11th Bersaglieri Regiment

During World War I, the 11th Regiment, then headquartered in Ancona, was initially assigned to various Infantry Divisions until 11 February 1916 when it entered the II Bersaglieri Brigade - first together with the 9th Bersaglieri Regiment and later with the 7th Bersaglieri Regiment.[2] The 11th Bersaglieri Regiment served in Log di Cezsoca, Srpenica, Chiont, and Dogna Valley.[8]

On 2 June 1917, the II Bersaglieri Brigade was take out of the frontline for rest, but only two days later it had to return as on 3 June 1917 the Royal Italian Army began its Tenth offensive along the Isonzo river. The 11th Bersaglieri Regiment was finally taken out of the front on 7 November 1917.[8] On 3 November 1918 the 11th Bersaglieri Regiment entered Trieste.[9]

During the war the 11th regiment's depot raised the LI Autonomous Battalion, the LXVI Battalion for the 17th Bersaglieri Regiment, and the LXVII Battalion for the 18th Bersaglieri Regiment. The 11th regiment consisted of the XXVII, XXXIII, XXXIX battalions, while the XI Cyclists Battalion fought as autonomous unit.[8] After the XV Battalion departed Libya on 28 May 1918 it was assigned on 29 June 1918 to the 5th Group of 2nd Assault Division.[10] For its conduct at Jamiano the regiment was awarded a Silver Medal of Military Valour, while the XI Cyclists Battalion was awarded three Silver Medals of Military Valour: one for the conquest of Monte San Michele in 1916, one for the tenacious defense of Hill 144 east of Monfalcone between 14–16 September 1916, and one for the breakthrough of enemy lines at Revine Lago on 30 October 1918.

During World War I, the 11th Bersaglieri Regiment was headquartered in Ancona, and recruited from Benevento, Cosenza, Ferrara, Gaeta, Lecce, Massa, Milan, and Savona Districts, while mobilized troops also from Ascoli Piceno, Chieti, Macerata, Sulmona, Teramo, and Campobasso Districts.[10]

Alongside military operations, the 11th Bersaglieri Regiment provided disaster relief in the 1915 Avezzano earthquake.[5]

In 1919 the XI Cyclists Battalion was disbanded and in 1920 the regiment's strength was reduced to two battalions and one reserve battalion.[3] Some Bersaglieri of the 11th regiment were involved in the unsanctioned "Fiume Exploit".[5]

On 7 July 1924 the regiment was transformed in a cyclists regiment and the reserve battalion was disbanded; on 11 March 1926 the 11th Regiment was reorganized and now consisted of a regimental command, a depot, the XV Battalion, and the XXVII Battalion.[4] During the Second Italo-Ethiopian War, the 11th Bersaglieri Regiment provided officers and troops to several mobilized units.[4]

On 1 February 1938, the 11th Bersaglieri Regiment, together with the cavalry regiments "Piemonte Reale" (2nd) and "Cavalleggeri di Saluzzo" (12th), the 1st Fast Artillery Regiment, and the 1st Light Tank Group "San Giusto", were assigned to the 1st Fast Division "Eugenio di Savoia".[2][4]

On 6 March 1941, the 11th Bersaglieri Regiment was deployed to the Vipava Valley and on 11 April the whole Division participated in the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia.[4] In a few days 1st Fast Division occupied the whole of Dalmatia.[4] Between late 1941 and late 1942 the 11th Bersaglieri Regiment carried out intense counter-insurgency activity against Yugoslav Partisans.[4] In October 1942 the regiment returned from Šibenik to Vodice in Dalmatia. There it fought in June 1943 in the attempt to clear Zuta Lovka from partisans.[4] The 11th Bersaglieri Regiment was disbanded on 9 September 1943 in Dalmatia after Italy had switched sides with the Armistice of Cassibile.[2][4]

During World War II, the 11th Bersaglieri Regiment included the Regimental command, the Command Company, XV Bersaglieri Cyclists Battalion, XXVII Bersaglieri Cyclists Battalion, XXXIII Bersaglieri Cyclists Battalion, LI Replacements Battalion, 271st Armoured Car Company, and 11th Anti-tank Company.[4]

In 1964 the XI Bersaglieri Battalion was reformed in Sacile as part of the 182nd Armored Infantry Regiment "Garibaldi".[3] It remained the only active battalion of the 11th Bersaglieri Regiment until the 1975 Italian Army reform.

During the same reform the 132nd Tank Regiment was disbanded on 31 October 1975 and the regiment's XXXVIII Bersaglieri Battalion was renamed 27th Bersaglieri Battalion "Jamiano" the next day. The 27th Bersaglieri Battalion "Jamiano" inherited the war flag and traditions of the 11th Bersaglieri Regiment.[2] The battalion was assigned to the 132nd Armored Brigade "Manin".[2][3] Bersaglieri battalions created during the reform were named, with two exceptions, for battles in which Bersaglieri units had distinguished themselves: the 27th Bersaglieri Battalion was named for its defense of Hill 144 in Jamiano in 1917.

11th Bersaglieri Regiment war flag at the 66th National Rally of the Bersaglieri

On 30 September 1992 the 27th Bersaglieri Battalion "Jamiano" entered the re-established 11th Bersaglieri Regiment in Aviano.[3] On 21 November 1992 the 11th Bersaglieri Regiment moved to Orcenico Superiore, where on 18 April 1997, the 27th Bersaglieri Battalion was renamed 11th Bersaglieri Battalion "Caprera",[2] reuniting all traditions and awards bestowed to the 11th Bersaglieri Regiment and its battalions in one unit, and gaining the tradition of the 182nd Armored Infantry Regiment "Garibaldi" to wear the red tie with the formal uniform.[3]

In the night of 6 April 2004, during the 11th Bersaglieri Regiment's service in Iraq as part of Operation Ancient Babylon, the forces of Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army occupied the three main bridges in Nasiriyah. Three companies of the 11th Regiment, one squadron of the Regiment "Savoia Cavalleria" (3rd), and some logistical units of the 132nd Armored Brigade "Ariete" engaged in an 18-hours long firefight with the rebel forces.[11] For retaking the three bridges the 11th Bersaglieri Regiment was decorated with a War Cross for Military Valor in 2008.