The Battle of Caporetto (or Battle of Karfreit as it was known by the Central Powers), took place from October 24 to November 9, 1917, near Kobarid (now Slovenia) on the Austro-Italian front of World War I. Austro-Hungarian forces, reinforced by German units, were able to break into the Italian front line and rout the Italian army, which had practically no mobile reserves. Austro-German forces advanced more than 100 km in the direction of Venice, but they were not able to cross the river Piave, where the Italians (with substantial help from French, English and American allies) established a new defensive line, which they held for the rest of the war.
The bloody aftermath of the battle was vivdly described by Ernest Hemingway in his novel A Farewell to Arms.
| Battle of Caporetto |
|
| Conflict |
First World War |
| Date |
October 24 - November 19, 1917 |
| Place |
Isonzo valley, in present day Kobarid, Slovenia |
| Result |
Decisive Austro-German victory |
| Combatants |
|
| Austria-Hungary |
Italy |
| German Empire |
|
| Commanders |
|
| Otto von Bellow |
Luigi Capello |
| Strength |
|
| 35 divisions |
41 divisions |
| Casualties |
|
| 20,000 dead or wounded |
40,000 dead or wounded, 275,000 captured |