7th Alpini Regiment

7th Alpini Regiment
7° Reggimento Alpini
Regimental coat of arms
Active1 Aug. 1887 — 12 Sept. 1943
1 July 1953 — today
Country Italy
BranchItalian Army
TypeMountain Infantry
Part ofAlpine Brigade "Julia"
Garrison/HQBelluno
Motto(s)"Ad excelsa tendo"
Anniversaries23 April 1941
Decorations
2x Military Order of Italy
5x Silver Medals of Military Valor
2x Bronze Medals of Military Valor
1x Gold Medal of Civil Valor[1]
1x Bronze Medal of Red Cross Merit
1x Silver Medal of Merit[2]
Insignia
Alpini gorget patches

The 7th Alpini Regiment (Italian: 7° Reggimento Alpini) 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.[3][4][5]

During World War I the regiment expanded to ten battalions, which fought separately in the alpine areas of the Italian front. In 1935 the regiment was assigned to the 5th Alpine Division "Pusteria", with which it participated in the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. During World War II the regiment fought in the invasion of France and the Greco-Italian War. Afterwards the regiment served on occupation duty in Montenegro and, after the occupation of Vichy France, in Alpes-Maritimes. On 8 September 1943, the Armistice of Cassibile was announced and four days later, on 12 September 1943, invading German forces disbanded the 7th Alpini Regiment.[4][5]

In 1953 the 7th Alpini Regiment was reformed and assigned to the Alpine Brigade "Cadore". In 1975 the regiment was disbanded and its flag and traditions assigned to the Alpini Battalion "Feltre". The regiment was reformed in 1992. The regiment's anniversary falls on 23 April 1941, the last day of the Greco-Italian War, during which the regiment's Alpini Battalion "Feltre" earned a Silver Medal of Military Valor.[2][3][4][5]

  1. ^ "7° Reggimento Alpini". Quirinale - Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b "7° Reggimento Alpini - Il Medagliere". Italian Army. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  3. ^ a b "7° Reggimento Alpini". Italian Army. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  4. ^ a b c "7° Reggimento Alpini - La Storia". Italian Army. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  5. ^ a b c F. dell'Uomo, R. Puletti (1998). L'Esercito Italiano verso il 2000 - Vol. Primo - Tomo I. Rome: SME - Ufficio Storico. p. 484.