Part 4 - One Son's Father: The Battles of Gorizia and Doberdò (6th Battle of the Isonzo River) - August 1916

On August 6, 1916 the Italians launched an offensive against Gorizia. The offensive was concentrated in two zones: 1) the hilly area west of the Soča (Isonzo) river near Gorizia and 2) the westernmost edge of the Karst Plateau near Doberdò del Lago (south of Gorizia). On August 8, Gorizia fell and a bridgehead was finally established across the Soča (Isonzo) River. 

Role of the 121st Infantry

The Brigata Macerata participated in the battle first at the southern Gorizia limits and near Doberdò. The command of the troops was now under the 19th Division (XIII Army Corps). On August 10 as part of the southern area of assault, after realizing the pressure from the enemy had slowed down, troops moved to occupy the trenches “Marcottini.” Then the advance continued albeit under heavy fire from the Austrians into present day Slovenia towards Oppacchiasella (Opatje Selo) - Nova Vas and then it was to proceed towards Castagnevizza - Hudi Log - Lukatic – Hrbci.  On the August 11, the advance continued, still under constant enemy fire, until advance scouts reach the western edge of the town of Oppacchiasella, which remained under Austrian control. The objective was to take the main road between Duino, on the road to Gorizia from Trieste securing the advance to Gorizia from the south and opening a route to Trieste.

Diagram of Marcottini Crossroads (NW to Gorizia)

The Marcottini Trench today

At dawn on August 12, two battalions from the 121st Regiment (my father's regiment) reached Oppacchiasella and its reinforced (Austrian) trenches.  Meanwhile the 122nd Regiment advanced into the Mikoli valley and occupied the high ground to the southwest of the town clinging to the western slopes of Nova Vas. The Austrians mounted a counterattack and stopped the advance of the Macerata. 

Italian troops near Oppacchiasella (where the 121st Regiment battled)

By August 15, 1916, the 121th Infantry Brigade, Macerata was deployed with all three battalions in line south of Opatje Selo - Opacchiasella near the town, where together with the Brigade Ivrea they occupied the area up to Nova Vas - Nova Villa.

Abandoned Austrian position at Nova Vas

The regiment was constantly targeted by the enemy with gunfire, machine guns and artillery, which also reached the second lines.  At 9 o'clock a large caliber project hits the 121th Infantry Command Post directly; there are 20 killed and numerous wounded, including all the staff of the Regiment Command and the 1st Major Adjutant.

At 11 o'clock the order to advance in cooperation with the troops on the flanks is given - where cooperation with the lateral (flanking) troops advancing will have to be maximized, towards the left of the road Opacchiasella-Castagnevizza; close connection of the troops in the advance; with gradual use of reinforcements. The battalions of the first line, in the breaks of shooting of their artillery and bombardments, will have to provide, a search of break-through points and the appropriate movements of troops in the vicinity of them.

The advance starts good enough but soon hampered by the enemy fire in close contact, with the Ferrara Brigade, which after suffering serious losses is forced to fall back into the initial positions. Likewise, the troops of the 121st cannot follow the advance and following the retreating movement of the Ferrara Brigade, they stop in the previous positions. During the night exploration patrols are sent and the battalions are relieved.

Positions of the opposing armies, including the 121st Regiment on August 15, 1916, near the end of the battle

The Opacchiasella offensive is vigorously resumed on August 16 but is stopped again by the Austrian defenses. But on August 16 and 17 the advance continues after a strong artillery attack on the Austrians, however, progress is slow and the losses are greater than the advance warrants.  At this point the Macerata is relieved by the Marche Brigade and they return to the rear (between Campolongo and Aiello) to recuperate under the command of the 31st Division. The Italian Command content with having established the bridgehead and capturing Gorizia early, ended the offensive on August 17.

Aftermath

The attack on Gorizia was the most successful Italian offensive along the Isonzo lines and greatly boosted Italian morale - especially since Gorizia had been promoted as a desirable objective, unattainable in earlier battles. In the wake of the battle Italy finally declared war against Germany, on 28 August. However, the optimism was tempered. The Italian generals, in an attempt to make up for their equipment disadvantage, committed the Italian soldiers to frontal assaults, resulting in massive casualties.  The Italian losses in the battle of Gorizia from August 6 to 17 were 51,232 men, of which 1,759 were officers; the Austrians lost slightly less; 41,835 men out of action, of which 807 were officers.

The battle of Gorizia also convinced Romania, on August 27, to go to war with the Entente, against the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary) creating another front for Austria. This led the Italian Command to order the resumption of the fighting, this time to open the road to another symbolic city: Trieste.

The loss of Gorizia also convinced the Austrian command to reinforce the Italian front.  Apparently unknown to the Italian command, by mid-September the Imperial forces reached an unprecedented strength of fourteen divisions with over 165 battalions and much needed equipment and the front was established east of the Vallone – a small valley dividing the Karst Plateau.