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71-420: Originally the unit, like all Italian tank units, was part of the army's infantry arm, but on 1 June 1999 the tankers specialty was transferred from the infantry arm to the cavalry arm. The battalion's anniversary falls, as for all tank units, which have not yet distinguished themselves on the battlefield and earned a medal of valor, on 1 October 1927, the day the tankers speciality was founded. On 30 January 1941,

142-526: A command and services company, and three tank companies with M60A1 Patton main battle tanks . Both battalions fielded now 434 men (32 officers, 82 non-commissioned officers, and 320 soldiers). On 12 November 1976 the President of the Italian Republic Giovanni Leone assigned with decree 846 the flag and traditions of the 32nd Tank Regiment to the 3rd Tank Battalion "M.O. Galas" and granted

213-542: A new flag to the 7th Tank Battalion "M.O. Di Dio". The Gold Medal of Military Valor , which had been awarded to the 132nd Tank Infantry Regiment for its conduct on 18-19 November 1941 in the Action at Bir el Gubi and on 3 July 1942 during the First Battle of El Alamein , was duplicated for the new flag and affixed it. The Gold Medal of Military Valor is also depicted on the battalion's coat of arms. For its conduct and work after

284-683: Is organized as follows: 32nd Tank Infantry Regiment The 32nd Tank Regiment ( Italian : 32° Reggimento Carri ) is a tank regiment of the Italian Army based in Tauriano in Friuli-Venezia Giulia . The regiment is equipped with Ariete main battle tanks and assigned to the 132nd Armored Brigade "Ariete" . On 15 September 1936 the regiment was formed by the Royal Italian Army as 2nd Tank Infantry Regiment. On 1 December 1938,

355-701: The 1976 Friuli earthquake the battalion was awarded a Bronze Medal of Army Valor, which was affixed to the battalion's flag and added to the battalion's coat of arms. After the end of the Cold War the Italian Army began to draw down its forces and on 13 May 1991 the 7th Tank Battalion "M.O. Di Dio" transferred its flag to the Shrine of the Flags in the Vittoriano in Rome and on the 31 of

426-424: The 1st Tank Infantry Regiment transferred its IV Tank Battalion M to the 2nd Tank Infantry Regiment, the 3rd Tank Infantry Regiment transferred its XXI Tank Battalion L to the 2nd Tank Infantry Regiment, and the 4th Tank Infantry Regiment transferred its V Tank Battalion M to the 2nd Tank Infantry Regiment. On 1 December 1938, the 2nd Tank Infantry Regiment was disbanded and the regiment's command and depot formed

497-404: The 32nd Armored Brigade "Mameli" was disbanded and the 3rd Tank Battalion "M.O. Galas", 5th Tank Battalion "M.O. Chiamenti", and 23rd Bersaglieri Battalion "Castel di Borgo" were transferred to the 132nd Armored Brigade "Ariete" . On 25 August 1992, the 5th Tank Battalion "M.O. Chiamenti" was disbanded, while the 3rd Tank Battalion "M.O. Galas" lost its autonomy. The next day, on 26 August 1992,

568-637: The Battle of Mondovì . Although at the time the Medal was exclusively awarded for personal bravery, King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia ordered the regiment's standard to be decorated with two medals for saving his army from Napoleon 's attack. Until 1859, when the rules for awarding the Gold Medal were expanded to include cities and military units, only the "Cuneo" Brigade was awarded a Special Gold Medal of Military Valor by King Charles Felix of Sardinia for suppressing

639-731: The First Italian War of Independence . Vicenza is also the only city to be awarded the medal twice: the second time for its participation in the Italian resistance movement during World War II . The latest city to be awarded was Varzi for the creation and defence of the Partisan Republic of Alto Tortonese between September and December 1944. Examples: A full list of regions, provinces and cities, which were awarded for their bravery can be found at it:Città decorate al valor militare per la guerra di liberazione . The University of Padua

710-453: The Gold Medal of Military Valor . On the same day, 1 November 1975, the 8th Bersaglieri Regiment's III Bersaglieri Battalion and XII Bersaglieri Battalion became also autonomous units and were renamed 3rd Bersaglieri Battalion "Cernaia" respectively 26th Bersaglieri Battalion "Castelfidardo" . The three battalions were assigned to the 8th Mechanized Brigade "Garibaldi" , which was formed on

