Royal Italian Army

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The Royal Italian Army (Italian: Regio Esercito, lit. 'Royal Army', abbreviated RE) was the land warfare branch of the armed forces of the Kingdom of Italy from 1861 until 1946. It was established following the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy during the unification of Italy, largely incorporating the military forces of the Kingdom of Sardinia and annexed Italian states. Following the abolition of the monarchy after the 1946 Italian institutional referendum, the army was reorganized as the modern Italian Army (Esercito Italiano). The Royal Italian Army played a major role in the political, colonial, and military history of modern Italy. Throughout its existence, it participated in the final campaigns of Italian unification, colonial conflicts in Africa and the Middle East, both world wars, and numerous overseas expeditions. The army was also home to several elite formations, including the Alpini, Bersaglieri, and Folgore units, many of which continue to exist within the modern Italian...

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