Battle of Mount Grappa
Encyclopedia
During World War I
a series of battles were fought between the armies of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Kingdom of Italy
for control of the Monte Grappa massif, as it covered the left flank of the Italian Piave
front.
The first of these battles became the most famous as it brought the Austrian summer offensive of 1917
to a halt. The Italian Chief of the general staff general Armando Diaz
had ordered to construct fortified defenses on the Monte Grappa summit to make the mountain an impregnable fortress. When the Austrian summer offensive of 1917 routed the Italians Diaz's far-sightedness saved Italy from total defeat, as the Austrians with help from the German Army
's Alpenkorps
failed to take the mountains summit during the first battle of Monte Grappa from November 11, 1917 to December 23, 1917. Thus the Italian front along the Piave river was stabilized and although the Austrians could see Venice
from their positions they should never reach it.
The second battle of Monte Grappa was part of the wider Austrian summer offensive of 1918
, which was the last offensive operation of the Austro–Hungarian Army in World War I.
On October 24, 1918 the final Italian offensive
of the war began with an attack by 9 Italian divisions on the Austrian positions on Monte Grappa. The Austrians answered by increasing their forces on the mountain from 9 to 15 divisions and thus committing all remaining reserves. But the worn down Austrian Army began a general retreat on October 28, when Czechoslovakia
declared independence from Austro-Hungary.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
a series of battles were fought between the armies of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Kingdom of Italy
Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)
The Kingdom of Italy was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was its legal predecessor state...
for control of the Monte Grappa massif, as it covered the left flank of the Italian Piave
Piave
Piave can refer to:* Francesco Maria Piave, Italian librettist and composer* Piave * Piave * Battle of the Piave River* 10 Motorised Division Piave An Italian division of World War II...
front.
The first of these battles became the most famous as it brought the Austrian summer offensive of 1917
Battle of Caporetto
The Battle of Caporetto , took place from 24 October to 19 November 1917, near the town of Kobarid , on the Austro-Italian front of World War I...
to a halt. The Italian Chief of the general staff general Armando Diaz
Armando Diaz
Armando Diaz, 1st Duca della Vittoria was an Italian general and a Marshal of Italy.Born in Naples, Diaz began his military career as a student at the Military Academy of Turin, where he became an artillery officer. He was a colonel commanding the 93rd infantry during the Italo-Turkish War, and...
had ordered to construct fortified defenses on the Monte Grappa summit to make the mountain an impregnable fortress. When the Austrian summer offensive of 1917 routed the Italians Diaz's far-sightedness saved Italy from total defeat, as the Austrians with help from the German Army
German Army (German Empire)
The German Army was the name given the combined land forces of the German Empire, also known as the National Army , Imperial Army or Imperial German Army. The term "Deutsches Heer" is also used for the modern German Army, the land component of the German Bundeswehr...
's Alpenkorps
Alpenkorps (German Empire)
The Alpenkorps was a provisional mountain unit of division size formed by the Imperial German Army during World War I. It was considered by the Allies to be one of the best units of the German Army.-Formation:...
failed to take the mountains summit during the first battle of Monte Grappa from November 11, 1917 to December 23, 1917. Thus the Italian front along the Piave river was stabilized and although the Austrians could see Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
from their positions they should never reach it.
The second battle of Monte Grappa was part of the wider Austrian summer offensive of 1918
Battle of the Piave River
The Battle of the Piave River , known in Italy as Battaglia del Solstizio , Battaglia di Mezzo Giugno , or Seconda Battaglia del Piave , was a decisive victory for the Italian Army during World War...
, which was the last offensive operation of the Austro–Hungarian Army in World War I.
On October 24, 1918 the final Italian offensive
Battle of Vittorio Veneto
The Battle of Vittorio Veneto was fought between 24 October and 3 November 1918, near Vittorio Veneto, during the Italian Campaign of World War I...
of the war began with an attack by 9 Italian divisions on the Austrian positions on Monte Grappa. The Austrians answered by increasing their forces on the mountain from 9 to 15 divisions and thus committing all remaining reserves. But the worn down Austrian Army began a general retreat on October 28, when Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
declared independence from Austro-Hungary.
See also
- Monte Grappa