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.
Image text: Ihr Völker merkt für jetzt und späterSo schwor zum Dreibund der VerräterYour 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
Twenty-one Declarations of War between July 28, 1914 and August 21, 1915. Over them are the heads of state of the Dreibund: Sultan Mehmet V of Turkey, Kaiser Franz Josef I of Austria-Hungary, and Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany.
Image text: 21Kriegsklärungen des Weltkrieges.Zum bleibenden Gedächtnis.28. Juli 1914: Österreich-Ungarn an Serbien.1. August: Deutschland an Russland.3. August: Deutschland an Frankreich.3. August: Deutschland an Belgien.4. August: England an Deutschland.5. August: Österreich-Ungarn an Russland.6. August: Serbien an Deutschland.11 August: Montenegro an Österreich-Ungarn.11 August: Montenegro an Deutschland.11 August: Frankreich an Österreich-Ungarn.13 August: England an Österreich-Ungarn.23 August: Japan an Deutschland.25. August: Österreich-Ungarn an Japan.28. August: Österreich-Ungarn an Belgien.2. November: Russland an die Türkei.5. November: Frankreich an die Türkei.5. November: England an die Türkei.7. November: Belgien an die Türkei.7. November: Serbien an die Türkei.23. Mai 1915: Italien an Österreich-Ungarn.21. August: Italien an die Türkei.21War Declaration of the World War.For lasting memory.July 28, 1914: Austria-Hungary on Serbia.August 1: Germany on Russia.August 3: Germany on France.August 3: Germany on Belgium.August 4: England on Germany.August 5: Austria-Hungary on Russia.August 6: Serbia on Germany.August 11: Montenegro on Austria-Hungary.August 11: Montenegro on Germany.August 11: France on Austria-Hungary.August 13: England on Austria-Hungary.August 23: Japan on Germany.August 25: Austria-Hungary on Japan.August 28: Austria-Hungary to Belgium.November 2: Russia on Turkey.November 5: France on Turkey.November 5: England on Turkey.November 7: Belgium on Turkey.November 7: Serbia on Turkey.May 23, 1915: Italy on Austria-Hungary.August 21: Italy on Turkey.Reverse:Verlag: Buchdruckerei "Industrie", Wien VII.Publisher: book printer "Industry", Vienna VIILogo: lozenge, Maltese Cross, Shield, "1914"
Italy's armed forces at the ready in a 1915 postcard. In the foreground the artillery, infantry, an Alpine soldier (in feathered hat), and a Bersaglieri (in plumed headgear). Behind them are a bugler and lancer; in the distance marines and colonial troops. The Italian navy is off shore, an airship and planes overhead. On the reverse are the lyrics of a patriotic Italian March by Angelo Balladori, lyrics by Enrico Mercatali. It ends with a call to the brothers of Trento and Trieste, Austro-Hungarian territory with large ethnic Italian populations.
Image text: Reverse:Marcia ItalicaD'Italia flammeggin le sante bandiereBaciate dal sole, baciate dal vento,Su l'aspro sentier di Bezzecca e di TrentoDe l'alma Trieste, sul cerulo mar.. . . Fratelli di Trento, Triestini fratelli,La patria s'è desta alla grande riscossa!Dell'aquila ingorda la barbara possaDai liberi petti domata sarà!Parole di Enrico MercataliMusica di Angelo Balladori.Casa Editrice Sonzogno - Milano. 1915.
John Bull, symbol of Great Britain and here a bird-catcher, tries to entice the kingdom of Romania, in 1915 a neutral nation, into his trap. He already has Russia by the nose, and the plucked cock of France and an Italian fowl close at hand. Neutral (and wise) Greece rests out of reach, while Bulgaria sings to the Islamic crescent moon of Turkey. In the background Turkish, German, and Austro-Hungarian soldiers meet at a crossroads. Carved into the tree is a heart dated 1915, and the initials 'F A R', perhaps for 'France aime Russie:' France loves Russia.
Image text: L'OiseleurDer Vogelfänger 1915The BirdcatcherGreceBulgarieRoumanieBagdad / HambourgRussie
A folding postcard from a pencil sketch of an unsuccessful Allied gas attack in Flanders.
Image text: Erfolgloser feindlicher Gasangriff in FlandernUnsuccessful enemy gas attack in FlandersOutside:FeldpostkarteNachdruck verboten.Field postcardReproduction prohibited.
The advance of July 19, 1918 in the Aisne-Marne Offensive. From The History of The A.E.F. by Shipley Thomas. © 1920
Image text: The advance of July 19, 1918Showing plateau southwest of Soissons which the Germans chose to defend to the last.
