3rd Alpini Regiment

3rd Alpini Regiment
3° Reggimento Alpini
Regimental coat of arms
Active	1 Nov. 1882 — Oct. 1943 25 June 1944 — 30 Sept. 1944 11 Oct. 1975 — today
Country	Italy
Branch	Italian Army
Type	Mountain Infantry
Part of	Alpine Brigade "Taurinense"
Garrison/HQ	Pinerolo
Motto(s)	"Altius tendo"
Anniversaries	16 June 1916
Decorations	1x Military Order of Italy 3x Silver Medals of Military Valor 2x Bronze Medals of Military Valor 1x War Cross of Military Valor 1x Bronze Medal of Army Valor[1] 1x Gold Cross of Army Merit[2] 1x Bronze Medal of Red Cross Merit 1x Silver Medal of Merit[3]
Insignia
Alpini gorget patches

The 3rd Alpini Regiment (Italian: 3° Reggimento Alpini) is a mountain warfare regiment of the Italian Army based in Pinerolo 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 3rd Alpini Regiment, which had its recruiting area in the Cottian Alps and Graian Alps.^[4][5][6] During World War I the regiment expanded to 13 battalions, which fought separately in the alpine areas of the Italian front.^[5][6]

In 1935 the regiment was assigned to the 1st Alpine Division "Taurinense", with which it served during World War II in the invasion of France. In 1942 the division was transferred to Montenegro, where it served on occupation duty until the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943. Following the announcement the division instantly began to fight German forces. By early October the remnants of the division and of its regiments were forced to surrender to the Germans. With Alpini, who had escaped from Montenegro the Italian Co-Belligerent Army formed in fall 1943, the Alpini Battalion "Piemonte", which fought on the allied side in the Italian campaign. From June to September 1944, the Alpini battalions "Piemonte" and "Monte Granero", which had been reformed by the depot of the 3rd Alpini Regiment in February 1943, were assigned to the reformed 3rd Alpini Regiment. On 30 September 1944, the 3rd Alpini Regiment was disbanded and the Alpini Battalion "Piemonte" was assigned to the Special Infantry Regiment "Legnano".^[5][6]

In 1946, the Alpini Battalion "Susa" was reformed and assigned to the 4th Alpini Regiment. In 1975 the 4th Alpini Regiment and the Alpini Battalion "Susa" became an autonomous unit. The battalion was assigned to the Alpine Brigade "Taurinense" and in 1976 it was assigned the flag and traditions of the 3rd Alpini Regiment. In 1993 the regiment was reformed. The regiment's anniversary falls on 16 June 1915, the day the regiment with the battalions "Pinerolo", "Fenestrelle", "Exilles", and "Susa" conquered the summit of Mount Krn in a night attack.^[4][5][6]