2nd Bridge Engineer Regiment (Italy)

During World War I the regiment raised an additional twelve bridge engineer and three lagunari companies. The regiment's companies were employed repeatedly during the first eleven battles on the Isonzo river. After the Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo the regiment's companies built emergency bridges over the Torre and Tagliamento rivers to allow the Third Army to escape. During the battles along the Piave river the engineers helped the Italian Army cross the river during the decisive Battle of Vittorio Veneto.[4][1]

After the war the 4th Engineer Regiment (Bridges) was renamed Bridge Engineer and Lagunari Regiment, to honor the conduct of the Lagunari units during the war. On 15 May 1933 the regiment was split into the 1st Bridge Engineer Regiment in Verona and the 2nd Bridge Engineer Regiment in Piacenza.[4][1]

During World War II the regiment acted once again as depot, raising bridge engineer battalions for other formations. The I and IX bridge battalions distinguished themselves in September 1941 as part of the Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia, when they repaired a 1,422 yd (1,300 m) long enemy pontoon bridge over the Dnieper river at Dnipro in Southern Ukraine under enemy fire. When Italy changed sides with the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943 and the regiment was disbanded.[4][1]

For its service of its battalions on the Eastern Front the regiment was awarded a Bronze Medal of Military Valour.[2]

On 15 December 1949 the regiment was reformed in Piacenza with the following structure:

• 2nd Bridge Engineer Regiment, in Piacenza
  • Command Platoon
  • I Bridge Engineer Battalion
    • 1st Bridge Engineer Company
    • 2nd Bridge Engineer Company
  • I Railway Engineer Battalion
    • 1st Dismountable Metal Bridges Company
    • 2nd Dismountable Metal Bridges Company
  • Railway Operations Company
  • Field Park Company

In 1950 the regiment also raised an Bridge Engineer Recruits Training Company. The same year the regiment began to build the bridge for the yearly Festa del Redentore in Venice - a tradition that continued until the end of obligatory military service in 2000.[4] For its quick and tireless intervention after the Polesine floods in November 1951 the regiment was awarded a Silver Medal of Civil Valour.[2]

On 1 March 1953 the regiment raised a second and third bridge engineer battalion, with the former being based in Legnano. On 1 January 1954 the I Railway Battalion left the regiment to form the Railway Engineer Regiment, followed on 1 October 1957 by the II Engineer Battalion. On 1 February 1964 the II Bridge Engineer Battalion returned to the 2nd Bridge Engineer Regiment. On 6 September 1974 the I Bridge Engineer Battalion was put into reserve status and switched then numbers with the II Bridge Engineer Battalion.[1][4]

• 2nd Bridge Engineer Regiment, in Piacenza
  • Command and Services Platoon, in Piacenza
  • 1st Bridge Engineer Battalion, in Legnago
  • 2nd Bridge Engineer Battalion (Reserve), in Piacenza
  • 3rd Bridge Engineer Battalion, in Piacenza

On 22 September 1992 the 1st Bridge Engineer Battalion became an autonomous battalion under the Northeastern Military Region. The battalion was elevated to 1st Bridge Engineer Regiment and assigned the war flag of the 1st Engineer Regiment in 1993, but was disbanded in 1997. On 1 December 1997 the regiment passed from the Tuscan-Emilian Military Region to the army's Engineer Grouping, which on 10 September 2010 became the Engineer Command.[1][4]

After the August 2016 earthquake in Central Italy the regiment was deployed to the disaster area and remained there until April 2017, rebuilding roads and bridges, and providing engineering services to the affected communities. For its service the regiment was awarded Gold Cross of Army Merit.[5]