9th Alpini Regiment

The 9th Alpini Regiment (Italian: 9° Reggimento Alpini) is a regiment of the Italian Army's mountain infantry speciality, the Alpini, which distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II. Based in the city of L'Aquila in Abruzzo the regiment is operationally assigned to the Alpine Brigade "Taurinense".

9th Alpini Regiment
9° Reggimento Alpini
Regimental coat of arms
Active1 July 1921 - 8 September 1943
4 September 1991 - present[1]
Country Italy
BranchItalian Army
TypeAlpini
SizeRegiment (two battalions)
Part ofAlpine Brigade "Taurinense"
Garrison/HQ"Pasquali-Campomizzi" Barracks, L'Aquila (since 2013)
Motto(s)"Ad ardua super alpes Patria vocat"
Anniversaries23 April 1941 - End of the Greco-Italian war[2]
Decorations
2x Military Order of Italy
2x Gold Medals of Military Valour
4x Silver Medals of Military Valour
2x Bronze Medals of Army Valour
1x Silver Cross of Army Merit[3]
Commanders
Current
commander		Col. Marco Iovinelli
Battalion "L'Aquila" CommanderTen. Col. Michele Merola
Notable
commanders		Colonel Gaetano Tavoni MOVM (2 October 1937-8 January 1941)
Insignia
Alpini gorget patches

History

The regimental history dates back to 1920s and consists of three main periods: the first regimental period (1921-1943), the battalions' era (1943-1991) and the second regimental period (since 1991).[1]

Interwar years

The 9th Alpini Regiment was formed on 1 July 1921, consisting of four battalions:[4]

In 1926 the battalions "Feltre" and "Cividale" returned to their original regiments and the 9th Regiment consisted of the battalions "Vicenza" and "Bassano".[4] The 3rd Alpine Brigade "Julia" was formed the same year and the 9th Alpini Regiment joined the brigade on its formation.[5]

On 13 April 1935 Alpini Battalion "L'Aquila" was formed in Gorizia,[1] drawing its personnel from the "Vicenza" and "Bassano" battalions. The new battalion was considered to be the heir of the World War I Alpini Battalion "Monte Berico", which had consisted of soldiers recruited in Abruzzo.[4] Gabriele D'Annunzio created the battalion's motto "D'Aquila Penne, Ugne di Leonessa", which is a word pun: its literal translation is "Eagle feathers, Lioness claws", but L'Aquila, Penne, Ugne and Leonessa are Abruzzo towns, which were the recruitment basin of the battalion.[1]

On 10 September 1935, the 3rd Alpine Division "Julia" was established on the basis of the Julia brigade, with the 9th Alpini Regiment being one of the constituent regiments.[6] On 25 September 1937 the Alpini Battalion "Bassano" was transferred to the 11th Alpini Regiment.[4]

World War II

In mid-April 1939 the regiment was sent to Albania and posted to the Albanian-Yugoslav border until September 1941, when it was moved to the Greek border for the planned Italian invasion of Greece. During the following Greco-Italian war the 9th Alpini consisted of the "Vicenza" and "L'Aquila" battalions, and was led by Colonel Gaetano Tavoni.[6]

After the German invasion of Greece and the Greek surrender the battalion returned to Italy until July 1942 when the Julia division was assigned to the Italian Army in Russia and sent to the Eastern Front, where regiment and battalion barely escaped annihilation during the Battle of Nikolayevka in January 1943. For its conduct during the two campaigns the 9th Alpini Regiment was awarded two Gold Medals of Military Valour.

Meanwhile the regiment's depot raised several additional units: "Vicenza Bis" Battalion (raised in April 1941, deployed to the Isonzo valley), IX Reserve Battalion (deployed in the Soviet Union), IX March Battalion (raised in late 1942, deployed to the Isonzo valley) and the 39th Battalion "Monte Berico" (formerly XXXIX Reserve Battalion of the 9th Alpini Regiment, and assigned to the 167th Alpini Coastal Regiment).[4]

The survivors of the regiment were repatriated in spring 1943 and garrisoned in Udine. After Italy changed sides with the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943, regiment and battalion were disbanded by the Germans.[4]

Cold War

In September 1944 the Italian Co-belligerent Army raised the Alpini Battalion "Abruzzi", which was soon renamed Alpini Battalion "L'Aquila" for service with the Combat Group "Legnano". The Legnano participated in the Italian campaign until the German surrender.[1] In 1946 the "L'Aquila" Battalion entered the newly raised 8th Alpini Regiment, first based in Edolo and then in Tarvisio.[4]

Alpini Battalion "Vicenza"
Coat of arms of the Alpini Battalion "Vicenza"