781-528: The Gold Medal of Military Valor . The 3rd Tank Battalion was named for Sergeant Bruno Galas , who, while serving with the III Tank Battalion M13/40 in North Africa, was gravely injured on 1 January 1941 during the Battle of Bardia and died two days later, on 3 January, in an Italian field hospital. On the same date, 1 October 1975, the regiment's V Tank Battalion became an autonomous unit and

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852-501: The Gold Medal of Military Valor . The 7th Tank Battalion was named for Lieutenant Alfredo Di Dio , who, while serving as a tank instructor in the 1st Tank Infantry Regiment , requested on 8 September 1943, the day the Armistice of Cassibile was announced, that the 1st Tank Infantry Regiment fight fight invading German forces . When his request was denied, Alfredo Di Dio together with his brother Officer Cadet Antonio Di Dio formed one of

923-772: The Gold Medal of Military Valor . The regiment consisted of the following units after its founding: The assault tanks battalions fielded initially L3/33 tankettes, which were then replaced by slightly improved L3/35 , while the breach tanks battalion fielded Fiat 3000 light tanks. In 1938 the regiment received the XXII Assault Tanks Battalion "Coralli" , in Trento . The same year the all Assault Tank Battalions were renamed Tank Battalion L (with L standing for Italian : "Leggero" or Light), while Breach Tanks Battalions were renamed Tank Battalion M (with M standing for Italian : "Medio" or Medium). On 30 November 1938,

994-601: The Montorio Veronese quarter of Verona. Afterwards the regiment consisted of the following units: On 1 February 1939, the II Armored Brigade was disbanded and the 32nd Tank Infantry Regiment, 8th Bersaglieri Regiment and newly formed 132nd Armored Artillery Regiment were assigned to the newly formed 132nd Armored Division "Ariete" . On 23 September 1939, the regiment received the III Tank Battalion L from

1065-711: The Revolution of 1821 . The first unit to be awarded the Gold Medal after 1859 was the French Imperial 3rd Zouaves Regiment for its conduct in the Battle of Palestro . The latest unit awarded the Gold Medal was the Jewish Brigade in 2017 for the brigade's service during the Italian Campaign of World War II . The following list contains only the military units, which were awarded the Gold Medal of Military Valor twice. In total 112 gold medals were awarded to units of

1136-604: The Siege of Tobruk . On 1 September 1941, the battalion was transferred to the 132nd Tank Infantry Regiment , which had just arrived in North Africa. On 18 November 1941, the British Eighth Army commenced Operation Crusader , during which the battalion fought heavy battles at Bir el Gubi on 19 November and on 4-7 December and at Point 175 before retreating West. On 8 January 1942, the VII Tank Battalion M13/40

1207-553: The 1st Tank Infantry Regiment and in turn transferred on 1 November 1939 its CCCXXIII Tank Battalion M to the 1st Tank Infantry Regiment. At the same time the two remaining tank battalions M replaced their Fiat 3000 light tanks with M11/39 tanks . In April 1940 the CCCXXI and CCCXXII tank battalions were renumbered as I and II tank battalions M11/39, while the XXI Tank Battalion L was renumbered IV Tank Battalion L. On 10 June 1940,

1278-470: The 32nd Tank Infantry Regiment as an operational unit for the II Armored Brigade . The same day the new regiment transferred its IV Tank Battalion L and XXII Tank Battalion L to the 1st Tank Infantry Regiment, and its V Tank Battalion L and XI Tank Battalion L to the 3rd Tank Infantry Regiment. Upon entering the new regiment the tank battalion M were renumbered and moved to the regiment's expanded base in

1349-425: The 32nd Tank Regiment is organized as follows: The regiment is equipped with Ariete AMV main battle tanks . Gold Medal of Military Valor The Gold Medal of Military Valor ( Italian : Medaglia d'oro al valor militare ) is an Italian medal established on 21 May 1793 by King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia for deeds of outstanding gallantry in war by junior officers and soldiers. The face of

