| 8th Alpini Regiment | |
|---|---|
| 8° Reggimento Alpini | |
 Regimental coat of arms | |
| Active | 1 Oct. 1909 — 13 Sept. 1943 15 April 1946 — today |
| Country |  Italy |
| Branch | Italian Army |
| Type | Mountain Infantry |
| Part of | Alpine Brigade "Julia" |
| Garrison/HQ | Venzone |
| Motto(s) | "O là.... o rompi" |
| Anniversaries | 24 May 1915 |
| Decorations |       1x Military Order of Italy 2x Gold Medals of Military Valor[1][2] 1x Silver Medal of Military Valor 1x Silver Medal of Army Valor[3] 1x Bronze Medal of Army Valor[4] 1x Silver Cross of Army Merit[5][6] |
| Insignia | |
| Alpini gorget patches |  |
The 8th Alpini Regiment (Italian: 8° Reggimento Alpini) is a mountain warfare regiment of the Italian Army based in Venzone in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The regiment belongs to the Italian Army's Alpini infantry speciality and is assigned to the Alpine Brigade "Julia". On 1 October 1909, the Royal Italian Army formed the 8th Alpini Regiment by splitting the 7th Alpini Regiment. The new regiment's recruiting area consisted of the Carnic Alps, Carnic Prealps, and the Western side of the Julian Alps.[7][8][9] During World War I the regiment expanded to ten battalions, which fought separately in the alpine areas of the Italian front.[8][9]
In 1935 the regiment was assigned to the 3rd Alpine Division "Julia", with which it served during World War II in the Greco-Italian War, during which the division suffered heavy losses. For its service and sacrifice on the Greek Front the 8th Alpini Regiment was awarded Italy's highest military honor the Gold Medal of Military Valor. 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 8th Alpini Regiment was awarded a second Gold Medal of Military Valor. On 8 September 1943, the Armistice of Cassibile was announced and five days later, on 13 September 1943, invading German forces disbanded the 8th Alpini Regiment.[6][7][8][9]
On 15 April 1946, the 8th Alpini Regiment was reformed and in 1949 assigned to the Alpine Brigade "Julia". By 1964, the regiment had become the largest regiment of the Italian Army and consisted of five Alpini battalions. In 1975 the regiment was disbanded and its flag and traditions assigned to the Alpini Battalion "Gemona". In 1992, the regiment was reformed. The regiment's anniversary falls on 24 May 1915, the first day of the war on the Italian front, on which the regiment's Alpini battalions "Tolmezzo" and "Val Tagliamento" earned a shared Silver Medal of Military Valor for having taken and held the summits of Pal Piccolo, Freikofel and Pal Grande.[7][8][9]
- ^ "8° Reggimento Alpini". Quirinale - Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "8° Reggimento Alpini". Quirinale - Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "8° Reggimento Alpini". Quirinale - Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "Battaglione Alpini "Gemona"". Quirinale - Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "8° Reggimento Alpini". Quirinale - Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ a b "8° Reggimento Alpini - Il Medagliere". Italian Army. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ a b c "8° Reggimento Alpini". Italian Army. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ a b c d "8° Reggimento Alpini - La Storia". Italian Army. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ 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. 489.