Bersaglieri Corps

In 1836, Alfonso del la Marmora from the Piedmontese Army (the core of the future Italian Army) created the Bersaglieri, light infantry formations similar to the French chasseurs and Austrian jägers.

The Bersaglieri were trained to a high physical and marksmanship standard, and like the German Waffen SS in the Second World War, inspired the Regio Esercito frontline formations, benefiting from superior weaponry and mobility that encouraged Axis commanders to operate aggressively.

The Bersaglieri, or ”sharpshooters,” still sport distinctive helmets adorned with cock’s feathers.

First World War

During the First World War, the 12 Bersaglieri Regiments fought with valour and bravery. 210,000 men served in the Bersaglieri Corps, and during the war 32,000 were killed and 50,000 wounded.

After the war, reforms reduced the number of Bersaglieri battalions to two per regiment. They were converted into bicycle troops to fight alongside cavalry from the Celeri (fast) divisions, giving the Supreme Command the best formations to operate alongside tanks in the near future.

Second World War

When the first Italian Army armoured divisions were formed in 1939 the continuation between the Bersaglieri and mobile warfare continued. Each armoured and motorised division was allocated one Bersaglieri regiment.

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

The first Bersaglieri units to see combat in North Africa was the Special Armoured Brigade. They arrived in Libya in late 1940 and along with the Sabratha Division fought well in defence of Derna–Giovanni Berta, when British tanks and armoured car units were ambushed during the final stages of Operation Compass.

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

During Rommel's first desert offensive and start of the Siege of Tobruk in April 1941, Rommel was often critical of his generals as well as the Italian Supreme Command, but praised the Bersaglieri on numerous occasions, such as the encircling action of the 8th Bersaglieri Regiment during the Battle of El Mechili that resulted in the capture of 3,000 British Imperial troops.

That same month, the 4th Bersaglieri Regiment fought successfully in General Ugo Cavallero's second spring offensive during the Greco-Italian War, and the 5th Bersaglieri Regiment along with the Centuaro Armoured Division defeated the Yugoslavian Army counteroffensive in Albania in the Battle for Skutari in mid-April 1941.

During Operation Barbarossa (the invasion of Russia) in August 1941, the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment formed part of the spearheads tasked with securing bridgeheads over the Dnieper and Don Rivers for the panzers units and supporting German infantry, a task which they carried out successfully and suffered heavy casualties defending during the Russian counterattacks during the First Battle of Kiev.

During Operation Crusader, the 8th Bersaglieri Regiment played an important part in the defeat of the British 7th Armoured Division in the First Battle of Bir el Gubi on 19 November 1941.

On 1 December, the Trieste Division, reinforced by the 9th Bersaglieri Regiment, cut the road to Tobruk.

The successful defense of the Gazala Line on the part of the 7th and 9th Bersaglieri Regiments during on 15 December, was also absolutely vital in the defeat of the British 1st Battalion, Royal East Kent Regiment (The Buffs) and other units from the British-officered 5th Indian Brigade, with over 1,000 British Imperial troops killed, wounded or captured during Rommel's counterattack.

On 28 June, the 12th Bersaglieri Regiment and supporting tanks from the Littorio Division surrounded the fortress of Mersa Matruh, with the British garrison attempting to break out under the cover of darkness. The next day, the 7th Bersaglieri Regiment also met with success when the 10th and 11th Battalions took 6,500 prisoners in the Battle of Mersa Matruh.

During the First Battle of El Alamein, the 7th and 9th Bersaglieri Regiments along with the Sabratha, Trento and Trieste Divisions showed great courage, halting the Australian advance developing from Tel el Eisa on 11 July and defeating the 2nd New Zealand Division's attempt to capture Ruweisat Ridge on 22 July.

During the Second Battle of Alamein, the 12th Bersaglieri Regiment fought especially hard, manning the Italian 47mm and 90mm guns in defence of El Aqqaqir Ridge, destroying 70 tanks from the British 9th Armoured Brigade in the process. Berlin Radio acknowledged that in this sector the "British were made to pay for their penetration with enormous losses in men and material. The Italians fought till the last man."

The Bersaglieri remained a force to be reckoned with even after the defeat at Alamein and, in early December 1942 the 10th Bersaglieri Regiment forced the surrender of 300 British and American paratroopers operating behind Axis lines during the Battle of Tebourba.

The Bersaglieri again fought well during the Battle of Kasserine Pass, with the 5th and 7th Bersaglieri Regiments capturing 2,450 British, American and French troops and covering Rommel's withdrawal. Field Marshal Erwin Rommel had special words of praise for the Bersaglieri, with their commander, Colonel Luigi Bonfatti killed leading the attack.

During Operation Husky (the Allied invasion of Sicily), the 10th, 73rd and 177th Bersaglieri Regiments managed to contain the American advance, but were eventually overwhelmed by Allied air power. Resistance was stiff enough to force the US 1st and 3rd Ranger Battalions to engage in house-to-house combat, with US military historian Samuel Eliot Morison acknowleding that "The Italians fought manfully for Agrigento".