Page 222 - Il 1916 Evoluzione geopolitica, tattica e tecnica di un conflitto sempre più esteso - Atti 6-7 dicembre 2016

222 il 1916. EvoluzionE gEopolitica, tattica E tEcnica di un conflitto sEmprE più EstEso

be occupied. A huge gap remained unoccupied between the Austro-Hungarian
forces in Albania and the Bulgarian German Front in Macedonia. Even if the
collapse of Montenegro that followed, it did not have any strategic impact on
the overall military situation, the storming of the Lovcen and the victory over a
previously considered impregnable Montenegrin defence must be seen as a
remarkable operational feat. On the one hand, the Imperial and Royal Army
demonstrated a considerable clout towards its German ally and, on the other,
the offensive against the Lovcen, which included air and naval forces, stands as
one of the most successful “combined forces” operations. The strategic value of
the victory was – regarding the afterwards full use of the naval base at Cattaro
– enormous, especially for k.u.k. and German submarines now having the street
of Otranto quite close.
The next job to be done following Conrad´s plans was a massive strike
against the Italian Army. So Conrad prepared a large offensive in the area of
Folgaria-Lavarone, which should have helped ease the pressure on the severely
battered Isonzo Front and permitted the descent of the troops from the moun-
tains. The idea of a simultaneous attack at the Insonzo had to be dropped äs
the German forces were tied down at Verdun. The crucial blow had to be struck
by the Austro-Hungarian 11 Army - Viktor Dankl (1854-1941) - and 3 Army
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– Hermann Kövess. The offensive had to be postponed several times due to bad
weather and finally started on May 15 .
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Despite early successes, the Italian resistance grew with the support of ade-
quate reserves from the Isonzo Front. The crucial breakthrough, however, could
not take place because, on June 4 , 1916, a large offensive (Brussilow) against
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the Austro-Hungarian forces in Wolhynien was started on the North-East Front. To
stabilise these lines additional troops had to be withdrawn from the South-West
Front. To continue the South Tyrol Offensive was therefore out of the question.
But fighting continued on the Isonzo Front in 1916 as well. From March
11 to March 16 , 1916 a locally-limited offensive (the 5 Isonzo Battle) had
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been staged against Monte San Michele and near San Martino. It did not have
any impact on the frontline positions. On August 6 another attack was started
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which ended with the capture of Görz, Monte San Michele and the Doberdo
plateau by the Italians whose troops and equipment were almost twice the size
of their enemy’s. Further offensives followed from September 13th to 17 (7
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Isonzo Battle), from October 9 to 12 (8 Isonzo Battle) and October 31th to
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November 4 , 1916. With every offensive the Italian Front got closer to the
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Hermada, the last elevation before Trieste. Losses on both sides had again been