The regiment is named for the city of Salerno and part of the Italian Army's infantry arm.

During World War II the regiment was assigned to the 5th Infantry Division "Cosseria", with which it participated in the Italian invasion of France.

Reformed in June 1943 in Italy the regiment was disbanded by invading German forces after the announcement of the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943.

In 1895-96 the regiment provided eight officers and 275 enlisted for units deployed to Italian Eritrea for the First Italo-Ethiopian War.

At the time the 89th Infantry Regiment consisted of three battalions, each of which fielded four fusilier companies and one machine gun section.

After Italy's entry into the war on 23 May 1915 the Brigade "Salerno" was deployed to the Italian front: in 1915 the regiment operated against Austro-Hungarian forces on Monte Mrzli.

In October 1917 the brigade was deployed on Monte Matajur when the Battle of Caporetto began.

On 26 October the Salerno was attacked on its flank by the Imperial German Army's 12th Division and forced to retreat with heavy losses.

[2][4] After Caporetto the brigade was rebuilt and in April 1918 assigned to the II Army Corps, which was deployed to the Western Front in France.

There the brigade fought in July in the Second Battle of the Marne at Courmas and in the Bois de Vrigny.

The brigade was then deployed at Chemin des Dames and in fall of 1918 it participated in the Hundred Days Offensive in the area of Sissonne.

For their conduct in France the two regiments of the Brigade "Salerno" were both awarded a Silver Medal of Military Valor and the 89th Infantry Regiment was honored by the French with a Croix de guerre avec Palme de bronze.

During this time the regiment provided 38 officers and 185 enlisted for units deployed for the war.

[2][6][7][8] At the outbreak of World War II the regiment consisted of a command, a command company, three fusilier battalions, a support weapons battery equipped with 65/17 infantry support guns, and a mortar company equipped with 81mm Mod.

[2][6][7] On 1 July 1958, the 89th Infantry Regiment "Salerno" was reformed by renaming the existing 5th Recruits Training Center in Imperia.