The Long War: Italy's Wwi Duration

Italy's war against Austria-Hungary began in May 1915, when Italy attacked its former Triple Alliance partner. Italy's army was large, but poorly led, trained and organised. The war was bloody and exhausting for both sides, and the Italians suffered heavy losses. The conflict lasted until November 1918, when the Italians launched their final offensive.

Italy's declaration of war on Austria-Hungary

Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary on 23 May 1915, entering World War I on the side of the Allies (Britain, France and Russia).

When World War I broke out in 1914, Italy declared itself neutral, despite its membership of the Triple Alliance alongside Germany and Austria-Hungary. However, Italy was promised territorial gains at Austria-Hungary's expense, including Italian-populated Trentino and Trieste, South Tirol, Gorizia, Istria, and northern Dalmatia. Italy was also promised parts of Dalmatia and numerous islands along Austria-Hungary's Adriatic coast, the Albanian port city of Vlore and a central protectorate in Albania, and territory from the Ottoman Empire.

Italy was not yet fully industrialised and was not prepared for large-scale warfare. It had only recently become a unified nation in 1859 and was still recovering from its war against the Ottoman Turks in 1911-12. Despite this, Italy managed to mobilise 1.2 million men in the spring of 1915, although it only possessed equipment for 732,000.

Italian Prime Minister Antonio Salandra announced the declaration of war, stating:

> I address myself to Italy and to the civilized world in order to show not by violent words, but by exact facts and documents, how the fury of our enemies has vainly attempted to diminish the high moral and political dignity of the cause which our arms will make prevail.

The Italian army's size

Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary on 23 May 1915. The Italian army was initially made up of around 1,000,000 men, but poor leadership, training and organisation meant that they were unable to make progress against the Austrians. Four battles took place over five months (23 June – 2 December 1915) along the Isonzo river, which were bloody and exhausting for both sides.

The Italian army was eventually able to break through the Austrian front and occupy the Asiago plateau on 15 May 1916. By the end of the war in November 1918, the Italian army had grown to more than 5 million men. Approximately 460,000 were killed and 955,000 were wounded in the conflict.

Italy's entry into the war was significant because it was the only military opponent of Austria-Hungary with a similar degree of industrialization and economic level. Additionally, Italy had historical grievances against Austria-Hungary, including the annexation of territory along their shared frontier, which Italy sought to "liberate". During the pre-war years, Italy had begun to align itself with the Entente powers, France and Great Britain, for military and economic support.

The Italian army's poor leadership

Italy entered World War I in May 1915, attacking Austria-Hungary. The Italian army was large, with around 1,000,000 men, but suffered from poor leadership, training and organisation. Chief of Staff Luigi Cadorna marched his army towards the Isonzo river, hoping to seize Ljubljana and threaten Vienna. However, the Royal Italian Army was halted on the river, where four battles took place over five months (23 June – 2 December 1915). The fighting was extremely bloody and exhausting for both sides.

The Italian army's leadership also failed to adapt to the changing situation on the ground. After the first battle on the Isonzo river, the Austrians had time to reinforce their positions, making it even more difficult for the Italians to break through. Despite this, the Italians continued to launch frontal assaults, resulting in heavy casualties and little gain.

Overall, the Italian army's poor leadership contributed to their failure to achieve their objectives and the heavy casualties they suffered during the war. Despite their large numbers, the Italians were unable to break through the Austrian defences and were ultimately forced to accept the Armistice of Villa Giusti on 3 November 1918, bringing an end to their involvement in World War I.

The Italian army's march towards the Isonzo river

Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary on 23 May 1915. The war ended in November 1918.

In May 1915, Chief of Staff Luigi Cadorna marched his army towards the Isonzo river, hoping to seize Ljubljana and eventually threaten Vienna. The Italian army was halted on the river, where four battles took place over five months (23 June – 2 December 1915). The Italians were unable to advance to Ljubljana as the Austro-Hungarian resistance proved to be stronger than expected. The Italians suffered heavy losses and were forced to retreat. The fighting triggered violent anti-war protests throughout Italy, and Cadorna was forced to resign from his role.

The Italians struck again in August 1915, slowly pushing forward and dislodging the Austrians as they advanced. However, on 24 October 1917, the Austro-Hungarian and German armies took the offensive, beginning with a heavy bombardment. The Italian army was in a rout, and the Austrians poured over the Isonzo. Caporetto fell, though many Italian units continued to fight as they retreated towards the Piave River, where they held the line on 7 November 1917.

The last chapter of the fights along the Soča occurred during the Twelfth Isonzo Battle, which started on 24 October 1917. The Austro-Hungarian and German armies surprised the Italian defence with a gas shell bombardment. The Italians were forced to retreat across the Friuli lowland, under the protection of rear guards. The front stabilised on the Piave River on 9 November 1917.

The dissolution of Austria-Hungary

On 15 May 1916, the Austrians launched a "punitive expedition", breaking through the opposing front and occupying the Asiago plateau. By the end of the war in November 1918, the Italian army had grown to more than 5 million men, with approximately 460,000 killed and 955,000 wounded in the conflict.

As the war progressed, the Austro-Hungarian Empire faced increasing challenges. Its multi-ethnic army lost morale and struggled to hold its line, suffering from a lack of food and munition supplies. On 24 October, the Italians launched an offensive that accelerated the dissolution of Austria-Hungary. A Hungarian National Council was set up in Budapest, calling for peace and severance from Austria.

On 28 October, the Czechoslovak committee in Prague passed a "law" for an independent state, while a similar Polish committee was formed in Kraków, advocating for the incorporation of Galician and Austrian Silesia into a unified Poland. The following day, the Croats in Zagreb declared their independence, intending to form a national state of Slovenes, Croats, and Serbs. These events marked the final stages of the dissolution of Austria-Hungary, which occurred rapidly as the war drew to a close.

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