Arditi: The Insane Combat Techniques of Italy’s WW1 Assault Troops

[@GaawutProductions]

Clarifications: They used bolt-action rifles, not "Muskets", I made a mistake in translation. Although the Arditi had several songs, the one that was so distinctive that it could be considered their anthem was Giovinezza, a hymn of graduates that was first adopted by the Alpini, and then by the Arditi, who modified the words creating their own unique version. Like many of the Arditi's symbols, Giovinezza was later used by Fascism, which made it its anthem by changing the words into 2 different versions and then using a third version almost identical to the Arditi's as the anthem of the Italian Social Republic in 1943. For this reason, the song is controversial for some Italians, and I preferred not to include it in the video.

[@marcellominasi41]

Mio nonno era negli arditi, ho a casa il suo pugnale, un vecchio pezzo di ferro arrugginito con il manico troppo piccolo, su cui sono incise le parole “ Piave Fert”. Si stenta a credere che sia quella l’arma micidiale tanto temuta dal nemico, ma è così. Era l’uomo che la impugnava a fare la differenza.

[@BdogFinal14]

Do you know what type of bad azz you have to be, to charge enemy machine guns armed primarily with daggers and hand grenades? These men were beasts, brave beyond our comprehension.

[@matteohetzy7599]

I'm Italian and I have seen a few TV programs talking about Arditi, but I had NEVER seen Arditi interviewed before your video, meaning that when doing documentaries about the Arditi even RaiUno (the TV the interview is from) have always completely neglected their own past interviews to Arditi veterans and this is so crazy, thanks for sharing

[@ZAGOR64]

My grandfather was an Arditi, he fought the Spanish Civil War and thought WW2. It even got decorated for valor by General Franco himself! He didn't like to talk about war that much, but on the few evenings were he would get more wine than he could handle we (kids) sit around him to listen to some hairy story. Miss him. RIP grampa Luciano❤

[@vox7589]

While there are no compendiums that I know of for the Arditi, one of the several manuals they trained with and the inspiration behind their name, is the Fior di Battaglia (Flower of Battle) also featured among the dagger & grappling images in this video. The name Arditi comes from a quote in the Flower. The manual states that a man-at-arms must possess 4 virtues. Strength, Discernment, Speed, and Courage. The word and accompanying quote for Courage are "Ardimento - Più de mi Lione non porta core ardito, pero di battaglia faço a zaschaduno invito." It's written in very old Friuli (an old Italian dialect, so modern Italians reading this may be slightly confused). It roughly translates to "More than I, the Lion, no one bears a more ardent heart, and battle, to everyone, I invite thee." It's basically the medieval Italian version of "Come at me, bro." The Flower of Battle contains several techniques still practiced by modern people, as one of many systems under the umbrella term of Historical European Martial Arts, or HEMA for short.

[@lamelama12]

These are the men who fought in a war that you saw into the eyes of the enemy

[@Vegas_Des]

Not in verdun

[@leonardoflores4362]

exelent documental ive heard about these warriors from italian veterans here in argentina and now i know how it really was

[@Bf109e4trop-jp6zo]

the first special forces in history were the Red Devils of the Sassari Brigade (the 151st and 152nd regiments) stationed in Sardinia in 1915. They were the first to experiment with bladed weapon assaults using the famous Sardinian knife "sa resolza". After these episodes which earned the Sassari Brigade the award of two gold medals for military valour, the military command formed the battalion of the arditi on a voluntary basis

[@christiansivilotti9445]

Great job, very accurate Thanks from Italy!

[@luceinbattaglia9425]

Grazie from Italy to remember those heroes! Unfortunately Italians of today are not patriots as it used to be, that’s why I love Thai patriotism! My grandfather was in the Alpini corps! He escaped from concentration camps in Piemonte🔝🦾 I love your channel I follow since long time ago🇮🇹❤🇹🇭🙏🔝👏

[@vorlons100]

my step farther was in the Alpini he fought in Russia and Grease

[@Letitslam]

How I can be a patriot with a nation and politicians that ruin my life with taxes, no work, high cost of life and lowest salaries of europe...

[@Occident.]

Viva Italia.

