6th Bersaglieri Regiment

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
6th Bersaglieri Regiment
6° Reggimento bersaglieri
Regimental coat of arms
Active16 April 1861 — 30 Dec. 1865
1 Jan. 1871 — today
Country Italy
BranchItalian Army
Part ofMechanized Brigade "Aosta"
Garrison/HQTrapani
Motto(s)"...e vincere bisogna"
Anniversaries18 June 1836
Decorations
2x Military Order of Italy
2x Gold Medals of Military Valor
4x Bronze Medals of Military Valor
1x Silver Medal of Army Valor[1]
Insignia
Bersaglieri gorget patches

The 6th Bersaglieri Regiment (Italian: 6° Reggimento Bersaglieri) is an active unit of the Italian Army based in Trapani in Sicily. The regiment is part of the army's infantry corps' Bersaglieri speciality and operationally assigned to the Mechanized Brigade "Aosta".[2] The regiment was formed in 1861 by the Royal Italian Army with preexisting battalions. During World War I the regiment formed together with the 12th Bersaglieri Regiment the I Bersaglieri Brigade, which served on the Italian front.[3][4]

The regiment is one of the highest decorated units of the Italian Army with two Gold Medals of Military Valor, both of which the regiment earned during the Italian campaign in Ukraine and Russia during World War II.

History

[edit]

On 16 April 1861 the 6th Army Corps Bersaglieri Command was formed in Capua. The command had purely administrative functions and consisted of the newly formed XXVIII XXIX, XXX, XXXI, XXXII, and XXXIII battalions, and a depot battalion. On 31 December 1861 the command was renamed 6th Bersaglieri Regiment, but continued to exert only administrative functions. On 18 December 1864 the Bersaglieri regiments were reduced from six to five and consequently the 4th Bersaglieri Regiment was disbanded and its XXVI Battalion transferred to the 6th Bersaglieri Regiment. In 1865 the regiment formed the XL Battalion and now consisted of eight battalions. On 30 December of the same year the regiment was renamed 4th Bersaglieri Regiment.[3][4]

On 1 January 1871 the 6th Bersaglieri Regiment was reformed in Ancona with the VI Battalion, XIII Battalion, XIX Battalion, and XXI Battalion, which were transferred from the 1st Bersaglieri Regiment. The four battalions were renumbered as I, II, III, and IV battalion upon entering the new regiment. On 16 September 1883 the IV Battalion was transferred to the newly formed 12th Bersaglieri Regiment. On 18 June 1886, all Bersaglieri battalions resumed their original numbering and afterwards the 6th Bersaglieri Regiment consisted of the VI Battalion, XIII Battalion, and XIX Battalion.[3][4]

The VI Battalion had been formed by the Royal Sardinian Army in 1848 with volunteers from Lombardy under command of Luciano Manara. The battalion fought in the First Italian War of Independence and participated as "volunteer" unit in the defense of Rome during the French siege of the Roman Republic in 1849. In 1859 the VI Battalion fought in the Second Italian War of Independence, during which the battalion distinguished itself in the crossing of the Sesia river and in the battles of Battle of Palestro and at Borgo Vercelli. For its conduct during the war the VI Battalion was awarded a Bronze Medal of Military Valor, which was affixed to the flag of the 6th Bersaglieri Regiment and added to the regiment's coat of arms, when the battalion joined the regiment.[1][3][4] The XIII Battalion was formed in 1859 and the XIX Battalion in 1860. In 1862 the VI Battalion participated in the Battle of Aspromonte against Giuseppe Garibaldi's Redshirts, which were marching to occupy Rome. For stopping Garibaldi's volunteers the VI Battalion was awarded a Bronze Medal of Military Valor, which was affixed to the flag of the 6th Bersaglieri Regiment and added to the regiment's coat of arms, when the battalion joined the regiment.[1][3][4]

In 1866 the battalions participated in the Third Italian War of Independence, during which the XIII Battalion distinguished itself in the Battle of Custoza and was awarded a Bronze Medal of Military Valor, which was affixed to the flag of the 6th Bersaglieri Regiment and added to the regiment's coat of arms, when the battalion joined the regiment. In September 1870 the VI and XIX battalions participated in the capture of Rome.[1][3][4]

In 1895-96 the regiment provided 15 officers and 37 troops to help form the I, III, and IV provisional battalions, which were deployed to Eritrea for the First Italo-Ethiopian War. On 1 October 1910 the regiment's depot in Bologna formed the VI Cyclists Battalion. In 1911, the regiment provided 22 officers and 1,215 troops to augment units fighting in the Italo-Turkish War.[3][4]

