Italian front (World War I)

History

Italy expected compensations in the areas of Italia Irredenta ruled by Austria-Hungary in exchange for its recognition of the annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, as agreed in the Triple Alliance treaties. This compensation did not occur, becoming a reason for Italy to break the alliance in 1915. The mutual compensation clause was Article 7 of the 1909 and 1912 treaty versions, which required prior agreement and reciprocal compensation for any territorial changes in the Balkans or Adriatic.

The Italo-Turkish War of 1911 weakened the Ottoman Empire and alienated Italy from its Triple Alliance partners; Germany viewed the Ottomans as an ally, and Austria-Hungary's position was complicated by the subsequent Balkan Wars. On 28 June 1914, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip occurred. The Archduke was a proponent of Trialism, which would have transformed Austria-Hungary into a tripartite state, competing with Serbia's interest in a South Slavic kingdom.

On 1 July 1914, Alberto Pollio, Chief of Staff of the Royal Italian Army, died unexpectedly and was replaced by Luigi Cadorna. According to a German military attaché, Pollio had been considered fully committed to the Triple Alliance.