The Battle of Caporetto

In 1916, Austro-Hungary launced its Strafexpedition; which would involve their establishment of a path along the Trentine Salient, to provide access to Bologna and Verona, for attack. Though the Italian army was able to oppose this, it was still an event which significantly reduced the morale of both the Italian public and the army. Criticism from both the militarian and parliamentary sectors of government ultimately forced Antonio Salandra into resignation from his role as prime minister, hitherto - and he was replaced by Paulo Boselli.

The Battle of Caporetto - between Italy and Austro-Hungary - commenced on 24th October 1916; in the Austro-Hungarian town of Caporetto (now of modern-day Slovenia). The Italians suffered a humiliating defeat; again, in light of poor morale. Amidst the 10,000 deaths, 30,000 injuries and 300,000 cases of imprisonment; 400,000 soldiers went awry during conflict. They would either return home, or else participate in violence and lootings amongst one another.

What was clearly advocated was the fact that, contrary to Salandra's intentions behind war, the Battle of Caporetto had paradoxically reduced patriotism amongst most, and showed the image of Italy as a unified nation to be tremendously fragile. The socialists of Italy were largely blamed for this. They held neutralist views - professedly "neither supporting nor sabotaging" the war - and hence were regarded as defeatist, unpatriotic, backstabbing individuals, with some PSI officials accordingly facing imprisonment. Benito Mussolini notably suggested that the Italian socialists were greater enemies than the Austrians, and that there was thus a need for dictatorship to manage this.

There was much need for reform; achieved firstly in the replacement of Paulo Boselli with Vittorio Orlando, who was younger and more dynamic than the former individual. Furthermore, General Diaz was made to take the role of Luigi Cadorna as military commander; and he was the individual to, disputably, bring about the most effective change. He used a number of means to boost soldier morale; through trench newspapers and lectures, in addition to increased rations and holiday time. He, in December…