The Bersaglieri (pronounced [bersaʎˈːɛri]) are a corps of the Italian Army created by General Alessandro La Marmora in 1836 to serve in the Piedmontese Army, later to become the Royal Italian army. This article is about a military unit For alternative meanings see Corps (disambiguation. The Italian Army (Esercito Italiano is the ground defense force of the Military of Italy. Alessandro Ferrero La Marmora ( March 27, 1799 — June 7, 1855) was an Italian general who is best remembered for founding the The name "Bersaglieri" means "sharpshooters". They have always been a high-mobility infantry unit, and can still be recognized by the distinctive wide brimmed hat that they wear (only in dress uniform in modern times), decorated with capercaillie feathers. The Infantry is the oldest and most numerous of the Combat Arms in the Armed forces, and consists The Capercaillie ( Tetrao urogallus) also known as the Wood Grouse or more specifically Western Capercaillie is the largest member of the Grouse Feathers are one of the epidermal growths that form the distinctive outer covering or Plumage, on Birds They are considered the most complex integumentary structures The feathers are typically applied even to modern combat helmets.
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Origins and history
The relatively poor Kingdom of Savoy could not afford large numbers of cavalry, so a quick-moving infantry corps of marksmen was needed. Kingdom of Sardinia, also known as Piedmont-Sardinia or Sardinia-Piedmont, was the name given to the possessions of the House of Savoy in 1720 when the The Cavalry (from French cavalerie) is the second oldest of the Combat Arms, and as Soldiers or Warriors who fought mounted on These troops were trained to high physical and marksmanship standards. Like the French chasseurs who inspired their creation, a level of independence and initiative was encouraged so that they could operate in looser formations where direct command and control was not required. A Chasseur (a French term for "hunter" is the designation given to certain regiments of French light Infantry ( Chasseurs à pied They fired individually and carried 60 rounds instead of the standard 40 rounds of traditional line infantry. The first uniform was black with brimmed hats, called "vaira". A uniform is a set of standard Clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity These were intended to defend the head from sabre blows.
The first public appearance of the Bersaglieri was on the occasion of a military parade on July 1, 1836. "July 1st" redirects here For the Ayumi Hamasaki song see H (song. Year 1836 ( MDCCCXXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap The First Company marched through Turin with the rapid, high-stepping gait (130 paces/minute) still used by the Bersaglieri in World War II and later. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The modern Bersaglieri still run both on parade and even during barracks duty - on penalty of punishment if they do not. The new corps impressed King Carlo Alberto, who immediately had them integrated as part of the "Armata sarda" - the Piedmontese regular army. Biography He was born in Turin in 1798 to Charles Emmanuel of Savoy 6th Prince of Carignano and Albertina Maria Cristina of Saxony.
Throughout the nineteenth century, under La Marmora’s leadership, the Bersaglieri filled the role of skirmishers, screening the slow-moving line and column formations, but acting as special shock troops if required. Skirmishers are Infantry or Cavalry Soldiers stationed ahead or alongside of a larger body of friendly troops Shock troops or assault troops are Infantry formations and their supporting units intended to lead an attack They were originally intended to serve as mountain troops, as well; the climber Jean Antoine Carrel was a Bersagliere. The Alpini, meaning "the Alpines quot, are the elite Mountain warfare soldiers of the Italian Army. When the Alpini Corps were created in 1872 a strong rivalry arose between the two elite corps. The Alpini, meaning "the Alpines quot, are the elite Mountain warfare soldiers of the Italian Army.
