"Italians in Russia?" Topic

So I am liking the idea of painting up some Italians for Russia but am struggling as to what uniform they would have been using . Am I correct in thinking that they wore basically the French uniform (pre 1812 changes) but in white?

Ta

Pete

Don't have my books handy, but if I'm remembering correctly; the uniforms for the Kingdom of Italy are the basic French Uniform in white. White was adopted by the French in 1806, but the army never fully changed over before going back to blue.

Yes, white for line and green for light infantry.
link

- Sasha

Certainly after Yarolomaroslavetts, or whatever it was called, I get the impression that a dry brushing with white…all over…would work for the Italian contingent. Poor devils……..

Like 1942, you have to ask what nice folk like Italians, from a place like Italy, were doing there anyway.

The Italian regiments in Russia were 2nd line (battalions 1-4), 3rd line (battalions 1-4), 1st light (4th battalion), 3rd light (battalions 1-4) and the Dalmatian Light Infantry regiment (battalions 1-3).

You can find more uniform plates here: link

Deadhad…my impression is that, in 1812, those Italian were there to affirm their national origin…contrary to logical beliefs..the Napoleon épopée in Italy was seen by the educated class/milieu as the beginning of the emancipation from Austria and unity of the various single states…on the opposite, and more realistically, the mass , above all in the South..see it as another foreign power domination with the imposition of laws, taxes and , above all, conscription to send youth to the war…various revolts similar to Spain took place in Italy during the period..but for the educated bourgeoisie and to the servile intelectuals of Northern Italy ..the Russian, Prussian and Spanish Campaigns were seen as an occasion to show the unity of the Italian Kingdom

Thank you!! Now just need to decide which figures to go for in 15mm.

Maloyaroslavets……

Also known as Малоярославец
:-)

There was also the infantry of the Italian guard ….

brigata di fanteria della guardia Reale Italiana : generale di brigata barone Teodoro Lecchi, aiutante capitano Migliorini

reggimento veliti Reali
colonello Pietro Angelo Moroni, maggiore Gaetano Bianchi, capitano quartiermastro Rusca
-- battaglione di granatieri : capo di battalione Giuseppe Bastides (5x compagnia)
-- battaglione di cacciatori : capo di battalione Tommaso Maffei (5x compagnia)
-- compagnia di artiglieria reggimentaria : capitano Germain (2x 6-lvr)
-- forza presente 1° febbraio 52/1217
-- forza presente 1° giugno 43/1105

reggimento fanteria di linea della guardia
[generale di brigata barone Teodoro Lecchi], maggiore (promosso il 16° ottobre colonello maggiore) Clemente Crovi
-- battaglione di granatieri : capo di battalione Giuseppe Sacchini (5x compagnia)
-- battaglione di cacciatori : (nominato il 1° giugno) capo di battalione Filippo Bonafanti (5x compagnia)
-- compagnia di artiglieria reggimentaria : capitano Rezia (2x 6-lvr)
-- forza presente 1° febbraio 54/1235
-- forza presente 1° giugno 45/1137

reggimento coscritti della guardia
colonello Oliviero Antonio Constantino Peraldi, (nominato il 1° giugno) maggiore Paul Marguery, capitano quartiermastro Castagnevi
-- 1° battaglione : capo di battalione Cosimo Del Fante – poi, dal 19° luglio, capo di battalione Bernardo Negrisoli (5x compagnia)
-- 2° battaglione : (nominato il 1° giugno) capo di battalione Pierre Suberville (5x compagnia)
-- compagnia di artiglieria reggimentaria : capitano Miserocchi (2x 6-lvr)
-- forza presente 1° febbraio 38/1328
-- forza presente 1° giugno 40/1084

It is interesting that they seemed to have lost 12% of the guardsmen walking from the vicinity of Milan to Płock on the Vistula over a period of 4 months.

- Sasha

Many Thanks Sasha!

If anyone has any links (or book recommendations) for the uniforms of the Guard, in particular the Conscripts, I would be very grateful.

Pete

Italwars. Thanks for that……we tend to view Italy (as also Germany)as a single country, forgetting that Unification was only in 19th century (and may yet prove temporary!)

Pete,

This should do it ….
link
link

- Sasha

Fantastic Sasha….just what I was after!!

This may help

Paul :)

Thank you Paul!!