First Battle of the Isonzo

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

First Battle of the Isonzo
Part of the Italian Front
(World War I)

Eleven Battles of the Isonzo
June 1915 — September 1917
Date June 23—July 7, 1915
Location Isonzo River, northeast Italy from the Monte Krn to the Adria
Result Italian victory
Belligerents
Flag of Italy Italy Flag of Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary
Commanders
Luigi Cadorna,
Emanuele Filiberto
General Frugoni		 General Svetozar Boroević
Major General Géza Lukachich von Somorja
Major GeneralNovak von Arienti
Strength
225,000 (18 divisions, 252 battalions, 111 cavalry squadrons, 700 guns) 115,000 (8 divisions, 84 battalions, 13 cavalry squadrons, 356 guns)
Casualties and losses
16,000 10,000
v • d • e
Italian Front

The First Battle of the Isonzo was fought between Italians and Austro-Hungarians on the Italian Front in World War I, between June 23 and July 7, 1915.

The Italians' aim was to drive the Austrians away from their defensive positions along the Isonzo River and on the nearby mountains.

Although the Italians enjoyed a 2:1 numeric superiority, their offensive failed because Cadorna, the Italian commander, employed frontal assaults after impressive (if not short) artillery barrages. The Austrians had the advantage of fighting from uphill positions.

Early in July the Austrian commander, Svetozar Boroević, got two reinforcement divisions, which put an end to the Italian efforts at breaking through the Austrian lines.

The final Italian gains were minimal: the bridgehead at Tolmino, beyond the river, and the heights near Plezzo.



Görz/Gorica (left) and the Isonzo
Görz/Gorica (left) and the Isonzo



















Contents

[edit] Involved units

Austria-Hungary
5th Army
VII Corps XVI Corps XV Corps
1st Infantry Division 57th Infantry Division 61st Infantry Division 20th Infantry Division 58th Infantry Division
17th Infantry Division 18th Infantry Division 50th Infantry Division
187th Infantry Brigade 6th Mountain Brigade 16th Mountain Brigade 14th Mountain Brigade 81st Honvéd Infantry Brigade
39th Honvéd Infantry Brigade 2nd Mountain Brigade 12th Mountain Brigade 5th Mountain Brigade 4th Mountain Brigade
10th Mountain Brigade 1st Mountain Brigade 13th Mountain Brigade 7th Mountain Brigade 15th Mountain Brigade
8th Mountain Brigade 3rd Mountain Brigade
Reserve
93rd Infantry Division
Headquarters
VII Corps in Kostanjevica XVI Corps in Dornberg XV Corps in Kneža


Italy
2nd Army 3rd Army
VII Corps X Corps XI Corps VI Corps II Corps
IV Corps
13th Infantry Division 14th Infantry Division 20th Infantry Division 19th Infantry Division 21st Infantry Division
12th Infantry Division 11th Infantry Division 4th Infantry Division 3rd Infantry Division 32nd Infantry Division
7th Infantry Division 8th Infantry Division Bersaglieri Division Alpini Group A and B half 29th Infantry Division
Reserve
XIV Corps
half 29th Infantry Division 22nd Infantry Division 28th Infantry Division 30th Infantry Division 23th Infantry Division
27th Infantry Division 33rd Infantry Division 1st Cavalry Division 2nd Cavalry Division 3rd Cavalry Division
Headquarters
2nd Army in Udine 3rd Army in Cervigano
Austro-hungarian trench at the Isonzo
Austro-hungarian trench at the Isonzo

[edit] References

  • Österreichisches Staatsarchiv/Kriegsarchiv Wien
  • L'esercito italiano nella grande guerra (1915-1918) Volume I - IV / Roma: Ministerio della Guerra - Ufficio Storico, 1929-1974
  • Ministero della Guerra Stato Maggiore centrale - Ufficio Storico. Guerra Italo-Austriaca 1915-18. Le medaglie d'Oro. Volume secondo - 1916. Roma: 1923
  • Österreich-Ungarns letzter Krieg 1914-1918 Band II Verlag der Militärwissenschftlichen Mitteilungen Wien 1931-1933
  • Anton Graf Bossi-Fedrigotti: Kaiserjäger - Ruhm und Ende. Stocker Verlag, Graz 1977


[edit] See also


[edit] External references