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37-685: On 1 January 1883, the Royal Italian Army formed the 4th Engineer Regiment in Piacenza . The 1st Engineer Regiment and 2nd Engineer Regiment transferred both four Pontieri companies and one train company to the new regiment. The 2nd Engineer Regiment also transferred its 14th Sappers Company ( Lagunari ), which was based in Venice and tasked with operating in the Venetian Lagoon , Marano Lagoon , and Grado Lagoon . Upon entering

74-667: A 1,422 yd (1,300 m) long Soviet pontoon bridge over the Dnipro river at Dnipro under enemy fire. For this and its conduct during the Italian campaign in the Soviet Union the I Pontieri Battalion was awarded a Bronze Medal of Military Valor , which was affixed to the regiment's flag and added to the regiment's coat of arms. In the evening of 8 September 1943, the Armistice of Cassibile , which ended hostilities between

111-595: A command, command platoon, a pontieri battalion with one training company and one operations company, a Ferrovieri battalion with two dismountable metal bridges companies based in Castel Maggiore , a railway operations company based in Turin , and a park company. The Railway Operations Company operated the Chivasso–Ivrea–Aosta railway . In 1950, the regiment began a tradition to erect the temporary bridge for

148-560: A decree creating the Army of the Two Sicilies . This newly created army's first task was to defend its territorial gains against Legitimists in southern Italy, who remained loyal to Francis II of the Two Sicilies . The Army of the Two Sicilies also waged what many modern historians now consider a civil war against outlaws and Bourbonist guerrillas , such as the famous Michelina Di Cesare , and against other Italian states' armies during

185-810: A depot. On 1 March 1926, the regiment was renamed Pontieri and Lagunari Regiment and, on 31 December of the same year, consisted of a command, the I and III Pontieri battalions in Piacenza, the II Pontieri battalion in Verona, the IV Pontieri battalion in Rome, the V Lagunari battalion in Venice, and depot. On 15 May 1933, the regiment was split into the 1st Pontieri Regiment (Light Bridges) and 2nd Pontieri Regiment (Heavy Bridges). The 1st Pontieri Regiment, which

222-730: A heavy bridges company, while the II Battalion consisted of a light bridges company and a heavy bridges company. During World War II the regiment's depot in Piacenza mobilized the following units: In summer 1941, the I Pontieri Battalion was assigned to the Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia , with which the battalion deployed to the Eastern Front in Ukraine . In September 1941, the battalion repaired

259-546: A staff, three Pontieri brigades (with eight companies), a Ferrovieri brigade (with four companies), a Lagunari brigade (with two companies), three train companies, and a depot . On 1 July 1895, the Ferrovieri brigade in Turin became an autonomous unit, which, on 9 August 1910, was used to form the 6th Engineer Regiment (Ferrovieri) . During the same year engineer units' brigades were renamed battalions and, on 1 November 1895,

296-823: A three-year campaign was fought against the Austro-Hungarian Kaiserjäger and the German Alpenkorps . In World War II , the Alpini fought alongside Axis forces in the Eastern Front as well as the Balkans Campaigns . The Regio Esercito dates from the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy , following the unification of Italy in 1861 after most of the Papal States were seized. On 4 May 1861, Manfredo Fanti signed

333-589: The Interwar period , the army was initially focused on border security in the Alps and on the Italian-Yugoslav border . It supported Benito Mussolini 's Fascist regime because of its expansionist ideology and reversal of previous governments' defense cuts. In the 1930s, the army participated in the final subjugation of Libya , participated in the invasion of Ethiopia , provided troops and materials for

370-557: The Italian Front . In total the regiment formed six Pontieri battalion commands and 23 Pontieri companies, six Lagunari companies, two siege park companies, a river guides company, a hydraulic operators company, four bridge sections for cavalry, and three territorial militia companies. The regiment's units fought in eleven battles on the Isonzo river . After the disastrous Battle of Caporetto Pontieri units built pontoon bridges over

407-668: The Kingdom of Italy and the Anglo-American Allies , was announced by General Dwight D. Eisenhower on Radio Algiers and by Marshal Pietro Badoglio on Italian radio . Germany reacted by invading Italy and the 2nd Pontieri Regiment was disbanded soon thereafter by German forces. On 15 December 1949, the 2nd Pontieri Engineer Regiment was reformed in Piacenza and assigned to the Tuscan-Emilian Military Region. The reformed regiment consisted of

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444-1079: The Macedonian Front as part of the Allied Army of the Orient . Some Italian divisions were also sent to the Western Front . In 1918, Italian troops saw intense combat during the German spring offensive. Italian soldiers also saw action in campaigns against the Ottoman Empire in Africa and the Middle East such as in the Senussi campaign . Overall, the Royal Italian Army suffered 460,000 to 709,000 killed and 947,000 to 1,050,000 wounded during World War I. During

