Difference between revisions of "Bersaglieri Corps"
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During Rommel's first desert offensive(also known as the first ''Benghazi Derby'') 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. | During Rommel's first desert offensive(also known as the first ''Benghazi Derby'') 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 '' | + | 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 ''Centauro'' Armoured Division defeated the Yugoslavian Army counteroffensive in Albania in the [[Battle for Skutari]] in mid-April 1941.<ref>"For 48 hours the Serbs have been moving in wave upon wave through rain and snow against Scutari, on the southern shore of a lake of the same name, only to be mowed down by Fascist machine-gunners and scattered by Italian airmen, war front advices said. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1917&dat=19410415&id=JHtGAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_ucMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1084,5315859&hl=en Serb Attacks Beaten Off By Italians, Schenectady Gazette, 15 April 1941]</ref> |
During [[Operation Barbarossa]] (the invasion of Russia) in August 1941, the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment formed part of the Italian 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 them during the Russian counterattacks mounted during the [[First Battle of Kiev]].<ref>"From the 20th to the 26th of August Italian Forces have been subjected to extremely fierce Soviet attacks along the Don River. The Bersaglieri, Cavalry and Black Shirts have untiringly repulsed the attacks which wave after wave were launched in the desperate attempt to break through the Italian lines." Il Marco Polo, Issues 13-14, p. 126, Shanghai, 1941</ref> | During [[Operation Barbarossa]] (the invasion of Russia) in August 1941, the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment formed part of the Italian 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 them during the Russian counterattacks mounted during the [[First Battle of Kiev]].<ref>"From the 20th to the 26th of August Italian Forces have been subjected to extremely fierce Soviet attacks along the Don River. The Bersaglieri, Cavalry and Black Shirts have untiringly repulsed the attacks which wave after wave were launched in the desperate attempt to break through the Italian lines." Il Marco Polo, Issues 13-14, p. 126, Shanghai, 1941</ref> | ||
Revision as of 06:58, January 26, 2017
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. In August 1915 Benito Mussolini joined the corps and, serving in the 10th Bersaglieri Regiment, saw action in the trenches on the Italian front.
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, Bersaglieri mobile warfare experience greatly improved. Each armoured and motorized 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 during wartime to degrade their quality in favour of greater numbers, and volunteers still had to be of above-average height and stamina. The candidates 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 as the Italian rearguard in defence of the Derna–Giovanni Berta defence line, with two British Commonwealth armoured car spearhead units[1][2]ambushed, the survivors captured and the supporting Australian 2nd/4th Battalion nearly overrun in a strong counterattack[3]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") acknowledging in a Radio Rome interview in late 1942 that, The German soldier has impressed the world, however, the Italian Bersaglieri soldier has impressed the German soldier."
During Rommel's first desert offensive(also known as the first Benghazi Derby) 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 Centauro Armoured Division defeated the Yugoslavian Army counteroffensive in Albania in the Battle for Skutari in mid-April 1941.[4]
During Operation Barbarossa (the invasion of Russia) in August 1941, the 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment formed part of the Italian 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 them during the Russian counterattacks mounted during the First Battle of Kiev.[5]
During Operation Crusader, the 8th Bersaglieri Regiment operating truck-mounted naval guns, 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 the 2nd New Zealand Division had established with the Tobruk garrison.
The successful defense of the Gazala Line on the part of the 7th and 9th Bersaglieri Regiments 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.[6]
On 28 December, the 25th Bersaglieri Battalion along with the 63rd Blackshirt Battalion captured Kolkhoz Voroshilova & Rassipnoy on the Eastern Front.[7]
On 28 June, the 12th Bersaglieri Regiment and supporting tanks from the Littorio Division surrounded Mersa Matruh, with the British garrison attempting to break out under the cover of darkness completely frustrated. The next day, the 7th Bersaglieri Regiment also met with success when the 10th and 11th Battalions stormed the British fortress and 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, derailing both the Australian advance developing from Tel el Eisa on 11 July and the 2nd New Zealand Division attack against Ruweisat Ridge on 22 July.[8]
During the Second Battle of El Alamein, the 12th Bersaglieri Regiment fought especially hard, manning the Italian 47mm and 90mm guns (often confused with the German 88mm flak guns) and field guns of the Littorio Armoured Division 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."[9]
The Bersaglieri remained a force to be reckoned with during the Tunisian Campaign and, in early December 1942 the 10th Bersaglieri Regiment forced the surrender of 300 Allied paratroopers operating behind Axis lines during the Battle of Tebourba.[10][11]
The Bersaglieri fought again during the Battle of Kasserine Pass as the Axis spearhead, with the 5th and 7th Bersaglieri Regiments capturing around 2,500 British, American and French troops and covering Rommel's withdrawal. Field Marshal Erwin Rommel had special words of praise for the Bersaglieri, with their senior commander, Colonel Luigi Bonfatti killed leading the attack.
The 57th Bersaglieri Battalion from the Trieste Division fought in the Battle of El Guettar in March, distinguishing itself near El Hamma–El Guettar, with several Bersaglieri eventually taken prisoner.
