The Brigata meccanizzata Sassari is a mechanised infantry brigade of the Italian Army, endowed with an extraordinary sense of teamwork. It is reminiscent of the Cohors II Sardorum in Roman times, deployed in North Africa and consisting only of Sardinian auxiliaries. Deployed in both world wars, in the First World War it will be remembered as a key pawn in the fate of the conflict.
History
La Mechanised Brigade Sassari was founded in 1915 during the First World War as a light infantry brigade (Tattaresa) taking part in numerous battles during the conflict, where its soldiers gained a reputation for high courage and determination. At the outbreak of the war, it was immediately put into service, and during battles on the Isonzo it received a citation in the Supreme Command's bulletin as the best unit for its heroic actions in the clashes of Cap Forest, Lance Forest and Triangular Forest.
In 1916, employed on theAsiago Plateau, receives the first gold medal for the reconquest of mountains of the Melette massif (Mount Fior, Mount Castelgomberto, Mount Spil and Mount Miela) and the Monte Zebio. In 1918 he received the second gold medal for fighting in the battle of the Three Mountains by taking the Col del Rosso, Col d'Ecchele and Monte Valbella.
In the Great War the Sassarini will take part in several important fights, including the Battle of Gorizia e the Battle of Vittorio Veneto. It paid a very high tribute of blood, with the highest number of casualties of any Italian unit: 13.8% of the effectives against the national average of 10.4%, demonstrating the incredible tenacity and fighting ardour of Sardinian soldiers who had only one goal: Victory.
Reconstituted several times due to numerous losses, at the end of the conflict it was awarded the title of:
- 6 Military Orders of Savoy
- 13 Gold Medals for Military Valour
- 405 Silver medals
- 551 Bronze medals
- Numerous special mentions in Supreme Command bulletins and by the enemy
Obtaining two gold medals to the flag for each regiment in a single war campaign is a unique case in the history of the Italian Army.
Renamed 12th Infantry Brigade in 1926, it was joined, partly due to the very high losses in the First World War, by the 12th Infantry Regiment, from the 'Casale' Brigade.
In 1939, the Brigade changed its order again, becoming the 12th Infantry Division 'Sassari', losing the 12th Infantry Regiment and acquiring the 34th Artillery Regiment. It fought in the Balkans in 1941 with the 2nd Army, breaking through the Yugoslav lines and taking Tenin, which it would never leave (when the fascist regime fell on 25 July 1943, the Division was dislocated).
In the days following the proclamation of the Armistice, reacting to the attack by the troops of the former ally as part of theOperation Achse, took an active part in the fighting in defence of the city of Rome at Porta San Paolo together with the 'Granatieri di Sardegna' and 'Ariete II' Divisions along with Roman civilians.
On 10 September, following the flight of Victor Emmanuel III from Rome and the surrender conditions agreed with the German High Command while the fighting was still raging, the Division had to surrender its weapons to the Germans and was disbanded, temporarily putting an end to what had been, until then, a very important division, the best military unit ever seen in Italy.
News
In 1958, the 152nd Regiment of Sassari, the original nucleus of the Brigade, resumed the name 'Sassari' because the war flags had been saved, and only 10 years later, in 1962, did the 151st Motorised Infantry Regiment from Cagliari, already reconstituted in 1951 as an infantry regiment and 'Seven Municipalities' Battalion.
It underwent several transformations in the following years, which did not, however, affect the spirit of the Sassarini. It returned to theatre at the end of the 1990s in the Balkans in peacekeeping operations, and was deployed first in Iraq and then in Afghanistan in the 2000s, demonstrating the extraordinary capacity and operational efficiency that has always distinguished it, paying however a very high tribute of blood with dead and wounded.
In 2006, the 'Sassari' Brigade was transformed from light to medium, acquiring an armoured unit. Today, it is one of the Italian units most present in theatres of operation in Crisis Response Operations (CRO) and is classified by the Army as a 'projection force'.
The 4 October 2022, the War Flag of the 45th Infantry Regiment 'Reggio' was handed over to the Command and Tactical Support Unit of the Brigade 'Sassari', which took the name 45th Command and Tactical Support Unit 'Reggio', inheriting the flag, displays and traditions of the 45th Infantry Regiment.
Current composition
Honours
Gold Medal for Military Valour 151st and 152nd Regiment
They conquered solid enemy positions on the Karst and very strong entrenchments known as Frasche and Razzi, which they strengthened under heavy fire; they reconquered positions on the Altipiano dei Sette Comuni that had been lost by our forces, at M. Castelgomberto, M. Fior and Casara Zebio, always heedless of the huge losses, they gave proof of audacity and heroic steadfastness.
