Italian Campaign (World War I)
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| Italian Front |
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| 1st Isonzo – 2nd Isonzo – 3rd Isonzo – 4th Isonzo – 5th Isonzo – Asiago – 6th Isonzo – 7th Isonzo – 8th Isonzo – 9th Isonzo – 10th Isonzo – Ortigara – 11th Isonzo – Caporetto – Piave River – Vittorio Veneto |
Causes for the campaign
Although Italy was a member of the Triple Alliance with Austria-Hungary and Germany, she did not declare war in August 1914, on the ground that neither of her allies had been attacked directly. Italy also had a long standing rivalry with Austria-Hungary dating back to the Congress of Vienna in 1815, after the Napoleonic Wars, when several pre-dominantly Italian cities were ceded to Austria. In the early stages of the war Italy was courted by Allied diplomats into joining the war, culminating in the Treaty of London of April 26, 1915 in which Italy renounced her obligations to the Triple Alliance. On May 23, Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary.Campaigns of 1915-1916
First battles of Isonzo
Italy's first move in the war was an offensive aimed at capturing the town of Gorizia on the Isonzo river. However, the Italian army was poorly equipped in artillery, vehicles, and ammunition. At the beginning of the war, Italy had just 600 vehicles to move troops. Horses were still used primarily as transport and failed to move supplies fast enough in the tough terrain of the Alps. Also, the newly appointed Italian commander, Luigi Cadorna, had no combat experience and was highly unpopular amongst his men.In the beginning of the offensive, Italy outnumbered the Austrians 2 to 1 in men, but failed to penetrate their strong defensive lines along the Alps, mostly because Austrians were based on higher grounds, and Italian offensives were to be conducted climbing. Two weeks later, the Italians attempted another frontal assault with more artillery but were beaten back again. Another useless attack was mounted from October 18 to November 4 with 1,200 heavy guns, which resulted in no gain.
The Asiago offensive
Following Italy's disastrous offensives, the Austrians began planning a counter-offensive (Strafexpedition) based in Trentino and directed towards the plain across the Altopiano di Asiago. On March 11, 1916 the offensive started with 15 divisions breaking the Italian lines. The local Italian commander had been warned of an impending offensive, but had chosen to conduct local offensives instead of preparing for defense. The result was that the Italians were unprepared for the attack and total defeat was only staved off by quickly transferring reinforcements from other fronts.Later battles for the Isonzo
Later in 1916, four more battles along the Isonzo river erupted. The Sixth Battle of the Isonzo was launched in August by the Italians and resulted in a success greater than the previous ones because Austrian lines were depleted due to the Brusilov Offensive. The offensive did not gain anything of strategic value, but managed to take Gorizia which boosted Italian spirits. The Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth battles of the Isonzo (September 14-November 4) managed to accomplish little but to wear down the already exhaused armies of both nations.1917: Germany arrives
Following the minuscule gains of the Tenth Battle of the Isonzo, the Italians directed a two-pronged attack focusing on the Austrian lines north and east of Gorizia. The advance east was easily checked, but Italian forces under Luigi Capello managed to break the Austrian lines and capture the Bainsizza Plateau. The Italians were on the verge of victory, but were forced to withdraw because their supply lines could not keep up with the front-line troops.
After the Eleventh Battle of the Isonzo, the Austrians were desperately in need of reinforcements, which they found in the German Army recently rushed in after in July 1917 the Russian offensive ordered by Kerensky (Kerensky offensive) had failed. The Germans introduced Hutier tactics in the Austrian front and helped their side to work on a new offensive. Meanwhile, the Italian army was being crippled from within by mutinies and plummeting morale. Soldiers lived in poor conditions and were forced to engage in attack after attack which often yielded to minimal military gain. On October 24, 1917 the Austrians and Germans began the Battle of Caporetto with a huge artilley barrage followed by Hutier tactics of bypassing enemy strongpoints and attacks on the Italian rear. At the end of the first day, the Italians had been forced to retreat 12 miles to the Tagliamento River.
1918: The war ends
Battle of the Piave
Advancing deep and fast, the Austrians had overrun their supply lines and were forced to stop and regroup. The Italians were pushed back to defensive lines near Venice, on the Piave River having suffered 600,000 casualties during the course of the war. In November 1917, French and British troops started arriving in Italy in significant numbers to the front. In the spring of 1918, Germany pulled out its troops for use in its upcoming Spring Offensive. The Austrians now began debating on how to finish the war in Italy. There was disagreement amongst Austro-Hungarian generals on how to administer the final offensive. Archduke Joseph August of Austria decided for a two-pronged offensive, where it would prove impossible for the two forces to communicate in the mountains.The Battle of the Piave River began with a diversionary attack near the Tonale Pass which was easily repulsed. The objectives of the upcoming offensive were betrayed to Italy by Austrian deserters, which allowed the Italians to move two armies directly in the path of the Austrian prongs. The other prong, led by Hungarian general Svetozar Boroević von Bojna initially experienced success until their supply lines were bombed by air and Italian reinforcements arrived.
The decisive Battle of Vittorio Veneto
To the disappointment of Italy's allies, no counter-offensive followed the Battle of Piave. The Italian army had suffered huge losses in the battle, and thus an offensive was considered dangerous. General Armando Diaz waited for more reinforcements to arrive from the Western Front. By October 1918, Italy finally had enough soldiers to mount an offensive. The attack was targeted at Vittorio Veneto, across the Piave. The Austrian soldiers fought viciously but were overwhelmed by the superior numbers of the Allies. The Italians broke through a gap near Sacile, and poured in reinforcements that crushed the Austrian defensive line. On November 3, 300,000 Austrian soldiers surrendered. The next day, Austria-Hungary, weakened by the Battle of Vittorio Veneto, signed an armistice ending the Italian Campaign.See also
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