1420-487: The 5th Tank Battalion "M.O. Chiamenti" a new flag, to which the battalions Silver Medal of Military Valor was affixed. For its conduct and work after the 1976 Friuli earthquake the battalion was awarded a Silver Medal of Army Valor, which was affixed to the battalion's flag and added to the battalion's coat of arms. After the end of the Cold War Italian Army began to draw down its forces: on 1 April 1991,

1491-524: The British Eighth Army commenced Operation Crusader and on 19 November the British 22nd Armoured Brigade attacked Bir el Gubi . The Ariete division repulsed the attack and then moved towards Sidi Rezegh , where on 29 November the Ariete pushed the 2nd New Zealand Division back in the Battle of Point 175 . On 6 December 1941, the division headed back to Bir el Gubi, where a second British attack on Bir el Gubi

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1562-708: The British Western Desert Force commenced Operation Compass and the II Tank Battalion M11/39 was destroyed on the same day during the British Attack on Nibeiwa . On 13 December 1940, the V Tank Battalion M13/40 embarked in Naples and sailed for Libya. The battalion was assigned on 10 January 1941 to the Special Armored Brigade and arrived on the front on 15 January. On 21-22 January 1941,

1633-646: The CC Tank Battalion SOMUA, which had been formed by the 4th Tank Infantry Regiment and was equipped with captured French SOMUA S35 cavalry tanks . The regiment was assigned to the XIII Army Corps , which was tasked with the defence of the Southern part of the island. In October 1942, the XIII Army Corps assigned the 32nd Tank Infantry Regiment to the army corps' Motorized-Armored Grouping and reinforced

1704-561: The I Tank Battalion M11/39 was destroyed during the British capture of Tobruk . On 24 January 1941, the III, V, VI, and XXI tank battalions M13/40 clashed with the British 7th Armoured Division in the action at Mechili . The end for the remnants of the Italian 10th Army came on 6–7 February 1941, when their retreat was blocked by the 7th Armoured Division at Beda Fomm and the furious and futile attempts of

1775-466: The III Tank Battalion M13/40 was awarded a Gold Medal of Military Valor , while the V Tank Battalion M13/40 was awarded a Silver Medal of Military Valor . Until 1975 both medals were affixed to the 32nd Tank Regiment's flag and displayed on the regiment's coat of arms. When the V Tank Battalion became an autonomous unit in 1975 the Silver Medal of Valor was transferred to the battalion's flag and added to

1846-528: The Italian army: 105 to regiments and 7 to battalions. The 4th Alpini Regiment currently also displays two Gold Medals of Military Valor on its flag, however the two medals were awarded to the regiment's Alpini Battalion "Aosta" , and the Alpini Skiers Battalion "Monte Cervino" . The first geographic entity to be awarded a Gold Medal of Military Valor was the city of Vicenza in 1866 for its five days long resistance to Austrian assaults during

1917-618: The XVI Tank Battalion M14/41, which had been formed by the regiment's depot in Verona and was equipped with M14/41 tanks , and on 27 June with the XVIII Tank Battalion M15/42, which had been assigned to the 33rd Tank Infantry Regiment and was equipped with M15/42 tanks . The regiment had now the following organization: On 8 September 1943, the Armistice of Cassibile was announced and invading German forces disbanded

1988-628: The army's tank battalions. On 15 September 1936, the Armed Tanks Regiment was split into four tank infantry regiments, which had training and administrative functions only: The 2nd Tank Infantry Regiment received four battalions from the disbanded regiment and formed a depot, which included training and maintenance units. The four battalions, like all tank battalions at the time, were named for infantry officers, who had served in World War I and been awarded posthumously Italy's highest military honor

2059-691: The battalion's coat of arms. Due to the deteriorating situation at the Greco-Italian front the IV Tank Battalion M13/40 was sent in January 1942 to Albania , where the battalion was attached to the 31st Tank Infantry Regiment of the 131st Armored Division "Centauro" . On 22 January, the day Tobruk fell , the 32nd Tank Infantry Regiment, together with the entire 132nd Armored Division "Ariete", embarked in Naples and sailed for Tripoli in Libya where

2130-506: The cavalry arm. The battalion's anniversary falls on 8 February, the last day of the Battle of Beda Fomm , during which the remnants of the III Tank Battalion M13/40 continued to fight until the total annihilation of the battalion. On 1 October 1927, the Royal Italian Army reorganized its Armed Tanks Formation Center in Rome and formed the Armed Tanks Regiment ( Italian : Reggimento carri armati ) as central training unit for