[@user-zg5ey5xo9i]

​@@LetitslamThere's a difference between being a patriot for your country and a patriot for your government.

[@filippovinciguerra4451]

GLORIA E RICONOSCENZA AGLI ARDITI. GRAZIE DELLA MEMORIA.

[@sleshflex4170]

Italy always had some of the best special forces and most ingenious troops, sadly it also had the worst generals and commanders ever.

[@Fred-px5xu]

Great mini documentary on the Arditi. Bravo!

[@GaawutProductions]

Thank you!

[@blitzKRIS]

As an Italian I MUST subscribe to this channel immediately!!!!! GRAZIE!

[@fral.2708]

Wow, I would have never thought that the Arditi would study Judo and JJJ (Japanese Jiu-Jitsu). I've always wondered what kind of training they had, and this video has finally satisfied many of my curiosities! Many thanks from Rome, Sir, for this gem!

[@charlieclark5838]

A good overall view of the Arditi a formation which has long been overlooked, interesting and balanced !

[@abrahamlincoln6201]

This is very different from your content on muay boran and I'm glad your doing more and showing different things your interested in

[@GaawutProductions]

I really appreciate the positive reception of the new content. I will continue to cover new martial arts and combat systems, so that everyone can benefit from it, both in terms of knowledge and repertoire that they can implement in their training.

[@abrahamlincoln6201]

@@GaawutProductions also where did you find the manuals especially that one with the 6 techniques

[@GaawutProductions]

@@abrahamlincoln6201 I don't own the manuals, they are extremely rare. I trained with an expert in Italian military combat. Some pictures you saw (like the throw paired with the web of hand strike) come from another old book on Italian jujitsu by Carlo Oletti. I will surely made another video on this form of jujitsu and show the other techniques.

[@valerioscarpone1790]

As an ex member of the Btg Alp. Susa Taurinese AMF NATO. I can tell you that the Arditi regiment still exists and is still full operational special forces 9 regiment Col Moschin. They participated in various wars and conflicts. Today it's a modern Alpini infanteries assult regiment one of Italy elite.

[@GunstockBayA90]

There is a picture series, like 3 and it shows a soldier rolling onto a road and placing a mine under an Allied tank. The soldier is smiling and the tank is moving fast. As a kid my grandpa told me- you see that fella, he is Special Forces from Italy, they were the nastiest devils of the war, and its good they joined the Allies. I knew then at 5, what i was destined to do.

[@jameswilliams3241]

I had a friend when I was a kid he was an born American but his parents, grandparents,except for one his maternal grandmother who was Sicilian born in Libya; the Sicilian witch as she was referred to by her Emilia Romagna in-laws,were northern Italian. The story of how his grandparents got together is fascinating, but I digress. My friend Ernies, Ernesto, grandfather was Arditti. I was a combat Marine in Vietnam and yet that old man could do things with a knife that was uncanny. One time Ernie and one of his cousins were playing grab ass and it got out of hand when tempers flared. The old man, in his late '50's early '60's, came in and "tied them in knots. The old man hated two things Fascist and Austrians.

[@Dondolini94]

Thank you for sharing a very significant piece of our armed forces history, really appreciated your choice of introducing parts of that interview in you short documentary. Ciao e grazie from Italy!

[@albertojulini5700]

Interesting documentary.There was even a Japanese guy,among the Arditi,Shimoi Harukichi.

[@manuelmaggioli9077]

Vero...

[@GaawutProductions]

I've just found out that he has never been in the Arditi. He was a friend of Gabriele D'annunzio he had the Arditi uniform like every soldier in Fiume at that time, but he lacked the stars over the black flames, meaning that he has never been in the Italian Army.

[@littlebritain64]

As and italian I found this video complete, neutral and well narrated! Just what the Arditi story needed! Bravo!!👍 edit: I think the cry: "A Noi" could be also translated into: "Now it's our turn!".

[@jimschlat]

how have i never heard of these guys until today they are badass

[@lowandslow3939]

As a former Army Infantry soldier, I have much respect for the elites among us, but what a waste of humanity and resources. 100 years later, we still haven’t learned anything. The powerful send us minions to die. For what?

