Alpini Paratroopers Battalion "Monte Cervino"

Alpini Paratroopers Battalion "Monte Cervino"
Battaglione Alpini Paracadutisti "Monte Cervino"
Alpini Paratroopers during an exercise
Active	Nov. 1915 — 1919 18 Dec. 1940 — May 1941 Oct. 1941 — Feb. 1943 15 June 1943 — 8 Sept. 1943 14 July 1996 — today
Country	Italy
Branch	Italian Army
Type	Special forces
Part of	Army Special Forces Command
Garrison/HQ	Montorio Veronese
Motto(s)	"Mai strac"
Decorations	1x Military Order of Italy 1x Gold Medal of Military Valor[1] 2x Silver Medals of Military Valor[2]
Insignia
Alpini Paratroopers gorget patches

The Alpini Paratroopers Battalion "Monte Cervino" is a Special Forces unit of the Italian Army. The battalion belongs to the Italian Army's Alpini infantry speciality and is assigned to the 4th Alpini Paratroopers Regiment. In November 1915, the Royal Italian Army's 4th Alpini Regiment formed the Alpini Battalion "Monte Cervino", which served during World War I on the Italian front. For its conduct and valor during the war the battalion, which was disbanded in 1919, was awarded a Silver Medal of Military Valor.^[3][4]

In December 1940, the battalion was reformed as Skiers Battalion "Monte Cervino". The battalion served in the Greco-Italian War, during which it distinguished itself and was awarded its second Silver Medal of Military Valor. In May 1941, the battalion was disbanded once more, only to the reformed already five months later in October 1941. In January 1942, the Skiers Battalion "Monte Cervino" was sent to Eastern Front, where it served with the Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia. In summer 1942, the battalion was assigned to the 8th Army's General Staff. In January 1943, the battalion was destroyed during the Soviet Operation Little Saturn. For its bravery and sacrifice in the Soviet Union the Skiers Battalion "Monte Cervino was awarded a Gold Medal of Military Valor.^[3][4]

In June 1943, the battalion was reformed by renaming the Alpini Battalion "Val Toce". The battalion was deployed in Southern France, when the Armistice of Cassibile was announced on 8 September 1943. The battalion was then disbanded by invading German forces.^[3][4]

In July 1996, the "Monte Cervino" battalion was reformed as the Alpini Paratroopers Battalion "Monte Cervino". On 24 September 2004, the Alpini Paratroopers Battalion "Monte Cervino" lost its autonomy and the next day the battalion entered the 4th Alpini Paratroopers Regiment. Since then the history of the "Monte Cervino" continues with the 4th Alpini Paratroopers Regiment.^[3][4]