The Eleventh Battle of the Isonzo was a
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
battle fought by the
Italian
Italian(s) may refer to:
* Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries
** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom
** Italian language, a Romance language
*** Regional Ita ...
and
Austro-Hungarian
Austria-Hungary, often referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire,, the Dual Monarchy, or Austria, was a constitutional monarchy and great power in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. It was formed with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of ...
Armies on the
Italian Front between 18 August and 12 September 1917.
Background
On the
Soča
The Soča ( in Slovene) or Isonzo ( in Italian; other names fur, Lusinç, german: Sontig, la, Aesontius or ') is a long river that flows through western Slovenia () and northeastern Italy ().
An Alpine river in character, its source lies in ...
(Isonzo) River,
Luigi Cadorna
Marshal of Italy Luigi Cadorna, (4 September 1850 – 21 December 1928) was an Italian general, Marshal of Italy and Count most famous for being the Chief of Staff of the Italian Army from 1914-1917 of World War I.
Early career
Luigi Cador ...
, the Italian Chief of Staff, concentrated three quarters of his troops: 600 battalions (52 divisions) with 5,200 guns.
Battle
The attack was carried forth from a front from
Tolmin
Tolmin (; it, Tolmino,trilingual name ''Tolmein, Tolmino, Tolmin'' inGemeindelexikon, der im Reichsrate Vertretenen Königreiche und Länder. Bearbeit auf Grund der Ergebnisse der Volkszählung vom 31. Dezember 1900. Herausgegeben von der K.K. ...
(in the upper Isonzo valley) to the
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Sea) to t ...
. The Italians crossed the river at several points on temporary bridges, but the main effort was exerted on the
Banjšice Plateau, whose capture was to further the offensive and break the Austro-Hungarian lines in two segments, isolating the strongholds of
Mount Saint Gabriel and Mount
Hermada.
After fierce and deadly fightings, the Italian Second Army, led by General
Capello, pushed back
Boroević's ''Isonzo Armee'', conquering the Bainsizza and
Mount Santo. Other positions were taken by the
Duke of Aosta
Duke of Aosta ( it, Duca d'Aosta; french: Duc d'Aoste) was a title in the Italian nobility. It was established in the 13th century when Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, made the County of Aosta a duchy. The region was part of the Savoyard stat ...
's Third Army.
However, Mount Saint Gabriel and Mount Hermada turned out to be impregnable, and the offensive wore out.
After the battle, the Austro-Hungarians were exhausted, and could not have withstood another attack. So were the Italians, who could not find the resources necessary for another assault, even though it might have been the decisive one. So the final result of the battle was an inconclusive bloodbath. Moreover, the end of the battle left the Italian Second Army (until then the most successful of the Italian Armies) split in two parts across the
Soča
The Soča ( in Slovene) or Isonzo ( in Italian; other names fur, Lusinç, german: Sontig, la, Aesontius or ') is a long river that flows through western Slovenia () and northeastern Italy ().
An Alpine river in character, its source lies in ...
(Isonzo), a weak point that proved to be decisive in the subsequent
Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo
The Battle of Caporetto (also known as the Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo, the Battle of Kobarid or the Battle of Karfreit) was a battle on the Italian front of World War I.
The battle was fought between the Kingdom of Italy and the Central ...
.
To commemorate the participation of the
Royal Bavarian Infantry Lifeguards Regiment
The Royal Bavarian Infantry Lifeguards Regiment (') was a household- lifeguard (bodyguard) regiment of the Bavarian kings from the end of the Napoleonic Wars until the fall of the Wittelsbach monarchy and the subsequent disbanding of the Bavaria ...
,
Georg Fürst
Georg may refer to:
* ''Georg'' (film), 1997
*Georg (musical), Estonian musical
* Georg (given name)
* Georg (surname)
* , a Kriegsmarine coastal tanker
See also
* George (disambiguation)
George may refer to:
People
* George (given name)
* ...
wrote the March "Isonzo-Marsch". The Italians fired 5.5 million artillery shells during the battle, including poison gas shells.
