The plain at the confluence of the Soča and Vipava rivers around Gorizia is the main passage from Northern Italy to Central Europe.
The Battles of the Isonzo (known as the Isonzo Front by historians, Slovene: soška fronta) were a series of twelve battles between the Austro-Hungarian and Italian armies in World War I mostly on the territory of present-day Slovenia, and the remainder in Italy along the Isonzo River on the eastern sector of the Italian Front between June 1915 and November 1917.
In April 1915, in the secret Treaty of London, Italy was promised by the Allies some of the territories of Austro-Hungarian Empire which were mainly inhabited by ethnic Slovenes and Austrian Germans.
As a result, the Austro-Hungarians were forced to move some of their forces from the Eastern Front and a war in the mountains around the Isonzo River began.[3]
The sixty-mile long Soča River at the time ran entirely inside Austria-Hungary in parallel to the border with Italy, from the Vršič and Predil passes in the Julian Alps to the Adriatic Sea, widening dramatically a few kilometers north of Gorizia, thus opening a narrow corridor between Northern Italy and Central Europe, which goes through the Vipava Valley and the relatively low north-eastern edge of the Karst Plateau to Inner Carniola and Ljubljana. The corridor is also known as the "Ljubljana Gate".
By the autumn of 1915 one mile had been won by Italian troops, and by October 1917 a few Austro-Hungarian mountains and some square miles of land had changed hands several times. Italian troops did not reach the port of Trieste, the Italian General Luigi Cadorna's initial target, until after the Armistice.[4]
Primary sector for Italian operationsEdit
Italian soldiers during the Second Battle of the Isonzo, 1915
With the rest of the mountainous 400-mile (640 km) length of the Front being almost everywhere dominated by Austro-Hungarian forces, the Soča (Isonzo) was the only practical area for Italian military operations during the war. The Austro-Hungarians had fortified the mountains[citation needed] ahead of the Italians' entry into the war on 23 May 1915.
Italian Chief of Staff Luigi Cadorna judged that Italian gains (from Gorizia to Trieste) were most feasible at the coastal plain east of the lower end of the Soča (Isonzo). However he also believed that the Italian army could strike further north and bypass the mountains on either side of the river so as to come at the Austro-Hungarian forces from the rear.
Cadorna had not expected operations in the Isonzo sector to be easy. He was well aware that the river was prone to flooding—and indeed there were record rainfalls during 1914–1918.
Further, when attacking further north the Italian army was faced with something of a dilemma: in order to cross the Isonzo safely it needed to neutralise the Austro-Hungarian defenders on the mountains above, yet to neutralise these forces the Italian forces needed first to cross the river—an obstacle that the Italians never succeeded in overcoming.
In the south (along the coastal zone) geographic peculiarities, including an array of ridges and valleys, also gave an advantage to the Austro-Hungarian defenders.
Northeast Italy, farthest Italian advance against Austria-Hungary
CasualtiesEdit
Italian infantry leaving the trenches, 1916Austrian troops crossing the Isonzo, November 1917
Despite the huge effort and resources poured into the continuing Isonzo struggle, the results were invariably disappointing and without real tactical merit, particularly given the geographical difficulties that were inherent in the campaign.
Cumulative casualties of the numerous battles of the Isonzo were enormous. Half of the entire Italian war death total—some 300,000 of 600,000—were suffered along the Soča (Isonzo). Austro-Hungarian losses, while by no means as numerous, were nevertheless high at around 200,000 (of an overall total of around 1.2 million casualties).[5]
More than 30,000 casualties were ethnic Slovenes, the majority of them being drafted into the Austro-Hungarian Army, while Slovene civilian inhabitants from the Gorizia and Gradisca region also suffered in many thousands because they were resettled in refugee camps where Slovene refugees were treated as state enemies in Italian refugee camps, where thousands died of malnutrition.[6]
Number of battlesEdit
Austro-Hungarian supply line over the Vršič Pass. October 1917
With almost continuous combat in the area, the precise number of battles forming the Isonzo campaign is debatable. Some historians have assigned distinct names to a couple of the Isonzo struggles, most notably at Kobarid (Caporetto or Karfreit) in October 1917, which would otherwise form the Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo.
The fact that the battles were always named after the Isonzo River, even in Italy, was considered by some a propaganda success for Austria-Hungary: it highlighted the repeated Italian failure to breach this landmark frontier of the Empire.[7]
The Isonzo campaign comprised the following battles:
The twelfth battle is the subject of the novel Caporetto by the Swedish author F. J. Nordstedt, Stockholm 1972.
The Isonzo Front is the theme for the video game Isonzo by Blackmill Games.
ReferencesEdit
^Palazzo, Albert (2002). Seeking Victory on the Western Front. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press. p. 111. ISBN0803287747. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
Thompson, Mark (2009). The White War: Life and Death on the Italian Front, 1915-1919. Faber & Faber. ISBN978-0571223336.
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Battles of the Isonzo.
FirstWorldWar.Com The Battles of the Isonzo, 1915–17
FirstWorldWar.Com Battlefield Maps: Italian Front
11 battles at the Isonzo
. The Foundation preserves, restores and presents the historical and cultural heritage of the First World War in the area of the Isonzo Front for the study, tourist and educational purposes.