[@alessandromarcomini4280]

Awesome video, sincere congratulations

[@carlogardella5808]

Well written and historically correct. Great job

[@winnilerberzerkir1738]

Italian army is very capable with top notch special forces. They are child of the roman legionari.

[@bojandjuric9325]

Onore dall Serbia per Italiani nostri amici dall grande guerra e per Bravi Arditi! Siami Arditi con il coltello tra i denti! W L'ITALIA

[@Briselance]

《A chi la vittoria ?》 《A NOI !! A NOI !! A NOI !!》

[@ChristianTantardini]

My grandfather was also one of them coming from Alpini. Now, the I see what Italy is and what we were I can only cry.

[@carlotesta6299]

🇮🇹anche mio nonno era un Ardito, ha combattuto la prima e la seconda guerra mondiale e fu decorato per tre volte, grazie per averli ricordati saluti dall’Italia 💪💪💪

[@Briselance]

09:56 Never disband all of your spec forces. Never, EVER do that.

[@Vegas_Des]

Great video! Thank you for the breakdown of Arditi knife fighting techniques using the images.

[@FedericoMalagutti]

This video is beautiful. Thanks for making it.

[@GaawutProductions]

Thank you for your kind words. I'm looking forward to your next video HEMA friend 🙏

[@marcocap960]

Other interesting features of the arditi : 1) they cut the line in the brothels 2) they ate the official menu not the troop one 3) they didnt do corvee services in the back lines 4) they often rest in the cities and join the first line only immediatly before the assault 5) the kill ratio was much higher almost 30% of dead or wounded for every assault

[@ronbianca1975]

Very interesting! Quite a group of interesting souls, that loved their country since school!

[@nickmills8476]

A few simple dagger techniques, mastered well. This.

[@mattooo2217]

This is a great video. Thanks.

[@speedygamer5646]

they didnt use muskests, it is a slight translation issue: a the rifles where sometimes called moschetti (muskets) and the SMG's moschetti automatici (automatic muskets) but they where just that, rifles. idk why we called them muskets anyhow

[@GaawutProductions]

Thank you for pointing it out, I totally missed that.

[@miouno]

ORGOGLIO ITALIANO. GRAZIE RAGAZZI x IL VOSTRO SACRIFICIO.

[@Ugo9993]

Onore 🇮🇹

[@SoldierDrew]

The best Arditi documentary. I hope you'll do a documentary on Okinawan Uechi Ryu (pang hai noon) and Early Kano Jiujitsu.

[@Another_opinion_]

Such a quality for an KZbin video. Well done.

[@charlotteantiquepowerengin6277]

If only Italian politicians were sane, such men could change the world.

[@michiamoneoneo580]

Onori sempre agli italiani indomiti raccontati e anche quelli dimenticati

[@HeySimo.]

Beautiful video, thank you! Grazie mille!!

[@ExtinctionRise]

Excellent video, I'm very interested in their combat techniques. I'm a big fan of close quarters combat.

[@eagleswoop535]

If these troops, which also were pioneers of modern special forces, had been any other European, there would have been volumes written on them. Imahine if they were English. I knew of these units lobg sgo when i read hair raising tales of Monte Grappa. It's an excellent production, and i dont mean to darken it with my comment, but i noticed this a lot about Italy. They were also pioneers in the use of frog men in ww2m

[@vivianaguermandi9715]

My granfather was one of them, I have his dagger hanging on the wall of the living room😅 Both my granfathers were in WWI in different corps...I was lucky to listen to their story as a child...they taught me to hate the war and to stay allert on war propaganda

[@santiagotroiano2025]

Excelente mini documental. Sería muy interesante asistir a una clase de combate con daga 🗡️. Te saludo desde Argentina.

