BATTLE OF VITTORIO VENETO

The 'Battle of Vittorio Veneto' was fought between 24 October and 3 November 1918, near Vittorio Veneto, during the Italian Campaign of World War I. The Italian victory determined the collapse of Austro-Hungarian Army and the end on the First World War on the Italian Front.
Some Italians see Vittorio Veneto as the final cumulation of the Risorgimento nationalist movement, in which Italy was unified and achieved its present borders.

Contents

Background

The battle

Conclusion

Result

Footnotes

Background

During the Battle of Caporetto, 24 October to 9 November 1917, near Kobarid, in what is now Slovenia, the Italian Army lost over 300,000 men and was forced to withdraw, causing the replacement of the Italian Supreme General Luigi Cadorna with the General Armando Diaz. Diaz reorganized the troops, blocked the enemy advance and stabilized the front-line around the Piave River. The Italian victory in the Battle of the Piave River in June 1918 proved to be the decisive battle on the Italian front.

The battle

On the 23 October 1918, the Italian Army, led by Armando Diaz, and supported by Allied troops, launched the final offensive.
After crossing the Piave River, the Italian Army took Vittorio ("Veneto" was added to the name only in 1923) and advanced in the direction of Trento, threatening to block the retreat of Austrian forces.

Conclusion

General Graziani's 12th Italian army made advances, and he was supported on his right by the 8th army. On 30 October 1918 the Austro-Hungarian army was split in two. The result was that Austria-Hungary lost between 300,000-500,000 men, mostly prisoners. The Italians lost 38,000 casualties.
A source for the battle is George M. Trevelyan, ''Scene's from Italy's War'' (1919).

Result

The battle determined the end of the First World War on the Italian front. The surrender of their primary ally made the continuation of the war for Germany impossible as an additional front in the south could have been opened. As well, this defeat marked the end of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Footnotes

1. The Battle of Vittorio Veneto, 1918