Društvo Soška Fronta (in Slovene)
Pro Hereditate – extensive site (in English, Italian, and Slovene)
Interactive map with the extensive documentation with 360° Surround photography virtual tours
Rapporto Ufficiale. Published 1929–1974. 10 books - free access to the full texts (Italian))
October 20, 2023
battles, isonzo, ostrogoth, invasion, italy, battle, isonzo, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, n. For the Ostrogoth invasion of Italy see Battle of Isonzo 489 This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Battles of the Isonzo news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message Isonzo frontPart of Italian Front World War I Depiction of the Battle of Doberdo Date23 May 1915 27 October 1917 2 years 5 months and 4 days LocationIsonzo River valleyResultFive Italian victories Three inconclusive Three Austro Hungarian victories and final Central Powers victory 1 Belligerents Kingdom of Italy Austria Hungary German EmpireCommanders and leadersLuigi Cadorna Armando DiazRudolf von Steinstatten Svetozar BorojevicUnits involved2nd Army3rd Army5th ArmyCasualties and losses645 000 pre Caporetto 450 000 pre Caporetto The plain at the confluence of the Soca and Vipava rivers around Gorizia is the main passage from Northern Italy to Central Europe The Battles of the Isonzo known as the Isonzo Front by historians Slovene soska fronta were a series of twelve battles between the Austro Hungarian and Italian armies in World War I mostly on the territory of present day Slovenia and the remainder in Italy along the Isonzo River on the eastern sector of the Italian Front between June 1915 and November 1917 Contents 1 Italian military plans 2 Geography 3 Primary sector for Italian operations 4 Casualties 5 Number of battles 6 In media 7 References 8 Sources 9 External linksItalian military plans EditIn April 1915 in the secret Treaty of London Italy was promised by the Allies some of the territories of Austro Hungarian Empire which were mainly inhabited by ethnic Slovenes and Austrian Germans Italian commander Luigi Cadorna a staunch proponent of the frontal assault who claimed the Western Front proved the ineffectiveness of machine guns 2 initially planned breaking onto the Slovenian plateau taking Ljubljana and threatening Vienna citation needed The area between the northernmost part of the Adriatic Sea and the sources of the Isonzo River thus became the scene of twelve successive battles citation needed As a result the Austro Hungarians were forced to move some of their forces from the Eastern Front and a war in the mountains around the Isonzo River began 3 Geography Edit nbsp Remains of Kluze an Austro Hungarian fortification between Bovec and Log pod MangrtomThe sixty mile long Soca River at the time ran entirely inside Austria Hungary in parallel to the border with Italy from the Vrsic and Predil passes in the Julian Alps to the Adriatic Sea widening dramatically a few kilometers north of Gorizia thus opening a narrow corridor between Northern Italy and Central Europe which goes through the Vipava Valley and the relatively low north eastern edge of the Karst Plateau to Inner Carniola and Ljubljana The corridor is also known as the Ljubljana Gate By the autumn of 1915 one mile had been won by Italian troops and by October 1917 a few Austro Hungarian mountains and some square miles of land had changed hands several times Italian troops did not reach the port of Trieste the Italian General Luigi Cadorna s initial target until after the Armistice 4 Primary sector for Italian operations Edit nbsp Italian soldiers during the Second Battle of the Isonzo 1915With the rest of the mountainous 400 mile 640 km length of the Front being almost everywhere dominated by Austro Hungarian forces the Soca Isonzo was the only practical area for Italian military operations during the war The Austro Hungarians had fortified the mountains citation needed ahead of the Italians entry into the war on 23 May 1915 Italian Chief of Staff Luigi Cadorna judged that Italian gains from Gorizia to Trieste were most feasible at the coastal plain east of the lower end of the Soca Isonzo However he also believed that the Italian army could strike further north and bypass the mountains on either side of the river so as to come at the Austro Hungarian forces from the rear Cadorna had not expected operations in the Isonzo sector to be easy He was well aware that the river was prone to flooding and indeed there were record rainfalls during 1914 1918 Further when attacking further north the Italian army was faced with something of a dilemma in order to cross the Isonzo safely it needed to neutralise the Austro Hungarian defenders on the mountains above yet to neutralise these forces the Italian forces needed first to cross the river an obstacle that the Italians never succeeded in overcoming In the south along the coastal zone geographic peculiarities including an array of ridges and valleys also gave an advantage to the Austro Hungarian defenders nbsp Northeast Italy farthest Italian advance against Austria HungaryCasualties Edit nbsp Italian infantry leaving the trenches 1916 nbsp Austrian troops crossing the Isonzo November 1917Despite the huge effort and resources poured into the continuing Isonzo struggle the results were invariably disappointing and without real tactical merit particularly given the geographical