Royal Italian Army

The Royal Italian Army (Italian: Regio Esercito) was the land warfare branch of the armed forces of the Kingdom of Italy from 1861 until 1946. It was created after the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy during the unification of Italy, bringing together the military forces of the Kingdom of Sardinia and other Italian states that joined the new kingdom.

Throughout its time, the Royal Italian Army was very important in Italy's history. It took part in the final battles to unify Italy, fought in colonial conflicts in Africa and the Middle East, and was involved in both world wars. The army also went on many overseas expeditions.

The Royal Italian Army included some special elite groups, such as the Alpini, Bersaglieri, and Folgore units. Many of these famous groups still exist today as part of the modern Italian Army. After Italy became a republic in 1946 following the 1946 Italian institutional referendum, the Royal Italian Army was reorganized into the army we know today.

History

The Royal Italian Army was created in 1861 after several Italian states joined together under the House of Savoy. It mostly used soldiers from the Kingdom of Sardinia, with troops from other areas like the Army of the Two Sicilies added later.

The army helped finish uniting Italy and later took part in wars in Africa. It fought in World War I mainly against Austria-Hungary, often in tough mountain areas. After World War I, the army changed and took part in several conflicts under a new government. In World War II, it fought in many places but faced big challenges. After Italy’s government changed sides in 1943, the army split up. The Royal Italian Army ended in 1946 when Italy became a republic, and it became the modern Italian Army.

History

The Royal Italian Army, called the Regio Esercito, started in 1861 when Italy became a kingdom. It grew from the armies of the Kingdom of Sardinia and other Italian lands. Its early jobs were to stop groups that didn’t want to join the new Italy and to fight in the Third War of Italian Independence. In 1870, Italian soldiers entered Rome, which had been controlled by the Pope.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the army began building colonies in Africa. In 1911, Italy fought a war to take over Libya. The army also joined forces to help put down a big protest in China in 1900.

World War I

Main articles: Military history of Italy during World War I and Italian Front (World War I)

The Royal Italian Army fought in World War I from 1915 to 1918. Most of the fighting happened in Northern Italy. The army faced many tough battles and lost many soldiers.

Interwar period

Main article: Italian Empire

Between the two World Wars, the army focused on protecting Italy’s borders. It also helped the leader Benito Mussolini expand Italy’s power. The army took part in battles in Libya, Ethiopia, and Albania.

World War II

In World War II, the Royal Italian Army was one of the big armies in the war. It was among the first to use soldiers who jump from planes to fight, called paratroopers. In 1943, Italy changed sides in the war. One part of the army joined with Germany, while another part fought with the Allies. After the war, Italy became a republic in 1946, and the Royal Army became the Italian Army.

Timeline

• 1861 – The Regio Esercito started after the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy, following the unification of Italy in 1861 after the Papal States were seized. On 4 May 1861, Manfredo Fanti signed the creation decree, replacing the Royal Sardinian Army and the Army of the Two Sicilies. The army’s first jobs were to stop groups in southern Italy who didn’t want to join the new country, and to fight in the Third War of Italian Independence.
• 1870 – On 20 September the IV Corps captured Rome, which had been under Papal control.
• 1885 – On 8 February fewer than 1,000 soldiers landed at Massaua, Eritrea, starting Italy’s colonial empire. The army’s advance was stopped at the Battle of Adwa by Ethiopian forces. The next year, another group of soldiers landed at Candia as part of efforts in Cyprus.
• 1900 – On 14 July a new group of soldiers was formed to help in China during the Boxer Rebellion.
• 1911 – On 3 October Italy invaded Libya as part of the Italo-Turkish War. The war ended with the First Treaty of Lausanne in Ouchy, near Lausanne, Switzerland.
• 1915–1918 – The Royal Italian Army fought in World War I. Most battles were in Northern Italy, and the army lost many soldiers.
• 1918–1939 – During this time, the army helped take control of Libya, invaded Ethiopia, sent troops to fight in the Spanish Civil War, and invaded Albania.
• 1940 – The Italian Royal Army had 1,630,000 soldiers in 73 divisions. Many divisions were small and had poor equipment and leaders, which caused defeats in 1940.
• The Regio Esercito was one of the largest armies in World War II and used paratroopers. Many divisions were made stronger with extra soldiers.
• 1943 – Italy surrendered and split. One part, the Italian Social Republic, created its own army, the Esercito Nazionale Repubblicano. The other part, the Esercito Cobelligerante del Sud, fought with the Allies in southern Italy after Italy agreed to work with them in September 1943.
• 1946 – Italy became a republic, and the Royal Army became the Esercito Italiano (Italian Army).

Main campaigns

The Royal Italian Army took part in several important conflicts during its history. In the 19th century, it was involved in the Italian War of Independence (1866), the Mahdist War (1881–1899), and the Italo-Ethiopian War (1895–1896).

In the 20th century, the army participated in the Boxer Rebellion (1900), the Italo-Turkish War (1911–1912), World War I (1915–1918), the Pacification of Libya (1923–1932), the Italo-Ethiopian War (1935–1936), and the Intervention in the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939). It also took part in the Italian invasion of Albania (1939) and World War II (1940–1945), which included the efforts of the Regio Esercito (World War II), the Italian Co-Belligerent Army from 1943 to 1945, and the Esercito Nazionale Repubblicano.