2201-402: The day Italy entered World War II the regiment consisted of the following operational battalions. On 1 August 1940, the regiment received the I and II tank battalions L from the 1st Tank Infantry Regiment, while transferring its I and II tank battalion M11/39 to the 4th Tank Infantry Regiment, with which the two battalions deployed to Libya for the Italian invasion of Egypt . As replacement

7th Tank Battalion "M.O. Di Dio" - Misplaced Pages Continue

2272-636: The depot of the 32nd Tank Infantry Regiment in Verona used the personnel of the disbanded IV Tank Battalion L to form the VII Tank Battalion M13/40. The new battalion was equipped with M13/40 tanks and sent on 15 February 1941 to Libya for the Western Desert campaign . The battalion was assigned to the 32nd Tank Infantry Regiment of the 132nd Armored Division "Ariete" . In 1941 the 32nd Tank Infantry Regiment fought in Operation Sonnenblume and then in

2343-547: The depot of the regiment in Verona formed the III Tank Battalion M13/40, followed on 8 October 1940 by the IV Tank Battalion M13/40 , and on 11 November 1940 the V Tank Battalion M13/40 . Each of the three battalions fielded 37 M13/40 tanks . At the same time the III and IV tank battalions L were disbanded. In fall 1940, the III Tank Battalion M13/40 was sent to Libya to bolster Italian forces in Egypt. On 9 December 1940,

2414-581: The division arrived on 24 January, the day British spearheads engaged the last Italian units in Cyrenaica . After arriving in Libya the regiment was in no shape to contest the British advance as it consisted of the I, II, and III tank battalions L with obsolete L3 tankettes. The first useful M13/40 tanks joined the regiment in late February 1941 with the VII Tank Battalion M13/40 , which the regiment's depot in Verona had formed on 30 January 1941 with

2485-706: The first partisan units in Piedmont . On 13 February 1944, Antonio Di Dio and Captain Filippo Beltrami of the 27th Artillery Regiment "Cuneo" were killed in a firefight with the German 12th SS Police Regiment in Megolo . On 12 October 1944 also Alfredo Di Dio died in combat against German troops in Gola di Finero . All three men, Captain Filippo Beltrami, Lieutenant Alfredo Di Dio, and Officer Cadet Antonio Di Dio, were awarded posthumously

2556-486: The first time their own flags. On 30 September 1975, the 32nd Tank Regiment was disbanded and the next day the regiment's III Tank Battalion became an autonomous unit and was renamed 3rd Tank Battalion "M.O. Galas". Tank and armored battalions created during the 1975 army reform were named for officers, soldiers and partisans of the tank specialty, who had served in World War II and been awarded Italy's highest military honor

2627-497: The first time their own flags. On 31 October 1975 the 8th Bersaglieri Regiment was disbanded and the next day the regiment's VII Tank Battalion in Vivaro became an autonomous unit and was renamed 7th Tank Battalion "M.O. Di Dio". Tank and armored battalions created during the 1975 army reform were named for officers, soldiers and partisans of the tank speciality, who had served in World War II and been awarded Italy's highest military honor

2698-460: The front on 31 December 1941 and sent to the rear. On 8 January 1942, the 32nd Tank Infantry Regiment ceded part of its remaining personnel to help bring the 132nd Tank Infantry Regiment back up to strength, and on 16 January 1942 the regiment ceded all of its remaining troops and equipment to the 12th Auto Grouping in Tripoli to form a Tank Training Center. Afterwards the regiment command and flag of

2769-543: The medal displayed the profile of the king, and on its reverse was a flag decoration and the words "for Valor". On 14 August 1815, Victor Emmanuel I of Sardinia replaced it with the Military Order of Savoy , now known as the Military Order of Italy . Charles Albert of Sardinia revived it on 26 March 1833, and added to it the Silver and bronze medals. These had, on their faces, the coat of arms of Savoy with laurel branches,

