2nd Alpini Regiment

2nd Alpini Regiment
2° Reggimento Alpini
Regimental coat of arms
Active	1 Nov. 1882 — 10 Sept. 1943 1 July 1963 — 31 Oct. 1974 10 Oct. 1975 — today
Country	Italy
Branch	Italian Army
Type	Mountain Infantry
Part of	Alpine Brigade "Taurinense"
Garrison/HQ	Cuneo
Motto(s)	"Vigilantes"
Anniversaries	6 June 1916
Decorations	1x Military Order of Italy 1x Gold Medal of Military Valor[1] 4x Silver Medals of Military Valor 1x Bronze Medal of Military Valor 1x Bronze Medal of Civil Valor 1x Bronze Medal of Red Cross Merit 1x Silver Medal of Merit[2]
Insignia
Alpini gorget patches

The 2nd Alpini Regiment (Italian: 2° Reggimento Alpini) is a mountain warfare regiment of the Italian Army based in Cuneo in Piedmont. The regiment belongs to the Italian Army's Alpini infantry speciality and is assigned to the Alpine Brigade "Taurinense". On 1 November 1882, the Royal Italian Army formed the 2nd Alpini Regiment, which had its recruiting area in the Maritime Alps and Cottian 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.^[3][4][5]

In 1935 the regiment was assigned to the 4th Alpine Division "Cuneense", with which it served during World War II in the invasion of France and the Greco-Italian War. In summer 1942 the division 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 Eastern Front the 2nd Alpini Regiment was awarded Italy's highest military honor the 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 2nd Alpini Regiment.^[2][3][4][5]

In 1963 the regiment was reformed as a training unit in Cuneo. In 1974, the regiment was disbanded, and two years later the flag and traditions of the regiment were assigned to the Alpini Battalion "Saluzzo", which had become an autonomous unit in October 1975 and was assigned to the Alpine Brigade "Taurinense". In 1992, the regiment was reformed. The regiment's anniversary falls on 6 June 1916, the height of the Battle of Asiago, during which four of the regiment's battalions earned a Silver Medal of Military Valor for holding Monte Fior and Monte Castelgomberto.^[3][4][5]