Damon Mcknight
Italy has a long history of conflict with Austria, with the two countries engaging in multiple wars and battles over the centuries. One notable conflict between the two nations occurred during World War I, when Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary on May 23, 1915, joining the Allies (Britain, France, and Russia). This opened up a new front in World War I, with a 600-kilometer battlefront along Italy's border with Austria-Hungary, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides. Prior to this, Italy and Austria were engaged in the Second and Third Italian Wars of Independence, fought in the mid to late 1800s, which played a crucial part in the process of Italian Unification.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 23 May 1915 |
| Reason | Italy believed it would receive territorial gains at the expense of Austria-Hungary |
| War | World War I |
| Allies of Italy | Britain, France, Russia |
| Enemies of Italy | Austria-Hungary, Germany, Bulgaria, the Ottoman Empire |
| Outcome | Italy gained control of the Tyrol and a seat on the League of Nations |
| Casualties | 615,000 Italians killed |
| Other Battles | Battle of Asiago, Battle of Caporetto, Battle of Bezzecca, Battle of Lissa, Battle of Versa, Battle of Piave River, Battle of Gorizia |
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What You'll Learn
Italy's entry into World War I
Italy entered World War I on 23 May 1915, declaring war on Austria-Hungary and joining the side of the Allies—Britain, France, and Russia. This was despite Italy's membership in the Triple Alliance alongside Germany and Austria-Hungary since 1882.
At the outbreak of World War I in 1914, Italy initially declared its neutrality, arguing that the treaty did not oblige it to provide military assistance. However, Italy had its own irredentist demands, including the secession of the Monarchy's Italian-speaking areas, such as the Italian areas of the southern Tyrol (Trentino) and certain border areas in Friuli (Gradisca). While these demands were supported in Berlin, they were rejected by Franz Joseph and proponents of Austro-Hungarian expansionism, who were intent on preserving their territorial integrity.
Germany pressured Austria to concede to Italy's demands, hoping to prevent Italy from entering the war. However, due to Emperor Franz Joseph's obstinacy, Italy ultimately entered the war as an enemy of the Danube Monarchy. Italy joined the Triple Entente, which promised substantial territorial gains at the expense of Austria-Hungary. These promises included control of territories bordering Austria-Hungary, stretching from Trentino through the South Tyrol to Trieste, as well as parts of Dalmatia and islands along the Adriatic coast.
Italy's entry into the war resulted in a new front opening up along its border with Austria-Hungary, stretching about 600 kilometers, most of it mountainous terrain. The Italian army advanced into the South Tyrol region and the Isonzo River, where they faced stiff resistance from Austro-Hungarian troops. The Battles of the Isonzo ensued, with heavy losses on both sides and little progress. In late 1917, German intervention led to a significant victory over the Italians in the Battle of Caporetto, resulting in Italian forces suffering around 300,000 casualties and being forced to retreat.
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The Second Italian War of Independence
The war was sparked by the Plombières Agreement, signed a year before the conflict, in which France agreed to support Sardinia's efforts to expel Austria from Italy in exchange for territorial compensation. On 28 January 1859, France and Sardinia signed a secret treaty of alliance against Austria. According to the treaty, France would aid Piedmont-Sardinia in the event of an Austrian attack, and in return, Piedmont-Sardinia would give Nice and Savoy to France. This alliance served the unification plans of both countries while also weakening Austria, a powerful adversary of Napoleon III's French Second Empire.
In the lead-up to the war, Cavour, the Prime Minister of Sardinia, attempted to provoke Austria by conducting a series of military maneuvers near the border. As a result, Sardinia mobilized its army on 9 March 1859, followed by Austria on 9 April. On 23 April, Austria issued an ultimatum demanding the complete demobilization of the Sardinian Army, which was not heeded. Consequently, Austria declared war on Sardinia on 26 April, with the first French troops entering Piedmont on the same day. France officially declared war on Austria on 3 May.
The French Army for the Italian campaign, commanded by Napoleon III, consisted of 170,000 soldiers, 2,000 horsemen, and 312 guns, constituting half of the entire French Army. The army was divided into five corps, each led by prominent military leaders. The Sardinian Army, on the other hand, had approximately 70,000 soldiers, 4,000 horsemen, and 90 guns, divided into five divisions.
The war culminated in the Battle of Solferino on 24 June 1859, fought in Lombardy between the Austrian army and the Franco-Piedmontese forces. Despite neither side having accurate information about the other's troop movements, they clashed unexpectedly around Solferino. The French broke through the Austrian center in the afternoon, and the battle resulted in heavy casualties on both sides. The defeat at Solferino led to the Austrian retreat and withdrawal into the Quadrilateral. The Battle of Solferino was the last major engagement of the war, and it contributed to the unification of Italy by leading to the annexation of most of Lombardy by Sardinia-Piedmont.
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The Third Italian War of Independence
On 23 June, Italy commenced military operations against Austria, with La Marmora's army deployed in Lombardy, west of the Mincio River, and Cialdini's army in Romagna, south of the Po River. La Marmora's army suffered a significant defeat at the Battle of Custoza on 24 June and was forced to retreat back across the Mincio River. In contrast, Cialdini initially adopted a more defensive strategy, conducting shows of force but failing to besiege the Austrian fortress of Borgoforte.
Following the defeat at Custoza, the Italians reorganised in anticipation of an Austrian counter-offensive. The Austrians took advantage of this opportunity to raid Valtellina and Val Camonica (Battle of Vezza d'Oglio). However, the tide turned in Italy's favour due to Prussian victories in Bohemia, particularly the Battle of Königgrätz on 3 July. The Austrians were forced to redeploy their troops to defend Vienna, and the Italian government received news of a mediation effort by Napoleon III for a settlement.
