Andrew Smeathers, Alan Gunderson, Prof. Ramsbottom Battle of Caporetto Andrew Smeathers, Alan Gunderson, Prof. Ramsbottom

Isonzo Campaign 11 Results Austro-Hungarian forces nearing point of collapse Asked for German reinforcements Germans thinking the war in the west was nearing a close sent a limited offensive designed to throw the Italians back across the Isonzo River Austia-Hungary was not successful in many of the Isonzo River battles until the battle of caporetto The Battle of Caporetto proved once again that Germany was a superior army being able to take many troops away from the western front where much of the war took place and send them to help Austro-Hungary and be successful in their campaign.

Background Also known as the 12th Battle of the Isonzo and the Battle of Karfreit Took place on October 24th – November 19th 1917 in Caporetto, Austria-Hungary Located in modern day Slovenia, in the town of Kobarid Last battle General Cadorna would be in charge of Italian troops This battle and others would have an impact on what Italy would receive from the Treaty of Versailles Cadorna launched four offensives in 1915, all along the Isonzo River. The goal of these offensives was the fortress of Gorizia, the capture ofwhich would permit the Italian armies to pivot south and march on Trieste, or continue on to the Ljubljana Gap. All four offensives failed, resulting in some 250,000 Italian casualties for little material gain.

Preparations General Luigi Cadorna, Italian commander-in-chief, learned in September that an enemy offensive was in the making Ordered commanders of the Second and Third Armies to prepare defenses in depth to meet any attack Thinking that the officers obeyed his orders he left to tour other battles. One of the armies did not follow instructions which would later hurt their defense

Preparations General Cadorna insisted on keeping the bulk of the two armies’ troops on the east bank of the Isonzo Austro-German forces held crossing towards the north Italian reserves were stationed far back from the front lines making it hard to aid their countrymen later in battle This made it easy for the attacking Austro-German forces to take out the Italians

Preparation Austro-German forces were led by German General Otto von Below prepared the Fourteenth Army for a salient near Tolmino They planned to use heavy artillary bombardment as well as poison gas and smoke. The offensive commenced with the opening bombardment on October 24th Below prepared the Fourteenth Army for a salient near Tolmino This was to be supported by secondary attacks to the North and South as well as by an offensive near the coast by General Svetozar Boroevic’s Second Army Below was prepared to send large numbers of storm troopers which were to pierce the Italian lines

The Battle Italians were caught by surprise with the Shelling and use of gas from the attacking forces Covered 15 miles the first night This caused the Italian Moral to plummet after the first day While Below’s initial attack was a success the Italian troops were able to hold back the secondary attacks, while the Third Army held Boroevic’s men back as well Thanks to the large amounts of shelling and gas Below’s troops were able to quickly shatter Italian lines and go west bypassing strong points

The Battle With his mens moral low and the enemy advancing, Cadorna refused to fall back to Tagliamento on the 24th. This effort took four days and was quickly thwarted when German troops established a Bridgehead over the river on November 2nd With the rapid success of Below’s army the supplies were not able to keep up with the advancement forcing the army to slow down This move turns to be fatal when the Austro-German forces pushed closer to their men killing large numbers of Itallians By not moving his troops back on the earlier date, Cadorna is forced to move back on the 30th or face defeat On the 30th with his men falling back across the river they attempted to establish a new defensive line.

The Battle With the enemy slowing, Cadorna ordered a further retreat to the Piave River on November 4th 30 Kilometer north of Venice Once behind the Piave River Cadorna’s men were able to form a strong line by the 10th The Piave River brought the Austro-German advance to an end, ultimately leading to a stalemate

Aftermath 10,000 Italians were killed 20,000 Injured and 275,000 captured Only 20,000 Austro-German casualties Italians gave up over 80 miles of land Cadorna was removed as chief of staff and replaced with General Armando Diaz With the Italians lacking men and moral both Britain and France sent many men to help hold back the Austro-German attackers With these replacements they were able to take on the enemies

Reasons why the Italians Lost Italy was a country of agriculture, Not industry Much of the Italian elite was corrupt including Cadorna As a whole the Hierarchy of the Italian army killed 729 of its own men for cowardice and desertion Germans were much more skilled in fighting Cadorna was a poor leader German Weaponry was much more advanced and better supplied Poor visibility and long mountain lines helped Austro-German Forces attack with ease 1 Italy had less firepower than the austro-german forces. Italy also struggled to supply its soldiers with goods to keep them fighting 3 German forces had the knowledge and technology to dominate the battle 4 had many opportunities to prepare for the battle and fall back but did not succeed in any of those areas. Lost all four offensives he led on the Isonzo 6 Not only was the terrain mountainous but the the Italian forces were strung out over such a distance that is was hard for them to have good defense to the attacks

Treaty Of Versailles Vittorio Orlando was Italy’s Prime Minister and represented the country Italy was on the winning side once the fighting was over Overshadowed by the “Big 3” Received little in riches or land from the treaty Expected to get control of the Adriatic coastline but failed End of Vittorio Orlando’s political career At the Versailles Peace Settlement, Orlando was soon side-lined by the ‘Big Three’ France, Us and Britain. Orlando fell out with Woodrow Wilson over Italy’s territorial demands which Woodrow Wilson felt were unacceptable when compared to his belief in national self-determination.What Italy got out of Versailles did not satisfy those in Italy who expected a lot more - especially as Italy had been on the 'winning side. At the very least, Italy expected to get control of the Adriatic coastline -- which she did not. Orlando’s failure at Versailles ended his political career. There is no doubt that Italy was treated in a less than diplomatic manner - the Allies saw Italy as less than trustworthy country.