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48-666: The brigade supplies the headquarters and most units to the former Multinational Land Force , also known as the Italian-Hungarian-Slovenian Battlegroup . Component parts from the other two countries were the Slovenian 10th Motorized Battalion and the Hungarian 1st Light Infantry Battalion . The Julia was constituted on 15 October 1949 in the city of Cividale del Friuli . During the Cold War

96-780: A break in the continuity of the Alpine chain. The deep valley, the Vinschgau of the upper Adige, is one of the most remarkable features in the orography of the Alps. The little Reschen Lake , which forms the chief source of the Adige, is only 4 metres below the Pass, and 8 km from the Inn valley. Eastward of this pass, the main chain runs north-east to the Brenner Pass along the snowy crest of

144-805: A change in the main chain: the peaks and passes are lower, but as far as the Splugenpass, all the highest summits rise on the divide. From there to the St. Gotthard pass (2,106 m) the divide runs north-east, crossing Monte Leone (3,533 m), and Pizzo Rotondo (3,192 m). Near the Witenwasserenstock is the point where the basin of the Po, the Rhine and the Rhone meet, and the European Watershed joins

192-578: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Main chain of the Alps The main chain of the Alps , also called the Alpine divide is the central line of mountains that forms the drainage divide of the range. Main chains of mountain ranges are traditionally designated in this way, and generally include the highest peaks of a range. The Alps are something of an unusual case in that several significant groups of mountains are separated from

240-683: The Alpine Wall fortifications in the aforementioned valleys. As a Warsaw Pact attack through the Canal valley was considered to be the most likely scenario the Julia was by far the strongest brigade of the Italian Army with more than 10,000 men. In case the Julia would have failed to hold the Canal valley the 3rd Missile Brigade "Aquileia" with its MGM-52 Lance surface-to-surface missiles and M115 203 mm towed howitzers would have turned

288-657: The Alpini Battalion "Mondovì" respectively Alpini Battalion "L'Aquila" . The name "Mondovì" was transferred to the Alpini Battalion "Orobica" of the 2nd Alpini Regiment of the Alpine Brigade "Taurinense" , while the name "L'Aquila" was transferred to the Alpini (Recruits Training) Battalion "Julia", which became an active unit. As new training unit the Alpini (Recruits Training) Battalion "Vicenza"

336-650: The Cavalry Brigade "Pozzuolo del Friuli" . As of 4 October 2022 the brigade is organized as follows: The Alpini regiments are equipped with Bv 206S tracked all-terrain carriers and Lince light multirole vehicles. The maneuver support companies of the Alpini regiments are equipped with 120 mm mortars and Spike anti-tank guided missile systems. The cavalry regiment is equipped with Centauro tank destroyers and VTLM Lince vehicles. The brigade's artillery regiment fields 18x FH-70 towed howitzers and an unknown number of M56 105 mm pack howitzers in

384-679: The Col de Tenda the direction is first roughly west, then north-west to the Rocca dei Tre Vescovi (2,840 m), just south of the Enciastraia (2,955 m), several peaks of about 3,000 metres rising on the watershed , though the highest of all, the Punta dell'Argentera (3,297 m) stands a little way to its north. From the Rocher des Trois Eveques the drainage divide runs due north for a long distance, though of

432-791: The Drava valley in Carinthia the alpine brigades would have been the first front line units of the Italian Army. The Cadore would have defended the Piave valley , the Tridentina the Puster valley , while the Orobica had a special mission and the Taurinense would remain in reserve. In this scenario the Julia was expected to be the first Italian unit to encounter Warsaw Pact forces and to take

480-905: The Eastern Alps the longest glacier was the Pasterze Glacier ( 8.4 km or 5 + 1 ⁄ 4  mi in 1911), which is not near the true main watershed, though it clings to the slope of the Grossglockner (3,798 m) in the Hohe Tauern range east of the Dreiherrenspitze. But two other long glaciers in the Eastern Alps (the Hintereis , and the Gepatsch ) are both in the Ötztal Alps, and so are close to

