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Assassination in Guidebook on WWI

Isonzo Front, the Soča
Sarajevo The Battle of Caporetto ─ The Twelfth Battle of Isonzo (24–28 Valley, Slovenia
October 1917)
The Isonzo Front
The defenders of the Isonzo Front were aware they
The 12th Battle of would not be able to hold back another Italian attack.
Isonzo They asked their German allies for help, the
preparations for a joint Austian-Hungarian-German
Casualties offensive commenced during the 11th Battle of the
Isonzo. The new offensive was called Waffentreue
To the Eastern Front (“loyalty in arms”) and was planned by the German
General Kraft von Dellmensingen. The 1st and 2nd
WW1 in Writing Isonzo Armies, which were already positioned along
the river, were joined by twelve divisions of the 14th
After the Battle of Caporetto. Source: Kobarid Museum
joint German-Austrian Army. The 10th Austrian-
Hungarian Army was also to participate.
Slovenians and the First
On 24 October at 2am, the Austrian-Hungarian-German opened a massive artillery barrage at Rombon
World War
and used fosgen poison gas near Bovec (Plezzo). The 14th Army infantry penetrated the Italian positions
at Bovec (Plezzo), in the Isonzo valley, and Tolmin (Tolmino). Kobarid (Caporetto) was taken on the
same day, and they reached the national border south of Robič (Robis) in the early hours of 25 October.
The Italian defensive trenches in front of Čiginj (Cighino) were overrun on 24 October, and their
strongholds in Ježa (Monte Jeza) had been destroyed by nightfall the same day. The northern success
forced the defenders on the Banjška planota (Bainsizza Plain) to partially retreat to new defensive
positions along the line Globočak-Vrh-Sv. Gora (Globociag-Vrh-Monte Santo). The Italians also
strengthened their positions in the regions of Karnija (Carnia) and Benečija (Veneto). These efforts did
not stop the 14th army’s progress: they took the Italian position at Žaga (Saga) and attacked their post at
Stol on the morning of 25 October. By nightfall the same day, the attackers managed to clear the path to
Čedad (Cividale del Friuli). They also crossed the Idrija River (Judrio), which marked the border between
Italy and Austria-Hungary. The 2nd Isonzo Army, which was positioned in the Bainsizza Plain, attacked
the Italian positions along the front line Madoni-Vrh-Log. The attack of Austrian-Hungarian-German
forces was so aggressive that they managed to advance 20 kilometres and destroy all the major Italian
defensive points along a 50-km front between Rombon and Monte Santo. The Italians were forced to
retreat to the Tagliamento River (Tilment). Isonzo Front

On 27 October 1917, the 1st Isonzo Army launched a successful offensive between Fajti hrib (Monte
Faiti) and Škabrijel (Monte San Gabriele) towards Gorizia. Threatened by encirclement and destruction,
the 3rd Italian Army had to withdraw the next day. The Austrian-Hungarian-German Army continued its
offensive until 16 November 1917, stopping only at the Piave River, where they were halted by Italian
forces with Allied reinforcements. Peace was finally restored to the Isonzo and Karst regions after 888
days of warfare.

Drago Sedmak, Gorica Museum

International
Encyclopedia of the First
World War

SLOVENES AND
WORLD WAR I by
Petra Svoljšak, Milko
Kos Historical Institute

Map of the Walk of

Peace
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