2840-566: The medal, with a Gladius replacing the arms of Savoy, for members of the Esercito Nazionale Repubblicano from 1943 to 1945. This version of the award was not given recognition by the postwar Italian government. The Gold Medal for Military Valor is still awarded by the Italian state, and it, along with Silver and bronze medals for Military Valor as well as the War Cross of Military Valor (which can only be awarded in time of war)

2911-490: The personnel of the disbanded IV Tank Battalion L. The regiment also received an anti-tank company with German 3.7 cm Pak 36 anti-tank cannons. In early April 1941, the VIII Tank Battalion M13/40 formed by the 4th Tank Infantry Regiment arrived in Libya and joined the regiment, which at the time was fighting in Operation Sonnenblume . The battalion joined the regiment on 15-18 May in the area of Sallum , where

7th Tank Battalion "M.O. Di Dio" - Misplaced Pages Continue

2982-559: The personnel of the disbanded battalion was merged into the 3rd Tank Battalion "M.O. Galas", which on the same date entered the reformed 32nd Tank Regiment. Between 29 December 1992 and 15 March 1994 the 32nd Tank Regiment served with the United Nations Operation in Somalia II , for which it was awarded a Bronze Medal of Army Valor, which was affixed to the regiment's flag and added to the regiment's coat of arms. As of 2024

3053-521: The regiment added the XXIII Bersaglieri Battalion, which was equipped with M113 armored personnel carriers. In 1968 the regiment moved from Cordenons to Tauriano and on 1 October of the same year, the headquarter of the II Armored Brigade "Ariete" was disbanded and the regiment came under direct command of the division. During the 1975 army reform the army disbanded the regimental level and newly independent battalions were granted for

3124-659: The regiment left Libya and returned to Verona, where they arrived on 20 February 1942. On 20 September 1942, the regiment's command company was reformed and the regiment was transferred to Sanluri on the island of Sardinia , where the regiment was assigned the II Tank Battalion L, which had been part of the 33rd Tank Infantry Regiment and was equipped with L3/35 tankettes, the XIII Tank Battalion L, which had been based in Sardinia since its formation there in 1939, and

3195-536: The regiment split and the next day, on 21 March 1944, the 132nd Tank Infantry Regiment was reformed in Sanluri. The 32nd Tank Infantry Regiment now consisted of the following units: On 15 May 1944, the Infantry Division "Granatieri di Sardegna" was reformed in Sardinia and the 32nd Tank Infantry Regiment and 132nd Tank Infantry Regiment were assigned to the division. On 27 August 1944, the 132nd Tank Infantry Regiment

3266-564: The regiment was held in reserve during the British Operation Brevity . The regiment then participated in the Siege of Tobruk . On 21 July 1941 by the IX Tank Battalion M13/40 formed by the 3rd Tank Infantry Regiment arrived at the front and joined the regiment. As the regiment's L3/35 tankettes were useless Ariete division commander General Ettore Baldassarre demanded repeatedly to be sent M13/40 tanks to re-equip

3337-447: The regiment was reorganized and reformed as 32nd Tank Infantry Regiment and assigned to the II Armored Brigade . In January 1941, the regiment deployed to North Africa, where it fought in the Western Desert campaign in Libya and Egypt . In December 1941, the regiment was taken out of the front and its role taken over by the 132nd Tank Infantry Regiment . In September 1942, the regiment

3408-563: The regiment with four Motorcycle Machine Gunners companies. In November 1942, the XIII Tank Battalion L participated in the occupation of Corsica , which was part of the German-Italian Operation Anton to occupy Vichy France . During the year 1943, the regiment was reinforced on 23 March with the DLXI Self-propelled Battalion 75/18, which was equipped with Semovente 75/18 self-propelled guns, on 6 May with

3479-537: The regiment's depot in Verona, while the 32nd Tank Infantry Regiment remained passive as the German 90. Panzergrenadier-Division and other German forces evacuated Sardinia. The regiment remained in Sardinia and joined the Italian Co-belligerent Army . As Italian forces had to leave Corsica the regiment received three tank and self-propelled battalions, which had been based on the French island. On 20 March 1944,

3550-401: The regiment's flag and traditions were assigned to the 3rd Tank Battalion "M.O. Galas", which had become an autonomous unit on 1 October 1975. In 1992 the battalion lost its autonomy and entered the reformed 32nd Tank Regiment. Originally the unit, like all Italian tank units, was part of the army's infantry arm, but on 1 June 1999 the tankers specialty was transferred from the infantry arm to

