Battle of the Piave (jun 15, 1918 – jun 23, 1918)

Description:

Following their crushing victory in the Caporetto Offensive, the Austro-Hungarians envisioned another major offensive to knock the Italians out of the war. German divisions that had participated in the Caporetto Offensive had redeployed to the Western Front, but with Russia out of the war the Austro-Hungarians were themselves able to mass on a single front. After a diversionary attack into the Tonale Pass, the Austro-Hungarians attacked south from the Trentino region and west along the Adriatic Coast. The attack along the Trentino axis encountered British and French divisions that had hastily redeployed to Italy after Caporetto, and was bloodily repulsed. The Adriatic attack forced the Piave River at several points and penetrated five miles. However, unusually high water and aerial bombardment compromised the bridges across the Piave, creating severe logistical problems. During the night of 22-23 June the Austro-Hungarians withdrew. The failed offensive had cost them 150,000 casualties, and proved a further blow to the faltering morale of their soldiers.

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