528-794: The High Tauern range, crossing the Grossvenediger (3,666 m), passing just north of Austria's highest peak (the Grossglockner ), traversing Ankogel (3,252 m), before curving northern across the Lower Tauern , traversing its highest peak, Hochgolling (2,863 m) in the Schladming Tauern and then continuing on the same eastward path up to the Schober Pass in Styria . The drainage divide further runs eastwards through

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576-704: The Northern Limestone Alps , ending at " Vienna Gate", the steep slopes of the Leopoldsberg (425 m) high above the Danube water gap and the Vienna Basin . Starting from the Bocchetta di Altare or di Colle di Cadibona (west of Savona ), the main chain extends first south-west, then north-west to the Col de Tenda , though nowhere rising much beyond the zone of coniferous trees. Beyond

624-862: The Plöcken Pass , as a breakthrough there would have allowed enemy forces to march through the But valley into the rear of the other Julia units. The Tolmezzo battalion was to be supported by the Udine artillery group. Additionally the Val Tagliamento battalion, the biggest battalion of the Italian Army, based in Tolmezzo near the Southern end of the Canal Valley fielded 16 companies and had an organic strength of over 2,500 men, which were tasked to man

672-669: The Pointe de Charbonnel (3,760 m), stands a little to the west. Once more the chain bends to the north-west, rising in several lofty peaks (the highest is the Aiguille de la Grande Sassière , 3,751 m), before attaining the considerable depression of the Little St Bernard Pass . The divide then briefly turns north to the Col de la Soigne , and then north-east along the crest of the Mont Blanc chain, which culminates in

720-703: The Rhine valley. Piz Bernina (4,049 metres) is the highest peak of the Eastern Alps while the highest peak of the Western Alps is Mont Blanc (4,810.45 metres). From the Maloja Pass (1,815 m) the main watershed dips to the south-east for a short distance, and then runs eastwards and nearly over the highest summit of the Bernina Range , Piz Bernina (4,049 m), to the Bernina Pass . From here

768-990: The direct fire role. The personnel of the brigade's units wears the following gorget patches: The military band of the Julia Brigade was formed on 1 October 1967 during the procession of the change of the Brigade Commander. It made its debut in Venzone at the "Feruglio" barracks. The nucleus of the band are musicians coming from the Alpine Regiments, all of which have experience in civilian city bands. It currently has 42 musicians, located in Udine. The repertoire consists of pieces by Gioacchino Rossini , Giacomo Puccini , Giuseppe Verdi , Glenn Miller , and George Gershwin . Its primary activity consists of participation in ceremonial ceremonies and events, concerts in various cities of Italy and abroad, and in

816-761: The Ötztal , the highest point being the Weißkugel (3,739 m), then crossing the Timmelsjoch (2,474 m) and rising again in Stubai Alps Both the highest summits of the Ötztal and the Stubai, the Wildspitze (3,774 m) and the Zuckerhütl (3,505 m), stand a little to the north. The Brenner (1,370 m) is the lowest of all the great road passes across the core part of the main chain and has always been

864-593: The 1975 reform the 4th Alpine Army Corps was responsible to defend the Italian border along the main chain of the alps from the Swiss - Austrian -Italian border tripoint in the west to the Italian- Yugoslavian border in the east. In case of war with Yugoslavia the 4th Alpine Army Corps would remain static in its position guarding the left flank of the 5th Army Corps , which would meet the enemy forces in

912-582: The Alpine divide here, heading north, while the divide continues east to the Maloja Pass (1,815 m). The main chain has more glaciers and eternal snow than the independent or external ranges . The longest of these were both 14.9 kilometres ( 9 + 1 ⁄ 4 miles) a century ago, the Mer de Glace at Chamonix (now 7.6 km or 4 + 3 ⁄ 4  mi) and the Gorner Glacier at Zermatt (now 12.5 km or 7 + 3 ⁄ 4  mi). In