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" was reformed as Alpini (Recruits Training) Battalion "Vicenza" in Tolmezzo. The Vicenza received the war flag and traditions of the 9th Alpini, but had to transfer two Silver Medals of Military Valour to the newly created flag of the Alpini Battalion L'Aquila, while the two Gold Medals of Military Valour, 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 Valour awarded to the Vicenza battalion for its conduct during World War I, and the Silver Medal of Military Valour awarded to the Val Leogra battalion for its conduct during the Greco-Italian war remained affixed to the war flag of the Alpini Battalion Vicenza.[1][3]

For its conduct and work after the 1976 Friuli earthquake the battalion was awarded a Bronze Medal of Army Valour, which was affixed to the battalion's war flag and added to the battalion's coat of arms.[7]

With the battalions base in Tolmezzo damaged the unit moved to Codroipo, with the exception of the 61st Company, which was transferred to Teramo to train the recruits of the L'Aquila Battalion.[1]

Alpini Battalion "L'Aquila"
Coat of arms of the Alpini Battalion "L'Aquila"

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". As the traditions and war flag of the 9th Alpini Regiment had been assigned to the "Vicenza" battalion, the L'Aquila battalion was granted a new war flag on 12 November 1976 by decree 846 of the President of the Italian Republic Giovanni Leone.[8] The two Gold Medals of Military Valour 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, while the Silver Medal of Military Valour awarded to the L'Aquila battalion for its conduct during the allied Spring 1945 offensive in Italy and the Silver Medal of Military Valour 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 battalion's flag.[9][10][3]

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.[1]

For its conduct and work after the 1980 Irpinia earthquake the battalion was awarded a Bronze Medal of Army Valour, which was affixed to the battalion's war flag and added to the battalion's coat of arms.[11]

1991-onwards

On 4 September 1991 the Alpini Battalion "L'Aquila" entered the re-established 9th Alpini Regiment in L'Aquila. As the regiment's original war flag remained with the Vicenza Battalion the 9th used the flag of the L'Aquila battalion. On 27 August 1996 the Vicenza battalion was disbanded and the 9th Alpini Regiment received its original war flag in a ceremony on 13 September 1996.[1][4]

On 1 September 1997 the regiment was transferred from the Alpine Brigade "Julia" to the Alpine Brigade "Taurinense".[4] 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.[4] On 29 May 2017 the regiment raised the Multifunctional battalion "Orta",[12] which was renamed later in the same year "Vicenza".[13] As of 2019 the 9th Alpini Regiment is the only Alpini regiment with two battalions.

Current structure

The 9th Alpini Regiment is part of the Alpine Brigade "Taurinense" and based in the central Italian city of L'Aquila. It is the strongest regiment of the Italian Army, with the "L'Aquila" fielding four instead of the usual three infantry companies, and fielding a second battalion with transport, engineering, and support companies. As of 2019 the regiment consists of:

  • Regimental Command
    • Command and Logistic Support Company
    • Alpini Battalion "L'Aquila"'
      • 93rd Alpini Company
      • 108th Alpini Company
      • 119th Alpini Company
      • 143rd Alpini Company "La scassata"
      • 119th Maneuver Support Company
    • Alpini Battalion "Vicenza"',[13][14] multifunctional battalion with civil protection duties.[12]
      • General Support Company
      • Tactical Mobility and Deployment Company
      • Special Transports Company

The Command and Logistic Support Company fields the following platoons: C3 Platoon, Transport and Materiel Platoon, Medical Platoon, and Commissariat Platoon.

Equipment

The Alpini companies are equipped with Bv 206S tracked all-terrain carriers, Puma 6x6 wheeled armored personnel carriers and Lince light multirole vehicles. The maneuver support company is equipped with 120mm mortars and Spike MR anti-tank guided missiles.

Commanders

As regiment the 9th Alpini has always been commanded by a Colonel.[4][15]

1921-1943

From 1921 to 1943, the 9th Regiment had 11 Commanders:

  • Col. Remigio Peretti (1 July 1921 – 17 June 1927);
  • Col. Ferruccio Pisoni (18 June 1927 – 31 March 1929);
  • Col. Gustavo Pesenti (1 April 1929 – 31 January 1933);
  • Col. Mario Girotti (1 February 1933 – 18 October 1934);
  • Col. Giuseppe Corrado (19 October 1934 – 15 October 1935);
  • Col. Luigi Chatrian (16 October 1935 – 1 October 1937);
  • Col. Gaetano Tavoni (2 October 1937 – 8 January 1941);
  • Col. Achille Billia (9 January 1941 – 5 August 1941);
  • Col. Umberto Manfredini (6 August 1941 – 31 May 1942);
  • Col. Fausto Lavizzari (1 June 1942 – 21 January 1943);
  • Col. Gerardo Sibille Sizia (22 January 1943 – 9 September 1943).