25 July - 15 November 1915
Gold Medal for Military Valour 151st and 152nd Regiment
The purest expression of the strong virtues of the intrepid people of Sardinia, he gave the greatest tribute of heroism to the glory of the Army and to the cause of the Homeland, wherever there were sacrifices to be made and blood to be shed. In the days of misfortune, inflamed with faith and love, he reconquered with marvellous impetus the fortified enemy positions of Col del Rosso and Col d'Echele.
28 - 31 January reto, 5 June 1920. - Official Bulletin, 9 June 1920, disp. 47, p. 2447
Knight of the Military Order of Italy 151st and 152nd Regiment
In the harsh trials of war, in the tormented trenches and in the bitter battle, he knew every limit of sacrifice and daring: bold and tenacious, he tamed places and fortunes tirelessly, consecrating with fruitful blood the Roman virtue of the sons of Italy.
1915 - 1918
Army gold medal for valour 151st Regiment
A regiment included in Task Force 'Iraq' as part of Operation 'Ancient Babylon', it took part in all operational activities related to the post-conflict Iraqi crisis for about four months. Despite the situation of general danger and great uncertainty, of the heated conflict between the political-religious power and the tribal power, the regiment, with courage, superhuman commitment and extraordinary spirit of sacrifice, worked with sure valour and firm determination to ensure the success of the mission. Throughout their entire tenure, the officers, non-commissioned officers and graduates of the 151st Regiment worked with exceptional commitment, without rest or respite, lavishing their best physical, moral, intellectual and professional energies to fulfil the most diverse and complex operational tasks and to alleviate the suffering of the population. In this context, the men of the 151st Regiment, demonstrating high professionalism and an uncommon sense of responsibility, proved to be determined against the prevaricators and the unjust and generous with the weak and the needy, maintaining a strict and recognised equidistance between the various opposing powers. In the prodigious terrorist attack of 12 November 2003 in An Nasiriyah, one of its members fell, who sacrificed his young life precisely for those ideals of peace and solidarity between peoples. A solid infantry regiment, extraordinarily motivated in each of its components and resolute in its actions, which contributed decisively to the success of the operations in Iraq and further enhanced the image of the national contingent and brought prestige to the armed forces and Italy in an international context.
An Nasiriyah, 8 October 2003-29 January 2004
Gold Medal for Military Valour 152nd Regiment
Proud interpreter of the historical traditions of the 'Sassari' brigade, the 152nd Infantry Regiment took part, as a manoeuvre unit (Task Force 'Alfa') framed within the Italian Joint Task Force, in the 'Ancient Babylon 9″ operation in Iraq, from 20 January to 16 June 2006. In an operational context characterised by widespread and high risk, difficult environmental and climatic conditions, as well as strong tensions between the various warring factions, he worked with effectiveness and extraordinary spirit of sacrifice to restore security conditions throughout the DHIQAR region, contributing significantly to the consolidation of the stabilisation and reconstruction process of the Iraqi nation. Deploying their best physical, moral and professional energies, the men and women of the regiment conducted operational activities aimed at ensuring the freedom of action of the coalition units, as well as the safety of the civilian population, with absolute self-sacrifice and firm determination, winning the full trust of the local authorities and the respect of foreign military commanders. In particular, on 30 January 2006 and 27 April 2006, units of the national contingent were hit by serious terrorist attacks, in which, respectively, one soldier of the 152nd Regiment was wounded and five soldiers of the Multinationl Specialised Unit (MSU) perished. Despite the extremely high-risk conditions and undoubted environmental difficulties, the personnel of the 152nd Regiment continued their work with exemplary courage and reckless disregard for danger, doing their utmost to carry out their tasks and restore security in the city of An Nasiriyah. On 5 June 2006, a platoon of the Regiment, engaged in escorting a British military convoy, was hit by the devastating explosion of a device concealed at the roadside. Although one of the Regiment's soldiers was killed and four others were seriously injured in the cowardly attack, the uninjured personnel worked with a fearless and admirable sense of duty and responsibility to provide first aid to the victims, while implementing all the necessary procedures to ensure the appropriate safety framework for the rapid evacuation of the wounded and to carry out the task at hand. A shining example of an infantry unit, strongly motivated and cohesive, the 152nd Regiment was able to contribute in a concrete and decisive manner to the achievement of the national contingent's objectives, bringing prestige to the Armed Forces and to Italy in the international context.
Nasiriyah, 20 January - 16 June 2006