| Brigata Motorizzata "Cremona" | |
|---|---|
 Coat of Arms of the Motorized Brigade "Cremona" | |
| Active | 29 August 1859 - 1926 30 October 1975 - 15 November 1996 |
| Country | Italy |
| Branch | Italian Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Part of | 3rd Army Corps |
| Garrison/HQ | Turin |
The Motorized Brigade "Cremona" was an infantry brigade of the Italian Army. The brigade's headquarters was in the city of Turin. The brigade carried on the name and traditions of the 44th Infantry Division "Cremona".
After the Second Italian War of Independence the Austrian Empire had to cede the Lombardy region of the Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia to the Kingdom of Sardinia. After taking control of the region the government of Sardinia ordered the Royal Sardinian Army on 29 August 1859 to raise five infantry brigades and one grenadier brigade in Lombardy. Subsequently on 1 November 1859 the Brigade "Cremona" was activated with the 21st Infantry Regiment and 22nd Infantry Regiment, which had been re-raised on 29 August 1859. [1]
Together with the Brigade "Brescia" in Bergamo and the 6th Field Artillery Regiment it formed the 6th Division of the Line. The brigade was quickly sent to Southern Italy to suppress the popular revolt of the peasant population against the annexation of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies into the new Kingdom of Italy.
During the Third Italian War of Independence the brigade participated in General Enrico Cialdinis march from the lower Po river to Isonzo river in July 1866.
At the outbreak of hostilities between Kingdom of Italy and the Austrian Empire in 1915 the Cremona along with the "Friuli" Brigade formed the 16th Division of the Line. For next years the brigade was on the Isonzo front and participated in the twelve Battles of the Isonzo. After the Italian Army's collapse after the Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo the brigade managed to retreat to the Piave front, but had to absorb the remnants of the "Tortona" Brigade to compensate for the heavy losses it had suffered. In 1918 the brigade fought in the second and third Battles of Monte Grappa. For their conduct during the war the brigade's two regiments were each a awarded a Silver Medal of Military Valor. [2]
In 1926 the brigade received the 88th Infantry Regiment "Friuli" and became the infantry component of the 20th Infantry Division "Curtatone and Montanara". The same year the brigade was renamed as XX Infantry Brigade. On 24 August 1939 the 20th Infantry Division "Curtatone and Montanara" was split into the 20th Infantry Division "Friuli" and the 44th Infantry Division "Cremona". The Cremona consisted of the 21st and 22nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Artillery Regiment and the XC CCNN Battalion "Pisa".
In June 1940, the division was mobilized and took part in the Italian invasion of France as a part of the Italian XV Army Corps, but due to the quick German victory in the Battle of France the division was not involved in any operations before the French surrender. Afterwards the division was based as garrison unit on Sardinia. When Italy and Germany occupied Vichy France in Operation "Anton" after the Allied landings in French North Africa the division was ferried to Southern Corsica on 8 November 1942 to occupy the island, while the 20th Infantry Division "Friuli" occupied Northern Corsica.
After the armistice between Italy and the Allies on 3 September 1943 the division in conjunction with the 20th Infantry Division "Friuli" and French Partisans engaged in heavy combat with the German Sturmbrigade Reichsführer SS and 90th Panzergrenadier Division and the Italian XII Parachute Battalion of the 184th Parachute Regiment of the 184th Infantry Division "Nembo", [3] which came from Sardinia and retreated through Corsica towards the harbor of Bastia in the island's north. On 13 September elements of the Free French 4th Moroccan Mountain Division landed in Ajaccio to support the Italian efforts to stop the 30,000 retreating German troops. But during the night of 3 to 4 October the last German units were evacuated from Bastia leaving behind 700 dead and 350 POWs.
After the end of operations on Corsica the division was sent as to Sardinia where the 90th CCNN Legion was renamed as 321st Infantry Regiment "Cremona". In September 1944 the division was reduced to two infantry (21st, 22nd) and one artillery regiment (7th), armed with British weapons and materiel and renamed as Combat Group "Cremona". The "Cremona" Group entered the front on 12 January 1945 as part of the British V Corps. When allied forces achieved a major breakthrough during the Spring offensive in 1945 the Cremona advanced towards Venice and liberated it on 30 April 1945. [4]
After the war the combat group was garrisoned in Turin as the sole major unit of the I Territorial Military Command, which was based in Turin and had control of the Aosta and Piedmont regions. On 15 October 1945 the group returned to its old name and became again the Infantry Division "Cremona" with its traditional units: the 21st Infantry Regiment "Cremona", 22nd Infantry Regiment "Cremona" and 7th Field Artillery Regiment. In the following years the division was augmented: in 1947 with the 17th Field Artillery Regiment, 52nd Anti-tank Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Light Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment and the Divisional Reconnaissance Group "1° Dragoni", and on 1 January 1951 with the 157th Infantry Regiment "Liguria". On 1 April 1951 the Divisional Reconnaissance Group "1° Dragoni" was expanded to the 1st Armoured Cavalry Regiment "Nizza Cavalleria" armed with M24 Chaffee light tanks.
