World War I The 231st Infantry Regiment (
Brigade "Avellino") was formed during
World War I on 6 May 1916 in
Camposampiero near the
Italian Front. The regiment consisted of three battalions, which each fielded four
fusilier companies and one machine gun section. The three battalions had been formed by the
regimental depots of the
60th Infantry Regiment (
Brigade "Calabria") in
Viterbo,
63rd Infantry Regiment (
Brigade "Cagliari") in
Salerno, and
82nd Infantry Regiment (
Brigade "Torino") in
Rome.
Interwar years After World War I the Royal Italian Army disbanded the brigades and the regiments formed during the war, with the exception of brigades, whose regiments had both been awarded a Gold Medal of Military Valor. As the regiments of the Avellino had no regimental depots of their own, the brigade moved in 1920 to the newly conquered region of
South Tyrol, with the 231st taking over the barracks of the
Austro-Hungarian Army in
Meran and the 232nd taking over the barracks in
Bolzano. In 1934 the division changed its name to 11th Infantry Division "
Brennero". A name change that also extended to the division's infantry brigade. In 1935 the 18th Infantry Regiment "Acqui" moved from Trento to
Brixen in South Tyrol. In preparation for the activation of the
33rd Infantry Division "Acqui" in Meran the 18th Infantry Regiment "Acqui" in Brixen and the 231st Infantry Regiment "Avellino" in Meran switched names and personnel on 15 December 1938. In August 1939 the XI Infantry Brigade "Brennero" was disbanded and the two infantry regiments "Avellino" were renamed "Brennero" and came under direct command of the division.
World War II At the outbreak of
World War II the regiment consisted of a command, a command company, three
fusilier battalions, a support weapons battery equipped with
65/17 infantry support guns, and a mortar company equipped with
81mm Mod. 35 mortars. In June 1940 the
11th Infantry Division "Brennero" participated in the
invasion of France and on 30 December 1940 the division reached the front in the
Greco-Italian War. For its conduct during this war the 231st Infantry Regiment "Brennero" was awarded a
Bronze Medal of Military Valor, while the 232nd Infantry Regiment "Brennero" was awarded a
Silver Medal of Military Valor. In February 1943 the Brennero returned to Albania to convert to a motorized division. After the announcement of the
Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943 the regiment dissolved chaotically: the I Battalion of the 231st Infantry Regiment "Brennero" joined the
41st Infantry Division "Firenze", with which it fought
against German forces, while the III Battalion of the 231st Infantry Regiment "Brennero" sailed to
Korfu, where its men were taken prisoner by the Germans.
Cold War On 1 October 1949 the regimental command of the
75th Infantry Regiment "Napoli" in Naples became the Army Troops Command of the Security Corps of the Italian administered
Trust Territory of Somaliland. On 1 January 1950 the 231st Infantry Regiment "Avellino" was reformed in Naples with the battalions and the regimental depot of the departed 75th Infantry Regiment "Napoli". After its formation the 231st Infantry Regiment "Avellino" joined the Infantry Division "Avellino" as replacement for the 75th Infantry Regiment "Napoli". The battalion was assigned to the
Motorized Brigade "Pinerolo" as the brigade's recruits training battalion. The battalion consisted of a command, a command platoon, and three recruits companies. In 1987 the command platoon was increased to command and services company.
Recent times On 16 September 1991 the 231st Infantry Battalion "Avellino" lost its autonomy and the next day the battalion entered the reformed 231st Infantry Regiment "Avellino", which on 31 December 1992 was renamed 231st Regiment "Avellino". The regiment was disbanded on 28 September 2004 and once again the flag of the regiment was transferred to the Shrine of the Flags in the Vittoriano in Rome. ==References==