5th Alpini Regiment

5th Alpini Regiment
5° Reggimento Alpini
Regimental coat of arms
Active1 Nov. 1882 — 10 Sept. 1943
1 Jan. 1953 — today
Country Italy
Branch Italian Army
TypeMountain Infantry
Part ofAlpine Brigade "Julia"
Garrison/HQSterzing
Motto(s)"Nec videar dum sim"
Anniversaries8 June 1916
Decorations
1x Military Order of Italy
2x Gold Medals of Military Valor[1][2]
1x Silver Medal of Military Valor
1x Bronze Medal of Military Valor
1x Silver Medal of Merit[3]
Insignia
Alpini gorget patches

The 5th Alpini Regiment (Italian: 5° Reggimento Alpini) 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.[4][5][6]

During World War I the regiment expanded to 16 battalions and became the largest regiment ever fielded by the Italian Army. During the war the regiment's battalions fought separately in the alpine areas of the Italian front.[4][5][6] In 1935 the regiment was assigned to the 2nd Alpine Division "Tridentina", with which it served during World War II in the invasion of France and the Greco-Italian War. For its service and sacrifice on the Greek Front the 5th Alpini Regiment was awarded Italy's highest military honor the Gold Medal of Military Valor. In summer 1942 the 2nd Alpine Division "Tridentina" 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 Greek Front and then on the Eastern Front the 5th Alpini Regiment was twice awarded a second Gold Medal of Military Valor. 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.[3][4][5][6]

On 1 January 1953, the 5th Alpini Regiment was reformed and assigned to the Alpine Brigade "Orobica". In 1975 the regiment was disbanded and its flag and traditions assigned to the Alpini Battalion "Morbegno". In 1991 the Alpine Brigade "Orobica" was disbanded and the Alpini Battalion "Morbegno" was assigned to the Alpine Brigade "Tridentina". The regiment was reformed in 1992. On 31 December 2002, the Alpine Brigade "Tridentina" was disbanded and the next day the 5th Alpini Regiment was assigned to the Alpine Brigade "Julia". The regiment's anniversary falls on 8 June 1916, the height of the Battle of Asiago, during which the regiment's Alpini Battalion "Morbegno" earned a Silver Medal of Military Valor for holding Monte Fior and Monte Castelgomberto with other Alpini battalions.[4][5][6]

  1. ^ "5° Reggimento Alpini". Quirinale - Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  2. ^ "5° Reggimento Alpini". Quirinale - Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  3. ^ a b "5° Reggimento Alpini - Il Medagliere". Italian Army. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d "5° Reggimento Alpini". Italian Army. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d "5° Reggimento Alpini - La Storia". Italian Army. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d F. dell'Uomo, R. Puletti (1998). L'Esercito Italiano verso il 2000 - Vol. Primo - Tomo I. Rome: SME - Ufficio Storico. p. 473.