Introduction Geographical Setting Early Humans The Etruscans The Romans Middle Ages Renaissance
Foreign domination (1559 to 1814) Unification (1814 to 1861) World War I
Mussolini and WWII Italian African Colonies Italian Republic (after 1945)
|
map of Italy on the eve of WWI
At the beginning of World War I Italy remained neutral. The Italian government claimed that the Triple Alliance was only for defensive purposes and Italy had stipulated against being drawn into a war with Great Britain.The new prime minister of Italy, Antonio Salandra, publicly announced on Aug 3, 1914 that Italy was neutral, to great acclaim in Italy, as most did not want to be dragged into a foreign war. Therefore, the Triple Alliance did not apply to a war that was started by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. However, both the central empires and the Triple Entente continued efforts to attract Italy on their side. In April of 1915, the Italian government agreed to sign the London Pact and to declare war on the Austro-Hungarian Empire in exchange for several territories. The London Pact awarded Trento, Trieste, Istria, and part of Dalmatia to Italy, claimed by the Irredentism. On May 24, 1915 Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary and later against Germany, Turkey and Bulgaria.Austro-Hungry found itself in a 3 front war against Russia, Serbia and Italy.
At the outbreak of war between Italy and Austria Hungry, the stronger Italian navy keep most of the Austro-Hungarian fleet bottled up in the Adriatic
Austrian attack through the Trentino mountainous conditions Austrian gunners
At the Trentino, the Austrians massed 4 veteran divisions from the Russian front and attacked in May 1916. In a month the Italians were pushed back 10 miles, then the Austrian advance stalled .Austrian had to withdraw troops to fight the Russians and the Italians regained their position . The Italians lost 145,000, the Austrians 80,000.
Location of the Battles of the Isonzo Italian soldiers
The other main front of the war was 55 mile long front at the Isonzo, where Italy wanted to seize Trieste. there would be 12 Battles of the Isonzo. The war bogged down into trench warfare with huge losses, many from splinters of rock of artillery shells in the mountains . The the 12th Battle of the Isonzo or Caporetto on Oct 24, 1917, Germany sent forces to bolster the weakening Austrians . The Germans and Austrians led an attack after a 4 hour bombardment with gas shells used . The plan was to outflank the Italians and strike for the Italian heartland. The Italians retreated 70 miles, many surrendered, with 275,000 giving themselves up in one day. The Italian gas masks were of little protection against mustard gas .The Austrians and Germans advanced as far as the Piava River, north of Venice, where they were halted .The French and British sent divisions to Italy to keep it in the war. The next spring the Italians, with British, French and Americans reinforcements were able to beat off Austrians last offensive. Many of the German troops had by this time been withdrawn to the Western Front. In Oct, the Italians launched an offensive, by Nov an estimated 300,000 Austrians soldiers had surrendered. By the time the Austro-Hungarian empire was falling apart. The Italians continued to advance, taking Trieste and Trento.
The Austro-Hungarian battleship Szent Istvan, sunk by an Italian torpedo boat June 10, 1918
On Nov 3, the Austro-Hungarian commander sent a flag of truce and peace took effect on Nov 4. Italy lost an estimated 650,000 men fighting in the war. After the war, there was economic distress in Italy and anger at the Allies who many Italians thought failed to deliver on their promises of territorial gains for Italy . the Italians did gain Trentino and Trieste, but failed to get any spoils from Germany's colonial empire or from the breakup of Turkey. Italians were also refused Dalmatia . In the post war period the People's Party (Popolari) and Socialists gained power. In the depression following the war there were strikes . The spread of riots led some landowners to form protective societies that were supported by the Fascio di Combattimento or Union of Combat, an ultra nationalist group. This group had been founded by Mussolini in 1919.
|
|
|