The 5th, 8th, 9th and 10th Bersaglieri Regiments along with the Giovani Fascisti Regiment fought as part of the 1st Italian Army around Hill 141 during the Battle of Tunis, surrendering on 13 May after defeating all the attacks from the 2nd New Zealand Division, British 56th Black Cat Division and 1st Free French Division, a week after after the complete collapse of the Afrika Korps facing the US 1st Armoured and 3rd Infantry Divisions on 6 May,[12]and poor showing[13]of the supporting German 90th Light Infantry Division.[14]
During Operation Husky (the Allied invasion of Sicily), the 10th, 73rd and 177th Bersaglieri Regiments managed to contain the American advance outside Agrigento, but were eventually overwhelmed by Allied air power. However, resistance from the Bersaglieri was stiff enough to force the US 1st and 3rd Ranger Battalions to take on the 10th Bersaglieri Regiment in house-to-house combat in the streets of Agrigento, with US military historian Samuel Eliot Morison acknowledging that "The Italians fought manfully for Agrigento". [15]
Notes
- ↑ "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
- ↑ "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
- ↑ "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
- ↑ "For 48 hours the Serbs have been moving in wave upon wave through rain and snow against Scutari, on the southern shore of a lake of the same name, only to be mowed down by Fascist machine-gunners and scattered by Italian airmen, war front advices said. Serb Attacks Beaten Off By Italians, Schenectady Gazette, 15 April 1941
- ↑ "From the 20th to the 26th of August Italian Forces have been subjected to extremely fierce Soviet attacks along the Don River. The Bersaglieri, Cavalry and Black Shirts have untiringly repulsed the attacks which wave after wave were launched in the desperate attempt to break through the Italian lines." Il Marco Polo, Issues 13-14, p. 126, Shanghai, 1941
- ↑ "So, on the afternoon of 15 December, the Ariete with some 30 M13’s and with Bersaglieri motorcycle troops in close support, counterattacked along with the remaining 23 tanks of the 15th Panzer Division, and the attack was successful as the 1st Battalion, The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment) and other troops of the 5th Indian Brigade lost over 1,000 men killed, wounded or taken prisoners." The Bologna Division: 19 November – 10 December, 1941
- ↑ "The Italo-German force in the Celere Division's sector experienced more success,as German paratroopers captured the stretch of double railroad track at Kulinatskiy, and the 63rd Blackshirt Battalion, captured Kolkhoz Voroshilova, which was below the commanding height at Kurgun Ostriy. The German 318th Regiment captured the village of Greko-Timofeyevskiy from the Rifle Division, while the XXV Bersaglieri Battalion took Rassipnoy." Three Kings: Axis Royal Armies on the Russian Front 1941, Patrick Cloutier, p. 140, 2015
- ↑ [http://www.comandosupremo.com/1elalamein.html First Battle of El Alamein COMANDO SUPREMO/ITALY AT WAR
- ↑ Rolling Thunder: A Century of Tank Warfare, Philip Kaplan, p. 139, Pen and Sword, 2013
- ↑ "La sua prima brillante azione risale al 2 dicembre, quando reparti del XVI° catturarono un folto gruppo di paracadutisti inglesi e americani del Col. Raff, in un’ardita azione di rastrellamento nella zona di Donar Cheti, facendo meritare al Reggimento un encomio del comando della Divisione “Superga”. "La sua prima brillante azione risale al 2 dicembre, quando reparti del XVI° catturarono un folto gruppo di paracadutisti inglesi e americani del Col. Raff, in un’ardita azione di rastrellamento nella zona di Donar Cheti, facendo meritare al Reggimento un encomio del comando della Divisione “Superga”." Salmaggi e Pallavisini, Domenica, 6 Dicembre 1942
- ↑ [http://collections.civilisations.ca/warclip/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=5001297 The New York Times, 5 December 1942 (German Military Communique)
- ↑ Maj. Gen. Omar N. Bradley, commanding II Corps, had originally planned to have Truscott's 3rd Division relieve the battle-weary 1st ID. However, as Truscott was moving his division forward to effect that relief, Bradley contacted him on the night of the fifth and told him that General Harmon had requested additional infantry to support his division's attack on a strongly defended German position on the peninsula east of Bizerte, and directed that Truscott send an infantry regiment to the Ferryville area for attachment to the 1st AD. Bradley had also ordered that an infantry regiment from the 9th ID and additional field artillery and antiaircraft join Harmon's division for the attack. Truscott's regiment was to attack the following morning. Truscott joined Harmon at his commando post southeast of Ferryville early the next morning, and after breakfast the two set out on a reconnaissance mission to ascertain how far forward Truscott's force could assemble for the attack. As they traveled they found that Harmon's troopers and their tanks were already in possession of the entire peninsula excepting the high ridge overlooking the Mediterranean, from which there came no sounds of enemy fire. It was obvious to Harmon and Truscott that "the battle in Tunisia was all but done and that no large force would be required to clear the ridge." Dogface Soldier: The Life of General Lucian K. Truscott, Jr, By Wilson A., Heefner, p. 101, University of Missouri Press, 2010
- ↑ "Two remarkable features of this Axis debacle were, firstly, that in the end, when the battle had obviously gone against the Axis, the Italians fought better than the Germans. The German morale collapsed completely towards the close of the campaign. Well-armed German units with plenty of ammunition and provisions surrendered in strong defensive positions when they could have fought for many days (weeks or months) longer." The Conquest of Italy, Joseph Montague Kenworthy, p. 17, Hutchinson, 1944
- ↑ "For an hour the positions held by the 90th Light Infantry were obscured by a pall of smoke. At the end of the bombardment they surrendered. General Von Sponeck ... told General Keightley when he surrendered to him that although only two men had been killed and three wounded during the bombardment the morale of his men had been shattered." Tunisian Battle, John D'Arcy-Dawson, p. 248, Macdonald & Company, Limited, 1943
- ↑ History of United States Naval Operations in World War II: Sicily - Salerno - Anzio, January 1943 - June 1944, Samuel Eliot Morison, p. 176, University of Illinois Press, 2001