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The Bersaglieri are a corps of the Italian army created by General Alessandro Lamarmora in 1836 to serve in the Piedmontese Army, later to become the Royal Italian army. The name "Bersaglieri" means " sharp shooters". They have always been a high-mobility infantry unit, and can be still recognized from the distinctive wide brimmed hat that they wear, decorated with capercaillie feathers.

Origins and history

The relatively poor Savoy kingdom could not afford large numbers of cavalry, so a quick moving infantry corps of marksmen was needed. 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. 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". 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. The First Company marched through Turin with the rapid, high-stepping gait (130 paces/minute) still used by the Bersaglieri in World War Two and later. The modern Bersaglieri still run both on parade and even during barracks duty - on penalty of punishment if they do not do so. The new corps impressed King Carlo Alberto, who immediately had them integrated as part of the "Armata Sarda" - the Piedmontese regular army.

Throughout the 19th 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. They were originally intended to serve as mountain troops as well; the climber Jean Antoine Carrel was a Bersagliere. When the Alpini Corps were created in 1872 a strong rivalry arose between the two elite corps.

Unified Italy

During the First War of Italian Independence (1848-1849) the Bersaglieri distinguished themselves by storming a bridge at Goito. The most famous action of the Bersaglieri was on 20 September 1870, when they entered Rome through Porta Pia, ending the temporal power of the Pope, and completing the unification of Italy.

The Bersaglieri were deployed abroad for the first time in the Crimean War, by order of Prime Minister Camillo Benso. They were involved in the Battle of the Cernaia, but suffered more casualties due to a cholera epidemic. While in the Crimea the Bersaglieri acquired their undress headdress - a purple/red fez with a blue tassel in immitation of that worn by the French Zouaves with whom they served.

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 One

During the First World War, the 12 regiments of Bersaglieri fought with distinction. 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.

The post-war Bersaglieri were converted into bicycle troops to fight alongside cavalry in the Celeri (fast) divisions. 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 Two

Italy’s Bersaglieri regiments were expanded to three battalions each during the Second World War. However 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. The first Bersaglieri to see combat in North Africa was the 10th Bersaglieri Regiment. They arrived in Libya in early 1941. 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.

In all, six of the 12 regiments fought in North Africa, compiling an excellent combat record. More than once, Bersaglieri units fought to the last man to hold a position.

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 modern Bersaglieri have served, as part of the 'Garibaldi' Mechanised Brigade, as peacekeepers in the Yugoslav and Somali Civil Wars. They are currently also deployed in Iraq. Bersaglieri traditions are still stressed in what is now the longest established corps in the Italian Army (the Carabinieri are now considered as a separate force from the regular Army). The Bersaglieri collar patches are purple-red "flames". Enlisted troops still wear the red fez. Officers wear black berets with their ordinary unforms, but the feathered "vaira:" in ceremonial uniform. They also wear black gloves, while other Italian regiments wears white ones. Each Bersaglieri unit has a band called a "fanfara", who play their instruments at the run while on parade.

Regiments today

Military of Italy

Bersaglieri | Bersaglieri | Bersaglieri

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Bersaglieri".

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