Changes

The Bersaglieri regiments expanded to three battalions each during the Second World War, but the ''Comando Surpemo'' (Italian Supreme Command) resisted temptations during wartime to degrade their quality in favour of numbers, and recruits still had to be of above-average height and stamina. The recruits endured intense physical training, just as their forefathers had, and had to qualify as excellent marksmen.   

The Bersaglieri regiments expanded to three battalions each during the Second World War, but the ''Comando Surpemo'' (Italian Supreme Command) resisted temptations during wartime to degrade their quality in favour of numbers, and recruits still had to be of above-average height and stamina. The recruits endured intense physical training, just as their forefathers had, and had to qualify as excellent marksmen.   

The first Bersaglieri units to see combat in North Africa belonged to the  [[10th Bersaglieri Regiment]]. They arrived in Libya in late 1940 as part of the all-volunteers ''Brigata Corazzata Speciale'' (Special Armoured Brigade or BCS) and along with the ''Sabratha'' (Conscript) Division fought well in defence of Derna–Giovanni Berta, with two British Commonwealth armoured car spearhead units<ref>"On the southern flank a troop of 6th Cavalry carriers attempted to outflank the enemy and was itself ambushed with the loss of seven men and several carriers." The Western Desert Campaign, 1940-41, Glenn Wahlert, Big Sky Publishing, 2016</ref><ref>"At dusk on 4 February, after passing through Megara, six of the 11th Hussars' armoured cars that were leading the convoy were ambushed by antitank guns. Three of the vehicles were destroyed anda a number of soldiers were killed or wounded. Several war correspondents were travelling with the Hussars and some were wounded..." An Unqualified Success, Peter Golding, Rosenberg Publishing, 2013</ref>ambushed, the survivors captured and the supporting Australian 2nd/4th Battalion nearly overrun in a strong counterattack<ref>"At one point the 2/4th Battalion was pinned down and almost overrun by a force of about 1,000 enemy infantry. It was only the timely arrival of the Northumberland Fusiliers that checked the Italian attack." The Western Desert Campaign, 1940-41, Glenn Wahlert, Big Sky Publishing, 2009</ref>during the final stages of [[Operation Compass]].

The first Bersaglieri units to see combat in North Africa belonged to the  [[10th Bersaglieri Regiment]]. They arrived in Libya in late 1940 as part of the all-volunteers ''Brigata Corazzata Speciale'' (Special Armoured Brigade or BCS) and along with the ''Sabratha'' (Conscript) Division fought well as the Italian rearguard in defence of Derna–Giovanni Berta, with two British Commonwealth armoured car spearhead units<ref>"On the southern flank a troop of 6th Cavalry carriers attempted to outflank the enemy and was itself ambushed with the loss of seven men and several carriers." The Western Desert Campaign, 1940-41, Glenn Wahlert, Big Sky Publishing, 2016</ref><ref>"At dusk on 4 February, after passing through Megara, six of the 11th Hussars' armoured cars that were leading the convoy were ambushed by antitank guns. Three of the vehicles were destroyed anda a number of soldiers were killed or wounded. Several war correspondents were travelling with the Hussars and some were wounded..." An Unqualified Success, Peter Golding, Rosenberg Publishing, 2013</ref>ambushed, the survivors captured and the supporting Australian 2nd/4th Battalion nearly overrun in a strong counterattack<ref>"At one point the 2/4th Battalion was pinned down and almost overrun by a force of about 1,000 enemy infantry. It was only the timely arrival of the Northumberland Fusiliers that checked the Italian attack." The Western Desert Campaign, 1940-41, Glenn Wahlert, Big Sky Publishing, 2009</ref>during the final stages of [[Operation Compass]].

In all, six of the 12 Bersaglieri regiments fought in North Africa, compiling an excellent combat record, with Field Marshal Erwin Rommel (''"the Desert Fox"'') reporting in late 1942 that, ''The German soldier has impressed the world, however, the Italian Bersaglieri soldier has impressed the German soldier."''

In all, six of the 12 Bersaglieri regiments fought in North Africa, compiling an excellent combat record, with Field Marshal Erwin Rommel (''"the Desert Fox"'') reporting in late 1942 that, ''The German soldier has impressed the world, however, the Italian Bersaglieri soldier has impressed the German soldier."''