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Luigi Cadorna
Person page: Luigi Cadorna →
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(40)
1915
May
23
Luigi Cadorna takes charge of the Italian army
On 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 border
On 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.
June
09
Italians take Monfalcone
On 9 June 1915 Third Army brigades entered Monfalcone on the Adriatic. The Austrians gave up the town without a fight and fell back to the nearby Karst hills.
29
Start of the First Battle of the Isonzo
The British chronology dates the start of the First Battle of the Isonzo to 29 June 1915. Yet the Italians had been attacking on the Soča since 23 June.
July
07
End of the First Battle of the Isonzo
On 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.
18
Start of the Second Battle of the Isonzo
On 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.
August
10
End of the Second Battle of the Isonzo
The Austro-Hungarian official history ends the Second Battle of the Isonzo on 10 August 1915. After Italy's 3 August order, the Karst fighting went on a week.
October
18
Start of the Third Battle of the Isonzo
At noon on 18 October 1915 more than a thousand Italian guns opened fire along the whole Isonzo front. The infantry was to go over to the assault on 21 October.
November
03
End of the Third Battle of the Isonzo
On 3 November 1915 the Italians last stormed Podgora and Monte San Michele. Next day the defenders retook their trenches and Cadorna halted the offensive.
10
Start of the Fourth Battle of the Isonzo
On 10 November 1915, after a short, concentrated bombardment, the Italians again attacked Gorizia and Monte San Michele. By evening almost all were repulsed.
December
10
End of the Fourth Battle of the Isonzo
The British chronology ends the Fourth Battle of the Isonzo on 10 December 1915. A day earlier the last major Italian attack on Monte San Michele had collapsed.
1916
February
27
Austrians occupy Durrës
On the night of 26–27 February 1916 the Austrians entered burning Durrës. The Italian Savona Brigade left for Vlorë under fire, losing guns and hundreds of men.
March
11
Start of the Fifth Battle of the Isonzo
On 11 March 1916 the Italian artillery opened fire along the whole Isonzo front. Cadorna began a limited offensive to relieve Verdun at France's request.
17
End of the Fifth Battle of the Isonzo
The British chronology ends the Fifth Battle of the Isonzo on 17 March 1916. That evening the Austrians attacked at Tolmin and took over 500 prisoners.
May
14
Trentino offensive begins
On 14 May 1916 Austro-Hungarian artillery opened fire on the Isonzo to distract the Italians. The main blow from Tyrol began at dawn the next day.
June
03
End of the Trentino offensive
On 3 June 1916 the Austrians took Monte Cengio, but Cadorna said he would stop them in the mountains. The attack faded, though assaults went on two more weeks.
11
Salandra resigns
On 10 June 1916 the Italian Chamber refused Salandra's government its confidence after the defeats in Trentino. The cabinet resigned after over two years.
16
Italian counter-offensive in the Trentino
On 16 June 1916 the Italians struck on the northern edge of the Asiago plateau. That evening the Austrians were ordered onto the defensive and to retreat.
July
07
End of the Italian counter-offensive in the Trentino
On 7 July 1916 the Austrians on the Asiago plateau repulsed the second day of a major Italian attack. Cadorna did not regain the positions lost in May.
August
06
Start of the Sixth Battle of the Isonzo
On 6 August 1916 the Italians attacked the Gorizia bridgehead and Monte San Michele. That same day they took Monte Sabotino and the summits of San Michele.
09
Italians take Gorizia
On 9 August 1916 Italian troops entered Gorizia, abandoned by the Austrians during the night. It was the first large Austro-Hungarian city taken by Italy.
17
End of the Sixth Battle of the Isonzo
On 17 August 1916 Cadorna halted the offensive on the Isonzo. After taking Gorizia the Italians spent a week vainly storming the new Austrian defence line.
September
14
Start of the Seventh Battle of the Isonzo
On 14 September 1916, after nine hours of shelling, the Italian 3rd Army stormed the Karst plateau. It took only a forward sector on Nad Logem.
18
End of the Seventh Battle of the Isonzo
On the evening of 17 September 1916 Cadorna halted the attack on the Karst; on 18 September the fighting died down. Italy took only San Grado and some trenches.
October
09
Start of the Eighth Battle of the Isonzo
From dawn on 9 October 1916 Italian guns pounded Austrian positions on the Karst. Austria saw it as the start of the battle; the assault came a day later.
12
End of the Eighth Battle of the Isonzo
On 12 October 1916 the last Italian attacks on the Karst broke down under artillery fire. The Italians took Nova Vas but advanced no more than 1.5 km.
31
Start of the Ninth Battle of the Isonzo
On 31 October 1916, after a week of rain, the Italian artillery opened fire on the Karst and at Gorizia. Cadorna's third autumn offensive had begun.
November
04
End of the Ninth Battle of the Isonzo
On 4 November 1916 three Italian divisions stormed the Austrian positions from Hudi Log to hill 208 in vain. Cadorna halted the offensive on the Karst.
1917
January
05
Rome conference
On 5–7 January 1917 the Allies conferred in Rome. Lloyd George wanted to send Italy heavy guns for an offensive on the Isonzo, but the plan was shelved.
May
12
Start of the tenth battle of the Isonzo
At dawn on 12 May 1917 the Italian artillery opened fire from Tolmin to the Adriatic. The Tenth Battle of the Isonzo, Cadorna's largest offensive, had begun.
June
05
End of the Tenth Battle of the Isonzo
On 5 June 1917 the Austro-Hungarian counter-attack on the Karst died down. The Italians lost most of their gains at Hermada; the Tenth Isonzo battle ended.
August
17
Start of the eleventh battle of the Isonzo
On 17 August 1917 Italian batteries on the Isonzo were firing almost as in a barrage. The Eleventh Battle of the Isonzo, Italy's largest offensive, began.
September
12
End of the Eleventh Battle of the Isonzo
On 12 September 1917 the last great Italian assault on Monte San Gabriele failed. That day the Austrians got orders for a joint offensive with the Germans.
October
25
Boselli resigns
On 25 October 1917, the day after the front was broken at Caporetto, the Chamber of Deputies refused confidence to Paolo Boselli's government. The cabinet fell.
28
Fall of Gorizia and Udine
On 28 October 1917 the Austrians retook Gorizia and the Germans took Udine, the Italian headquarters. The Italian army fell back behind the Tagliamento.
29
Orlando becomes prime minister of Italy
On 29 October 1917, during the retreat from Caporetto, Vittorio Emanuele Orlando formed a new Italian government. Sonnino remained foreign minister.
November
03
French troops in Italy
On 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.
08
Cadorna dismissed
On 8 November 1917 King Victor Emmanuel III removed General Luigi Cadorna after Caporetto. General Armando Diaz became the new Italian Army chief of staff.
09
Italians withdraw behind the Piave
On 9 November 1917 the last Italian rearguards crossed the Piave and blew the bridges. The retreat from Caporetto was over, and the enemy stood on the river.
27
Permanent military representatives of the Supreme War Council
In late November 1917 the military advisers of the Supreme War Council at Versailles were settled: Wilson, Cadorna, Bliss and Foch, who was replaced by Weygand.