On 8 July, Cialdini crossed the Po River and advanced towards Udine, while Garibaldi's volunteers invaded Trentino and won the Battle of Bezzecca on 21 July. Despite these advances, the unexpected defeat of the Italian Navy at the Battle of Lissa on 20 July overshadowed their successes. With the cessation of Austro-Prussian hostilities, the Austrians prepared to send reinforcements to Italy, and the Principality of Liechtenstein, an ally of Austria, sent its army to the region west of Stilfser Joch.
On 9 August, Garibaldi received orders from the Army High Command to evacuate Trentino, to which he famously replied, "Obbedisco" ("I shall obey"). The Armistice of Nikolsburg ended hostilities between Austria and Prussia, provided that Italy obtained Venetia. The Italian Prime Minister, Bettino Ricasoli, insisted on obtaining "natural" frontiers, including the cession of Venice and South Tyrol, and respect for Italian interests in Istria. The Austro-Prussian armistice strengthened Vienna's position, and Austrian Admiral Wilhelm von Tegetthoff took command of the sea.
The acquisition of Venetia marked a significant step towards the unification of Italy, and the desire for unification was further emboldened. The Third Italian War of Independence, along with the Prusso-Italian alliance, played a crucial role in paving the way for both Italian and German unification.
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The Italian Campaign under Napoleon III
The Second Italian War of Independence, also known as the Sardinian War, the Italo-Austrian War, the Franco-Austrian War, or the Italian War of 1859, was fought by the Second French Empire under Napoleon III and the Kingdom of Sardinia against the Austrian Empire. The conflict played a crucial role in the process of Italian unification.
Napoleon III's involvement in the Italian Campaign was influenced by a combination of factors. Firstly, an assassination attempt on his life by an Italian, Felice Orsini, brought widespread sympathy for Italian unity and determined Napoleon III to support Piedmont against Austria to curb revolutionary activities. Additionally, Napoleon III aimed to weaken Austria, a formidable adversary of his French Second Empire. On July 21, 1858, Napoleon III and Cavour secretly met in Plombières, agreeing to a treaty of alliance against Austria. According to the treaty, France would aid Piedmont-Sardinia in the event of an Austrian attack if Piedmont-Sardinia ceded Savoy and Nice to France.
The Italian Campaign officially commenced with the mobilisation of the Sardinian army on March 9, 1859, followed by Austria's mobilisation on April 9. Austria issued an ultimatum on April 23, demanding the Sardinian army's complete demobilisation. When this ultimatum was ignored, Austria declared war on Sardinia on April 26. The French army, consisting of 170,000 soldiers, 2,000 horsemen, and 312 guns, entered Piedmont on April 25, and France officially declared war on Austria on May 3, 1859.
The French army, led by Napoleon III, was divided into five corps: the I Corps under Achille Baraguey d'Hilliers, the II Corps under Patrice de MacMahon, the III Corps commanded by François Certain de Canrobert, the IV Corps led by Adolphe Niel, and the V Corps under Prince Napoléon Joseph Charles Paul Bonaparte. The campaign culminated in Napoleon III signing an armistice with Austria at Villafranca, influenced by factors such as the high cost of overrunning the Quadrilateral, criticism of his actions in Italy, and the desire to prevent Cavour and Piedmont from gaining too much power.
The Third Italian War of Independence, fought between June and August 1866, was another conflict between the Kingdom of Italy and the Austrian Empire. This war ran parallel to the Austro-Prussian War and resulted in Austria conceding the region of Venetia to France, which was later annexed by Italy.
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The Armistice of Nikolsburg
The armistice came about due to a series of military setbacks for Austria. On 21 July 1866, Prussia delivered a decisive blow to the Austrian army at the Battle of Königgrätz, prompting Austria to shift its focus to the northern front. Simultaneously, Garibaldi's Italian volunteers made significant advancements, invading Trentino and securing victory at the Battle of Bezzecca. Italy's Royal Army capitalised on Austria's redeployment, making territorial gains.
However, the Armistice of Nikolsburg was not the end of the conflict. Italy sought to obtain "natural" frontiers, including Venice and South Tyrol, and to safeguard its interests in Istria. Austria, bolstered by the Austro-Prussian armistice, reinforced its position with Admiral Wilhelm von Tegetthoff assuming command of their navy. As a result, Italy faced challenges in its pursuit of expanded borders.
The Third Italian War of Independence, fought between June and August 1866, paralleled the Austro-Prussian War. It culminated in Austria conceding the region of Venetia to France, which Italy later annexed through a plebiscite. This acquisition was a significant milestone in the Unification of Italy, solidifying Victor Emmanuel II's position as King of Italy and addressing the tensions arising from foreign domination in certain regions.
In conclusion, the Armistice of Nikolsburg served as a temporary pause in the hostilities between Italy and Austria during the Third Italian War of Independence. While it provided a brief respite, the underlying tensions and territorial ambitions remained unresolved, setting the stage for further conflict and negotiations that would ultimately shape the unification of the Italian nation.
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Frequently asked questions
Italy first attacked Austria in 1859 during the Second Italian War of Independence, also known as the Sardinian War, the Austro-Sardinian War, the Franco-Austrian War, or the Italian War of 1859.
The Second Italian War of Independence was fought between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Sardinia against the Austrian Empire. This war played a crucial role in the Italian Unification process.
Yes, Italy and Austria fought again during World War I. Italy officially declared war on Austria-Hungary on May 23, 1915, joining the Allies—Britain, France, and Russia.
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