| Home > Battle Histories > Italy > The Advance from the Asiago, 1 - 4 November 1918 |
British
troops enter enemy territory in Europe, for the first time in
the war
|
The
Austrian Army began to withdraw from the Asiago front, following their
reverses on the Piave. Their intention
was to retire to a prepared Winterstellung position, but the
British forces, along with their Allies attacked before the enemy could
settle into a strong position.
|
Where
the battle took place
|
The Asiago
Plateau lies North of Vicenza. It was believed
by both sides to be critical, in that an advance by the Austro-Hungarians
would endanger the whole Italian position on the River Piave.
The Plateau forms a step in the descent from the Alps to the sea.
The ground is a downhill slope, 'a confusion of rugged pine-clad
hills and valleys, bare rock where there are no trees, with spurs
projecting towards Asiago...At the bottom of the slope was the new
British front line. The Plateau itself measures some 7 miles from
east to west, and three miles north to south. On the left the trenches
faced each other across an impassable gorge, 2000 feet deep. Elsewhere
No Man's Land was at its narrowest half a mile wide'. (Official History).
|
British
Order of Battle
|
Divisions 48th
|
What
happened
|
A general Allied attack was ordered for 1st November, in the direction Trento - Bolzano, with the objective of 'strangling enemy communications'. The initial attack, carried out by 144th and 145th Brigades, met strong resistance from Hungarian units but cleared the Winterstellung and captured the important height of Monte Catz. The advance continued well, and by dusk on 2nd November, units of the 143rd Brigade crossed into Austrian territory at Osta del Termine. The Allied advance was hampered by some well-sited machine-guns, and an increasingly tortuous supply from the rear. |
Casualties
|
The
total 48th Division casualties amounted to just over 160 of
all ranks, killed, wounded and missing. During this time they captured
more than 22,000 prisoners.
|
Summary
|
On
3rd November, the Austrian forces in the area began to surrender. An
Armistice took effect at 3pm on 4th November.
|