Italian Alpini Mountain Troops

The Alpini, also known as Le Penne Nere (the Black Feathers) after the characteristic raven feather on their headdress, are the Italian Army's elite specialists in mountain warfare. Established by Royal Decree No. 1056 in 1872, they are the oldest mountain specialists in the world.

In 1935, Italy's fascist government under Mussolini reorganized the Alpini into six divisions and sent three of them to the Eastern Front to fight alongside the Germans against the Soviet Union. However, the Germans deployed these elite troops (trained and equipped for mountain combat against infantry) against tanks on the flat plains of the Don. Nevertheless, the resilient Alpini managed to escape encirclement and survive.

During the war, Italian Alpini divisions fought in Albania, France, Greece, and Yugoslavia, as well as in the Soviet Union and even East Africa. After the armistice in 1943, the 3rd Alpini Division joined the Allies, while the 4th

Contains:

• Enough plastic components to make 30 Alpini miniatures
• Includes a variety of options to allow for different weapon configurations and command models.
• Options for M33 steel helmets or Alpine caps.
• Weapons included: M91/41 Rifle, M91/38 Carcano Cavalry Carbine, M38A Beretta SMG, M38 Carcano Carbine, M1934 9mm Beretta Pistol, Breda M30 LMG, and combat knives.
• Plastic bases.
• Assembly instructions.
• Full-color waterslide decals