The 8th "Garibaldi" Mechanized Brigade was constituted in 1975 on the base of the 8th Bersaglieri Regiment and the 182nd "Garibaldi" Infantry Armoured Regiment. The name "Garibaldi" points out the ancient bond between the Bersaglieri and The Hero of the Two Worlds; that bond goes back to 1849 when Luciano Manara, with his "Lombardi" Bersaglieri Battalion, joined the "Garibaldino Volunteer Corps" and they participated in the defence of the Roman Republic, by fighting in Villa Corsini before dying in Villa Spada. The bond was strengthened with the "Bersaglieri Mantovani" formation that included the famous Goffredo MAMELI, Nino BIXIO and Pilade BRONZETTI.
After the reorganization of the Armed Force in 1975, the tradition of the Garibaldi's Army was reinforced by assigning to the Brigade the 11th "Caprera" Bersaglieri Battalion, the keeper of the Flag of the 182nd "Garibaldi" Regiment. Why the Bersaglieri Brigade was dedicated to Giuseppe GARIBALDI? In spite of a temporary opposition, limited to the particular historical moment of the Aspromonte, the binomial Garibaldi-Bersaglieri has got its origin in the iconography of the Hero of the Two Worlds who carried out feats on the national territory along with some Bersaglieri; moreover his volunteers had got the spirit typical of the Bersaglieri. The soldier in the Garibaldi's Army has operated, with great commitment and sacrifice, in decisive moments of the Unification of Italy but also in the city of Caserta and its provinces, in the clashes of Ponti della Valle, Caserta, Caiazzo, Castel Morrone and in the battle of Volturno where Pilade Bronzetti died as a hero.
On 1st July 1991 the "Garibaldi" Brigade was moved to Caserta, passed at the dependencies of the South Military Region and was named "8th Garibaldi Bersaglieri Brigade"; the units at its dependencies are: "Garibaldi" Command and Signals Unit, the 31st "M.O. Andreani" Tanks Battalion, the 19th "Guides" Squadrons Group, the 3rd "Cernaia" Bersaglieri Battalion, the 67th "Fagare" Bersaglieri Battalion, the 91st "Lucania" Infantry Battalion, the 11th "Teramo" Artillery Group and the "Garibaldi" Logistics Battalion.
In September 1994 the Brigade was dissolved by the General Staff of the Army in order to be constituted by the first volunteers: the Armed Force was becoming an Army of professionals, starting from the "Garibaldi".
On 1st September 1994 the Brigade was named "Garibaldi Bersaglieri Brigade"; the battalions became regiments and the Great Unit assumed its current organization.
THE CREST
- alloyed shield with finishing in antique silver
- curved saber, typical of the Bersaglieri specialty
- horn, symbol of the light Unit
- rope, used to hold the flask of gunpowder
- Giuseppe Garibaldi's aphorism