[@giovannicella7817]

6:18 Allarmi arditi dell'aria col pugnal fra i denti e bombe a mano dal cielo scendiamo in battaglia irruenti e pronti a tutto osar Allarmi allarmi allarmi pronti al lancio rombano i motor non tremar se fischia la mitraglia ma lotta con fiducia e con ardor Sorridi o mamma puoi essere fiera tuo figlio ardito ritornerà e non perisce sul campo di battaglia ma vive eternamente in ogni cuor Sorridi o mamma puoi essere fiera tuo figlio ardito ritornerà e non perisce sul campo di battaglia No! ma vive eternamente in ogni cuor ... Sorridi o mamma puoi essere fiera tuo figlio ardito ritornerà e non perisce sul campo di battaglia ma vive eternamente in ogni cuor Sorridi o mamma puoi essere fiera tuo figlio ardito ritornerà e non perisce sul campo di battaglia No! ma vive eternamente in ogni cuor Allarmi arditi dell'aria col pugnal fra i denti e bombe a mano dal cielo scendiamo in battaglia irruenti e pronti a tutto osar Allarmi allarmi allarmi pronti al lancio rombano i motor non tremar se fischia la mitraglia ma lotta con fiducia e con ardor Sorridi o mamma puoi essere fiera tuo figlio ardito ritornerà e non perisce sul campo di battaglia ma vive eternamente in ogni cuor Sorridi o mamma puoi essere fiera tuo figlio ardito ritornerà e non perisce sul campo di battaglia No! ma vive eternamente in ogni cuor... Folgore⚡️⚡️⚡️ very well done! Thankyou!

[@antoniotorcoli5740]

Thank you for this great documentary

[@aieraierduk8623]

The first special Force

[@edoardomancini4036]

Pretoriani

[@guidomolinaroli8387]

I canali ufficiali NON diranno MAI la verità fino in fondo. COL MOSCHIN

[@Rasvakill9]

Mamma non piangere, c'è l'avanzata, tuo figlio è forte, su in alto il cuor! Asciuga il pianto, mia fidanzata, ché nell'assalto si vince o si muor. Avanti Ardito, le Fiamme Nere son come simbolo delle tue schiere; scavalca i monti, divora il piano, pugnal fra i denti, le bombe a mano!

[@christopherforbes2724]

Excellent video 🎉

[@filippomarchini8757]

Very good short documentary. Thanks for sharing in english the true story of this brave italian soldier. This is another step to remove the common opinion that italians can't fight. Great contribution the interview by Gianni Bisiach, very good italian journalist who made a lot of efforts to restore the good name of italian armed forces, after their destiny was confused and compromised by the fascist regime.

[@blaster5800]

Almost no weapons vs heavily armed enemies. Small numbers vs huge numbers. And still, they had NO FEAR.

[@ScottGrow117]

I invented a special troop type for a scifi story i am writing. I call them Dartidi. My inspiration for the name was nothing close to an actual historical warrior, i misunderstood lyrics to a song years ago, thought it said dartidi, wondered what it was, no one to ask, so i made it up on the spot. I learned about the Arditi from Battlefield 1, long after i came up Dartidi. I found it interesting. My Dartidi are also specialized mountain troops.

[@timothygourley5690]

Do you have any links to the book you referenced for there hand to hand training?? I googled and couldn't find anything

[@GaawutProductions]

Nope, it's extremely rare, even in Italy there are only few libraries with a copy. I couldn't use the actual pictures because I'm not sure about their copyright status, but the pictures of the first technique come from another manual on that form of Italian Jujitsu by Carlo Oletti. I'll make a video on Italian Jujitsu and feature more techniques and applications.

[@antoniotorcoli5740]

All the techniques were selected by the Italian Army from Flos duellatorum of Fiore dei Liberi ,which is widely available.

[@GaawutProductions]

@@antoniotorcoli5740 Actually it has never been confirmed, it might be true for some techniques on the manual, but there are others not found in Fiore's style. The Guard Position for example is one of those. It's also worth noticing that there were various instructors, but only one style survived beside that of Gino Gobbi, and it has some differences. From what I've seen though, Italian Jujitsu and other Italian military combat systems that came after have similarities to Fiore's manual, but Japanese Jujitsu already had techniques identical to Fiore's Abrazare when it came to Italy, so it's not clear if it is just a coincidence or if there was an actual influence in the selection of the techniques. I'll look deeper into the topic and made a video about it. Anyway, that's a good advice, check out Fiore's Manual!

[@jonnytwocombs198]

The Death Company on Amazon thank me later

[@GaawutProductions]

@@jonnytwocombs198 I checked out the book, very interesting, it is a translation of Bassegio's book, but be aware that the Arditi Volunteers of Basseggio are other precursors of the Arditi of the Assault Units, and had nothing to do with the latter regarding their structure, training, strategy, etc.

