Cacciatori d'Africa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| African Hunters | |
|---|---|
| Cacciatori d'Africa | |
 Italian Cavalry in East Africa, 1885–86 | |
| Active | July 14, 1887–1937 |
| Country | Italy |
| Type | Regiment and battalion |
| Role | Infantry and mounted infantry |
The Cacciatori d'Africa (literally "African Hunters") were Italian light infantry and mounted infantry units raised for colonial service in Africa. Cacciatori units later served in Somalia, Eritrea, Tripolitania and Cyrenaica for the Italian colonial empire. Partially mechanised in the early 1920s, the Cacciatori d'Africa remained part of the Regio Corpo Truppe Coloniali (transl. Royal Corps of Colonial Troops) until 1942.
Eritrea
After the 1887 Battle of Dogali, the Governor of Italian Eritrea Depretis decided to increase Italian military forces to reconquer lost territory and secure the colony. The Royal Decree n. 4783 of 14 July 1887, created a new corps comprising three battalions of infantry, plus a squadron of mounted soldiers, in Eritrea as part of the Corpo Speciale per L'Africa (Special Corps of Africa).[1]
Recruited initially amongst volunteers from the line infantry and grenadier regiments of the metropolitan army, the Cacciatori d'Africa were subsequently partly conscripted from Italian colonial settlers. Intended as swift infantry Jäger-like skirmishers, the foot soldiers were supported by mounted infantry that rode on horses or camels.
In 1887, the Cacciatori d'Africa included five battalions. With a regal decree of December 11, 1892, recruitment included Italian colonists, and the five battalions were reduced to one, composed of six companies.[2] The Royal Corps of Colonial Troops was established on February 18, 1894, and the Cacciatori participated in the 1896 Battle of Adwa, where they were stationed at an Adigrat fort under the command of Major Marcello Prestinari.
The Cacciatori left Eritrea when the Royal Corps of Colonial Troops was reorganized in 1919.
Libya
After the Italo-Turkish War, the formation of Italian Libya, and the outbreak of World War One, the Libyan people rebelled, particularly the Senussi population. The "Cacciatori d'Africa" was a volunteer force established to protect the Italian colonists and equipped with trucks and armored cars.
Italian East Africa
The name "Cacciatori d'Africa" was eventually reused by the 40th Infantry Division Cacciatori d'Africa in Italian East Africa during the Second World War.
