BATTLE OF CAPORETTO

A small town near what is today the Italian–Slovenian border, Caporetto was the scene of the greatest defeat in Italian military history. Following the failure of the Italian army’s 11th offensive on the Isonzo River in August 1917, the Austro-German high command launched a major counteroffensive. German assistance to Austria was not matched by the British and French until the situation became desperate. On the first day (24 October 1917), the Austro-German forces swiftly recovered the few kilometers that the Italians had taken over the preceding two and a half years of fighting. The Italian line broke at Caporetto and was routed, stopping only at the Piave River—almost at Venice—where the new line held. Fortunately for Italy, not only did the Austro German forces outrun their supplies, but Britain and France sent reinforcements in early November. Losses at Caporetto were extremely high. More than 10,000 Italian troops had been killed, 30,000 wounded, and 293,000 captured. Ameasure of morale is provided by the desertion of some 300,000 soldiers.

See alsoTrieste; World War I.