Unified Italy
During the First War of Italian Independence (1848-1849) the Bersaglieri distinguished themselves by storming the bridge at Goito. Italian Unification ( Italian: il Risorgimento, or "The Resurgence" was the political and social movement that unified different states of the Italian Goito is a Comune of Lombardy, Italy, in the Province of Mantua, from which it is 11 miles NW on the road to Brescia. The most famous action of the Bersaglieri occurred on 20 September 1870, when they entered Rome through the Porta Pia, ending the temporal power of the Pope, and completing the unification of Italy. Events 451 - The Battle of Chalons takes place in North Eastern France. Year 1870 ( MDCCCLXX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2 Porta Pia is a gate in the Aurelian Walls of Rome. Italy. One of Pope Pius IV 's civic improvements to the city it is named after him The temporal power of the Popes is the political and governmental activity of the Popes of the Roman Catholic Church, as distinguished from their spiritual The Papal States, State(s of the Church or Pontifical States (in Italian Stato Ecclesiastico, Stato della Chiesa, Stati della Chiesa
The Bersaglieri were deployed abroad for the first time during the Crimean War, by order of Prime Minister Camillo Benso. The Crimean War, also known in Russia as the Eastern War (Восточная война Vostochnaya Vojna) (March 1854–February 1856 was fought Camillo Paolo Filippo Giulio Benso Conte di Cavour, Conte di Isolabella e Leri ( August 10 1810 &ndash June They were involved in the Battle of the Cernaia, but suffered more casualties due to a cholera epidemic. The Battle of the Chernaya River (Battle of Tchernaïa Сражение у Черной речки Сражение у реки Черной was a Battle by the Chernaya Cholera, sometimes known as Asiatic cholera or epidemic cholera, is an infectious Gastroenteritis caused by the Bacterium While in the Crimea the Bersaglieri acquired their undress headdress - a purple/red fez with a blue tassel in imitation of that worn by the French zouaves with whom they served. The fez ( Greek: Φέσι Turkish: fes plural fezzes or fezes) or Tarboosh طربوش, not to be confused with North Zouave was the title given to certain Infantry regiments in the French Army, normally serving in French North Africa between 1831 and 1962
When the Armata Sarda became the Regio Esercito (Royal Italian Army) in 1860, the number of Bersaglieri regiments was set at 12. The Bersaglieri served as the light infantry battalions of the brigades and divisions of the new army of united Italy. Army doctrine later in the century called for them to be held back as corps-level reserves.
World War I
During the First World War, the 12 regiments of Bersaglieri fought with distinction. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Of 210,000 members of Bersaglieri regiments 32,000 were killed and 50,000 wounded during the war. After the War, restructuring of the Italian Army reduced the number of Bersaglieri battalions to two per regiment. A new role was seen for the light infantry as part of Italy’s commitment to mobile warfare. Traditionally light infantry (or skirmishers) were soldiers whose job was to provide a Skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of Infantry, harassing Mobile Warfare is the correct English term for Mao Zedong 's main military methods
The post-war Bersaglieri were converted into bicycle troops to fight alongside cavalry in the Celeri (fast) divisions. Bicycle infantry are Infantry Soldiers who maneuver on the battlefield using Bicycles The term dates from the late 19th century when the " Safety Elite units with high morale and an aggressive spirit were seen as one way to break such tactical stalemates as the trench warfare of 1915-18. The Bersaglieri gave Italy highly trained formations suitable for service with both cavalry and tanks. When the armoured divisions were formed in 1939 the link between the Bersaglieri and mobile warfare continued. Each new armoured and motorised division was allocated one Bersaglieri regiment.
World War II
Italy’s Bersaglieri regiments were expanded to three battalions each during the Second World War. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including However, the Army resisted any temptation to dilute their quality, and recruits continued to be of above-average size and stamina. They endured intense physical training, just as their great-grandfathers had, as well as having to qualify as marksmen.
The Bersaglieri fought in southern France and Greece in 1940. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία The first Bersaglieri to see combat in North Africa was the 10th Bersaglieri Regiment. They arrived in Libya in early 1941. Libya ( ليبيا ar-Latn Lībiyā; Libyan vernacular: Lībya; Amazigh:) officially the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab The Regiment met disaster before reaching the front, when British tanks ambushed its truck convoys well inside what the regimental staff had been told was the secure rear area. The Italian "sharpshooters" exacted retribution on 8 April 1941 when the 'Ariete' Armoured Division's 8th Bersaglieri Regiment surrounded and captured 2,700 British, Indian and Australian troops fleeing from the fortress of Mechili [1]. The 8th Bersaglieri Regiment also played an important part in the defeat of British armour at El Gubi in November 1942. The 7th Bersaglieri Regiment also met with success when two battalions took 6,500 prisoners in the fierce fighting for Mersa Matruh on 28 June 1942[2]. During the fighting for Ruweisat Ridge the 9th Bersaglieri Regiment along with the "Trieste" Infantry Division showed great courage, capturing more than 1,400 Australian, New Zealand and Indian troops. "The German soldier has impressed the world, General Erwin Rommel wrote in a plaque dedicated to the Bersaglieri that fought at Mersa Matruh and Alamein . "However the Italian Bersaglieri soldier has impressed the German soldier [3] .