difficulties that were inherent in the campaign Cumulative casualties of the numerous battles of the Isonzo were enormous Half of the entire Italian war death total some 300 000 of 600 000 were suffered along the Soca Isonzo Austro Hungarian losses while by no means as numerous were nevertheless high at around 200 000 of an overall total of around 1 2 million casualties 5 More than 30 000 casualties were ethnic Slovenes the majority of them being drafted into the Austro Hungarian Army while Slovene civilian inhabitants from the Gorizia and Gradisca region also suffered in many thousands because they were resettled in refugee camps where Slovene refugees were treated as state enemies in Italian refugee camps where thousands died of malnutrition 6 Number of battles Edit nbsp Austro Hungarian supply line over the Vrsic Pass October 1917With almost continuous combat in the area the precise number of battles forming the Isonzo campaign is debatable Some historians have assigned distinct names to a couple of the Isonzo struggles most notably at Kobarid Caporetto or Karfreit in October 1917 which would otherwise form the Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo The fact that the battles were always named after the Isonzo River even in Italy was considered by some a propaganda success for Austria Hungary it highlighted the repeated Italian failure to breach this landmark frontier of the Empire 7 The Isonzo campaign comprised the following battles First Battle of the Isonzo 23 June 7 July 1915 Second Battle of the Isonzo 18 July 3 August 1915 Third Battle of the Isonzo 18 October 3 November 1915 Fourth Battle of the Isonzo 10 November 2 December 1915 Fifth Battle of the Isonzo 9 17 March 1916 Sixth Battle of the Isonzo 6 17 August 1916 Seventh Battle of the Isonzo 14 17 September 1916 Eighth Battle of the Isonzo 10 12 October 1916 Ninth Battle of the Isonzo 1 4 November 1916 Tenth Battle of the Isonzo 12 May 8 June 1917 Eleventh Battle of the Isonzo 19 August 12 September 1917 Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo 24 October 7 November 1917 also known as the Battle of CaporettoBrief summary of Isonzo battles Battle Dates Italian casualties Austro Hungarian casualties OutcomeFirst Battle of the Isonzo 23 June 7 July 1915 15 000 10 000 Limited Italian advanceSecond Battle of the Isonzo 18 July 3 August 1915 41 800 46 600 Italian victoryThird Battle of the Isonzo 18 October 3 November 1915 66 998 41 847 Austro Hungarian victoryFourth Battle of the Isonzo 10 November 2 December 1915 49 500 32 100 Austro Hungarian victoryFifth Battle of the Isonzo 9 15 March 1916 1 882 1 985 InconclusiveSixth Battle of the Isonzo 6 17 August 1916 51 000 42 000 Italian victorySeventh Battle of the Isonzo 14 18 September 1916 17 000 15 000 Italian victoryEighth Battle of the Isonzo 10 October 1916 12 October 1916 55 000 38 000 InconclusiveNinth Battle of the Isonzo 31 October 4 November 1916 39 000 33 000 Austro Hungarian victory Italian advance haltedTenth Battle of the Isonzo 10 May 8 June 1917 150 000 75 000 Limited Italian advanceEleventh Battle of the Isonzo 18 August 12 September 1917 158 000 115 000 Italian victoryTwelfth Battle of the Isonzo 24 October 19 November 1917 305 000 70 000 Decisive Austro Hungarian victory end of the Isonzo CampaignTotal casualties June 1915 November 1917 950 180 520 532 Central Powers victory counteroffensives on the Piave river First and Second battle In media EditErnest Hemingway s A Farewell to Arms is partly during the events along this front Italian poet Giuseppe Ungaretti s autobiographical poem I Fiumi was written about the Isonzo whilst he was stationed on the front Mark Helprin s A Soldier of the Great War refers to parts of the Isonzo campaign The twelfth battle is the subject of the novel Caporetto by the Swedish author F J Nordstedt Stockholm 1972 The Isonzo Front is the theme for the video game Isonzo by Blackmill Games References Edit Palazzo Albert 2002 Seeking Victory on the Western Front Lincoln NE University of Nebraska Press p 111 ISBN 0803287747 Retrieved 25 September 2018 Thompson 2009 p 58 A War in Words p 147 148 Simon amp Schuster 2003 A War in Words p 163 Simon amp Schuster 2003 ISBN 0 7432 4831 7 FirstWorldWar Com The Battles of the Isonzo 1915 17 Petra Svoljsak Slovenski begunci v Italiji med prvo svetovno vojno Ljubljana 1991 Isonzo 1917 SivestriSources EditThompson Mark 2009 The White War Life and Death on the Italian Front 1915 1919 Faber amp Faber ISBN 978 0571223336 External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Battles of the Isonzo FirstWorldWar Com The Battles of the Isonzo 1915 17 FirstWorldWar Com Battlefield Maps Italian Front 11 battles at the Isonzo The Walks of Peace in the Soca Region Foundation The Foundation preserves restores and presents the historical and cultural heritage of the First World War in the area of the Isonzo Front for the study tourist and educational purposes The Kobarid Museum in English Drustvo Soska Fronta in Slovene Pro Hereditate extensive site in English Italian and Slovene Interactive map with the extensive documentation with 360 Surround photography virtual tours Rapporto Ufficiale Published 1929 1974 10 books free access to the full texts Italian Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battles of the Isonzo amp oldid 1177678220, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
