The Sixth Battle of the Isonzo, also known as the Battle of Gorizia, was the sixth battle fought along the Isonzo River on the Italian front of World War I, occurring at the Italian town of Gorizia on 4-16 August 1916.
History[]
In 1915, the Austro-Hungarian general Conrad von Hotzendorf decreased the strength of his forces along the Isonzo River in order to furnish the troops needed for his Trentino offensive and for the defense of Eastern Europe from Russia's Brusilov Offensive. In response, the Italian Chief-of-Staff Luigi Cadorna turned his attention to the Isonzo front and the Austrian strongpoint of Gorizia. The Italians planned a ground offensive following an artillery bombardment; Royal Italian Army troops were shifted from Trentino to the Isonzo by train, Italian troops advanced towards Mount Sabotino (overlooking the Isonzo Valley and Gorizia), and Italian sappers built several tunnels under the Austrian positions on the mountain.
On 6 August, the offensive was launched, targeting the hilly area west of the Isonzo and the westernmost edge of the Karst Plateau near Doberdo del Lago. The Italians seized Doberdo after heavy fighting, allowing them to advance on Gorizia from the south. Gorizia was then subjected to a very heavy and effective bombardment by the Italians, and, in under one hour, the Italians also seized Mount Sabotino. The Italians also succeeded in taking Monte San Michele and holding it against an Austrian counterattack, and Monte Calvario fell during the night. However, the Austro-Hungarians held onto Monte Santo, Monte San Gabriele, Monte San Daniele, and Hill 383, providing excellent observatories. The Italians were able to capture Gorizia, but the Austrians defended their new defensive line.
On 17 August 1916, having established a bridgehead, captured Gorizia, taken the western Karst, and suffered heavy losses, Cadorna ended the offensive, which was Italy's most successful offensive thus far. Emboldened by this victory, Italy declared war on the German Empire on 28 August 1915.
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