Mountain Infantry Battalion (Brazil)

The Mountain Infantry Battalion (Batalhão de Infantaria de Montanha) is a unit of the Brazilian Army, which specializes in fighting in the mountain environment, improving and developing special techniques for mountain operations and using weapons and equipment specific to this theater.

History
The unit goes back to 1888, created in Rio Pardo, in the then province of Rio Grande do Sul. At the time of the Old Republic, it served in the campaign of Canudos in the interior of Bahia, has been transferred, the return to Sao Joao del Rei in 1897.

This unit is very traditional and has a long history of duty for Brazil.

Some of the wars and battles they fought in:
 * Contestado War
 * Constitutionalist Revolution
 * Tenente revolts
 * Brazilian Revolution of 1930
 * World War II, this unit fought in the cold European mountains
 * Battle of Montese
 * 1964 Brazilian coup d'état
 * UNAVEM III

Participation in World War II
The participation of the mountain infantry in World War II was undoubtedly the most important chapter in its rich history. Most notably, this included the conquest of the town of Montese, located in the mountains and heavily defended by the Germans as a last bastion to block the advance of allied troops in the direction of the Po Valley. On 14 April 1945, Montese became the stage for the most arduous and bloody battle of Brazilian troops in Italy.

Three Brazilian soldiers on patrol were attacked by German forces. Outnumbered, the patrol was ordered to surrender, the three men took cover and opened fire on the enemy until running out of ammunition. Not satisfied, they proceeded to pitch their bayonets and advanced against the Germans, and consequently were fired upon and shot dead.

In recognition of the bravery of those soldiers and in tribute to their memory, the Germans buried them, in the tombs they placed a cross with the inscription "Drei Brasilianischen Helden" (Three Brazilian Heroes).

In honor of the three heroes: There is a monument honoring the three men of the patrol and the Brazilian mountain infantry as a whole.
 * Arlindo Lúcio da Silva
 * Geraldo Baeta da Cruz
 * Geraldo Rodrigues de Souza