World War I,  began in the summer of 1914 and lasted until November 1918. It involved all of the world's great powers,( the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, the Russian Empire, the British Empire, France, and Italy), which were assembled in two opposing alliances: the Allies and the Central Powers More than 70 million military personnel, including 60 million Europeans, were mobilised in one of the largest wars in history. More than 9 million combatants were killed, largely because of great technological advances in firepower without corresponding advances in mobility. It was the second deadliest conflict in Western history.

Much is written about the Western Front, and very little about the  Italian-Austrian Front
 
Italy was lured out of Neutrality by the Allies with  promises in which Italy would receive the Southern Tyrol, Julian March and territory on the Dalmatian coast. This was formalised by the Treaty of London. Italy joined the Allies on May 23, 1915. 
 
Militarily, the Italians were ill prepared and because of the difficult terrain in which fighting took place, but also because of the strategies and tactics employed. Field Marshal Luigi Cadorna, a staunch proponent of the frontal assault, and had dreams of breaking into the Slovenian plateau, and threatening Vienna. It was a Napoleonic plan, which had no realistic chance of success in an age of barbed wire, machine guns, and indirect artillery fire, combined with hilly and mountainous terrain.
On the Trentino front, the Austro-Hungarians took advantage of the mountainous terrain, which favoured the defender. After an initial strategic retreat, the front remained largely unchanged, while Austrian Kaisersch?tzen and Standsch?tzen engaged Italian Alpini in bitter hand-to-hand combat throughout the summer. The Austro-Hungarians counter attacked in the Altopiano of Asiago, towards Verona and Padua, in the spring of 1916, but made little progress.

Beginning in 1915, the Italians under Cadorna mounted eleven offensives on the Isonzo front along the Isonzo River, north east of Trieste. All eleven offensives were repelled by the Austro-Hungarians, who held the higher ground. In the summer of 1916, the Italians captured the town of Gorizia. After this minor victory, the front remained static for over a year, despite several Italian offensives. In the autumn of 1917, thanks to the improving situation on the Eastern front, the Austro-Hungarian troops received large numbers of reinforcements, including German Stormtroopers and the elite Alpenkorps. The Central Powers launched a crushing offensive on 26 October 1917, spearheaded by the Germans. They achieved a victory at Caporetto. The Italian army was routed and retreated more than 100 kilometres (60 mi.) to reorganise, stabilising the front at the Piave River. Since in the Battle of Caporetto the Italian Army had heavy losses, the Italian Government called to arms the so-called '99 Boys  (Ragazzi del '99), that is, all males who were 18 years old. In 1918, the Austro-Hungarians failed to break through, in a series of battles on the Piave River and, finally being decisively defeated in the Battle of Vittorio Veneto in October of that year. Austria-Hungary surrendered in early November 1918.

There is No Way to appreciate the conditions that the Italian troops faced at High Altitudes, Fighting Uphill against powerful and Well Entrenched Artillery and Forces in Freezing cold, and problems of Supply of food and ammunition. 

The Allies reneged on most of their London Treaty promises in the Treaty of Versailles, that caused enormous resentment among the Italian Veterans that founded the core of the Original Fascist party that took control of Italy just 4 years later.

VICENZA, ITALY ? U. S. Army Africa (USARAF) leaders took part in a staff ride to explore and learn about Italian involvement in World War I, May 24-26. More than 40 people from the USARAF command took part in the ride that featured a guided bus and walking tour of World War I Italian battlefields, memorials and museums. 

Taking part in the three-day staff ride that followed a route in northern Italy through the mountains of western Slovenia where the 1917 battle of Caporetto was fought were USARAF Soldiers and Civilians, and Italian Army soldiers. 

?This staff ride was an opportunity to learn more about Italy as a host nation and take back knowledge from lessons learned from the Italian Army?s World War I battles,? said Maj. Gen. David R. Hogg, USARAF commander. 

Lt. Col. Angel Mesa, USARAF chief of operations, explained the reasoning behind staff rides. 

?Staff rides have been a part of Army culture for many years, and this was a great opportunity to learn more about, and partner with our Italian hosts,? Mesa said. ?It was also a great opportunity to see another historical perspective of World War I and how we can use some of the lessons learned for ourselves as we look at conflicts now.? 

The tour offered an expanded perspective of World War I politics and trench warfare. USARAF Operations Sgt. Major Frank Lauer said the tour enhanced his viewpoint of World War I. 

?When most Americans think of World War I trench warfare, it?s normally fighting in France alongside the British,? Lauer said. ?This staff ride really showed the tremendous sacrifice the Italians made in defending their country ? and it?s not something we see a lot of in our history books.? 

Italian military history experts gave staff ride participants the benefit of their vast knowledge of each and every memorial and battlefield during the ride. 

Italo Cati, an Italian military historian and author, provided insights to the vast number of casualties the Italian Army suffered defending their border from troops of the Austro-Hungarian Empire during the war. 

Cati spent a day guiding participants on a walking tour of trenches on former battlefields adjacent to the huge Italian war memorial known as Sacrario Militare di Redipuglia near Gorizia, Italy, where more than 100,000 Italian soldiers are buried at the memorial. Italian Army Maj. Manuele Savio, who works with USARAF operations, translated Cati?s descriptions of the site into English for ride participants. 

Italian Professor Paolo Pozzato, a military historian and former Italian Army officer, spent a day giving ride participants detailed analysis of Italy?s involvement in World War I that culminated in the battle of Caporetto. On the last day of the tour Lt. Col Lucio Merlo, carabinari commander of Southern European Task Force, provided commentary on historical structures in Venzone, Italy. 

Ride participants also visited battlefield sites near Gorizio and Pozzuolo del Friuli, Italy as well as in Koberid and Bovec, Slovenia. 

http://www.usaraf.army.mil/NEWS/
NEWS_110527_WWI_STAFF_RIDE.html
 

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