| First Battle of the Isonzo | |||||||
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| Part of the Italian Front (World War I) |
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Eleven Battles of the Isonzo June 1915 — September 1917 |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Italy | Austria-Hungary | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Luigi Cadorna, Emanuele Filiberto General Frugoni |
General Svetozar Boroević Major General Géza Lukachich von Somorja Major GeneralNovak von Arienti |
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| 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 | |||||||
| 14,947 | 9,950 | ||||||
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The First Battle of the Isonzo was fought between the Armies of Italy and Austria-Hungary on the Italian Front in World War I, between June 23 and July 7, 1915.
The aim of the Italian Army was to drive the Austrians away from its defensive positions along the Soča (Isonzo) and on the nearby mountains.
Although the Italians enjoyed a 2:1 numeric superiority, their offensive failed because the Italian commander, Luigi Cadorna, employed frontal assaults after impressive (but short) artillery barrages. The Austrians had the advantage of fighting from uphill positions barricaded with barbed wire which were able to easily resist the Italian assault.
The heaviest fighting occurred around Gorizia where Italian troops were able to advance as far as the suburbs, only to be later repelled.
Early in July the Austrian commander, Svetozar Boroević, received two reinforcement divisions, which put an end to the Italian efforts at breaking through the Austrian lines.
The final Italian gains were minimal: in the northern sector, they conquered the heights over Bovec (Mount Kanin); in the southern sector, they conquered the westernmost ridges of the Kras plateau near Fogliano Redipuglia and Monfalcone.
Contents |
| 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 | 23rd 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 |