[@ReviveHF]

Probably they were the closest successors to the Western Roman Palatina Guards and Comitatenses, well armed and well trained. And the knife fights from Dune movies were also probably influence by Arditi knife fencing other than Eskrima, Wing Chun and Krav Maga.

[@peteradrian518]

Could you list down the Italian songs used in your video? They are amazing!

[@GaawutProductions]

1) Il Canto Degli Italiani / L'inno di Mameli 2) L'addio Del Volontario / Addio Mia Bella Addio 3) La Leggenda Del Piave / La Canzone del Piave (Instrumental) 4) Siam Del Popolo Gli Arditi 5) Il Canto degli Arditi

[@HologramJones]

At 7:42 that's an image of Savate, of Master/Professeur Charles Lecour I believe. Savate was/is a French kickboxing style but I believe its influence stretched out to the North of Italy too. But that specific photo is from a Savate instruction manual.

[@GaawutProductions]

Yes, as explained in the video I couldn't use the actual picture of Racchi's manual, so I had to use similar ones from my collection. Some are from old Savate books 🙏

[@gianvittorio222]

My great great grandfather was an ardito and got shot in the head, surviving. Bullet entered in his eye and went out from his ear not touching any brain tissue.

[@TiberiusS182]

My great grandfather was an ardito. He came back home but mentally he was never the same, he became abusive, and a drunkard. When he died my grandfather and his sisters threw away all his stuff, including dagger and medals

[@cw4608]

Nice to hear about the Italian soldiers.

[@tiburtinagvng]

beautiful video but I would have liked if you had also talked about the ardito samurai

[@GaawutProductions]

I've just found out that the Ardito samurai has never been in the Italian Army, he just wore the uniform of the Arditi because he was a friend of Gabriele D'annunzio and everyone at "Fiume" was wearing it. Notice how he doesn't have the stars over the black flames.

[@kinngrimm]

Thank you for this dive into italian knife fighting martial arts. Blocking knife/dagger attacks is a tricky one i would not really advice to training that form. It maybe a different philosophy under which i learned, but generally from that i summaraized that rather leading/redirecting the opponents strike onto himself or towards a position noone is in the way of the strike reduces the by chance hits or should the object be accidently released in full swing from the opponents hand and therefor still hitting the mark us the original target. If you had to block though and see that as last chance, a double block with both hands could be made an argument for, though that reduces the chance for a counter attack or rather side stepping avoiding the swing altogether and only reentering range should an oppening become clear. If you do not have a weapon yourself that you are accustomed to or any selfdefense training and even if you do, like with all fights the best defense is not a good offense, as we are not in american football, but a good 100 meter sprint time. As in the infamous words from Battleship "fight the enemy where they aren't." It is sad to see that partiotism seems to be missused by fascist tendecies even nowadays to the extant that those in its grasp don't even realise and claim not to be. As also seen portrait here, other ways can be ventured, but not necessarily as successfully, but i would say at least with their honor intact.

[@Noone-rt6pw]

Do they have any training manuals?

[@GaawutProductions]

Yes, there is one for the dagger fencing and another for unharmed combat by their instructor.

[@ochs-hema]

has someone the link to the manuscript for the Arditi Dagger Fight?

[@bepivisintainer2975]

Id love to see a comparative video on Arditi and Sturmtruppen.

[@kombatankali-brianza9348]

Viva l'italia 🇮🇹🖤

[@mrmaxx4400]

What does the patch insignia "FERT" MEAN ? (COULD NOT FIND TRANSLATION)

[@GaawutProductions]

From Wikipedia: The meaning of the letters has been a matter of some controversy, to which a number of interpretations have been offered. The motto is believed to be an acronym of; Foedere et Religione Tenemur (Latin: "Treaty and religion bind us") Fortitudo Eius Rhodum Tenuit (Latin: "His strength conquered Rhodes" or "By his bravery he held [or occupied] Rhodes"), referring to the victory of Amadeus V, Count of Savoy (1249-1323), who fought in the 1315 siege of Rhodes Fortitudo Eius Rempublicam Tenet (Latin: "His bravery [or strength] preserves [or defends] the state") Fides Est Regni Tutela (Latin: "Faith is the protector of [our] Kingdom"). It has also been suggested that the letters are actually the Latin word fert (third-person singular present active indicative of ferre), meaning "[he/she/it] suffers/bears", possibly referring to Jesus bearing the sins of the world. In short, nobody knows for sure, even the Arditi wearing it had no clue.