Upon entry into the III Army Corps in Milan on 1 July 1957 the division ceded the 52nd Anti-tank Field Artillery Regiment and the 1st Light Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment to the corps. Soon afterwards the 17th Field Artillery Regiment was merged into the 7th Field Artillery Regiment, which received M114 155 mm howitzers for its four artillery groups. At the same time the 1st Armoured Cavalry Regiment "Nizza Cavalleria" was reduced to I Reconnaissance Group "Nizza Cavalleria". In 1969 the 22nd Infantry Regiment "Cremona" was reorganized as an armored infantry regiment consisting of the XIV Tank Battalion with M47 Patton tanks and the VI Bersaglieri Battalion with M113 armored personnel carriers.
By 1974 the division had been fully motorized and consisted of:
Infantry Division "Cremona", in Turin 
21st Infantry Regiment "Cremona", in Alessandria 
22nd Armored Infantry Regiment "Cremona", in Turin [5] 
157th Infantry Regiment "Liguria", in Genoa 
7th Field Artillery Regiment, in Turin [6] In 1975 the Italian Army undertook a major reorganization of it forces: the regimental level was abolished and battalions came under direct command of multi-arms brigades. Therefore, on 30 October 1975 the Infantry Division "Cremona" was reduced to Motorized Brigade "Cremona". All regiments of the division along with most of their battalions had been disbanded a day earlier. Of the units that remained active the II/21st became the 21st Motorized Infantry Battalion "Alfonsine", the IV/21st became the 22nd Infantry Battalion "Primaro" (Recruits Training), the IV/157th became the 157th Motorized Infantry Battalion "Liguria", and the VI Bersaglieri Battalion became the 6th Bersaglieri Battalion "Palestro" and was transferred to the 3rd Mechanized Brigade "Goito". The IV Field Artillery Group of the 7th Field Artillery Regiment became the 7th Field Artillery Group "Adria". The names "Primaro", "Alfonsine" and "Adria" were chosen to commemorate three battles fought by the Combat Group "Cremona" during the allied Spring 1945 offensive in Italy. [4] After the reform the brigade consisted of the following units:
Motorized Brigade "Cremona" , [12] [13] in Turin 21st Motorized Infantry Battalion "Alfonsine", in Alessandria 22nd Infantry Battalion "Primaro" (Recruits Training), in Fossano [14] 157th Motorized Infantry Battalion "Liguria", in Novi Ligure 
1st Armored Squadrons Group "Nizza Cavalleria", in Pinerolo [15] (M47 Patton tanks and M113 APCs) 7th Field Artillery Group "Adria", [16] in Turin (M114 155 mm towed howitzers) [17] 
Logistic Battalion "Cremona", in Venaria RealeThe brigade also stored the equipment for a third maneuver battalion in Fossano, which in case of war would have been filled with reservists, and recruits from the 22nd Infantry (Recruits Training) Battalion "Primaro", and would have been named 50th Motorized Infantry Battalion "Parma".
