Trieste erected this monument on April 23 1955. It is called the Penna degli alpini. It honors the Alpini.
The Alpini are Italy’s specialist mountain infantry. They are the oldest active mountain infantry in the world. The Alpini were established in 1872. Their original mission was to protect Italy’s borders. These borders were with France and Austria-Hungary.
The Alpini’s name comes from their association with the Alps. Italy shares this mountain range. France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia also share it. An individual soldier of the Alpini is called an Alpino.
Initially, the Alpini served as a militia. They defended Italy’s northern mountainous borders. Austria’s surrender in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 helped. Italy annexed the province of Venetia. The northern borders coincided with the Alpine Arch.
Recruiting mountain locals was innovative. They had superior knowledge of the territory. They adapted best to Alpine conditions. The mountain regions split into seven military districts. Each district had at least two Alpini companies. Each company consisted of 120 personnel. Soldiers used the Vetterli 1870 rifle.
In 1873 nine more companies joined. This totaled 24. By 1875, companies doubled in size. They had 250 soldiers and 5 officers. These organized into 7 Alpini battalions. Each battalion was named after a military district seat.
In 1877 five Alpini mountain artillery batteries formed. By the next year, the Alpini grew. There were 36 mountain infantry companies. These organized into 10 battalions.
The Alpini organization doubled in size. It reached 72 companies by 1882. There were 20 Alpini battalions. These plus 8 Alpini mountain artillery batteries joined. They formed six Alpini regiments. They also formed two Alpini mountain artillery brigades. Each had headquarters and support. Battalions were named after the area they defended.
The numbers that distinguished the battalions were dropped. Companies were numbered from 1 to 72. Soldiers and NCOs got thread tufts. They were various colors. The tufts attached to the Cappello Alpino. White was for the First Battalion. Red was for the Second Battalion. Green was for the Third Battalion. Special and Fourth Battalions received blue tufts. Mountain Artillery soldiers got a green tuft. It had a black patch. The battery number was written in yellow.
The green flames collar patch came on June 7 1883. This made the Alpini official within the infantry corps. The Cappello Alpino appeared then too. It had a black raven feather. This headdress led to the nickname Black Feathers. Officers’ hats used a white eagle feather.
Materials, weapons, and equipment stored in major villages. Soldiers only recruited from that area. In 1887 battalion names changed. They used local village names. Edolo Battalion soldiers recruited near Edolo village.
The Mountain Troops Inspectorate formed in Rome in 1887. It took administrative command. The 7th Alpini Regiment formed in Conegliano Veneto. It got two battalions from the 6th regiment.
Although defensive, the 1st African Alpini Battalion formed in 1887. Volunteers came from other Alpini battalions. They deployed to Eritrea. The battalion returned. It lost its commander and 13 men to tropical diseases.
Eight mules assigned to each Alpini company. The Vetterli 70 rifle replaced by the Vetterli-Vitali mod. 70/87 rifle. The Alpini got the new Mod. 91 rifle in 1892.
When tensions with Abyssinia rose, the 1st African Alpini Battalion reformed. Four batteries of the 1st Mountain Artillery Regiment went to Eritrea too. The battalions fought on March 1 1896. This was during the Battle of Adowa. The Alpini were outnumbered. Over 400 out of 530 men died.
During the Boxer Rebellion, a Mountain Artillery Battery went to China. It was part of the international relief force. It lifted the siege of the International Compound in Beijing. In 1902 the Alpini formed Skiing Companies. After an earthquake in Calabria in 1905, the Alpini helped clear debris.
Expansion begun in 1909. The 2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment formed. In 1908 the Tolmezzo and Pallanza battalions formed. On October 1 1909, the Tolmezzo and Gemona battalions joined. The Cividale battalion joined too. They became the 8th Alpini Regiment. The Alpini now had 25 battalions.
In 1910 the Belluno Battalion formed. When Italy declared war on Turkey in 1911, the Alpini deployed to Libya.
Today the Penna degli alpini stands as a reminder. It honors the courage and sacrifice. These soldiers made it to protect their nation. They were truly outstanding military component of the Italian Army.