Battle of Vittorio Veneto
The Italian army broke the Austro-Hungarian front at Vittorio Veneto in late October 1918 and the empire dissolved while the battle was in progress. Italy had rebuilt itself after Caporetto the previous year, held the Piave in June 1918 against the last Austrian offensive, and then waited — Diaz refusing to attack until the material and the reserves were right, against political pressure to do something before the war ended elsewhere. The offensive opened on 24 October, the anniversary of Caporetto, with attacks in the mountains to draw reserves and a crossing of the Piave in flood. The river was the difficulty. Bridges were swept away as fast as they were built, and the first units across were isolated on the far bank for days. What the Austrians could not do was counterattack, because their army was disintegrating on national lines. Hungarian units demanded to go home to defend Hungary, Czech and Croat regiments refused orders, and the state they served declared itself dissolved on 31 October while its army was still in the field. Some 300,000 prisoners were taken. The armistice was signed at Villa Giusti on 3 November and took effect on the 4th, with fighting continuing in between over the timing, which is why Italian troops occupied Trento and Trieste. Austria-Hungary ceased to exist a week before Germany asked for terms. 4 November is still a national holiday in Italy, and the peace that followed gave Italy less than it had been promised in 1915, which is the grievance Mussolini built on.
- Year: 1918 CE
- Category: Military
