On 5 October 1882, the
Royal Italian Army's
4th Alpini Regiment formed the Battalion "Val Brenta" in
Bassano. The battalion recruited in the
Brenta valley in
Veneto. On 1 April 1885, the battalion was transferred to the
6th Alpini Regiment. On 1 November 1886, the Alpini battalions changed their names from their recruiting zones to the cities and towns, where their base was located. Consequently the Battalion "Val Brenta" was renamed
Alpini Battalion "Bassano". On 23 May 1915, Italy declared war on
Austro-Hungary and the Alpini Battalion "Val Brenta" occupied position on the
Asiago plateau. As the mountainous terrain of the
Italian front made the deployment of entire Alpini regiments impracticable the Alpini battalions were employed either independently or assigned to groups, groupings, or infantry divisions as needed. In May 1916, the battalion fought in the
Battle of Asiago and in September of the same year occupied the recently conquered summit of
Monte Cauriol. On 2–3 September 1916, the battalion defeated two
Austro-Hungarian counterattacks. In the heavy fighting the battalion lost seven officers and 250 Alpini. In 1917, the battalion fought in the
Battle of Monte Grappa. On 1 January 1957, the 21st Frontier Grouping was renamed 21st Alpini Position Grouping and the following 7 April the grouping received its flag. On 1 September of the same year, the grouping's three barrier groups were renumbered as XXIII, XXIV, and XXV Alpini position battalions. The XXIII Alpini Position Battalion was based in
Innichen and tasked with maintaining and, in case of war, manning the Alpine wall positions at
Winnebach,
Vierschach, and
Toblach, which blocked passage through the upper
Drava valley. The XXIV Alpini Position Battalion was based in
Toblach and tasked with maintaining and, in case of war, manning the Alpine wall positions at
Prags and
Landro Nord, which blocked passage through the
Höhlensteintal. The XXV Alpini Position Battalion was based in
Bruneck and tasked with maintaining and, in case of war, manning the Alpine wall positions at
Olang,
Percha, and
Mühlbach, which blocked the passage through the central and lower
Puster Valley, as well as the Alpine wall position in
Antholz, which blocked passage through the upper
Antholz Valley, and the Alpine wall position in
Saalen, which blocked the entrance of the
Val Badia. At the same time the Barrier Group "Cadore" was renamed XIX Alpini Position Battalion. The Alpini Fortification Battalion "Val Brenta" consisted now of nine reserve companies and the following active units: •
Alpini Fortification Battalion "Val Brenta", in
Bruneck • Command and Services Company, in Bruneck • 262nd Alpini Fortification Company, in
Innichen • 263rd Maintenance and Surveillance Company, in Bruneck • 264th Alpini Fortification Company "Val Cismon", in
San Stefano di Cadore On 30 June 1979, the 264th Alpini Fortification Company "Val Cismon" was disbanded and its duties taken over by the 262nd Alpini Fortification Company, which the next day was renamed 262nd Alpini Fortification Company "Val Cismon". The same day, 30 June 1979, the
Alpini Fortification Battalion "Val Chiese" in
Sterzing was disbanded. The next day, 1 July 1979, the battalion's 253rd Alpini Fortification Company was renamed 253rd Alpini Fortification Company "Val Chiese" and joined the Alpini Fortification Battalion "Val Brenta". The Alpini Fortification Battalion "Val Brenta" consisted now of the following active units: •
Alpini Fortification Battalion "Val Brenta", in
Bruneck • Command and Services Company, in Bruneck • 253rd Alpini Fortification Company "Val Chiese", in
Sterzing • 262nd Alpini Fortification Company "Val Cismon", in
Innichen • 263rd Maintenance and Surveillance Company, in Bruneck With the arrival of the 264th Alpini Fortification Company "Val Cismon" and the 253rd Alpini Fortification Company "Val Chiese" the Alpini Fortification Battalion "Val Brenta" also received the traditions and military awards of the two disbanded battalions. Thus the
Gold Medal of Military Valor,
Silver Medal of Military Valor, and
Bronze Medal of Military Valor awarded to the Alpini Battalion "Val Cismon", as well as the
Gold Medal of Military Valor awarded to the Alpini Battalion "Val Chiese" were affixed to the flag of the Alpini Fortification Battalion "Val Brenta". On 30 June 1985, the 263rd Maintenance and Surveillance Company was disbanded, and the next day, 1 July 1985, the battalion formed the 353rd Recruits Training Company. On 1 August 1986, the Alpini Fortification Battalion "Val Brenta" became a reserve unit and the flag of the 21st Alpini Fortification Grouping was transferred to the Shrine of the Flags in the
Vittoriano in
Rome. At the Shrine of the Flags the military awards awarded to the Alpini battalions "Val Cismon" and "Val Chiese" were removed from the flag of the 21st Alpini Fortification Grouping and returned to the respective flags of the two Alpini battalions. The same day, 1 August 1986, the "Val Brenta" battalion's 262nd Alpini Fortification Company "Val Cismon" was renamed 262nd Alpini Fortification Company "Val Brenta" and assigned to the
Alpine Brigade "Tridentina", while the 353rd Recruits Training Company joined the
Alpini Battalion "Trento". After the end of the
Cold War the 262nd Alpini Fortification Company "Val Brenta" removed weapons and equipment from the bunkers and fortifications, and then in 1992 the company was disbanded. == Fortifications ==