[ Faldella, Emilio: La grande guerra, vol. I, Milan 1978, pp. 274.]
See also
*
First Battle of the Isonzo
The First Battle of the Isonzo was fought between the Armies of Italy and Austria-Hungary on the northeastern Italian Front in World War I, between 23 June and 7 July 1915.
The aim of the Italian Army was to drive the Austrians away from its ...
– 23 June–7 July 1915
*
Second Battle of the Isonzo
The Second Battle of the Isonzo was fought between the armies of the Kingdom of Italy and of Austria-Hungary in the Italian Front in World War I, between 18 July and 3 August 1915.
Overview
After the failure of the First Battle of the Isonzo, ...
– 18 July–3 August 1915
*
Third Battle of the Isonzo
The Third Battle of the Isonzo was fought from 18 October through 4 November 1915 between the armies of Italy and Austria-Hungary.
Background
This battle was a part of World War I. The first move was made in Italy, on the eastern sector; becau ...
– 18 October–3 November 1915
*
Fourth Battle of the Isonzo
The Fourth Battle of the Isonzo was fought between the armies of Kingdom of Italy and those of Austria-Hungary on the Italian Front in World War I, between 10 November and 2 December 1915.
Overview
In contrast to the previous three Battles ...
– 10 November–2 December 1915
*
Fifth Battle of the Isonzo
The Fifth Battle of the Isonzo was fought from March 9–15, 1916 between the armies of the Kingdom of Italy and those of Austria-Hungary. The Italians had decided to launch another offensive on the Soča (Isonzo) River.
Background
After four ...
– 9–17 March 1916
*
Sixth Battle of the Isonzo
The Sixth Battle of the Isonzo, better known as the Battle of Gorizia, was the most successful Italian offensive along the Soča (Isonzo) River during World War I.
Background
Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf had reduced the Austro-Hungarian fo ...
– 6–17 August 1916
*
Seventh Battle of the Isonzo
The Seventh Battle of the Isonzo was fought from September 14–17, 1916 between the armies of the Kingdom of Italy and those of Austria-Hungary. It followed the Italian successes during the Trentino Offensive and the Sixth Battle of the Isonzo ...
– 14–17 September 1916
*
Eighth Battle of the Isonzo
The Eighth Battle of the Isonzo was fought from October 10–12, 1916 between Italy and Austria-Hungary.
Battle
The Eighth Battle of the Isonzo, fought briefly from 10–12 October 1916, was essentially a continuation of attempts made during t ...
– 10–12 October 1916
*
Ninth Battle of the Isonzo – 1–4 November 1916
*
Tenth Battle of the Isonzo
The Tenth Battle of the Isonzo was an Italian offensive against Austria-Hungary during World War I.
Background
With nine largely unsuccessful Isonzo battles conducted within an eighteen-month period to date, Italian Chief of Staff Luigi Cadorna ...
– 12 May–8 June 1917
*
Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo
The Battle of Caporetto (also known as the Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo, the Battle of Kobarid or the Battle of Karfreit) was a battle on the Italian front of World War I.
The battle was fought between the Kingdom of Italy and the Central ...
– 24 October–7 November 1917 also known as the
Battle of Caporetto
The Battle of Caporetto (also known as the Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo, the Battle of Kobarid or the Battle of Karfreit) was a battle on the Italian front of World War I.
The battle was fought between the Kingdom of Italy and the Central ...
References
Further reading
*
External links
Eleventh Battle of the IsonzoThe Walks of Peace in the Soča 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.
Društvo Soška Fronta Pro Hereditate - extensive site
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Isonzo 11
Isonzo 11
Isonzo 11
Isonzo 11
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the Isonzo
1917 in Italy
1917 in Austria-Hungary
August 1917 events
September 1917 events
Military operations of World War I involving chemical weapons
World War I crimes by the Allies
Italian war crimes