The remains of a fallen Italian soldier on Monte San Gabriele, killed during the 11th Battle of the Isonzo, November 4, 1917.
The remains of a fallen Italian soldier on Monte San Gabriele, killed during the 11th Battle of the Isonzo, November 4, 1917. Today 106 years ago, on August 18, 1917, the 11th Battle of the Isonzo began, the last Italian-launched Isonzo offensive, but also one of the most successful, yet bloody ones. By August 1917, the Russians were being pushed far back on the Eastern Front, and the British and French were struggling in the Third Battle of Ypres on the Western Front. Ever since the 10th Battle of the Isonzo ended in June 1917, the Italians had prepared for another large offensive on the Isonzo, which would help their allies and hopefully break the Isonzo deadlock. The Italians would attack across the whole front but would concentrate their efforts north on the Bainsizza Plateau, an attack which would be carried out by the Italian 2nd Army. It was hoped a breakthrough here would out-flank the entire Austro-Hungarian lines, and the Italian 3rd Army would then attack further south ...