Austro-Hungarian graves in the Dolomite Mountains.
Heldengräber in den DolomitenHeroes graves in the DolomitesReverse:Verlag Kapper TrientPublisher Kapper Trent
"On May 20th, the Italians lost the Borgola Pass, 3,000 men, 33 guns and three howitzers. Everywhere the Austrian advance was successful. The Laurence Plateau, Fima, Mandriole and the heights as far as the Astico Valley were captured in quick succession. Between the Astico and Brenta, the Austrian advance continued in the Valleys of Terra Astico, Doss Maggio and Campelle.. . .In less than a week the Austrians had advanced their whole line far into Italian territory, across mountains 5,000 to 9,000 feet high, and had taken 24,000 prisoners, 251 cannons and 101 machine guns."
Despite ample warning of an impending Austro-Hungarian offensive against northern Italy from the Trentino, Italian Commander in Chief Luigi Cadorna made few preparations. Begun on May 15, 1916 with bombardment by 2,000 guns, Austro-Hungarian Chief of Staff Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf's Asiago Offensive rapidly progressed. Conrad hoped to drive through the mountains to reach and cross Italy's northern plain, continuing to reach the Adriatic Sea, isolating the Italian Army.
King's Complete History of the World War by W.C. King, page 232, copyright © 1922, by W.C. King, publisher: The History Associates, publication date: 1922
1916-05-20, 1916, May, Asiago Offensive, Trentino
