75 – Episode 75 Italy’s Participation in the War (2)
On January 7, 1916, the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Italy issued an order for general mobilization. In a situation where it was clearly known who the enemy was, this was an act no different from a declaration of war.
Nevertheless, the negotiating powers exercised their last patience.
British Ambassador, Baron Lennell Lord met with Italian Foreign Minister Sidney Sonnino. Sonnino, who served as Prime Minister of Italy, served coffee to the ambassador and explained the situation as follows.
“Just as the sugar in the coffee dissolved, so did our friendship. “The friendship between our two countries no longer exists.”
Instead of deceiving the ambassador, with whom he had been a long-time friend, Sonnino honestly informed him that war was a fait accompli. It was ridiculous to come this far and be deceived with lies.
“Actually, I didn’t like putting sugar in my coffee.”
After being polite, the ambassador stood up.
Now that diplomacy had lost its meaning, war between both sides was only a matter of time.
Six hours later, an ultimatum in the name of the Italian government arrived in Paris. The content is to return Savoy and Nice, which Napoleon III took away through deception and lies.
Rome threatened that otherwise the two countries would enter a state of war.
The French government responded with just one word.
“Non.”
Once the ultimatum deadline passed, Italy took immediate action.
“The government of the Kingdom of Italy has confirmed that further dialogue with the government of the French Republic is impossible. Now the only thing that can solve the problem is blood and iron.”
Britain immediately responded to Rome’s declaration of war.
“His Majesty’s Government recognized the Italian attack on its allies as a threat to the British Empire. “We will not tolerate this Roman violence, nor will we forgive it.”
Starting with Britain’s declaration of war, the Entente countries one after another declared war on Italy.
As a result, Italy waged a war against the Entente Powers as a member of the Allies.
“It looks like the war will end as soon as it starts.”
The Italians launched their offensive confidently.
Field Marshal Luigi Cadorna, Chief of Staff of the Italian Army, also thought that the game had been decided the moment ‘Italy’s mass’ was put on the scale.
“The superiority our military enjoys is overwhelming. “We will break through the Alps in one go and advance to the Rhone River Valley.”
The offensive plan was not planned in good faith. All that was necessary was to set the combat boundaries of each field army and tell them when and where to advance. All specific operational guidelines were resolved using the word ‘wave offensive.’
Nevertheless, the Italian generals felt no problem.
“What if there are some casualties? Rather, it is easy to have a voice at the reinforcement table when there are thousands of fallen soldiers.”
Amid the insensitivity of the generals, the Italian 1st Army under Lieutenant General Roberto Brusati was the first to break through the border line.
Of course, the Italian army had an overwhelming superiority that allowed them to take their time.
Compared to Italy, which mobilized 50 divisions for the invasion operation alone, the size of the opposing French ‘Alpine Field Army’ was less than 10 divisions at most.
Many of these were colonial troops or second-line divisions that had been reorganized and withdrawn from Franche-Comté.
The troops that the French army could trust were mountain units such as the 47th Alpine Infantry Division, but Italy had far more units specializing in mountain warfare.
“You can get the varnish within a week, right?”
“Don’t worry.”
Italian generals dismissed the authorities’ concerns. If politicians intervene in a situation where the operation is running well, will it only add to the impediment?
The Italian army launched wave after wave of attacks against the French army, as they had seen and learned while watching the war.
“Start shelling!”
The Italian army poured out as many shells as they had planned. Once the quota was met, the artillery was not responsible.
When the artillery fired all its shells, the infantry charged according to the timetable. Once the order to charge was given, the infantry officer had done his duty.
“Charge, charge!”
With the sound of a whistle, the Italian army courageously charged into the French army’s position.
“Crazy guys. “I think the French border is a joke.”
The unfortunate fact was that the French-Italian border itself was a fairly well-fortified area. The French army was in a concrete bunker, which was safer than a trench, to avoid artillery fire, and took machine guns.
Ta-ta-ta-ta!
The Italian soldiers were killed in droves at the sound of a threshing machine running at the French military position, which was located on a high ground with good control. Artillery bombardment and other such things did not apply to the French army entrenched in permanent positions.
“Push a little further, it’s a wave attack!”
The commanders followed the word ‘wave offensive’ carelessly handed down from the top. If the 1st wave didn’t work, the 2nd wave hit, and if the 2nd wave didn’t work, the 3rd wave hit.
However, the French army was steadfast.
“We have a lot of bullets. Where are you going? “Please come in.”
Italy also pulled out its trump card as it suffered thousands of casualties in a frontal attack but was left with nothing to gain.
It was the turn of the Alpini Corps, the solver of the Alps.
The Alpini Corps had as many as 15 regiments of specialized mountain warfare units. Even places with no roads could become passageways for them.
