Arditi was the name adopted by Italian Army elite assault troops of World War I. The name derives from the Italian verb Ardire ("to dare") and translates as "the braves". Reparti d'assalto (Assault Units) were formed in the summer of 1917 by Colonel Bassi, and were assigned the tactical role of shock troops, breaching enemy defenses in order to prepare the way for a broad infantry advance. The Arditi were not infantry troops, but were considered a separate combat arm, and can be considered as among the modern world's first true Special Forces. The Reparti d'assalto were successful in bringing in a degree of movement to what had previously been a war of entrenched positions. Their exploits on the battlefield were exemplary and they gained an illustrious place in Italian military history. They were demobilized by 1920. The name Arditi was also used by the supporters (often war veter