960-630: The Alpine divide. From the St. Gotthard to the Maloja the watershed between the basins of the Rhine and Po runs in a generally easterly direction. It goes over Passo del Lucomagno (1,915 m), across Scopi (3,200 m), Piz Medel (3,210 m) and Piz Terri (3,149 m), where it turns towards the south to the Rheinwaldhorn (3,402 m). Here the divide veers back east over the Vogelberg (3,220 m) to

1008-695: The Anti-tank Company was disbanded and the Command and Signal Unit was merged with the Engineer Company into the Command and Tactical Supports Unit. The new composition was: With the suppression of the Alpine Brigade "Cadore" on 10 January 1997, the two remaining regiments of that brigade passed to the Julia: With the suppression of the Alpine Brigade "Tridentina" on 1 July 2002, the sole remaining regiment of that brigade passed to

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1056-487: The Canal valley into a nuclear wasteland. This mission was taken over in 1985 by the 27th Self-propelled Heavy Artillery Group " Marche ", which fielded M110 203 mm self-propelled howitzers and had its W33 nuclear shells stored at the "San Bernardo" ammunition depot in Reana del Rojale . The Marche fielded two firing batteries with 4 artillery systems per battery and had 140 nuclear artillery shells to fulfil its task. In

1104-400: The Gemona battalion being supported by the Belluno artillery group in Pontebba and the Cividale battalion supported by the Conegliano artillery group in Udine. The Gemona was to block the Canal Valley right at the border, while the Cividale was tasked to defend the Naßfeld Pass on the Gemona's left flank. Further West the Tolmezzo battalion was stationed in Paluzza and tasked with defending

1152-430: The Julia: Furthermore, in 2002 the Julia received the [REDACTED] 2nd Alpine Engineer Regiment [REDACTED] Sapper Battalion " Iseo " in Trento from the Alpine Troops Command. The brigade is based in the eastern half of northern Italy and part of the Alpine Troops Command . The headquarter is in the city of Udine . In 2013 the brigade received the reconnaissance Regiment "Piemonte Cavalleria" (2nd) from

1200-409: The Mountain Artillery Group "Susa" of the Alpine Brigade "Taurinense". The Mountain Artillery Group "Conegliano" moved to Udine, while the brigade headquarters and the signal company were merged to form the Command and Signal Unit "Julia", and the Services Grouping "Julia" was reorganized as a logistic battalion. An anti-tank company was raised, while the Light Aviation Unit "Julia" was disbanded. After

1248-435: The San Bernardino Pass (2,067 m), then over the Pizzo Tambo (3,279 m), the Splugenpass (2,114 m) and Piz Timun (3,209 m). From here the divide heads south again to Pizzo Stella (3,163 m) and then east over Pizz Gallagiun (3,107 m), to where, near the Lunghin pass , it reaches the main triple divide of the Alps: where water can flow to the Atlantic, the Mediterranean or the Black Sea. The main European watershed leaves

1296-417: The Swiss canton of Ticino which lies south of the range in the Po river basin. For only a small portion of its total distance does the Alpine divide form a part of the main European watershed , in the central section where the watershed is between the Po and the Rhine. The Alps are generally divided into Eastern Alps and Western Alps , cut along a line between Lake Como and Lake Constance , following

1344-466: The brigade was composed as follows: In the following years the brigade was augmented with further units: On 26 October 1962 the Alpini Battalion "Mondovì" of the Alpine Brigade "Taurinense" moved to Paluzza in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region to augment the Julia, followed by the Taurinense's Mountain Artillery Group "Pinerolo" on 1 December 1963, which moved to Tolmezzo . With this the Julia reached its peak strength in men, units and equipment. For