481-734: The Torre and Tagliamento rivers to allow the Italian 3rd Army to escape the Austro-Hungarian Army 's advance. During the First Battle of the Piave River and Second Battle of the Piave River , which were fought along the lower Piave river, the regiment's Pontieri and Lagunari units played a decisive role. In October and November 1918, during the decisive Battle of Vittorio Veneto the regiment's Pontieri companies built

518-693: The 1st Pontieri Regiment was returned to the Shrine of the Flags in the Vittoriano in Rome for safekkeping. On 1 December 1997, the 2nd Pontieri Engineer Regiment was transferred from the Tuscan-Emilian Military Region to the army's Engineer Grouping, which on 10 September 2010, was reorganized as Engineer Command . After the August 2016 earthquake in Central Italy the regiment's companies deployed to

555-573: The 4th Engineer Regiment was renamed 4th Engineer Regiment (Pontieri). Also during the same year the regiment provided five officers and 15 enlisted for units deployed to Eritrea for the First Italo-Ethiopian War . In 1911-12, the regiment provided three officers and 793 enlisted for units deployed for the Italo-Turkish War . During World War I battalions and companies formed by the regiment fought in all sectors of

592-637: The 9th, 15th, 20th, and 23rd Lagunari companies, and the II Lagunari Battalion with the 10th, 21st, 22nd, and 24th Lagunari companies in Ferrara. In October 1918, the regiment formed the 1st Train Company and the same month the regiment's companies were heavily engaged in the Piave river delta during the decisive Battle of Vittorio Veneto . In November 1918, the regiment moved to Venice, where it

629-602: The Corps of Volunteer Troops ( Corpo Truppe Volontarie ) to fight in the Spanish Civil War , and participated in the Italian invasion of Albania . The Regio Esercito (Royal Army) was one of the largest ground forces in World War II, during which it was one of the pioneers of the use of paratroopers . Many Italian divisions were reinforced by a MVSN Gruppo di Assalto of two battalions due to

666-611: The II Pontieri Battalion returned to the 2nd Pontieri Engineer Regiment. On 6 September 1974, the I Pontieri Battalion in Piacenza and the II Pontieri Battalion in Legnano switched numbers, and on the same day the new II Pontieri Battalion in Piacenza was reduced to a reserve unit. During the 1975 army reform the regiment was assigned to the Engineering Inspectorate and its organization at the time

703-523: The IV Corps captured Rome , which had remained under Papal control up until then. On 8 February 1885, a corps of fewer than 1,000 soldiers landed at Massaua , Eritrea , starting the creation of an Italian colonial empire . The Italian advance of the First Italo-Ethiopian War was halted at the Battle of Adwa by overwhelming Ethiopian forces. The following year, as part of the Italian collaboration with

740-513: The area to assist in the recovery efforts and to provide engineering services to the affected communities. The companies returned to the regiment's base in April 2017. For its service after the earthquake the regiment was awarded a Gold Cross of Army Merit, which was affixed to the regiment's flag. As of 2024 the 2nd Pontieri Engineer Regiment is organized as follows: The two bridge companies are equipped with French Motorized Floating Bridges , while

777-692: The continuing wars of unification . After the monarchy ended in 1946, the army changed its name to become the modern Italian Army ( Esercito Italiano ). Within the Italian Royal Army were the elite mountain military corporals, the Alpini . The Alpini , which remain in existence today, are the oldest active mountain infantry in the world. Their original mission was to protect and secure Italy's northern mountain border that aligns with France and Austria . This group emerged in World War I when

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814-508: The creation decree, by which the new army was to replace the previous Royal Sardinian Army and the Army of the Two Sicilies . The first two tasks of the new organization were the repression of brigandage in southern Italy against irregular and hit and run forces (mixed with bands of various criminals), who refused to accept the suppression of the Kingdom of Two Sicilies , and the Third War of Italian Independence . On 20 September 1870,

851-727: The face of direct war violence. In total, 4,028 death sentences were passed in the Royal Italian Army whereas 2,967 were issued absentia where 750 were followed through and completed and 311 were not. The Royal Italian Army's first experience with modern warfare was in World War I , from 1915–1918. The war was fought mostly on the Italian Front in Northern Italy , costing the Italian Army serious casualties, including 246,133 killed, 946,640 wounded, 569,210 captured and 70,656 missing. The Italian 35th Division served on

888-422: The former war zone to repair damaged bridges. On 21 November 1919, the 8th Engineer Regiment (Lagunari) was disbanded and the regiment's only remaining Lagunari battalion was transferred to the 4th Engineer Regiment (Pontieri), which changed its name on the same day to Pontieri and Lagunari Engineer Regiment. Afterwards the regiment consisted of a command, three Pontieri battalions, a Lagunari battalion in Venice, and

