The 41st Infantry Regiment "Modena" () is an inactive unit of the Italian Army last based in Gradisca d'Isonzo. The regiment is named for the city of Modena and part of the Italian Army's infantry arm. On 7 May 1859, a volunteer unit was formed in Sarzana, which on 16 June was split into two regiments. The two regiment were assigned to the newly formed Brigade "Modena". On 1 January 1860, the two regiments were renumbered 41st Infantry Regiment and 42nd Infantry Regiment, and on 25 March 1860, the regiments joined the Royal Sardinian Army.
In 1866, the 41st Infantry Regiment participated in the Third Italian War of Independence and in 1870 in the capture of Rome. In World War I the regiment fought on the Italian front. In 1935–36 the regiment fought in the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. During World War II, the regiment was assigned to the 37th Infantry Division "Modena", with which it fought in the invasion of France and Greco-Italian War. After the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943 the division and its regiments were disbanded by invading German forces.
In 1975, the regiment's flag and traditions were assigned to the 41st Mechanized Infantry Battalion "Modena", which was assigned to the Mechanized Brigade "Gorizia". In 1992, the battalion lost its autonomy and entered the reformed 41st Infantry Regiment "Modena". In 1995, the regiment was disbanded and the flag of the 41st Infantry Regiment "Modena" transferred to the Shrine of the Flags in the Vittoriano in Rome. The regiment's anniversary falls on 27 October 1918, the day the regiment conquered Monte Pertica during the Battle of Vittorio Veneto, for which the regiment was awarded a Silver Medal of Military Valor.
History Formation On 21 July 1858, French Emperor Napoleon III and the Prime Minister of Sardinia Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour met in Plombières and reached a secret verbal agreement on a military alliance between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Sardinia against the Austrian Empire. On 26 January 1859, Napoleon III signed the Franco-Sardinian Treaty, followed by King Victor Emmanuel II on 29 January 1859. On 9 March 1859, Sardinia mobilized its army, followed by Austria on 9 April. On 23 April, Austria delivered an ultimatum to Sardinia demanding its demobilization. Upon Sardinia's refusal, Austria declared war on 26 April and three days later the Austrians crossed the Ticino river into Piedmont. Consequently, France honored its alliance with Sardinia and declared war on Austria on 3 May 1859.
On 7 May 1859, the Royal Sardinian Army formed the Hunters of the Magra Corps (), with volunteers that had come from Central Italy. The corps was formed in the city of Sarzana, which was located next to the borders of the Kingdom of Sardinia with the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, the Duchy of Modena and Reggio, and the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza. The corps was named for the Magra river, which flows past Sarzana. On 16 June 1859, the corps' battalions were assigned to the newly formed 1st Regiment Cacciatori della Magra respectively 2nd Regiment Cacciatori della Magra. The two regiments participated in the Second Italian War of Independence, which ended on 12 July 1859 with the Armistice of Villafranca. The Armistice called for the rulers of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, the Duchy of Modena and Reggio, and the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza, which all had fled their nations, to be restored to their thrones. However neither Sardinia nor the Sardinian installed governments in the three nations wished for a return of the rulers.
On 1 August 1859, the Hunters of the Magra Corps, which at the time occupied the city of Parma, was renamed Brigade "Modena" and the two regiments were redesignated 1st Infantry Regiment and 2nd Infantry Regiment. On 30 November 1859, the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza, Duchy of Modena and Reggio, and the Papal Legations of the Romagne were united under the Royal Government of Emilia, which on 1 January 1860 was redesignated as the Royal Provinces of Emilia. On the same date, the 1st and 2nd infantry regiments took their place in the progressive numerical order of the regiments of the Royal Sardinian Army and became the 41st Infantry Regiment (Brigade "Modena") and 42nd Infantry Regiment (Brigade "Modena"). On 11 and 12 March 1860, the Royal Provinces of Emilia voted in a plebiscite for annexation by the Kingdom of Sardinia. On 18 March 1860, the annexation act was presented to Victor Emmanuel II and one week later, on 25 March 1860, the Brigade "Modena" and its two regiments were formally incorporated into the Royal Sardinian Army.
Third Italian War of Independence On 1 August 1862, the 41st Infantry Regiment (Brigade "Modena") ceded one of its depot companies to help form the 63rd Infantry Regiment (Brigade "Cagliari"). On the same day the regiment ceded its 17th Company and 18th Company to help form the 65th Infantry Regiment (Brigade "Valtellina"). In 1866, the Brigade "Modena" participated in the Third Italian War of Independence. In September 1870, the brigade participated in the capture of Rome. On 25 October 1871, the brigade level was abolished, and the two regiments of the Brigade "Modena" were renamed 41st Infantry Regiment "Modena", respectively 42nd Infantry Regiment "Modena". On 2 January 1881, the brigade level was reintroduced, and the two regiments were renamed again as 41st Infantry Regiment (Brigade "Modena") and 42nd Infantry Regiment (Brigade "Modena").