1392-425: The brigade was the Italian Army's biggest brigade with around 10,000 men and was tasked to defend the Plöcken and Naßfeld passes with Austria in case Warsaw Pact forces would attack through neutral Austria. The brigade covered the left flank of the Italian 5th Army Corps , which was based along the Italian- Yugoslavian border and tasked to prevent an enemy breakthrough into the Northern Italian plain . Initially

1440-427: The brunt of the enemy strength as the brigade was based in the middle of the assumed line of advance of enemy forces. Marching through the Austrian Drava valley Eastern forces were expected to turn left at Villach and try to cross the Alps through the Canal valley , which was garrisoned by the Julia's Gemona battalion at the border in Tarvisio and the Cividale battalion further down the valley in Chiusaforte , with

1488-478: The chief means of communication between Germany and Italy. For some way beyond it, the watershed runs eastwards over the highest crest of the Zillertal Alps , which attains 3,510 metres in the Hochfeiler . But, a little farther, at the Dreiherrnspitze (3,499 m), the chain splits: the main watershed between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean heads south, along the Rieserferner Group to the Dolomites , and Julian Alps . The main alpine divide head east, traversing

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1536-470: The core of the new battlegroup, and also provided its headquarters in Udine ; the Slovenian 10th Motorized Battalion and the 1st Light Infantry Battalion (Hungary) , Hungarian Ground Forces moved in with them on 5 September 2001. On 10 January 2002, the MLF was formally established, after which training exercises began. This article about the European Union is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This European military article

1584-416: The east to the Simplon Pass . It is in the portion of the watershed between the Grande St Bernard Pass and the Simplon that the main chain maintains a greater average height than in any other part. But, though it rises in a number of lofty peaks, such as the Mont Vélan (3,727 m), the Matterhorn (4,478 m), the Lyskamm (4,533 m), the Nord End of Monte Rosa (4,575 m), and the Weissmies (4,023 m), many of

1632-451: The enemy forces would come through Yugoslavia, the Julia would cover the mountainous left flank of the 5th Army Corps, which with its four armoured and five mechanized brigades would try to wear down the enemy before it could break out into the North Italian Padan plain . The other alpine brigades would remain static. In the more likely case the Soviet and Hungarian divisions would invade Austria and march through Southern Styria and through

1680-465: The highest points of the region, such as the Grand Combin (4,314 m), the Dent Blanche (4,357 m), the Weisshorn (4,505 m), the true summit or Dufourspitze (4,634 m) of Monte Rosa itself, and the Dom (4,545 m), all rise on its northern slope and not on the main chain. On the other hand, the chain between the Grande St Bernard and the Simplon sinks at barely half a dozen points below a level of 3,000 metres. The Simplon Pass (1.994 m) corresponds to

1728-419: The late 1980s the W33 nuclear artillery shells were replaced with fewer but more powerful W79 nuclear artillery shells . On 26 September 1992 the Val Tagliamento battalion was disbanded. In August 1992 the battalions took the names of historical Alpini regiments to carry on the regimental traditions. Each regiment consisted of one of the brigade's Alpini battalions and an additional support company. Furthermore,

1776-404: The main chain by sizable distances. Among these groups are the Dauphine Alps , the Eastern and Western Graians , the entire Bernese Alps , the Tödi , Albula and Silvretta groups, the Ortler and Adamello ranges, and the Dolomites of Veneto and South Tyrol , as well as the lower Alps of Vorarlberg , Bavaria, and Salzburg . The Alpine Divide is defined for much of its distance by

1824-483: The main chain is less well defined, it rises to Piz Paradisin (3,302 m), beyond which it runs slightly north-east, east of the Italian resort of Livigno , past Fraele Pass (1,952 m) and the source of the Adda , traverses Piz Murtarol (3,180 m) and Monte Forcola , where is the tripoint between the Danube, Po and Adige basins, then falls to the Ofen Pass (2,149 m), soon heads north and rises once more in Piz Sesvenna (3,204 m). The Reschen Pass (1,504 m) marks