925-752: The international pacification program after the revolt against the Turkish domination in Cyprus , another corps disembarked at Candia . On 14 July 1900, another expeditionary force was constituted to suppress the Boxer Rebellion in China in defense of the European protectorates. On 3 October 1911, Italy invaded Libya as part of the Italo-Turkish War . The war against the Ottoman Empire ended with

962-429: The new regiment the medal was affixed to the regiment's flag. On 23 June 1887, the regiment was renamed 4th Engineer Regiment. On 1 November of the same year, the regiment transferred a train company to the 3rd Engineer Regiment , which in turn transferred its Ferrovieri brigade, which consisted of four Ferrovieri companies based in Turin , to the 4th Engineer Regiment. The 4th Engineer Regiment consisted afterwards of

999-521: The new regiment the two train companies were reorganized into four train companies, while the 14th Sappers Company (Lagunari) split to form two Lagunari companies. The 1st Pontieri Company, which arrived from the 2nd Engineer Regiment, had distinguished itself during the First Italian War of Independence at the Siege of Peschiera and been awarded a Bronze Medal of Military Valor . Upon entering

1036-426: The other two companies are equipped with a variety of cranes, excavators, etc. Royal Italian Army The Royal Italian Army ( Italian : Regio Esercito , lit.   'Royal Army') ( RE ) was the land force of the Kingdom of Italy , established with the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy . During the 19th century Italy started to unify into one country, and in 1861 Manfredo Fanti signed

1073-559: The pontoon bridges across the Piave river, which allowed the Royal Italian Army to defeat the Austro-Hungarian Army's 5th Army and 6th Army . On 28 August 1918, the 8th Engineer Regiment (Lagunari) was formed in Ferrara and all units of this engineer speciality were transferred from the 4th Engineer Regiment (Pontieri) to the new regiment. The new regiment consisted of a command, the I Lagunari Battalion in Venice with

1110-781: The regiment formed the II Pontieri Battalion in Legnano and the III Pontieri Battalion in Piacenza. On 1 January 1954, the Ferrovieri Battalion became an autonomous unit, which was expanded to Ferrovieri Engineer Regiment on 1 October 1957. On the same day, the II Pontieri Battalion in Legnano and the Railway Operations Company in Turin were transferred to the Ferrovieri Engineer Regiment. On 1 February 1964,

1147-541: The regiment formed the III Mixed Pontieri Battalion, which was meant to support 32nd Motorized Division "Trento" . In December of the same year, the regiment formed the 7th, 8th, 9th Pontieri companies, which were sent to augment units deployed in Ethiopia . On 1 October 1938, the regiment's two battalions were reorganized and afterwards the I Battalion consisted of two light bridges companies and

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1184-699: The signing of the First Treaty of Lausanne in Ouchy , near Lausanne, Switzerland . In the Italian Royal Army, military justice was applied on the based on the 1870 Military Penal Code regulations. This regulation structure was very similar to the 1859 version which was inspired by the Royal Sardinian Army penal code of 1840 which preceded the Albertine Statute of 1848. These regulations and factors were determined to be inadequate in

1221-404: The small size of the divisions. In 1943, Italy surrendered and split into the Italian Social Republic , which fielded its own army, the Esercito Nazionale Repubblicano ( National Republican Army ). On the other side was the Esercito Cobelligerante del Sud ( Italian Co-Belligerent Army ), the army of the Italian Royalist forces, fighting on the side of the Allies in southern Italy after

1258-432: The yearly Festa del Redentore in Venice. The tradition continued until the end of obligatory military service in 2000. In 1951, the regiment expanded its command platoon to command company. In November 1951, the regiment was deployed to support the civilians population after the Polesine floods, for which the regiment was awarded a Silver Medal of Civil Valor , which was affixed to the regiment's flag. On 1 March 1953,

1295-404: Was as follows: On 22 September 1992, the regiment's 1st Pontieri Battalion in Legnano became an autonomous unit and was assigned to the Northeastern Military Region. The autonomous battalion was assigned the flag and traditions of the 1st Pontieri Regiment and renamed 1st Pontieri Engineer Battalion. On 31 August 1995, the battalion was renamed 5th Engineer Battalion "Bolsena" and the flag of

1332-420: Was based in Verona, received the II Pontieri Battalion in Verona, IV Pontieri Battalion in Rome, and V Lagunari Battalion in Venice. The 2nd Pontieri Regiment, which retained the flag and traditions of the Pontieri and Lagunari Regiment, received the I and III Pontieri battalions in Piacenza. In 1935, the regiment formed the following units in preparation for the Second Italo-Ethiopian War : On 10 January 1936,

1369-444: Was disbanded on 21 November 1919. On the same date, the regiment's only remaining Lagunari battalion with its two Lagunari companies was transferred to the 4th Engineer Regiment (Pontieri), which changed its name on the same day to Pontieri and Lagunari Engineer Regiment. At the end of 1918, the 4th Engineer Regiment (Pontieri) still had six battalions and 26 companies, as well as the four four bridge sections for cavalry, deployed along

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