On 1 November 1884, the 41st Infantry Regiment ceded some of its companies to help form the 91st Infantry Regiment (Brigade "Basilicata"). In 1887–88 the regiment's 9th Company deployed to Massawa for the Italo-Ethiopian War of 1887–1889. Although most of the 9th Company was wiped out in the Battle of Dogali on 26 January 1887, the war led to the establishment of the Italian colony of Eritrea. In 1895–96, the regiment provided six officers and 240 enlisted for units deployed to Italian Eritrea for the First Italo-Ethiopian War. On 16 January 1900, a series of explosions occurred at the dynamite factory in Avigliana and the regiment's 1st Company was dispatched to help contain the fire. For its service and courage the 1st Company was awarded Silver Medal of Civil Valor, which was affixed to the regiment's flag and added to the regiment's coat of arms. In 1900–01 the regiment's 10th Company, along with companies of the 8th Infantry Regiment "Cuneo", 43rd Infantry Regiment "Forlì", and 69th Infantry Regiment "Ancona", was assigned to a provisional battalion, which served with the Eight-Nation Alliance in China during the Boxer Rebellion. In 1911–12, the regiment provided 15 officers and 1,324 enlisted to augment units deployed to Libya for the Italo-Turkish War.
World War I
At the outbreak of World War I, the Brigade "Modena" formed, together with the Brigade "Salerno" and the 28th Field Artillery Regiment, the 8th Division. At the time the 41st Infantry Regiment consisted of three battalions, each of which fielded four fusilier companies and one machine gun section. On 1 March 1915, the depot of the 41st Infantry Regiment in Savona formed a battalion, which was assigned on the same day to the newly formed 158th Infantry Regiment (Brigade "Liguria"). After Italy's entry into the war on 23 May 1915, the Brigade "Modena" was deployed in the Tolmin sector, where it attacked the Austro-Hungarian Army positions on the summit ridge of Mrzli Vrh. This first attack cost the brigade 1,055 casualties. From 21 to 25 July 1915, during the Second Battle of the Isonzo, the 41st Infantry Regiment's I Battalion supported an attack by Alpini troops against Austro-Hungarian positions on the summit of the Batognica. On 14 August 1915, the regiment, together with the regiments of the Brigade "Salerno" launched another attack against the summit ridge of Mrzli Vrh, which was unsuccessful and cost the regiment 689 casualties.
In May 1916, the brigade was sent to the Asiago plateau, where the Italian lines were crumbling under intense Austro-Hungarian attacks during the Battle of Asiago. On 2 June 1916, the Brigade "Modena" entered the frontline in the Monte Cengio sector and deployed along the summit ridge of Monte Paù. On 16 June, the 41st Infantry Regiment was sent to hold the line on Monte Zovetto, while the 42nd Infantry Regiment held the line at Magnaboschi. On 25 June, the Austro-Hungarian forces ended their offensive and fell back to the Northern side of the Asiago plateau. The defensive battle had cost the brigade more than 2,000 casualties. On 12 August 1916, the brigade was sent to the Karst plateau on the lower Isonzo river. On 9 October 1916, the Eighth Battle of the Isonzo commenced and the brigade attack the Austro-Hungarian positions to the East of the Lago di Doberdò. Within three days the brigade achieved its objects at the cost of 1,885 casualties. On 13 October 1916, the brigade was taken out of the first line and sent to the Giudicarie, where the brigade was assigned the calm front sector in the Val Chiese.
On 22 January 1917, the depot of the 41st Infantry Regiment in Savona formed the command of the Brigade "Lario", and three days later, on 25 January 1917, the depot formed the 234th Infantry Regiment for the new brigade. In August 1917, the brigade was sent to Vrtojba on the lower Isonzo, where it fought in the Eleventh Battle of the Isonzo. The brigade remained in the Vrtojba sector until the Battle of Caporetto forced the Italians to retreat behind the Piave river. On 8 November, the remnants of the brigade reached Padua. At the end of November the brigade was sent to Valstagna and tasked with blocking the Brenta valley there. On 13 December 1917, the brigade was transferred to the Monte Grappa massif to reinforce the Italian positions on Monte Asolone during the First Battle of Monte Grappa. On 16 December the brigade fought in the Italian attack to retake the summits of Col Caprile, Col della Beretta, and Monte Asolone. On 18 December, the brigade came under heavy Austro-Hungarian attacks on Monte Asolone and after suffering 2,613 casualties had to abandon the summit. On 21 December 1917, the brigade was sent to the rear to be rebuilt.
The brigade was again on the Monte Grappa during the Second Battle of the Piave River. On 15 June 1918, the day the Austro-Hungarian offensive began, the brigade had to fall back to its second line of defense, but the next day the brigade counterattacked and retook its lost positions. During the decisive Battle of Vittorio Veneto the brigade was once more on the Monte Grappa, from where it pursued the fleeing Austro-Hungarian troops to Fiera di Primiero. For its conduct and bravery during the war, especially during the Battle of Asiago, the Second Battle of the Piave River, and the Battle of Vittorio Veneto, the 41st Infantry Regiment was awarded a Silver Medal of Military Valor, which was affixed to the regiment's flag and added to the regiment's coat of arms.
Interwar years On 10 November 1926, the Brigade "Modena" was renamed V Infantry Brigade. The brigade was the infantry component of the 5th Territorial Division of Genoa, which also included the 29th Field Artillery Regiment. On the same date the brigade's two infantry regiments were renamed 41st Infantry Regiment "Modena", respectively 42nd Infantry Regiment "Modena". The V Infantry Brigade also received the 89th Infantry Regiment "Salerno" from the disbanded Brigade "Salerno". On 30 November 1926, the Brigade "Calabria" and the 60th Infantry Regiment were disbanded and the two battalions of the disbanded regiment transferred to the 41st Infantry Regiment "Modena" and 42nd Infantry Regiment "Modena".