Isonzo | Strafexpedition | Fior | Part 4 скачать в хорошем качестве

Isonzo | Strafexpedition | Fior | Part 4

The Battle of Monte Fior took place in 1916 on the Asiago Plateau in northern Italy, during World War 1 Monte Fior was a key mountain position overlooking surrounding valleys, making it vital for controlling movement and artillery observation in the region. Italian forces of the Kingdom of Italy occupied fortified trenches and stone strongpoints dug into the rocky slopes of Monte Fior. From these positions, they could dominate enemy approaches below. In response, troops from Austria-Hungary launched repeated assaults as part of their 1916 Strafexpedition (Punitive Expedition), aiming to break through Italian mountain defenses and force a collapse of the front. The fighting was brutal and close-quarters. Artillery bombardments echoed constantly across the plateau, shattering rock and earth before infantry attacks surged uphill under machine-gun fire. Visibility was often poor due to smoke, fog, and dust kicked up by shellfire. Attacks frequently stalled just meters from enemy trenches, turning the battle into grenade fights, bayonet charges, and desperate hand-to-hand combat. Despite intense pressure, Italian troops managed to hold Monte Fior, using layered trench systems and the natural strength of the terrain to blunt Austro-Hungarian advances. Casualties were heavy on both sides, and the mountain itself was left scarred by craters, collapsed trenches, and shattered fortifications. Monte Fior became a symbol of mountain warfare at its harshest — steep slopes, exposed positions, and relentless attrition where ground was measured in meters and survival depended on endurance as much as firepower.