1991-present
Commanding officer Colonel Riccardo Cristoni in 2013

Since 1991, the 9th Regiment has had 17 Commanders:

  • Col. Gianfranco Marinelli (4 September 1991 – 20 August 1993);
  • Col. Armando Monaco (21 August 1993 – 28 September 1995);
  • Col. Pierluigi Campregher (29 September 1995 – 19 September 1996);
  • Col. Giovanni Di Federico (13 September 1996 – 25 September 1998);
  • Col. Oliviero Finocchio (25 September 1998 – 10 September 1999);
  • Col. Paolo Serra (11 September 1999 – 2 July 2000);
  • Col. Antonio Di Vita (3 July 2000 – 7 November 2002);
  • Col. Claudio Berto (8 November 2002 – 26 February 2004);
  • Col. Edmondo Panajoli (27 February 2004 – 15 September 2005);
  • Col. Michele Pellegrino (16 September 2005 – 25 August 2007);
  • Col. Andrea Mulciri (25 August 2007 – 1 October 2009);[16]
  • Col. Franco Federici (1 October 2009 – 25 November 2010);[17]
  • Col. Fabio Asso (25 November 2010 – 23 September 2011);[17]
  • Col. Riccardo Cristoni (23 September 2011 – 13 September 2013);[18]
  • Col. Massimo Iacobucci (13 September 2013 – 24 July 2015);[19]
  • Col. Antonio Sedia (24 July 2015 – 23 September 2016);[20]
  • Col. Marco Iovinelli (current commander, since 23 September 2016).[21]

Operational history

The 9th Alpini Regiment has a long operational history:[1][4][21]

  • Balkans campaign;
  • Russian campaign;
  • Italian campaign;
  • 1976: Friuli earthquake rescue operations;
  • 1980: Irpinia earthquake rescue operations;
  • 1993: UNOMOZ;
  • 1997: Umbria and Marche earthquake rescue operations;
  • 1997: Operation Alba;
  • 2000: Kosovo Force;
  • 2001- onwards: Operazione Domino;
  • 2007-2013: Afghanistan (Khost, Kabul and Farah, more deployments);
  • 2015: UNIFIL.

Source
  • Franco dell'Uomo, Rodolfo Puletti: L'Esercito Italiano verso il 2000 - Volume Primo - Tomo I, Rome 1998, Stato Maggiore dell'Esercito - Ufficio Storico, pages: 494-497 (L'Aquila Battalion) & 515-518 (Vicenza Battalion)

References
  1. "9° Reggimento Alpini - La storia". www.esercito.difesa.it (in Italian). Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  2. "9° Reggimento Alpini". www.esercito.difesa.it (in Italian). Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  3. "9° Reggimento Alpini - Il medagliere". www.esercito.difesa.it (in Italian). Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  4. "9° Reggimento Alpini". Vecio.it. 12 August 2011. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  5. "Brigata Alpina Julia - Udine". Truppealpine. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  6. "Divisione Julia". Regio Esercito (in Italian). Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  7. "Battaglione Alpini "Vicenza"". Quirinale - Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  8. "Decreto del Presidente della Repubblica 12 novembre 1976, n. 846". Quirinale - Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  9. "Battaglione Alpini L'Aquila". vecio.it. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  10. "7° Reggimento Alpini". vecio.it. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  11. "Battaglione Alpini "L'Aquila"". Quirinale - Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  12. "L'Aquila: nasce il battaglione "Orta". Pinotti, risposta del Governo a esigenze territorio". www.difesa.it (in Italian). Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  13. "Incendio al parco della Maiella, da dieci giorni in fiamme i monti dove visse Celestino V". Repubblica.it (in Italian). 29 August 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  14. "Difesa: incendio Monte Morrone, in azione il Battaglione Alpini Vicenza insieme ai Vigili del Fuoco". www.difesa.it (in Italian). 28 August 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  15. "I Comandanti del 9° Reggimento Alpini | A.N.A. Sezione Abruzzi". www.anaabruzzi.it (in Italian). Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  16. "Il col. Mulciri al comando del 9º Reggimento". Associazione Nazionale Alpini. 27 September 2007. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  17. Martin, Matteo (26 November 2010). "Il col. Asso nuovo comandante del 9º Alpini". Associazione Nazionale Alpini (in Italian). Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  18. "Il colonnello Riccardo Cristoni è il nuovo comandante del IX reggimento alpini". AquilaTV (in Italian). 23 September 2011. Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  19. "Alpini, Cristoni lascia L'Aquila". Il Centro (in Italian). 14 September 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  20. "Antonio Sedia nuovo comandante del 9° Reggimento Alpini". L'Impronta L'Aquila (in Italian). 25 July 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  21. "L'Aquila: nuovo comandante per il 9° Reggimento Alpini - Radio L'Aquila 1" (in Italian). RadioAquila1. 23 September 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
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