Granatieri di Sardegna

[casimiro]

Was the Granatieri di Sardegna considered an elite formation equivalent to one of the Guards regiments in the British army? Did this unit see action in any of the theaters of war?

[Ironmachine]

Look here: http://www.comandosupremo.com/forums/to ... l-sardegna

[Messe62]

It was one of the oldest units of the Italian army tracing its origins back several centuries . In world war II it was the 21st infantry division and originally had 3 infantry regiments( most Italian divisions had 2) but one was taken away early in the war. The division was shipped to Yugoslavia and took part in some operations there. Later in defended Rome. By that time it was an extremely powerful force having over 13,000 men ( the average italian division had about 9,000). They put up savage resistance to the Germans but were eventually overwhelmed when the Germans brought up tanks. Although surrounded and forced to surrender, thousands of men slipped thru the encirclement and made thir way south to join the Co-Belligigerent forces or sided with partisans. At the beginning of the war they DID have higher standards for recruitment than regular divisions. All were volunteers and could not have a criminal record of any kind and recruits needed a written reccomendation as to thier character. Later however these requirements were dropped. Still they considered themselves an "elite" heir to a 300 year old tradition. There still exists today a Granatieri Di Sardegna motorized infantry brigade in the Italian army.

[zaptiè]

is the OLDEST ( raised in 1659!)unit in Savoy- Sardinian - Italian Army. Original the Guards of Savoy House. The today brigade has the motto " A me le guardie!" - guards to me !( a cry from KIng Vittorio Emanuele II , at time heir of throne, in the battle of Goito in 1848 .
Today they have a cerimonial uniforms based on 1848 uniforms with bearschin and have several cerimonial duties in Rome, so they are real similar to houseold division in london!

[Lupo Solitario]

it's considered an elite formation. Effectively it had a not so significative service in WWII, but it has a four century long history, the 1st Battalion bears name of an Austrian Succession War battle...