3621-415: The regiment's three tank battalions L or be sent additional tank battalions M. Ultimately the High Command in Rome settled on a plan to repatriate the men of the three tank battalions L and retrain them at the 32nd Tank Infantry Regiment's depot in Verona. Therefore on 15 June 1941 the depot of the 4th Tank Infantry Regiment formed the command and a command company of the 132nd Tank Infantry Regiment , which

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3692-405: The royal crown, and the words "for military Valor". On the reverse were two laurel branches enclosing the name of the decorated soldier, and the place and date of the action. With the proclamation of the Republic on 2 June 1946, the coat of arms of the House of Savoy was replaced with the emblem of the Italian Republic . For actions performed by individuals during World War I , the Gold Medal

3763-436: The same day by reorganizing the command of the 8th Bersaglieri Regiment. The 7th Tank Battalion "M.O. Di Dio" consisted now of a command, a command and services company, and three tank companies with M60A1 Patton main battle tanks . The battalion fielded now 434 men (32 officers, 82 non-commissioned officers, and 320 soldiers). On 12 November 1976 the President of the Italian Republic Giovanni Leone granted with decree 846

3834-422: The same month the battalion was reduced to a reserve unit. On 1 October 2022, the flag and traditions of the 7th Tank Battalion "M.O. Di Dio" were assigned to the Command and Tactical Supports Unit "Ariete" of the 132nd Armored Brigade "Ariete" . On the same date the unit was renamed 7th Tank Command and Tactical Supports Unit "M.O. Di Dio". As of 2024 the 7th Tank Command and Tactical Supports Unit "M.O. Di Dio"

3905-406: The same year the VII Tank Battalion moved from Aviano to Pordenone , and in 1965 the battalion moved to Vivaro . On 1 October 1968, the brigade headquarters were disbanded, however the VII Tank Battalion and XXXVIII Bersaglieri Battalion did not return to their original regiments. During the 1975 army reform the army disbanded the regimental level and newly independent battalions were granted for

3976-414: The same year the regiment formed the III Tank Battalion and the V Tank Battalion. The two battalions were equipped with M47 Patton tanks. On the same day the Gold Medal of Military Valor awarded to the III Tank Battalion M13/40 and the Silver Medal of Military Valor awarded to the V Tank Battalion M13/40 were affixed to the regiment's flag and displayed on the regiment's coat of arms. On 20 October 1964,

4047-402: The same year the regiment was assigned to the Armored Brigade "Ariete" , which had been formed on 1 June 1948. On 1 April 1949, the 1st Tankers Regiment was renamed 132nd Tankers Regiment . On 28 April 1950, the regiment moved from Rome to Aviano in Friuli-Venezia Giulia . On 1 October 1952, the Armored Brigade "Ariete" was expanded to Armored Division "Ariete". On 5 January 1959, the regiment

4118-414: The tank battalions to open a breach in the British line during the Battle of Beda Fomm came to naught. With 7 February 1941 the 10th Army with all its units and all the reinforcements sent to it had been destroyed or captured by the British XIII Corps . On 8 February 1941, the III and V tank battalions M13/40 were declared lost due to wartime events. For their valor and sacrifice during Operation Compass

4189-421: Was Domenico Millelire of the Royal Sardinian Navy on 6 April 1793 and the latest recipient was in 2014 Chief Corporal-Major Andrea Adorno of the 4th Alpini Paratroopers Regiment for combat operations in Bala Murghab , Afghanistan in 2010. The first military unit awarded a Gold Medal was His Majesty's Dragoons Regiment ( Reggimento Dragoni di Sua Maestà ) on 21 April 1796 for the unit's conduct during

4260-433: Was awarded some 368 times, as well as 37 times to military units, and once to the Unknown Soldier. Only four of the individual awards went to foreigners, one of these being Czar Nicholas II of Russia. The other three were for acts of gallantry in which the recipient was killed in action or died from his injuries (the Frenchmen John O'Byrne and Roland Morillot, and the American Coleman deWitt). The Gold Medal of Military Valor

