On May 23, 1915 Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary, its former ally as a member of the Triple Alliance. Clasping the hands of the German and Austro-Hungarian emperors Wilhelm II and Franz Josef, Italy's king Victor Emmanuel III conceals the tattered document behind his back.

Ihr Völker merkt für jetzt und später

So schwor zum Dreibund der Verräter



Your people note both now and later,

Thus swore to the Triple Alliance the traitor.



Reverse:

Militäramtlich genehmigt (Officially approved by the military)

Logo: EMM No. 9

Other views: Larger

Friday, June 14, 1918

"Soldiers! For months and months, resisting victoriously amidst the glaciers and the snows, accomplishing faithfully your duty in the tempests of Winter, you have looked down upon the sunny plain of Italy. The time to go down into it has come. Like a whirlwind, you will overthrow the false and perjured ally of the past, as well as the friends she has called to her help. You will prove to the world that nobody can resist your heroism.

Your fathers, your grandfathers, and your ancestors, have fought and conquered the same enemy with the same spirit.

I am sure you will not fall below them, and even that you will rise above them. Heart and soul with you, I shall follow your movements, which will be an irresistible rush towards victory. Confiding firmly in you, I cry to you: 'Overthrow everything before you.'"

Quotation Context

Austro-Hungarian General Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf's Official Address of June 14, 1918 on the eve of the Second Battle of the Piave. Prior to the war, Italy had been a member of the Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary, but had determined that the latter's war on Serbia was not a defensive action requiring support. Less than a later Italy turned on her former ally, declaring war on Austria-Hungary on May , 1915. Hence 'false and perjured ally of the past.' Conrad may have followed their movements on a map, but little more.

Source

The Great Events of the Great War in Seven Volumes by Charles F. Horne, Vol. VI, 1918, pp. 214–215, copyright © 1920 by The National Alumnia, publisher: The National Alumni, publication date: 1920

Tags

1918-06-14, 1918, June, Triple Alliance