184th Paratroopers Regiment "Nembo"
The 184th Paratroopers Regiment "Nembo" (Italian: 184° Reggimento Paracadutisti "Nembo") is a unit of the Italian Army based in Livorno in Tuscany. Formed in 1942 and during World War II the regiment is part of the Italian Army's infantry arm's Paracadutisti speciality. On 1 October 2022, the regiment's name, flag, and traditions were assigned to the Command and Tactical Supports Unit "Folgore" of the Paratroopers Brigade "Folgore".[3][4][5][2]
| 184th Paratroopers Regiment "Nembo" | |
|---|---|
| 184° Reggimento Paracadutisti "Nembo" | |
| Active | 24 Aug. 1942 — 30 Sep. 1944 1 Oct. 2022 — today |
| Country |  Italy |
| Branch | Italian Army |
| Part of | Paratroopers Brigade "Folgore" |
| Garrison/HQ | Livorno |
| Motto(s) | "...e per rincalzo il cuore" |
| Decorations |   1x Silver Medal of Military Valor* 1x War Cross of Military Valor[1][2] * awarded to the Paratroopers Regiment "Nembo" |
| Insignia | |
| Regimental gorget patches |  |
The 184th Infantry Regiment "Nembo" was formed in August 1942 as the Royal Italian Army's fourth paratroopers regiment. The regiment was assigned to the 184th Infantry Division "Nembo", with which the regiment deployed to Sardinia. After the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943 the regiment joined the Italian Co-belligerent Army and fought against the Germans in the Italian campaign. In September 1944 the remnants of the regiment and of its sister regiment, the 183rd Infantry Regiment "Nembo", were merged to form the Paratroopers Regiment "Nembo", which was assigned to the Combat Group "Friuli" and equipped with British materiel. The Combat Group "Folgore" then entered the front on the allied side and fought against the German forces in Italy until the end of the war.[2][6]
History
editOn 24 August 1942, the Royal Italian Army formed the 184th Infantry Regiment "Nembo" in Florence. The new regiment consisted of a command, a command company, and the XII and XIII paratroopers battalions, both of which had been trained by the Royal Italian Air Force's Paratroopers School in Tarquinia. Later the regiment also received the XIV Paratroopers Battalion and the 184th Cannons Company, which was equipped with 47/32 mod. 35 anti-tank guns. On 1 November 1942, the regiment was assigned, together with the 185th Infantry Regiment "Nembo" and the 184th Artillery Regiment "Nembo", to the newly formed 184th Infantry Division "Nembo". On 1 February 1943, the 183rd Infantry Regiment "Nembo" was formed and assigned to the division, which in May 1943 was ordered to deploy to the island of Sardinia.[3][4][2][7] In Sardinia the 184th Infantry Regiment "Nembo" consisted of the following units:[3][4][2][7]
- 184th Infantry Regiment "Nembo"[3][4][2][7]
- Command Company
- XII Paratroopers Battalion
- 34th, 35th, and 36th Company
- XIII Paratroopers Battalion
- 37th, 38th, and 39th Company
- XIV Paratroopers Battalion
- 40th, 41st, and 42nd Company
- 184th Cannons Company (47/32 mod. 35 anti-tank guns)
In the evening of 8 September 1943, the Armistice of Cassibile, which ended hostilities between the Kingdom of Italy and the Anglo-American Allies, was announced by General Dwight D. Eisenhower on Radio Algiers and by Marshal Pietro Badoglio on Italian radio. The Germans reacted by invading Italy and the XII Paratroopers Battalion of the 184th Infantry Regiment "Nembo" sided with the invaders. Together with soldiers from other units of the division, the XII Paratroopers Battalion retreated with the German 90th Panzergrenadier Division towards Corsica.[3][2][8] The "Nembo" division's Chief of Staff Lieutenant Colonel Alberto Bechi Luserna pursued the mutinous troops to try to convince them to return to their positions and respect the chain of command. On 9 September 1943, near Borore Bechi Luserna caught up with the retreating troops, who killed him and one of the accompanying Carabinieri officers. The mutineers then dumped his body into the sea, when they crossed the Strait of Bonifacio to Corsica. For his courage Alberto Bechi Luserna was awarded Italy's highest military honor the Gold Medal of Military Valor.[8][9][10] Following these events, the Armed Forces Command Sardinia ordered the XIII Army Corps to keep the "Nembo" division under strict surveillance and away from combat operations.[8]
In May 1944, the division was transferred from Sardinia to southern Italy, where it joined the Italian Co-belligerent Army's Italian Liberation Corps. On 22 May 1944, the 184th Infantry Regiment "Nembo" entered combat against the Germans, followed on 31 May by the rest of the division. On 8-9 July 1944, the regiment distinguished itself during the Battle of Ancona at Filottrano. For this the 184th Infantry Regiment "Nembo" was awarded War Cross of Military Valor, which was affixed to the regiment's flag. After having suffered heavy losses fighting on the allied side in the Italian campaign the division's remnants were used to form the Combat Group "Folgore" on 24 September 1944. On 30 September 1944, the 184th Infantry Regiment "Nembo" and its sister regiment the 183rd Infantry Regiment "Nembo" merged to form the Paratroopers Regiment "Nembo", which continued to serve on the allied side for the rest of the war.[3][2]
Reactivation
editOn 1 October 2022, the name, flag and traditions of the 184th Infantry Regiment "Nembo" were assigned to the Command and Tactical Supports Unit "Folgore" of the Paratroopers Brigade "Folgore". On the same day the unit was renamed 184th Paratroopers Command and Tactical Supports Unit "Nembo".[6]
Organization
edit
As of 2024 the 184th Paratroopers Command and Tactical Supports Unit "Nembo" is organized as follows:[6][11]
See also
editExternal links
editReferences
edit- ^ "Stemma Araldico del 183° "Nembo"". Associazione Nazionale "Nembo". Retrieved 5 November 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h F. dell'Uomo, R. Di Rosa (2001). L'Esercito Italiano verso il 2000 - Vol. Secondo - Tomo I. Rome: SME - Ufficio Storico. p. 356.
- ^ a b c d e f "184° Reggimento Paracadutisti "Nembo"". Italian Army. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
- ^ a b c d "184a Divisione di Fanteria "Nembo"". Associazione Nazionale "Nembo". Retrieved 5 November 2024.
- ^ "184° Reparto Comando e Supporti Tattici Paracadutisti "Nembo" - La Storia". Italian Army. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
- ^ a b c d "184° Reparto Comando e Supporti Tattici Paracadutisti "Nembo"". Italian Army. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
- ^ a b c Bollettino dell'Archivio dell'Ufficio Storico N.II-3 e 4 2002. Rome: Ministero della Difesa - Stato Maggiore dell’Esercito - Ufficio Storico. 2002. p. 349. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
- ^ a b c "184a Divisione di Fanteria "Nembo" - In Sardegna". Associazione Nazionale "Nembo". Retrieved 5 November 2024.
- ^ "Bechi Luserna Alberto". President of Italy. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
- ^ "Ten.Col. Alberto Bechi Luserna". Italian Army. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
- ^ a b "184° Reparto Comando e Supporti Tattici Paracadutisti "Nembo"". Italian Defense Ministry. Retrieved 5 November 2024.