[@rocksteel44]

...MAGNIFICO!!!!!

[@CVTMYV3INS]

i could use this to expand tactics and repertoire for muay wong luang!❤

[@LaBibliotecaDiArakno]

A NOI 🏴🇮🇹 ULTIMI VERI ITALIANI

[@walterpoluzzi9846]

A NOI !!

[@antonioritrovato9821]

A nome dei miei nonni= urrà, urrà, urrà ​@@walterpoluzzi9846

[@lamelama12]

Italy still rules with ❤

[@thereality700]

Any video on the Italian Cavaliere?

[@steventhorson4487]

Forza 🇮🇹 Italia!!

[@docteurguillotine]

thanks, it was a great video!

[@blackimp4987]

part of the ancient images shown about knife combat come from ancient code of Fiore dei Liberi in his Flos duellatorum, a code from late middle eve

[@Fein528]

Brave, fearless, proud and principled. ❤️ As much as the association Italy had with fascism during WW2, Italian soldiers were not recorded as being particularly vicious, cruel or inhumane and showed courage against their German ally later during the war. They still had a sense of principle.

[@brucehillbillybarthalow3786]

That was Awesome

[@GaawutProductions]

Thank you!

[@quiquo9320]

Dove si trova la versione integrale dell'intervista all'ardito ?

[@GaawutProductions]

It was taken from "Moviola della Storia - La Collezione Gianni Bisiach" the title is "La Frontiera" and was transmitted in November 04, 1998. Here is the link: archivio.quirinale.it/aspr/gianni-bisiach/AV-002-003722/la-frontiera

[@brainyskeletonofdoom7824]

The edit of fiamme nere at the end was incredible!

[@Solid_Snake99]

Bel video

[@mauri_ice663]

The Arditi Incursori were the first prototype of Modern Special Forces. Without any fear.

[@stefanocrippa7519]

In the arditi anthem the last phrase is correctly translated as "pugnale tra i denti, le bombe a mano" = "dagger between the teeht, grenades in the hands. Is an old italian language form

[@GaawutProductions]

Totally missed that, will fix it, thank you.

[@Neldot]

One of the less known stories af an "Ardito" is the story of the black italian-abyssinian Domenico Mondelli, former ardito, former bersagliere, he became the world first black aviator during WWI. He fought with valour, obtaining various medals. He then felt in disgrace during the WWII because he opposed Mussolini racial laws, but after the end of WWII he continued his military career becoming Army Corps general.

[@TGSSMC]

My great-grandfather was an Austro-Hungarian soldier in ww1, he was a Croat from Zadar, member of "22. Dalmatinisches Infanterie Regimente" in 5th-10th battles of Isonzo, he must have fought fought against arditi, because we still have 2 of those badges mentioned in the video along with his medals and other ww1 memorabilia, i never met him, he died in 1971. i was born in 1979. He was highly decorated. It didnt help, Austro-Hungary lost the war.

[@GaawutProductions]

Honor to your great-grandfather and all the other Austro-Hungarian soldiers.

[@giannivero56]

Onore !

[@342Rodry]

great video, +1 sub

[@mathiasbartl9393]

Sweat saves blood, blood saves lives, and brains saves both.

[@gianlucam.5992]

Forza e onore 🇮🇹

[@billyvan8362]

My Grandfather was an 'ARDITI in WW1..Rest In Peace..

[@lagofranco7197]

Grazie!!!

[@A14b19]

I alway said they were the first special service not inafe on them .im from that zone

[@Noone-rt6pw]

Aren’t these the guys that’d jump into a trench or foxhole with only a knife, where they were trained and experienced where to stick and where to slice, instilling fear and terror in their enemies???

[@jenspedersen2491]

Thanks !

[@socialismo52]

Name of that banger of a song?

[@GaawutProductions]

Which minute?