in Piedmont. The regiment belongs to the Italian Army's Alpini infantry speciality and is assigned to the Alpine Brigade "Taurinense". On 1 November 1882, the Royal Italian Army formed the 3rd Alpini Regiment, which had its recruiting area in the Cottian Alps and Graian Alps. During World War I the regiment expanded to 13 battalions, which fought separately in the alpine areas of the Italian front.
The 5th Alpini Regiment is a mountain warfare regiment of the Italian Army based in Sterzing in South Tyrol. The regiment belongs to the Italian Army's Alpini infantry speciality and is assigned to the Alpine Brigade "Julia". On 1 November 1882, the Royal Italian Army formed the 5th Alpini Regiment, which had its recruiting area in the valleys of Northern Lombardy, which lie mostly within the Lepontine Alps, Bergamasque Alps and Livigno Alps. The recruiting area of the 5th Alpini Regiment extended to the Westerns shore of Lake Garda, with the recruiting area of the 6th Alpini Regiment commencing on the Eastern shore.
The Alpine Brigade "Julia" is a light infantry brigade of the Italian Army, specializing in mountain warfare. Its core units are Alpini, an infantry corps of the Italian Army, that distinguished itself during World War I and World War II. The brigade carries on the name and traditions of the 3rd Alpine Division "Julia". The division's and brigade's name allude to the Julian Alps in the Friuli region where the division's regiments recruited their troops, and where after World War II the brigade was based. Accordingly, the brigade's coat of arms is modeled after the Friuli region's coat of arms.
The 6th Alpini Regiment is a mountain warfare training regiment of the Italian Army based in Bruneck in South Tyrol. The regiment belongs to the Italian Army's Alpini infantry speciality and is assigned to the Alpine Training Center in Aosta. On 1 November 1882, the Royal Italian Army formed the 6th Alpini Regiment, which had its recruiting area initially in the Vicentine Alps, Bellunes Alps, Carnic Alps, Carnic Prealps, and the Western side of the Julian Alps. In 1887 the regiment was split to form the 7th Alpini Regiment and afterwards the regiment's recruiting area consisted of the Vicentine Alps.
The 7th Alpini Regiment is a mountain warfare regiment of the Italian Army based in Belluno in Veneto. The regiment belongs to the Italian Army's Alpini infantry speciality and is assigned to the Alpine Brigade "Julia". On 1 August 1887, the Royal Italian Army formed the 7th Alpini Regiment by splitting the 6th Alpini Regiment. The new regiment's recruiting area initially consisted of the valleys of the Bellunes Alps, Carnic Alps, Carnic Prealps, and the Western side of the Julian Alps. In 1909 the regiment was split to form the 8th Alpini Regiment and afterwards the regiment's recruiting area consisted of the Bellunes Alps.
The 11th Alpini Regiment is an inactive mountain warfare regiment of the Italian Army last based in Bruneck in South Tyrol. The regiment belongs to the Italian Army's Alpini infantry speciality and was last assigned to the Alpine Brigade "Tridentina". The regiment was formed by the Royal Italian Army on 22 December 1935 and assigned assigned to the 5th Alpine Division "Pusteria", with which it participated in the Second Italo-Ethiopian War.
The 12th Alpini Regiment is an inactive mountain warfare regiment of the Italian Army last based in Pieve di Cadore in Veneto. The regiment belongs to the Italian Army's Alpini infantry speciality and was assigned to the Alpine Brigade "Cadore". The regiment was formed in 1992 and consisted of the Alpini Battalion "Pieve di Cadore", whose flag and traditions it inherited.
The 18th Regiment "Edolo" is an inactive mountain warfare regiment of the Italian Army last based in Meran in South Tyrol. The regiment belongs to the Italian Army's Alpini infantry speciality and was a training unit last assigned to the Alpine Troops Command. The regiment was formed in 1997 and consisted of the Alpini Battalion "Edolo", whose flag and traditions it inherited.