The Bersaglieri remained a force to be reckoned with even after the defeat at Alamein and, on 3 December 1942 a battalion pursued and forced the surrender of 300 British soldiers of the 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment. (However, the embarrased British reported that they had been in contact with 5th "Afrika" Fallschirmjager Regiment, supported by tanks and heavy armoured cars[4]). The Bersaglieri soldier proved its indomitable fighting spirit yet again, during the Battle of the Kasserine Pass and a battalion along with the Italian "Centauro" Armoured Division captured 3,500 American soldiers.
In all, six of the 12 regiments fought in North Africa, compiling an excellent combat record and in the Allied invasion of Sicily the 10th and 77th Bersaglieri Regiments and 35th, 73rd and 527th Bersaglieri Battalions managed to hold off the Anglo-American breakout from the beaches but were eventually overwhelmed by sheer weight of fire directed against them.
Bersaglieri today
While in the past the mobility of the Bersaglieri was helped by their training in running and by the aid of bicycles, the modern Corps are mostly mechanised. The bicycle, cycle, or bike is a pedal-driven, human-powered vehicle with two wheels attached to a frame, one behind
The modern Bersaglieri have served, as part of the 'Garibaldi' Mechanised Brigade, as peacekeepers in the Multinational Force in Lebanon, and in Yugoslav and Somali Civil Wars, and were also active in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Garibaldi redirects here for other meanings see Garibaldi (disambiguation. The Multinational Force in Lebanon (also MNF) was an international Peacekeeping force created in 1982 and sent to Lebanon to oversee the withdrawal of The Yugoslav Wars were a series of violent conflicts in the territory of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY that took place between 1991 and The Somali Civil War is an armed conflict in Somalia that started in 1988 The Iraq War, also known as the Second Gulf War, the Occupation of Iraq, or the War in Iraq, is an ongoing Military campaign Bersaglieri traditions are still stressed. The Bersaglieri collar patches are purple-red "flames". Enlisted troops still wear the red fez. Officers wear black berets with their ordinary uniforms, but the feathered "vaira" in ceremonial uniform. They also wear black gloves, while other Italian regiments wear white ones. Each Bersaglieri unit had a band called a "fanfara", who played their instruments at the run while on parade. Today only the Garibaldi Brigade and 7th Bersaglieri regiment retain a "fanfara".
Regiments today
1° Rgt. Bersaglieri, Garibaldi Brigade, in Cosenza (Calabria)
3° Rgt. Cosenza is a city in Italy, located at the confluence of the rivers Busento and Crathis. Calabria ( Latin: Brutium) is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of Bersaglieri, Ariete Brigade, in Milan (Lombardy)
6° Rgt. Milan (Milano Milan (listen) is one of the largest cities in Italy, located in the plains of Lombardy. Lombardy (Lombardia Latin: Langobardia, Western Lombard: Lumbardìa, Eastern Lombard: Lombardia) is one of the Bersaglieri, Aosta Brigade, in Trapani (Sicily)
7° Rgt. Trapani ( Tràpani in Sicilian) is a city on the west coast of Sicily in Italy. Sicily ( Italian and Sicilian: Sicilia) is an autonomous region of Italy. Bersaglieri, Pinerolo Brigade, in Bari (Apulia)
8° Rgt. Bari ( Barium in Latin, Bàrion or Vàrion in Greek, Bare in Neapolitan Apulia ( Italian: Puglia) is a region in southeastern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east the Ionian Sea Bersaglieri, Garibaldi Brigade, in Caserta (Campania)
11° Rgt. Caserta is the capital of the Province of Caserta in the Campania region of Italy. Campania is a region of Southern Italy in Europe. The region has a population of around 5 Bersaglieri, Ariete Brigade, in Orcenico Superiore (Friuli-Venezia Giulia)
External links
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