Memoribilia and Collectibles
#91

Jim,

If you really want a copy, I have one. I brought a few items with me to the Reunion that I'm attending: "Road to Rome" "Finito!" and "19 Days". All three were published in Italy soon after the war, I believe. I think I still have extra copies of all three.

 

But notice, I am not advertising these for sale. I would not use Marion's site to try to make a buck for me. I think you will find them resonably priced and I'm just offering my services. B)

 

I have PX store on my site where I sale a few books and a DVD set and other items for anyone who is interested.

 

Steve

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#92

Remember my funny hat?

Alpini Hat .................... 6th Alpini Regiment, 2nd Battalion

Alpini_6Regt.jpg

This style hat was worn by the Alpine or Mountain troops in the Italian Army

(also was worn by Frontier Guards). There were twelve Regiments that were

formed up into six Alpine Divisions; 2 infantry regiments and 1 artillery per division.

DETAILS:

Material: heavy wool, green

Eagle Insignia: bullion thread with a metal "6" in the center.

Red pom-pom: Identified the 2nd Battalion.

Chevron: Rank insignia worn under pom-pom.

 

Well, I wanted to verify that the insiginia on this hat was correct. Then find out what it meant. I went to the site Commando Supremo and dropped some questions on their forum. Here is what I learned from the experts on Italian militaria.

 

The "2nd Alpine Division TRIDENTINA" division had been formed in 1934 and consists of the 5th and 6th Alpine Regiments and the 2nd Alpine Artillery Regiment. The 2nd Alpini TRIDENTINA Division fought on French front in June 1940, the Greek front from November 1940 to April 1941 and on the Russian front from September 1942 to January 1943. Its best known action was the breakthrough of Soviet lines at Nikolajewka, on January 26, 1943.

 

The 6th Alpini Regiment took part in the retreat at Stalingrad, Russia where it was the spearhead of the Tridentina coloumn, the one with which also included the German XXIV PzK Command and the Alpini Army Corps Command. It was that column that managed to break out of the encirclement. Col. Signorini (CO 6th Alpini Regiment) was the one tasked with the job of opening the route for everybodyelse. The 6th Alpini Regiment was practically destroyed in its victorious task. And after the exit from the encirclement, Col. Signorini had a heart attack and died, as a consequence of the fatigues he endured and of the sadness of the losses suffered by his Regiment.

 

Regarding the chevron insignia and the red pom-pom(“nappinaâ€) on my hat. The inverted chevron on the left side is a rank insignia for a Lieutenant. The cloth stripes were used during the war in lieu of metal devices.

In a Division (i.e. two Alpini Regiments), there were three battalions with different colors for the nappina. Usually the colors of the nappina were white, blue and green. However, the names of the battalions and the colors of the 6th Alpini Regimentwere Verona wore white (probably), Vestone with blue and Val Chiese is unknown(?). So was there a red nappina for this regiment?

 

There indeed was one unit of the 6th Alpini Regiment that had a Red nappina during their service in Russia. It was the 216a Compagnia Armi di Accompagnamento (216th Heavy Weapons Company) .

This company was originally a Bersaglieri 47/32 AT Company, of the 7th Bersaglieri Regiment. It was headed towards North Africa when at the last minute, the Company (soldiers from Valtellina and Brescia) was transformed into an Alpini unit and attached to the 6th Alpini Regiment. In order to preserve the memory of their Bersaglieri origin, they called themselves "Bersalpini". They were authorized to sew the Bersaglieri collar patches on the reverse of the collar (they have the same size and shape, Alpini green and Bersaglieri crimson) and they were issued red Nappine, i.e. the Alpini color that more closely matched the Bersaglieri one. During rear front "free time" the Bersalpini could also wear a pin representing a Fez (i.e. the Bersaglieri hat ).

 

 

Interesting. Just hope all of it is original and authentic to the hat.

Steve

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#93

Hi Steve,

That's a great looking hat. There is one of similar style for sale on ebay now, along with an Alpini jacket/coat. Thought I'd pass that on in case you might be interested in the jacket. Your hat is nicer than the one on ebay! :pdt34:

 

 

Jim :woof:

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#94

Dogdaddy,

Lately, I have seen several Alpini hats and most look like someone took a civilian hat and tried to shape it to look like one of these. Some look the right shape but the eagle insignia is really sloppy. I like mine better.

 

To go with the hat, I purchased this arm shield for the 2nd TRIDENTINA Alpini Division. These shields were worn on the left sleeve of the tunic and identified the division which the regiment was attached to. This one is a stamped brass that has been painted and has 3 holes for sewing to the tunic. There were similar badges for units in the regular Army and the Fascists Black Shirts Legions. Some are stamped metal and some are embrodiered.

 

2nd TRIDENTINA Alpini Division

Alpini-2Div-TRIDENTINA.jpg

 

I'm not sure if all regular Army units wore these shields as their tunic usually displayed colored collar tabs to distinguish the different Infantry Divisions. Of course, these were smaller and consisted of a combination of color codes. Not as easy to identify as the info shown on the arm shield.

I promise not to get carried away on Italian uniforms. But I had to show off this shield that goes with the hat.

 

Steve

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#95

:argue::argue:

 

Hope these are of interest:-

 

 

These are the two Telegrams that a family always dreaded to receive. I grew up with a family that received one of each. The mother never recovered from the shock!!

 

The KIA Telegram

 

KIATelegram.jpg

 

The WIA Telegram

 

Wounded.jpg

 

Sgtleo

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#96

Thanks for posting those Fred and yes they are of interest. I can't imagine getting one of those in the mail. Especially a KIA. Too horrible to think about... :(:(

Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"
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#97

:direct::direct:

 

Marion:-

 

The brevity inherently makes the impact of it's message so much more painful to me.

 

I always felt that there could have/should have been some words of sorrow or comfort to the family.

 

I always made it a point to send a personal message to the guys I lost even if they were only with us for a short time and that was NOT an easy chore.

 

Sgtleo -o--o-

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#98

My grandma told me that her family got one of those KIA's in error. Apparently there was another unfortunate fellow with the same name as her brother who didn't make it.

 

<_<

 

Brooke

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#99

Yes, brevity hits the nail right on the head. So damned cold. A stamped out message with no feeling, no true sympathy, no feel for the person who was wounded or killed. It might as well say, "your son #1,458,458 was KIA today..." :(:(

Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"
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Marion

 

That was exactly what I wanted to say and have always felt!!

 

Sgtleo

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