"The Marquis of San Giuliano answered that as the war undertaken by Austria was aggressive and did not fall within the purely defensive character of the Triple Alliance, particularly in view of the consequences which might result from it according to the declaration of the German Ambassador, Italy could not take part in the war." ((1), more)
". . . j'ai l'honneur, d'ordre de mon Gouvernement, de faire savoir à votre Excellence ce qui suit:Sa Majesté l'Empereur, mon auguste Souverain, au nom de l'Empire, relevant le défi, se considère en état de guerre avec la Russie.[. . . I have the honour, on the instructions of my Government, to inform your Excellency as follows:His Majesty the Emperor, my august Sovereign, in the name of the German Empire, accepts the challenge, and considers himself at war with Russia.]" ((2), more)
". . . Finally, on the morning of the 1st we make our way down. We have to walk slowly in single file along a dangerous ridge under enemy fire. I'll never forget this for as long as I live. It's about 10 p.m. when it gets to my turn to go. The path takes almost an hour. I'm on top of the ridge and I go on step by step ducking the shrapnel fire. Nothing. I continue. After two paces I'm still unscathed. At the third, Zani from Vicenza, ten metres in front of me, is hit in the head. He screams and falls down the precipice. The poor wretch's head smashed on the mountainside. I see his body tumbling down. He was a good lad. I keep going, constantly asking myself when my turn will come. Someone behind me is hurt, screams, but keeps going. At one point the bullets are coming thicker and faster. The ridge is interrupted by a crevasse. I throw myself in. Fandella, the corporal of the 15th is already down there. We're lying on the corpse of a poor Alpine soldier. The firing is constant. A rock above our heads is hit and covers us in rubble. Fandella's lip is cut. I'm still unscathed. We get to Spleca at about 5 p.m.I'm shattered." ((3), more)
"Tuesday, August 1, 1916.Briand has telegraphed me as follows:As regards a Rumanian declaration of war, I share the view of Sir Edward Grey and General Joffre that in the last resort we should not insist on an immediate declaration of war on Bulgaria ; it is probable that the Germans will force the Bulgarians into attacking the Rumanians at once, and the Russian divisions can then commence hostilities.It is equally probable that as the Rumanians have not prepared for operations south of the Danube, but have concentrated the bulk of their forces in the Carpathians, they will get a rude shock from the Bulgarians." ((4), more)
"August 1st [1917].The great brutal force of the initial blow has been parried. We survived the gruesome tension occasioned by the uncanny artillery fire, and we are able again to hold our heads high as the battle of living men is resumed. The struggle has now reached the phase of human effort, after unseen mechanical death has been knocking at the door day and night for weeks. The German fighting spirit was fully awakened, and heroes flung themselves from the islands of defense in the conquered district against the advancing masses and seriously weakened the flanks of the oncoming troops. Millions of shells have been spent, and now comes the test of strength and nerves." ((5), more)
"The 42nd Division, with two battalions of the 47th Infantry Regiment of the 4th Division (Regulars), starting at 5:00 a.m. July 28, crossed the river Ourcq and after vigorous fighting, took Seringes-et-Nesles and Sergy, with its left flank just east of Fere-en-Tardenois. Being ahead of its schedule, it went over into the sector of the 32nd Division and took Hill 212. On the morning of July 31, the 32nd Division took Cierges, and on August 1 took Hill 230 and Planchette Wood." ((6), more)
(1) M. Barrère, French Ambassador at Rome to M. René Viviani, President of the Council, Minister for Foreign Affairs, reporting on his visit earlier in the day to the Marquis of San Giuliano, Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Collected Diplomatic Documents Relating to the Outbreak of the European War, page 228, publisher: His Majesty's Stationery Office by Harrison and Sons, publication date: 1915
(2) From the note presented by the German Ambassador at St. Petersburg, Russia, on July 19/August 1 (Old Style/New Style), 1914 at 7:10 PM. Russia had mobilized, Germany had objected, Russia had suspended, then resumed, mobilization. The declaration of war claims that failure to act would have compromised the safety and existence of Germany. This is the challenge Kaiser Wilhelm has accepted.
Collected Diplomatic Documents Relating to the Outbreak of the European War, 294, 295, publisher: His Majesty's Stationery Office by Harrison and Sons, publication date: 1915
(3) Italian infantryman Virgilio Bonamore wrote of fighting the Austro-Hungarians in the Julian Alps. Most of his battalion suffered frostbite in the last days of July, 1915, a period during which it rained constantly. On the morning of August 1, his unit was relieved, and made its way along the ridge, vulnerable, in single file.
Intimate Voices from the First World War by Svetlana Palmer and Sarah Wallis, page 159, copyright © 2003 by Svetlana Palmer and Sarah Wallis, publisher: Harper Collins Publishers, publication date: 2003
(4) Entry for Tuesday, August 1, 1916, from the memoirs of Maurice Paléologue, French Ambassador to Russia. Aristide Briand was Prime Minister of France when the Ambassador wrote. General Joseph Joffre was commander of the French Army from the beginning of the war until December, 1916; Sir Edward Grey was British Foreign Secretary from 1905 to the same month. Russia, France, and Great Britain had been trying to entice Romania into the war since its beginning, and during the summer of 1916 as Austria-Hungary was staggered by Russia's Brusilov Offensive, begun on June 4. By August 1, with the addition of German forces, and often German commanders, Austro-Hungarian units were becoming more successful at resisting the Russian advance. Bulgaria had been defeated in the Second Balkan War in 1912 when Romania allied with Greece and Serbia, and attacked Bulgaria across their shared border. Bulgaria would soon return the favor.
An Ambassador's Memoirs Vol. II by Maurice Paléologue, page 309, publisher: George H. Doran Company
(5) Beginning of the report by Max Osborn, official German observer on the Flanders front, writing of the beginning of the Third Battle of Ypres, launched by the British and French on July 31, 1917. The preliminary bombardment had begun on July 15, and was more punishing than any yet laid down by British artillery. The infantry attack itself began before 4:00 a.m. on the 31st. Six hours later the creeping artillery, timed to keep ahead of the advancing British troops, had left the men well behind, the guns moving on to the second and third objectives as the infantry had largely failed to capture the first. By late afternoon a drizzle had turned to drenching rains that filled shell holes where men sheltered and turned the torn-up battlefield to muddy swamp.
The Great Events of the Great War in Seven Volumes by Charles F. Horne, Vol. V, 1917, p. 271, copyright © 1920 by The National Alumnia, publisher: The National Alumni, publication date: 1920
(6) The Franco-American Aisne-Marne Offensive. begun on July 17, 1918, continued through August 6.
The History of The A.E.F. by Shipley Thomas, page 179, copyright © 1920, by George H. Doran Company, publisher: George H. Doran Company, publication date: 1920
