45th Infantry Regiment "Reggio"

The 45th Infantry Regiment "Reggio" (Italian: 45° Reggimento Fanteria "Reggio") is an active unit of the Italian Army based in Sassari in Sardinia. The unit is named for the city of Reggio Emilia and part of the Italian Army's infantry arm. On 1 October 2022, the name, flag and traditions of the regiment were assigned to the Command and Tactical Supports Unit "Sassari" of the Mechanized Brigade "Sassari". On the same day the unit was renamed 45th Command and Tactical Supports Unit "Reggio". On 1 July 1859, during the Second Italian War of Independence, a Volunteer Battalion was formed in Modena. By 29 July, three volunteer battalions had been formed and the three battalions were used to form the 3rd Infantry Regiment. In August 1860, the regiment was assigned, together with the 4th Infantry Regiment, to the newly formed Brigade "Reggio" of the Army of the League of Central Italy. On 1 January 1860, the 3rd Infantry Regiment was renumbered 45th Infantry Regiment, and on 25 March 1860, the regiment joined the Royal Sardinian Army.

In 1866, the 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. During World War II, the regiment was assigned to the 30th Infantry Division "Sabauda", with which it fought briefly against German forces after the Armistice of Cassibile was announced on 8 September 1943. The regiment then joined the Italian Co-belligerent Army and served for the remainder of the war as an internal security unit. In 1948, the regiment joined the Infantry Division "Aosta" and seven years later, in 1955, the regiment was disbanded.

In 1977, the regiment's flag and traditions were assigned to the 45th Infantry Battalion "Arborea", which had been formed in Macomer on Sardinia as a recruits training unit. In 1993, the battalion lost its autonomy and entered the 45th Regiment "Reggio". On 31 December 2002, the 45th Regiment "Reggio" was disbanded and the next day its personnel used to reform the 5th Engineer Regiment. The regiment's anniversary falls on 17 December 1917, the day during the First Battle of Monte Grappa the Brigade "Reggio" withstood heavy Austro-Hungarian attacks on Monte Valderoa, for which both regiments of the Brigade "Reggio" were awarded a Bronze Medal of Military Valor.