Battle of Gorizia (1916)

Background

Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf had reduced Austro-Hungarian forces along the Soča front to reinforce his Trentino Offensive and to assist with the defense of the Russian Brusilov Offensive. Italian Chief-of-Staff Luigi Cadorna, along with Prince Emanuele Filiberto, Duke of Aosta, turned attention to the Isonzo front and the city of Gorizia.

They planned a heavy bombardment in a restricted zone between Podgora Hill and Monte San Michele, followed by ground actions to control the left bank of the Isonzo. Italians had already advanced towards the top of Sabotin, and sappers had built tunnels behind Austro-Hungarian positions. Cadorna used railroads to shift troops from Trentino back to the Isonzo frontline.

Battle

On 6 August the offensive was launched against Gorizia, concentrated in the hilly area west of the Soča river near Gorizia and the westernmost edge of the Karst Plateau near Doberdò del Lago. Italians conquered the main transport road from Duino to Gorizia in the Battle of Doberdò after hand-to-hand combat, securing their advance from the south. Austro-Hungarian forces retreated east of Gorizia, leaving the damaged town. Bombardment of Gorizia was heavy and effective; Borojević unsuccessfully asked for reinforcements.

Cadorna ordered the 45th division to attack Sabotin; Italian infantry with heavy artillery reached the peak in less than an hour. Simultaneously, the attack on Monte San Michele commenced; Italian infantry reached the summit while Austro-Hungarian soldiers retreated, and a later counterattack failed due to lack of reserves. With the conquest of Sabotin and Monte San Michele, the Austro-Hungarian defensive line disintegrated. That night Italians captured Monte Calvario.

On 8 August the last Austro-Hungarian regiment from the right bank withdrew east; the Pavia Brigade began entering the city. Gorizia fell, and a bridgehead was established across the Soča. Borojević ordered retreat further east into Vallone Valley, abandoning positions on the western Carso such as Monte Sei Busi, Doberdò del Lago, and Monte Cosich. Austro-Hungarian defenses north and east of Gorizia still included heights from Sveta gora, Škabrijel, Sveti Danijel, and Hill 383, with artillery and observatories placed there to block offensives toward Trieste and Vienna.