1872-410: The next 30 years the Julia remained the biggest brigade of the Italian Army. At the start of 1964 the brigade was composed as follows: The Alpini Paratroopers Platoon merged with the paratrooper platoons of the other four alpine brigades on 1 April 1964 to form the Alpini Paratroopers Company in Bolzano under direct command of the 4th Army Corps . With 1975 Italian Army reform the regimental level

1920-488: The numerous international military tattoos /festivals. Multinational Land Force The Multinational Land Force (MLF) , also known as the Italian–Hungarian–Slovenian Battlegroup was an EU Battlegroup led by Italy , in which Hungary and Slovenia also participate. The MLF originated in the late 1990s, when Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi took the initiative to form a Trilateral Brigade with Slovenia and Hungary. The Italian Alpine Brigade Julia formed

1968-458: The peak of Mont Blanc (4,810 m), the highest in the Alps. A number of high peaks line the divide, notably the Grandes Jorasses (4,208 m) before it reaches Mont Dolent (3,823 m), where France, Italy and Switzerland meet. From there, after a short dip to the south-east, the chain takes, near the Great St. Bernard Pass , a generally eastern direction that it maintains until it reaches Monte Rosa , where it bends northwards, making one small dip to

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2016-433: The plains of Friuli-Venezia Giulia . The only brigade which would have seen combat in such a case would have been the Julia. In case of a war with the Warsaw Pact the 4th Alpine Army Corps had two war planes: one in the case the Soviet Southern Group of Forces and Hungarian Army would march through Yugoslavia and the other in case the Warsaw Pact would violate the Austrian neutrality and march through Austria. In case

2064-448: The reform the brigade's four Alpini battalions had an authorized strength of 950 men, with the exception of the "Val Tagliamento" battalion, which was tasked to man fortifications in the upper Canal valley. The "Val Tagliamento" 16 Alpini companies for an organic strength of almost 2,500 men. The brigade's three artillery groups had an authorized strength of 610 men and fielded 18 M56 105mm pack howitzers each. The new composition was: After

2112-416: The two loftiest peaks of this region one, the Aiguille de Chambeyron (3,412 m), is just to the west, and the other, the Monviso (3,841 m), is just to the east of the divide. From the head of the Val Pellice the main chain runs north-west and diminishes much in average height until it reaches the Mont Thabor (3,178 m), which forms the apex of a salient angle which the main chain here presents towards

2160-436: The watershed between the drainage basin of the Po in Italy on one side, with the other side of the divide being formed by the Rhone , the Rhine and the Danube . Further east, the watershed is between the Adige and the Danube , before heading into Austria and draining on both sides into the Danube. For much of its distance the watershed lies on or close to the Italian border, although there are numerous deviations, notably,

2208-402: The west. From here the divide extends eastwards, culminating in the Aiguille de Scolette (3,505 m), but makes a great curve to the north-west and back to the south-east before rising in the Rocciamelone (3,509 m). From there the direction taken is north as far as the eastern summit (3,619 m) of the Levanna , the divide rising in a series of snowy peaks, though the loftiest point of the region,

2256-486: Was abolished and battalions came under direct command of multi-arms brigades. At the same time the army reduced and realigned its forces and therefore the Julia saw major changes to its composition: the 8th Alpini Regiment, 3rd Mountain Artillery Regiment, and 11th Alpini Fortification Grouping were disbanded. The Alpini Battalion "Cividale" moved to Tarvisio , while the Alpini Battalion "Tolmezzo" and Alpini Battalion "Gemona" were disbanded with their names transferred to

2304-437: Was raised in Tolmezzo, which moved subsequently to Codroipo . The Alpini Battalion "Val Tagliamento" moved to Tolmezzo and received the 269th Company and five reserve companies from the disbanded Alpini Battalion "Val Fella". The Mountain Artillery Group "Belluno" was disbanded and its name transferred to the Mountain Artillery Group "Osoppo", while the Mountain Artillery Group "Pinerolo" was disbanded and its name transferred to

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