After the end of the Cold War in 1989 the Italian Army had begun a massive downsizing of its forces and the Cremona soon began to change composition repeatedly. On 1 December 1989 the 22nd Infantry (Recruits Training) Battalion "Primaro" was disbanded. On 1 November 1990 the brigade received the 4th Infantry (Recruits Training) Battalion "Guastalla", which was disbanded and replaced by the 26th Infantry (Recruits Training) Battalion "Bergamo" on 30 April 1991. On 12 September of the same year the 1st Armored Squadrons Group "Nizza Cavalleria" left the brigade to become a corps level asset of the 3rd Army Corps. With the disbanding of many mechanized formations in North-Eastern Italy the Cremona received their materiel to become a mechanized brigade: the infantry battalions received VCC-2 armored personnel carriers, while the 7th "Adria" was equipped with M109 self-propelled howitzers. Accordingly, the brigade changed its name to Mechanized Brigade "Cremona". At the same time the brigade's battalions returned to be named regiments for traditional reasons. In 1992 the Anti-tank Company was disbanded and the Engineer Company merged into the Command and Signal Unit to form the Command and Tactical Supports Unit "Cremona". By 1993 the brigade fielded the following units:
Mechanized Brigade "Cremona", in Turin 21st Infantry Regiment "Cremona", in Alessandria 
26th Infantry Battalion "Bergamo" (Recruits Training), in Diano Castello 157th Infantry Regiment "Liguria", in Novi Ligure 7th Field Artillery Regiment "Cremona", in Turin Logistic Battalion "Cremona", in Venaria RealeIn 1996 the Army decided to disbanded another six brigades and one of them was the Cremona. Already on 21 September 1995 the 7th Field Artillery Regiment "Cremona" had moved from Turin to Civitavecchia where it joined the Mechanized Brigade "Granatieri di Sardegna". On 13 October 1995 the 157th Infantry Regiment "Liguria" was disbanded. On 5 November 1996 the 21st Infantry Regiment "Cremona" was transferred to the Armored Brigade "Centauro" and the 26th Infantry (Recruits Training) Battalion "Bergamo" returned to the 3rd Army Corps. On the same date the Logistic Battalion "Cremona" was merged with the Transport Battalion "Monviso" to form the 1st Military Region Logistic Unit "Monviso". On 15 November 1996 the brigade was disbanded and its flag transferred to the Shrine of the Flags in the Vittoriano in Rome.
The Bersaglieri, singular Bersagliere, are a troop of marksmen in the Italian Army's infantry corps. They were originally created by General Alessandro Ferrero La Marmora on 18 June 1836 to serve in the Royal Sardinian Army, which later became the Royal Italian Army. They can be recognized by their distinctive wide-brimmed hats decorated with black western capercaillie feathers, which is worn with the dress uniform. The feathers are also applied to their combat helmets.
The Cavalry Brigade "Pozzuolo del Friuli" is a brigade of the Italian Army, based in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Veneto regions. The Brigade consists of a command unit, a cavalry regiment, an amphibious infantry regiment, an artillery regiment, an engineer regiment and a logistic regiment.
The Airmobile Brigade "Friuli" is an airmobile brigade of the Italian Army, based mainly in the Emilia-Romagna region. The brigade was part of the 1st Defence Forces Command until it was transferred to the Division "Friuli". The brigade's coat of arms depicts a stylized version of the Rocca di Monfalcone castle near the city of Monfalcone in the Friuli region, where the brigade distinguished itself during World War I. Since 1 July 2019 the brigade is part of the Division "Vittorio Veneto".
The Mechanized Brigade "Granatieri di Sardegna" is a mechanized infantry brigade of the Italian Army, based in Rome and central Italy. The brigade fields one of the oldest regiments of the Army and is one of the guard regiments of the President of Italy. The name of the unit dates back to the Kingdom of Sardinia and not the eponymous Mediterranean island of Sardinia. The brigade is part of the Division "Acqui".
The Mechanized Brigade "Aosta" 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 therefore the brigade's coat of arms is modeled after the coat of arms of Aosta. The brigade is part of the Division "Acqui".
After World War II the Italian Army had two units named "Centauro": from 1952 to 1986 the Armored Division "Centauro" and from 1986 to 2002 the Armored Brigade "Centauro". Both units were successor to the World War II era 131st Armored Division "Centauro". The units' name came from the mythological race of half human-half horse creatures named Centaurs.
The Armored Brigade "Vittorio Veneto" was an armored brigade of the Italian Army. Its core units were armored and mechanized cavalry squadrons groups. The brigade's headquarters was in the city of Villa Opicina, with most of its units based in the Province of Trieste. The brigade's name was chosen to remember the decisive Italian World War I victory at the Battle of Vittorio Veneto.
The 32nd Armored Brigade "Mameli" was an armored brigade of the Italian Army. Its core units were tank and Bersaglieri battalions. The brigade was headquartered in the city of Tauriano, a subdivision of the city of Spilimbergo. All the brigade's units were based in Spilimbergo. The brigade's name was chosen to honor the Italian patriot Goffredo Mameli writer of the lyrics of the Italian national anthem. The brigade's sister brigades, the 132nd Armored Brigade "Manin" and 8th Mechanized Brigade "Garibaldi" were named to honor of Daniele Manin and Giuseppe Garibaldi, both heroes of the Italian unification.
