Italy
Italy in the First World War →Tag
(164)1882
1911
1914
July
August
September
October
November
December
- 26
- Italians land at VlorëAt the end of December 1914 neutral Italy occupied the Albanian port of Vlorë. Rome assured Vienna that the occupation was temporary.
- Garibaldi Legion in the ArgonneOn 26 December 1914 Peppino Garibaldi's Italian volunteers first attacked in the Argonne. His brother Bruno, grandson of the hero of Italian unity, fell.
1915
January
April
May
- 23
- Key eventItaly declares war on Austria-HungaryOn 23 May 1915 Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary, its ally in the Triple Alliance. The state of war took effect the following day.
- Luigi Cadorna takes charge of the Italian armyOn 23 May 1915 a decree of King Victor Emmanuel III gave effective direction of the army's operations to the Chief of the General Staff, General Luigi Cadorna.
- 24
- Italians cross the Austrian borderOn 24 May 1915 Italian troops crossed the border of Austria-Hungary along almost its whole length. The Austrians fell back behind the Soča, blowing up bridges.
- Germany breaks off relations with ItalyOn 24 May 1915 Germany broke off diplomatic relations with Italy, which had declared war on Austria-Hungary. Yet Berlin and Rome did not go to war.
- 26
- Italy declares a blockade of the Austro-Hungarian coastOn 26 May 1915 Italy declared a blockade of the whole Austro-Hungarian coast and of neutral Albania. Neutral ships were given time to leave the zone.
- British squadron assembles at MaltaFour British battleships withdrawn from the Dardanelles assembled at Malta. On 26 May 1915 Rear-Admiral Cecil Thursby led them out to Italy.
June
July
- 07
- End of the First Battle of the IsonzoOn 7 July 1915 Cadorna halted the attacks on the Isonzo. After two weeks the Italians had won only a strip of the Karst at Sagrado, losing some 15,000 men.
- Sinking of the cruiser AmalfiOn 7 July 1915 the German submarine UB-14, sailing under the Austro-Hungarian flag as U-26, sank the Italian armoured cruiser Amalfi off Venice.
- 18
- Start of the Second Battle of the IsonzoOn 18 July 1915 the Italians struck on the Isonzo for the second time. With much stronger artillery they attacked Monte San Michele and Sei Busi on the Karst.
- Sinking of the cruiser Giuseppe GaribaldiOn 18 July 1915 the Austro-Hungarian submarine U-4 sank the Italian armoured cruiser Giuseppe Garibaldi off Cavtat as it shelled the railway in Dalmatia.
August
September
October
November
December
1916
January
- 15
- First Serbian soldiers on CorfuIn mid-January 1916 the first Serbian soldiers from Albania began to arrive on Corfu. Many were so exhausted that they died soon after coming ashore.
- Serbian government moves to BrindisiIn mid-January 1916 Pašić's government left threatened Scutari and sailed to Brindisi in Italy. A few days later it moved on from there to Corfu.
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
1917
January
February
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
- 03
- French troops in ItalyOn 3 November 1917 the arrival of French troops in Italy was announced. After Caporetto France sent four divisions there at first, and then two more.
- Tonnage agreement for the AlliesOn 3 November 1917 Britain, France and Italy agreed that ships to carry food for the Allies were a common burden, and divided it among themselves.
December
1918
January
March
- 11
- First meeting of the Allied Maritime Transport CouncilFrom 11 to 14 March 1918 the Allied Maritime Transport Council met in London. It approved a coal plan for Italy and accepted a 10m-ton import shortfall.
- Airship raid on NaplesOn the night of 10–11 March 1918 the German airship L 59, flying from Bulgaria, bombed Naples. Sixteen people were killed; the military targets were unharmed.
April
May
June
- 30
- Americans in ItalyAt the end of June 1918 the first US Army units, ambulance sections, reached Italy. An infantry regiment arrived only in July; airmen had been there since 1917.
- Czechoslovaks take the oath at DarneyOn 30 June 1918 at Darney Czechoslovak soldiers took the oath and received a colour from Poincaré, and France recognised the Czechoslovak National Council.
July
August
September
October
- 29
- Italians occupy San Giovanni di MeduaAt the end of October 1918 the Italians took Lezhë and the port of San Giovanni di Medua in northern Albania. The Austrians fell back towards Shkodër.
- Independence of the State of Slovenes, Croats and SerbsOn 29 October 1918 the Croatian Sabor cut its ties with Austria-Hungary, and the National Council took power in the new State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs.
- 31
- Italians occupy ScutariOn 31 October 1918 the Italians fought their way into old Scutari. The Serbs had taken the new town a day earlier, causing a dispute between allies.
- Fleet handed to the State of Slovenes, Croats and SerbsOn 31 October 1918 at Pola Horthy handed the Austro-Hungarian fleet to envoys of the National Council of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs. Janko Vuković took command.
November
- 03
- Key eventArmistice of Villa GiustiOn 3 November 1918 near Padua Austria-Hungary signed an armistice with the Allies. Fighting ceased at 3 p.m. on 4 November; the Habsburg monarchy left the war.
- Italians take TriesteOn the afternoon of 3 November 1918 the Italian destroyer Audace docked at Trieste. General Petitti di Roreto took possession of the city for the King of Italy.
- 04
- End of the Battle of Vittorio VenetoAt 3 p.m. on 4 November 1918 the guns fell silent on the Italian front. Before that the Allies crossed the Tagliamento and whole enemy divisions surrendered.
- Italians take BarOn 4 November 1918 the Italian navy occupied Bar (Antivari), the Montenegrin port abandoned by Austro-Hungarian troops in the last days of the war.