The 4th Alpini Paratroopers Regiment is a Ranger-type special forcesregiment of the Italian Army, specializing in mountain combat. The regiment is one of four regiments of the Army Special Forces Command. The regiment is unit of the Italian Army's mountain infantry speciality, the Alpini, which distinguished itself in combat during World War I and World War II. The 4th Alpini Regiment is one of the most decorated units of the Italian Army, although its two Gold Medals of Military Valour were awarded to the regiment's currently inactive Alpini Battalion "Aosta", respectively the currently active Skiers Battalion "Monte Cervino".
History
Formation
The 4th Alpini Regiment was formed on 1 November 1882. It consisted of the three battalions: "Val Pellice", "Val Chisone" and "Val Brenta", named after the valleys from which the battalion's soldiers were recruited. In 1886 the battalions were renamed, taking their new names from the location of their main logistic depot: "Pinerolo", "Aosta" and "Ivrea". In 1888 the "Pinerolo" was subordinated to the 3rd Alpini Regiment and in exchange the "Susa 2°" battalion was transferred from the 3rd to the 4th Alpini. In 1908 the "Susa" returned to the 3rd Alpini and in the city of Intra the "Pallanza" battalion was raised as substitute, with existing companies from other Alpini battalions. In 1909 the "Pallanza" was renamed "Intra" battalion. Thus the regiment's structure in 1910 was:
"Ivrea" with the Alpini companies: 38, 39, 40
"Aosta" with the Alpini companies: 41, 42, 43
"Intra" with the Alpini companies: 7, 24, 37
World War I
During World War I the regiment consisted of 10 battalions and saw heavy fighting in the Alps against Austria'sKaiserjäger and Germany'sAlpenkorps. The battalions of the regiment in these days were :
The "Aosta" Battalion distinguished itself in 1917 during heavy combat on Monte Vodice and in 1918 on Monte Solarolo. During the war a total of 31,000 men served in the 4th Alpini. 189 Officers and 4,704 soldiers died during combat and 455 Officers and 10,923 soldiers were wounded.
After World War II the 4th Alpini Regiment was reformed in 1952 with the battalions "Aosta", "Saluzzo" and "Susa". In 1953 the "Mondovì" battalion was reactivated as fourth battalion of the regiment. The 4th Alpini was the basis for the newly founded Alpine Brigade "Taurinense". In 1962 the "Mondovì" was transferred to the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia to augment the Alpine Brigade "Julia" and in 1963 the "Aosta" battalion was transferred to the Alpine Military School in Aosta. Four years later it was again subordinated to 4th Alpini Regiment. With the Italian Army 1975 reform the battalions came under the direct command of the Taurinense. The "Aosta" battalion was assigned to the Alpine Military School and would have joined the Taurinense only in case of war. The "Aosta" received the regimental colours of the dissolved 4th Alpini Regiment and carried on its tradition and flag. In the early stages of the Cold War the 4th Alpini Regiment consisted of the following units:
On 25 September 2004, the 4th Alpini Regiment was reformed as 4th Alpini Paratroopers) Regiment in the city of Bolzano. The existing Alpini Paratroopers Battalion "Monte Cervino" entered the regiment. Today the 4th Regiment is one of four special forces regiments of the Italian Army. The Alpini Paratroopers have recently served in Iraq and one company is constantly deployed in Afghanistan. In January 2011 the regiment moved to its new base in Verona and in 2013 joined the newly formed Army Special Forces Command. The regiment's structure is as follows:
* 1x for the conquest of the saddle between Monte Nero and Monte Rosso by the "Intra" and "Val d'Orco" battalions, 19–21 July 1915
* 1x for the conquest and defense of the Austrian positions on Alpe di Cosmagnon by the "Aosta" and "Val Toce" battalions, 10 September and 9–12 October 1916
* 1x for the conquest of Monte Vodice by the "Aosta" and "Levanna" battalions, 18–21 May 1917
* 1x for the service of the "Monte Cervino" battalion during the battles of Monte Vodice, 26–30 May 1917, Monte Melette, 17–26 November 1917 and Monte Fior, 4 December 1917
* 1x for operations of the "Levanna" and "Val Toce" battalions on Monte Solarolo, 24–28 October 1918
* 1x for the defense of the Mecan Pass by the "Intra" battalion during the Second Italo-Abyssinian War, 31 March 1936
* 1x for the service of the "Monte Cervino" battalion during the Greco-Italian War, 10 January to 23 April 1941