The 132nd Armored Brigade "Ariete" is currently the only active armored brigade of the Italian Army. Its core units are tank and Bersaglieri regiments. The brigade's headquarters is in Pordenone, and most of its units are based in the North-East of Italy. The brigade's name comes from the battering ram. The brigade draws much of its historical traditions from the 132nd Armored Division "Ariete," which fought in the Western Desert Campaign of World War II. In 1948, the Ariete was reconstituted as a division and remained active until 1986. Today the brigade is part of the Division "Vittorio Veneto".
The Mechanized Brigade "Gorizia" was a mechanized brigade of the Italian Army. Its core units were mechanized infantry battalions. The brigade's headquarters was in the city of Gorizia and the brigade's units were based in the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The brigade's name was chosen in memory of the World War I Battle of Gorizia. The brigade's sister brigade, the Armored Brigade "Vittorio Veneto", was named to commemorate the World War I Battle of Vittorio Veneto.
The Mechanized Brigade "Goito" was a mechanized brigade of the Italian Army. Its core units were mechanized Bersaglieri battalions. The brigade's headquarters was in the city of Milan. The brigade's name was chosen in memory of the First Italian War of Independence Battle of Goito, where the Bersaglieri corps had its baptism of fire.
The Mechanized Brigade "Brescia" was a mechanized brigade of the Italian Army. Its core units were mechanized infantry battalions. The brigade was founded in, named after, and headquartered in the city of Brescia and accordingly the brigade's coat of arms was modeled after the city's coat of arms.
The Motorized Brigade "Acqui" was an infantry brigade of the Italian Army, based in the centre of the Italian peninsula. The brigade's name was one of the oldest of the Italian Army and connected the brigade to its original area of recruitment around the city of Acqui. The brigade was disbanded in 1996, but re-raised as a deployable division command in 2003 and elevated to full division with assigned brigades in 2013.
The Mechanized Brigade "Mantova" was a mechanized brigade of the Italian Army. Its core units were mechanized infantry battalions. The brigade's headquarters was in the city of Cividale del Friuli and all the brigade's units were based in the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. In 2003, the "Mantova" was raised again as a division command.
The Mechanized Brigade "Legnano" was a mechanized brigade of the Italian Army. Its core units were mechanized infantry battalions. The brigade's headquarters was in the city of Bergamo in Lombardy. The name of the brigade commemorates the Lombard League victory in the Battle of Legnano in 1176 and its coat of arms depicts the Monument to the Warrior of Legnano in the centre of Legnano.
The Mechanized Brigade "Trieste" was a mechanized brigade of the Italian Army. Its core units were mechanized infantry battalions. The brigade's headquarter was in the city of Bologna. Named after the North-Eastern city of Trieste the brigade's coat of arms was modeled after the city's coat of arms.
The Mechanized Division "Folgore" was a mechanized division of the Italian Army. Its core units were three mechanized brigades. The brigades headquarters was in the city of Treviso.
The Mechanized Brigade "Isonzo" was a short-lived brigade of the Italian Army created during the 1975 army reform and renamed Mechanized Brigade "Mantova" during the 1986 army reform. The name of the brigade was chosen to commemorate the twelve Battles of the Isonzo during World War I.
With the 1975 reforms the Italian Army abolished the regimental level and replaced it with brigades made up of multiple arms. During the reform the army disbanded 48 regimental commands and reduced its force by 87 battalions. A further ten regimental commands were used to raise ten new brigade commands. Ten training centers, which for traditional reasons had carried the names of regiments, were also disbanded. The reduction in units also allowed to mechanize most of the remaining units in Northern Italy and Italy's defense strategy changed from a hold-at-all-costs territorial defense to one of mobile warfare.
The 63rd Tank Regiment is an inactive tank regiment of the Italian Army, which was based in Cordenons in Friuli-Venezia Giulia and last operationally assigned to the 132nd Armored Brigade "Ariete". The unit's lineage traces back to the World War II LXIII Tank Battalion L, which in 1940 participated in the Italian invasion of Egypt. The battalion was destroyed in December 1940 during the British Operation Compass. In 1961 the battalion was reformed and assigned to the 59th Infantry Regiment "Calabria". In 1964 the battalion was transferred to the Infantry Division "Mantova". In 1975 the battalion was renamed 63rd Tank Battalion "M.O. Fioritto" and assigned to the Mechanized Brigade "Isonzo". In 1991 the battalion entered the 63rd Tank Regiment "M.O. Fioritto", which in 1992 was renamed 63rd Tank Regiment. In 1995 the regiment was transferred from the Mechanized Brigade "Mantova" to the 132nd Armored Brigade "Ariete", however at the end of the same year the regiment was disbanded.
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