World War I

[edit]
See also: Bersaglieri § World War I

At the outbreak of World War I the regiment consisted of the VI, XIII, and XIX battalions and the VI Cyclists Battalion, which operated as an autonomous unit throughout the war. In January 1915 the depot of the 6th Bersaglieri Regiment in Bologna formed the XLIX and L battalions, which initially operated as autonomous units. On 20 May 1915, three days before Italy entered World War I, the regiment formed, together with the 9th Bersaglieri Regiment, 11th Bersaglieri Regiment, and 12th Bersaglieri Regiment the Special Bersaglieri Division, which also included the IV Mountain Artillery Group of the 1st Mountain Artillery Regiment and minor support units. On 11 February 1916 the four regiments were grouped together in two brigades: the I Bersaglieri Brigade consisted of the 6th and 12th Bersaglieri regiments, while the II Bersaglieri Brigade consisted of the 9th and 11th Bersaglieri regiments. After not even a year of existence the division was transformed on 5 March 1916 into a standard infantry division, with the infantry Brigade "Piemonte" and Brigade "Aosta" replacing the Bersaglieri brigades, which afterwards were attached, like other Bersaglieri units, to divisions and army corps as needed.[5]

On 23 May 1915, the day Italy entered the war, the 6th Bersaglieri Regiment crossed the border with Austro-Hungary at Robidišče and advanced towards Kobarid. In September 1915 the regiment fought in the Bovec sector. In 1916 the I Bersaglieri Brigade was deployed on the Karst plateau in the area of Veliki Hribach during the Eighth Battle of the Isonzo and then on Monte Pečinka during the Ninth Battle of the Isonzo. In 1917 the I Bersaglieri Brigade was deployed on the Monte Vodice during the Tenth Battle of the Isonzo and then moved to the Banjšice plateau for the Eleventh Battle of the Isonzo, during which the brigade distinguished itself on 16-20 August. On 24 October 1917 the Austro-Hungarian Army and Imperial German Army commenced the Battle of Caporetto and the next day the brigade defeated three Austro-Hungarian attacks in the area of Monte Globokak. Afterwards the brigade joined the Italian retreat to the Piave river. After escaping over the Piave river the 6th Bersaglieri Regiment counted nine officers and 1,207 troops as lost, while the 12th Bersaglieri Regiment had lost 49 officers and 1,551 troops. To bring the two regiments back up to strength the 21st Bersaglieri Regiment was disbanded and its personnel assigned to the two regiments. Between 23 November and 5 December 1917 the brigade fought on the Monte Meletta di Gallio during the First Battle of Monte Grappa. Stopping the Austro-Hungarian offensive cost the 6th Bersaglieri Regiment 69 officers and 1,762 troops, while the 12th Bersaglieri Regiment lost 52 officers and 1,670 troops. Afterwards the shattered brigade was sent to Valdagno in the rear to be rebuilt. For its conduct in 1917, especially on Monte Globokak, the 6th Bersaglieri Regiment was awarded a Bronze Medal of Military Valor, which was affixed to the flag of the 6th Bersaglieri Regiment and added to the regiment's coat of arms, when the battalion joined the regiment.[1][3][4][6]

In June 1918 the 62th Bersaglieri Regiment was deployed at Sasso Rosso on Monte Cornone during the Second Battle of the Piave River. During this battle the regiment's VI Cyclists Battalion suffered heavy losses. Consequently the battalion was disbanded on 24 June 1918 and its remaining personnel used to bring Arditi assault units back up to strength. In October 1918 the brigade participated in the Battle of Vittorio Veneto.[3][4][6]

On 8 June 1915 XLIX and L battalions, which had been formed by the regiment's depot in Bologna, were assigned, together with the LI Battalion, which had been formed by the depot of the 11th Bersaglieri Regiment in Naples, to the 13th Provisional Bersaglieri Regiment. That regiment was already disbanded 17 days later. On 24 September the three battalions were assigned to the 1st bis Bersaglieri Regiment, which was formed as replacement for the 1st Bersaglieri Regiment, which was deployed in Libya. On 5 January 1916 the 1st bis Bersaglieri Regiment was renamed 15th Bersaglieri Regiment.[4][7]

Organization

[edit]

As of 2024 the 6th Bersaglieri Regiment consists of:[2][8]

  • Regimental Command, in Trapani[2][8]
    • Logistic Support Company
    • 6th Bersaglieri Battalion "Palestro"
      • 1st Fusiliers Company
      • 2nd Fusiliers Company
      • 3rd Fusiliers Company
      • Maneuver Support Company

The regiment is equipped with Freccia wheeled infantry fighting vehicles. The Maneuver Support Company is equipped with Freccia mortar carries with 120mm mortars and Freccia IFVs with Spike LR anti-tank guided missiles.[2]

See also

[edit]
[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e "6° Reggimento Bersaglieri - Il Medagliere". Italian Army. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "6° Reggimento Bersaglieri". Italian Army. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i "6° Reggimento Bersaglieri". Italian Army. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j F. dell'Uomo, R. Puletti (1998). L'Esercito Italiano verso il 2000 - Vol. Primo - Tomo I. Rome: SME - Ufficio Storico. p. 419.
  5. ^ "Divisione Speciale Bersaglieri". Fronte del Piave. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  6. ^ a b "6° Reggimento Bersaglieri". Fronte del Piave. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  7. ^ "15° Reggimento Bersaglieri". Fronte del Piave. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  8. ^ a b "6° Reggimento Bersaglieri". Italian Defense Ministry. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=6th_Bersaglieri_Regiment&oldid=1232214921"