4331-420: Was disbanded due to the heavy casualties the battalion had taken during Operation Crusader. The battalion's survivors were assigned to the remaining two tank battalions of the 132nd Tank Infantry Regiment. On 15 March 1948, the formed the I Tank Battalion, which was equipped with M4 Sherman tanks. On 10 July 1948, the school reformed the 1st Tankers Regiment and formed the II Tank Battalion. On 7 September of

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4402-404: Was disbanded, followed on 31 August by the division and 32nd Tank Infantry Regiment. The regiment's personnel was used to form the 514th Guards Battalion, which guarded British Eighth Army installation during the Italian campaign . On 1 March 1964, the 32nd Tank Regiment was reformed in Cordenons and assigned to the II Armored Brigade "Ariete" of the Armored Division "Ariete" . On 1 July of

4473-407: Was established by the Royal Decree of 4 November 1932, in which the purpose of these medals is defined as, "to distinguish and publicly honour the authors of heroic military acts, even ones performed in time of peace, provided that the exploit is closely connected with the purposes for which the Armed Forces are constituted, whatever may be the condition or quality of the author." The first recipient

4544-418: Was formed in Maniago and the 132nd Tank Regiment, as well as support forces, entered the new brigade. On 1 July 1963, the 8th Bersaglieri Regiment transferred its V Battalion to the 132nd Tank Regiment, which in turn transferred on the same date its VII Tank Battalion to the 8th Bersaglieri Regiment. Upon entering the 132nd Tank Regiment the V Battalion was redesignated as XXXVIII Bersaglieri Battalion. During

4615-409: Was immediately sent to Libya, where the regiment joined the 132nd Armored Division "Ariete". On 31 August 1941, the VII, VIII, and IX tank battalions M13/40 left the 32nd Tank Infantry Regiment and the next day, on 1 September 1941, the three battalions joined the 132nd Tank Infantry Regiment. The regiment then continued to fight in North Africa with only its three tank battalions L as the return to Italy

4686-471: Was one of the most parsimoniously awarded medals of World War I, granted less frequently than even the Victoria Cross which was awarded 628 times. During World War II the medal was awarded to soldiers of the Royal Italian Army; after these forces were reorganized following the Armistice with Italy in 1943, it was awarded to members of the Allies-supporting Italian Co-Belligerent forces . The Axis-affiliated Italian Social Republic created another design of

4757-411: Was reformed and sent to the island of Sardinia . After the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943, the regiment joined the Italian Co-belligerent Army . In March 1944, the regiment was split to reform the 132nd Tank Infantry Regiment. Both regiments were disbanded at the end of August 1944. The regiment was reformed in 1964 and assigned to the Armored Division "Ariete" . In 1976

4828-401: Was renamed 5th Tank Battalion "M.O. Chiamenti" , while the XXIII Bersaglieri Battalion became an autonomous unit and was renamed 23rd Bersaglieri Battalion "Castel di Borgo" . The three battalions were assigned to the 32nd Armored Brigade "Mameli" , which was formed on the same day by reorganizing the command of the 32nd Tank Regiment. Each of the two tank battalions consisted now of a command,

4899-405: Was renamed 132nd Tank Regiment and on 5 February the regiment's I, II, and III tank battalions were redesignated as VII, VIII, and X tank battalions. The three battalions were equipped with M26 Pershing tanks. In 1963, the Armored Division "Ariete" adapted its organization to NATO standards and added a brigade level to the division's structure. On 1 January 1963, the III Armored Brigade "Ariete"

4970-430: Was repeatedly postponed. On 28 August 1941, the depot of the 32nd Tank Infantry Regiment formed the XIII Tank Battalion M13/40 , which was assigned to the 31st Tank Infantry Regiment . In October 1941, the regiment contributed with some of its personnel to the formation of the LII Tank Battalion M13/40, which was formed in Libya and assigned to the Maneuver Army Corps as corps reconnaissance asset. On 18 November 1941,

5041-414: Was repulsed. The same day General Erwin Rommel ordered his forces to retreat to the Gazala line , where in December the Ariete continued the fight against the British advance. During the night of 15-16 December Axis forces abandoned the Gazala line and retreated to El Agheila . The Ariete division had lost 76% of its personnel during Operation Crusader and the 32nd Tank Infantry Regiment was taken out of

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