“Make a breakthrough somehow!”
At the urging of their superiors, the commanders of the Alpini Corps were filled with venom and attempted a diversionary attack through the sloping cliff road.
But.
Quack!
“It’s an avalanche.”
A pile of snow that poured down from the snowy field swept away the Italian soldiers who were climbing the cliff road. No matter how well trained the elite mountain troopers were, they were no different from ordinary humans in the face of an avalanche.
“Damn frogs.”
The Alpini Corps made great sacrifices to the obstruction of the French army, who had installed explosives in every possible passageway. Breaking through the Alps in winter was impossible even for the world’s Alpini Army.
No matter how much the enemy was inferior in number and quality, the terrain was unfavorable and they had a defense line prepared 50 years ago. Breaking through this in winter was something only Hannibal could have done.
“With our capabilities, we can’t do it. “Please give us time until spring.”
Only then did the Italian generals realize the cold reality.
From Noble mtl dot com
“Have we advanced 5km so far?”
In return, more than 10,000 casualties were paid.
When the Italian army dilly-dallyed, the high command also became angry.
“Why on earth are you procrastinating like an idiot!”
Marshal Luigi Cadorna personally took the baton and visited the front line, but nothing changed.
In front of the Marshal, the Italian army was busy running away, shedding blood and tears from the attack of the French mountain division.
However, the French did not use great weapons. Because the poison gas was supplied first to Verdun, not even a shadow was seen in the Alps.
“Your Excellency. “It seems impossible to cross the Alps in winter.”
When the generals mentioned the difficulty of the operation, Cadorna became furious.
The minimum gap required for attack is not even 1:3. I started by making the troop ratio more than 1:5, but what are these idiots saying?
Cador I beheaded several of his generals on the spot.
And he ordered a re-attack.
“If you can’t do it, you know how to take off your clothes.”
But the result was the same.
Italy’s attack was blocked by the French mountain division.
*
Italy’s poor performance was an opportunity for the negotiating powers.
The British soldiers, who had been sharpening their bats while waiting for the moment when Italy entered the war, left their seats and stood up.
“Everyone, get on board.”
Numerous Dominion and colonial troops boarded ships from Alexandria, Algiers, and Gibraltar, out of Italy’s reach.
For this attack, the negotiating forces gathered over 200 transport ships. The daily necessities needed for the operation were prepared in nearby Algeria and Tunisia. In all respects, the preparations of the negotiating forces were on a different level from the clumsy invasion of Italy.
“Our goal is one. It is Italy’s surrender. Trample and devastate their homeland like Alaric did when he sacked Rome. “Remind me deep in my bones what the cost of waiting in line is wrong.”
On January 11, 1916, at a time when the Italian army was struggling in the Alps, a large fleet anchored in various parts of the Mediterranean.
Although the Italians realized this fact late, they came up with different opinions on the goal.
Some said they would come to Sicily, a strategic point in the Mediterranean, while others said Britain would go to the Dardanelles again.
The Italian government also repeatedly debated the intentions of the negotiating forces.
“This is clearly an expedition aimed at us. “It must be an attack coming at us.”
“No. How can an expedition like that be accomplished with a day or two of preparation? Definitely an expedition to the Dardanelles.”
The government did not come to a conclusion easily.
Meanwhile, the British Mediterranean Fleet, leading the first wave of the negotiating forces, passed through the Strait of Messina.
Only then did the Italian government realize that the enemy was targeting mainland Italy, not Sicily or the Dardanelles.
“We must bring in the French expeditionary force and return it to the coast.”
Cadorna also hastily summoned 10 divisions that were being reorganized to the vicinity of Rome.
I thought I had put out the urgent fire with that, but it wasn’t.
“The enemy has landed in Naples?”
The negotiating army landed in Naples.
The Italian fleet in Naples was naturally destroyed, and four divisions of the Negotiation Army landed and established a bridgehead.
‘If we leave that unattended, we will be finished.’
The Alps were not the problem now.
The country and Cadorna’s own life were at stake.
Cadorna hurriedly began to call in the French expeditionary force.
At first, 6 divisions were called, and then 10 divisions were selected. New divisions being formed in each state were also scraped together and set off for Naples.
Although Cadorna’s actions were quick, they were not enough to stop the negotiating forces. The units hastily sent were individually defeated by Marshal Douglas Haig’s expeditionary force.
The Italian army’s counterattack ended in failure, and the enemy was steadily occupying the line connecting Naples and Termoli. If things continued like this, 1/3 of mainland Italy would fall away.
“These idiots.”
Cador I did not want to sound weak to his allies, but his situation was so urgent that there was no choice.
“Connect to Berlin.”
Cadorna decided to beg the Kaiser for help.