14th Alpini Regiment
14° Reggimento Alpini
Coat of Arms of the 14th Alpini Regiment
Active5 Feb. 1993 – 14 Oct. 2005[1]
4 October 2022 -
CountryItaly
BranchItalian Army
TypeAlpini
RoleMountain Infantry
Size1 Battalion
"Tolmezzo" Battalion
Part ofAlpine Brigade "Julia"
1993 - 2005
Garrison/HQVenzone (UD)
Motto(s)"O là o rompi"[1]
Anniversaries24 May 1915 - Battle of Pal Piccolo, Pal Grande, and Freikofel[1]
Decorations
1x Military Order of Italy
2x Gold Medals of Military Valor
3x Silver Medals of Military Valor
2x Silver Medals of Army Valor
1x Silver Cross of Army Merit[1]
Insignia
Alpini gorget patches

The 14th Alpini Regiment (Italian: 14° Reggimento Alpini) is an active unit of the Italian Army's mountain infantry speciality, the Alpini, which distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II.

History

The regiment was created on 5 February 1993 by elevating the existing Alpini Battalion "Tolmezzo" to regiment. Between 1 October 1909 and 30 September 1975 the battalion was one of the battalions of the 8th Alpini Regiment. After the 8th Alpini Regiment was disbanded during the 1975 Italian Army reform the "Tolmezzo" battalion, based in Paluzza, became one of the battalions of the Alpine Brigade "Julia". As the traditions and flag of the 8th Alpini Regiment were assigned to the "Gemona" battalion, the Tolmezzo was granted a new war flag on 12 November 1976 by decree 846 of the President of the Italian Republic Giovanni Leone.[2] The two Gold Medals of Military Valor awarded to the 8th Alpini Regiment, were duplicated for the new flag of the Tolmezzo, while the three Silver Medals of Military Valor awarded to the Tolmezzo were transferred from the flag of the 8th Alpini to the Tolmezzo's flag. These were awarded for its conduct at the battles of Assaba on 20–23 March 1913, and Ettangi on 18 June 1913 in Libya, and for its conduct at the Battle of Pal Piccolo, Pal Grande, and Freikofel on 24 May 1915 on the Italian Front.

For its conduct and work after the 1976 Friuli earthquake the Tolmezzo was awarded a Silver Medal of Army Valor, which was affixed to the battalion's war flag and added to the battalion's coat of arms.[3] The battalion's 12th Company in Moggio Udinese was hit hard by the earthquake and suffered severe casualties, nonetheless the company immediately commenced rescue efforts in the severely affected Moggio Udinese. For its commitment to save lives the 12th Company was one of only three companies, which were awarded a Silver Medal of Army Valor after the Friuli earthquake.[4]

In 1993 the regiment participated in the United Nations Operation in Mozambique for which it was awarded a Silver Cross of Army Merit.[1] In 2005 the army downsized its forces and the 14th Alpini Regiment was disbanded on 14 October 2005, and the next day the Alpini Battalion "Gemona" of the 8th Alpini Regiment was renamed Alpini Battalion "Tolmezzo".

When the regiment was disbanded it had the following structure:

  • Regimental Command
    • Command and Logistic Support Company
    • Alpini Battalion "Tolmezzo"
      • 6th Alpini Company "La bella"
      • 12th Alpini Company "La terribile"
      • 72nd Alpini Company "La cazzuta"
      • 114th Mortar Company "La valanga"
      • 212th Anti-Tank Company "Val Tagliamento" (from 2001 onwards)

Reactivation

On 4 October 2022 the flag and traditions of the 14th Alpini Regiment were given to the Command and Tactical Supports Unit "Julia" of the Alpine Brigade "Julia".[5]

Organization

As of 2023 the unit is organized as follows:

  • 14th Alpini Command and Tactical Supports Unit, in Udine
    • Command Company
    • Signal Company

Sources

  • Franco dell'Uomo, Rodolfo Puletti: "L'Esercito Italiano verso il 2000 - Volume Primo - Tomo I", Rome 1998, Stato Maggiore dell'Esercito - Ufficio Storico, page: 504

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Le Feste dei Reparti - Maggio". Italian Army. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  2. ↑ "Decreto del Presidente della Repubblica 12 novembre 1976, n. 846". Quirinale - Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  3. ↑ "Battaglione Alpini "Tolmezzo"". Quirinale - Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  4. ↑ "12° Compagnia del Battaglione Alpini "Tolmezzo"". Quirinale - Presidenza della Repubblica. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  5. ↑ "14° Reparto Comando e Supporti Tattici Alpini". Italian Army. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
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