The Fifth Army contained a large number of Slovenes and Croats.
Perhaps many of them were dissatisfied with the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but that did not mean they could tolerate the Italians. The hatred of the Slovenes and Croatians towards the Italians was long-standing.
It's not just the Austria-Italy conflict, but also Italy's territorial ambitions. Italy has a strong desire for the territory of Croatia and Slovenia.
There are many Italians in these lands, but there are also large numbers of Croats and Slovenes. This multi-ethnic environment has led to serious ethnic oppression and hatred in these places, as well as commercial competition around the Alps.
All these things lead to blood feuds.
This is the official word.
This is not the case.
In the area around the Alps, there live many Germans, Italians, Croatians, and Slovenes. Most of them stay in their own small villages all their lives and have no idea about the so-called national hatred or family feuds. They intermarry and communicate with each other. They are all very good people.
But war spares no one.
The first wave of the Italian army's offensive was halted.
Given the character of General Cardona, the Chief of the Italian Army General Staff, they would launch a second offensive in a few days.
The Austro-Hungarian Fifth Army did not have much time to reorganize its defenses.
Especially for Manstein.
Of course, Hilde can say that she will not seize General Borojevich's power, and General Borojevich can just treat Hilde as a vase.
But not Manstein.
He must prove his own worth on the battlefield. When he has enough say on the battlefield, it means power. The battlefield has always been about strength. Similarly, when he gains enough say in this war, it means that the power from Hilde is extended.
only.
Manstein underestimated the Alps after all.
Before coming to the Isonzo River, his princess had reminded him more than once that even though Manstein was studying
Although Manstein was studying the southern defense line, he still looked up at the Alps and felt scalp.
tingling.
For mountaineering enthusiasts, the Alps is a romantic place. Mountaineering enthusiasts all over Europe want to conquer the Alps.
Alps.
But not for the soldiers.
They only want the mercy of the Alps.
Whether it is Italy or the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the soldiers need to be in this remote and difficult to reach place.
The enemy, on a nearly vertical slope, sent artillery to a peak 3,400 meters high, and engaged the enemy in such a place.
A life-and-death war.
This mode of warfare was something Manstein had never experienced before.
It was at this time.
July 18, 1915.
Second Battle of the Isonzo.
The second Italian offensive began.
The Italian army began to attack Mount Rosso and Mount Nero. The difference in numbers was almost devastating. The Italian army had 250,000 people, while the Austro-Hungarian army had only more than 80,000 people. In the early stages, the Italian Second Army launched a tentative attack on the Bainsiza Plateau and Gorizia.
Only minor advances were made, as the Austro-Hungarian fortifications made it impossible for the Italians to break through.
but.
The Italian Second Army was only a feint, and the Italian Third Army was actually responsible for the main attack. After all, the Austro-Hungarian Empire underestimated Italy's military strength. Italy's greatest weakness was the lack of heavy artillery, and the rear had already been delivered.
Not every Italian high-ranking commander was a fool. Duke Emanuele Filiberto Vittorio Eugenio Alberto Genoa Giuseppe Maria di Savoy, who commanded the Third Army, had an army that was the best in Italy. In later generations, he would be known as the Invincible Duke and his Invincible Army.
Under the fierce attack of the Third Army, Italy captured Mont Saint-Michel.
but.
It makes no sense.
In the words of General Cardona, Chief of the Italian Army General Staff.
The Italian army occupied Mont Saint Michel for only one night, but it was easier to take it than to stay there. The Austro-Hungarian artillery and bullets covered Mont Saint Michel, and then counterattacked to recapture Mont Saint Michel.
The next day, the Italian army took it from the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the same way.
Both sides kept repeating the same tactics.
The entire Alpine front was turned into a meat grinder. The trenches of both sides were no more than a hundred meters apart, and the situation changed hands several times every day.
In this battle.
Manstein could feel only pain.
He knew that the Austro-Hungarian soldiers had many problems, such as lack of coordination and communication, but the Austro-Hungarian personnel were in disarray and effective communication was simply impossible in such a place.
As for the defensive position, the defensive position of the Austro-Hungarian Empire always remained unchanged, which made it vulnerable to long-term artillery bombardment and concentrated attacks. A more effective dynamic defensive tactic should be adopted, that is, to avoid these problems by constantly redeploying troops.
But Manstein could see it, and General Borojevich and General Letovsky could see it, too. Was it that they were unwilling to allow soldiers to be deployed for dynamic combat?
no.
The soldiers are simply unable to execute combat orders. Once something goes wrong, the entire front will collapse.
Not to mention a host of issues like logistics, artillery, air superiority, etc., which are unsolvable.
It's worse than these.
Manstein had to understand one thing.
This is a war that cannot be won. Unless the war on the east and west fronts ends, the two-fold difference in military strength will
The Austro-Hungarian Fifth Army could only defend and was unable to launch any effective counterattack.
How do you win an unwinnable war?
Manstein didn't know the answer.
Every officer and every soldier present didn't know the answer.
The Second Battle of the Isonzo lasted only half a month.
The Italian army still had not made a major breakthrough.
This sounds like a good thing, but in just half a month, the Italian army lost 50,000 people and the Austro-Hungarian army
The empire lost more than 40,000 men.
There aren't that many lives lost.
When Italy stopped its offensive.
Manstein returned to the Fifth Army Headquarters in Tolmin to see Hilde again.
"I went to meet General Borojevich and General Letovsky, but they thought my plan was too radical. They didn't approve of my combat plan."
"Are you sure your strategy will work?"
Hilde asked back.
Since arriving at the Isonzo River, he has been squatting in the front-line trenches. After so many days, Manstein still believed that dynamic defense tactics must be used. He specially made a set of defense tactics for the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Since there were problems with communication and language, he would give grassroots officers enough authority. Since the soldiers lacked execution ability, he would give the soldiers a limited area.
If we continue to follow the previous static defense, it will be no different from waiting for death. The Austro-Hungarian Empire does not have so many lives to spare.
to fill in.
Manstein replied.
"No, but I have to try. I am willing to take full responsibility!"
General Borojevich, commander-in-chief of the Fifth Army, and General Letovsky, chief of staff, both rejected him. If only one general rejected him, it would be fine, but if both of them rejected him, it meant that Manstein had no choice but to come to Hilde.
Hilde smiled.
"Then tell them you're going to use chlorine."