ITALIAN MOUNTAIN TROOPS

5th Alpini Regiment

It continues in English Continua in italiano

This web page is dedicated to the history of a strongest militar corps of the Italian Army, the "Alpini" (the mountain soldiers), and specially to the 5th Alpini Regiment. This corps fought during the Abissynian Campaign of 1889, the Lybian campaign of 1911 against Turkey, and specially during WWI and WWII, on Alpes, in Albany, Greece and in Russia.

This regiment has been disbanded in 1975, in accordance at the new organization of Italian Army, while it has been recostitued in 1992 as part of the "Tridentina" alpine brigade.

The reason to collect the facts of this glorious military corps is a gift to my brother George on his birthday. George, in the years 1965-69 was a non comissioned officer of the 5th Alpini Regiment's "Tirano" Battalion, and sometimes he speaks us about his regiment and battalion by yearning and pride. The auctor of this web page, unfortunately, has not been an "alpino", he carried his militar duty in the motorized infantry, the 114th "Mantova" Infantry Regiment, a good corps, but not so burdened with laurels.

My brother George when he was a Sergeant of Alpine Troops

This web page, therefore, will be a little tribute and a great thankfulness for all men who fought, beared and died under the colours of the 5th Alpini, for the fatherland, during the wars and specially during the Russian Campaign and the withdrawal from the Don River.

This last event, forgotten or ignored, is a great example of pride, gallantry and tenacity of good men against a strong enemy fighting for his fatherland, and in terrible weater conditions, with cold, snow, ice in a unknown country and in a unwilling war. Many men died, many were MIA, but many came back in his country, on the Alpes, into their mountain villages.

This story is only a memory of that days and of those men, without any political apology or justification.

Some Alpine Uniformlogy data:

Alpine hat

Alpine Troop's Badges

Alpini Inf ------ Artillery----- Engeneers---- Signal-------- Train ------Healt Service- Veterinanian- Commissariat

Alpine Troops's Friezes

Alpini-------------- Artillery---------- Engeneers------------- Signal

Phisician----- Health Service------- Veterinarian------ Commissariat---------Train

Alpine Troops' History:

Originated from an idea of Captain Giuseppe Perucchetti, the AlpineTroops, the Italian mountain troops, formally saw the light on October 15th 1872, when the King of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele II of Savoy signed the official Birth Act of the Corps.

The October 5th 1882's Royal Act statued the formation of the first six "alpini" regiments (regiments of mountains soldiers). This is the date of official birth of the 5th Alpini Regiment. Its first Commander was Col. Carlo Goggia. At this moment the Regiment had only a Regiment Staff and these battalions: Val Dora, Moncenisio, Valtellina, Alta Valtellina.

History of the Regiment

The Arrival in Russia and first fightings