The 15th Alpini Regiment is an inactive mountain warfare regiment of the Italian Army last based in Chiusaforte in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The regiment belongs to the Italian Army's Alpini infantry speciality and was assigned to the Alpine Brigade "Julia". The regiment was formed in 1992 and consisted of the Alpini Battalion "Cividale", whose flag and traditions it inherited. The regiment's anniversary falls on 5 January 1943, the day of the Battle of Novaya Kalitva in the Soviet Union.
The 14th Alpini Regiment in a mountain warfare unit of the Italian Army based in Udine in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The regiment belongs to the Italian Army's Alpini infantry speciality. The regiment was formed in 1993 and consisted of the Alpini Battalion "Tolmezzo", whose flag and traditions it inherited. The regiment was disbanded in 2005. On 1 October 2022, the flag and traditions of the 14th Alpini Regiment were assigned to the Command and Tactical Supports Unit "Julia" of the Alpine Brigade "Julia", which on the same day was renamed 14th Alpini Command and Tactical Supports Unit.
The Alpini are a mountain infantry corps of the Italian Army, that distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II. They are also famous in Italy for their songs and choirs.
The 1st Alpine Division "Taurinense" was a division of the Royal Italian Army during World War II, which specialized in mountain warfare. The Alpini that formed the division are a highly decorated and elite mountain corps of the Italian Army consisting of both infantry and artillery units. Today, the traditions and name of the 1st Alpine Division "Taurinense" are carried on by the Alpine Brigade "Taurinense". The headquarters of the division was in the city of Turin and the majority of its soldiers were drafted from the surrounding Province of Turin — therefore the division was named "Taurinense" for the Roman name of the city of Turin Augusta Taurinorum.
The Comando Truppe Alpine or COMTA commands the Mountain Troops of the Italian Army, called Alpini and various support and training units. It is the successor to the 4º Corpo d'Armata Alpino of the Cold War. The Alpini are light Infantry units specializing in Mountain Combat. The subordinate units of the COMTA distinguished themselves during combat in World War I and World War II.
Mino was the eighth ZDF-Weihnachtsserie, and aired in 1986. The series was broadcast in Germany on ZDF, and consisted of 6 episodes. Broadcasting in Germany began on 25 December 1986. The series was also broadcast in Italy, and consisted of 4 episodes. Broadcasting in Italy began on 28 December 1986. The series was an Italian-German co-production. It was inspired by the Italian novel The little Alpino by Salvator Gotta.
The Alpini Battalion "Tirano" is an inactive mountain warfare battalion of the Italian Army based last in Mals in South Tyrol. The battalion belongs to the Italian Army's Alpini infantry speciality and was assigned to the Alpine Brigade "Orobica". The battalion was formed in 1886 and assigned to the 5th Alpini Regiment. During World War I the battalion fought in the alpine areas of the Italian front. In World War II the battalion fought in the invasion of France, the Greco-Italian War, and on the Eastern Front, where the battalion was almost completely destroyed during the Red Army's Operation Little Saturn in winter 1942–43. On 8 September 1943, the Armistice of Cassibile was announced and two days later, on 10 September 1943, invading German forces disbanded the 5th Alpini Regiment and its battalions.
The Alpini Battalion "L'Aquila" 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 9th Alpini Regiment. In 1935, the Royal Italian Army's 9th Alpini Regiment formed the battalion in the city of Gorizia.
Italian Army gorget patches are worn by all army personnel on the collars of the shirts and jackets of their service uniforms and formal uniforms. The gorget patches identify the arm, corps, or speciality within an arm or corps a soldier belongs to. Generals wear golden stars instead of a gorget patches, while army recruits wear silver stars until they are assigned to a unit after basic training. Originally made from colored cloth, respectively embroidered cloth for Granatieri, Carabinieri and general staff members, gorget patches have been made since 1973 from enamelled metal.
