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Recruitment Districts:
Nola, Pinerolo, Pistoia, Reggio Calabria, Roma, Siracusa, Sulmona, Teramo, Venezia, Voghera.
"Salerno Brigade"
89/90th Infantry Regiments
Western Front Battles:
Spring Offensive
Second Battle of the Marne
Fourth Battle of the Champagne
Battle of Saint-Thierry
1915
On May the 22nd 1915, the 89th Regiment of Infantry left the peacetime headquarters detachment in Genoa by rail to the Slovenian border city of Cividale del Friuli. There starting in June participated in the consecutive battles of the Isonzo, starting in June 1915. The battles of the Isonzo would last from 1915, till 1917 with the 12th battle of the Isonzo, cumulative casualties of the numerous battles of the Isonzo were enormous. Half of the entire Italian war death total – some 300,000 of 600,000 occurred during these battles. Specifically, in May-June 1915, the 89th Regiment focused on assaulting Monte Merzli (33TUM9963019283) or Mrzli vrh in Slovenian. Throughout the months of 1915, the 89th contributed multiple assaults in order to take the mountain.
1916
At the beginning of March, the Salerno Brigade is moved to the Altopiano d'Asiago, on April 11 the brigade takes sides in the Osteria del Termine - Vezzena sector. On May 15 the brigade found itself on the front line when the enemy launched its offensive, an intense bombing was followed by a violent infantry attack at first contained, then repeated artillery shots weakened the resistance of the infantrymen of Salerno who were forced to fold up; on May 21st due to the fall of important lateral positions, Salerno is forced to retreat again until it reaches the extreme edge of the plateau already manned by the divisions coming from the Isonzo.
Practically annihilated, the brigade lost 4213 soldiers either dead, wounded, missing, or are taken prisoner, the brigade is sent to the rear to recover. In June, Salerno is back on the line and contributes to actions against the interrupted mountain, Busa del Termine, Col del Rosso, without obtaining particular advantages. Once the line on the plateaus stabilized, the Brigade was sent in August to the Karst front in the Doberdò sector, on 14 September it attacked the enemy positions of Nova Vas conquering them, however, the subsequent advance against the 208 north altitude was inexorably stopped. The attack against the aforementioned share was again launched on 10 October, the momentum leads the infantrymen to occupy part of the Austrian defenses and the town of Nova Vas, but the price of blood paid is so high that Salerno is sent to rest.
1917
Until May the Brigade performs normal trench and rest shifts, then on the 23rd of May it is called to participate in the attack against the Fornaza - Stari Lovka line - (altitude 289); the battle is bitter and continues with attacks and counterattacks for three days, some positions are conquered and maintained towards Boscomalo (Hudi Log), the price paid is 2319 soldiers killed or wounded. On August 19, the Salerno brigade is assigned by the army command with the objective of overcoming the defenses of Flondar, towards Hermada; the assaults are carried out vigorously. On August 28, the survivors of the 11th battle of the Isonzo are sent on recovery. In September the Salerno brigade begins to transfer near Feltre. On 23 October, the enemy begins a heavy bombardment with accurate artillery fire and gas. The brigade is in Upper Soca when the enemy breaks the Italian front with the disaster at Caporetto, the supreme command sends the brigade to guard Mount Matajur. Unfortunately, the events of the days of 25, 26, 27 October see the infantrymen of the Brigade fighting against considerably higher forces, the 89th infantry folds in disorder with only 387 men, while the 90th are left with 400 men, and attempt to escape the encirclement from the 12th German division. They formed a succssful defense and continued to provide rearguard actions all the way to the Piave. Practically annihilated, the Brigade is sent to reorder itself until 1918 when it will fall under the II Corp and move to the Western front.
1918
After the defeat of Caporetto, once again fully staffed, the 89th was inserted within the 3rd division under the orders of General Alberico Albricci, the commander of the II Italian Army Corps in France, on the western front in March 1918. The 3rd Division consisted of two squadrons of the 15th "Cavalleggeri di Lodi" Regiment and the 2nd Arditi Department, the "Napoli" Infantry Brigade (75th and 76th Infantry Regiment), the "Salerno" Brigade (89th and 90th Infantry Regiment) and the 10th Artillery Regiment. On June 12 the Brigade was deployed to the Argonne, on the right bank of the River Aire. The great German offensive on 15 July, attacked first against the 8th Italian division (left-wing) then against the 3rd (right-wing), the battalions of the Brigade folded due to lack of prepared positions and accurate artillery fire; they retreated in order until they occupied the line of the valley of Courmas. In the following days, despite formidable enemy numbers, there were no other folds; on July 23 the brigade went on the offensive with a counter-attack and re-occupied the important spur of the Bois Naveau as well as gaining ground West of Onrezy. At the end of September, the brigade passes through the Aisne sector, and on the night of 29, the brigade attacks the enemy decisively; and surpasses the French troops and enters the village of Chavonne first. Then, while alternating the regiments to always support the attack, it continues until Croix san Tete and Cour Soupir are captured. The brigade continued to attack the retreating enemy until sufficient resistance was given. Salerno resumed its advance on 8 October, by crossing the Ailette river and seizing the town of Sissonne. By 14 October the Salerno brigade captured the strategic point of Chemin des Dames, which, MG Albricci was given a formal letter of appreciation by the French government; as this was one of the most significant tactical victories of the war. On 21 October the brigade switches out and goes to the rear to rest. The brigade is back on the front lines on November 5, the brigade resumes its advance by occupying several villages; at dawn on 11 November cavalry departments of the Brigade and troops of the 121st French division enter Rocroi, at 11 am on the same day hostilities cease.
The brigade received the French war cross with palm for their efforts. The award citation by the French was as follows:
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"On the fields of France, they gave brilliant proofs of value and firm discipline, tenaciously resisting the positions entrusted to them and breaking powerful opposing attacks. Then began the Allied counter-offensive, overcoming obstinate resistance, and conquering, with good impetus and serious sacrifices of blood, important and well-defended positions, confirmed the high war-like virtues of their unrivaled infantryman."