Isonzo: The Forgotten Sacrifice of the Great War

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Summary: WWI Austria gives Italy a gashed, bloody nose
Review: During World War I, the one place where the Austro-Hungarian armies did fight tooth and nail (often to the last man) was the Isonzo. Millions of Italian soldiers were driven straight into the gunsights of Austria's fanatical defenders and literally mowed down, again and again. In fact, there were a total of 11 Italian-initiated battles on the Isonzo with the early ones often mere uncoordinated slaughters of brave but green conscripts. However, during almost every battle many Austrian units were heavily decimated by shelling and what few Austrian reserves existed were instantly committed. The typical result was that squads and platoons of determined and courageous men often held off hundreds (even thousands) of attacking Italians. In a war noted for its bitterness and bloodshed, few battlefields carried a reputation as evil as the Isonzo's.

Despite the Italians' initial amateurism, they did manage to slowly learn from their mistakes. The sixth, tenth, and the eleventh battles absolutely pushed the Austrian forces to the breaking point. More than once there were gaping holes in the Austrian lines. And with just ONE defeat by the Italians, the entire Austrian army could have been rapidly overwhelmed and destroyed. So dangerous did the situation become that the Austrians twice tried counteroffensives (even though being outnumbered and outgunned), once at Asiago and once at Caporetto. With German assistance, the Austrian army astounded the world and shocked the Allies by its stunning and complete victory over the Italians at Caporetto. Only Austria's complete military and economic exhaustion allowed the Italians to 'walkover' Austrian forces at Vittorio Veneto.

The author's colorful language and in-depth research make this an interesting book to read. I really came away with an appreciation of the Austrian army after reading the book. It only required the will to fight to become a surprisingly effective combat force. However, the Italian army, although containing many valiant soldiers, was horribly led and treated. Indeed, so draconian was Italian leadership under Cadorna that it often resorted to the old Roman practice of decimating many units (i.e. randomly shooting every tenth soldier). Isonzo is perhaps the only currently widely published English-language book on the subject. And it is well worth reading!

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Summary: Amazing.
Review: Even if World War One (especially the widely unknown Italian Front) is not a period that speaks to you, the reader cannot help but be moved by the obvious passion the author feels about the Isonzo. Schindler does a wonderful job of conveying both the fervor and the futility felt by the millions of men on the front; and he does this for the men on both sides of the fighting, despite his clear Austro-Hungarian leanings.

The book's size is daunting, but somewhere along the way you begin to realize Schindler has infused you with the same ardor he feels about the Isonzo and you can't put it down. One of the final chapters, offering a look at how the Isonzo affected the empire and the region - as well as how the 12 battles influenced Europe for years to come was an incredibly interesting read.

I highly recommend Schindler's informative and passionate work on The Forgotten Sacrifice of the Great War and look forward to his next publication.

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Summary: A must read even if it is terrifying
Review: I always thought Haig and Joffre were the worst generals to ever grace a battlefield. But no there was the Italian Commander in World War 1, Cadorna who sent literallty millions to their doom on the Isonzo.

Really well written, you really feel the ebb and flow of each battle. But how the Italians kept on attacking year in and year out for no gain defies understanding.

A very useful addition to understanding World War One and one that compares well to my favourite World War one book "In Flanders Fields" by Leon Wolf.

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Summary: Amazing.
Review: I have a very short comment: you've got to read this book. I am so looking forward to Dr Schindler's next publication.

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Summary: War in the Clouds
Review: I read this book while I lived in the Friuli region of Italy. The topic, which most Americans have never read about, is very interesting and moving. The size of the book might scare away the casual reader, however I wished it were longer. The Isonzo campaign brought together Mussolini, Rommel, and Hemmingway, and left a mark in Italian history. Italy was pushed into the war by the powerful military elite, the fascists; it's desire to be recognized by the Allies, and its hatred of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. These factors could not save the Italian Army from being slaughtered in the mountains and valleys of northeast Italy. This book shows the human face to the war, and the futility of conflict. The Italian generals never learned how to fight a modern war, and threw a whole generation of young Italians into a senseless slaughter. The book covers the period very well, and paints a vivid picture of the campaign. I would give this a very high recommendation.

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Summary: A compelling reading
Review: I've just finished reading this book and it's excellent. I live in Gorizia, on the river Isonzo. I'm of course familiar with the history of the Italian front of WWI, and I know all of the places, the villages and the mountains mentioned in the book. However, when I started reading, I just couldn't stop: the book is fascinating and enlightens many aspects of the war which were obscure to me, esp. the rough treatment of Italian soldiers by their officers. I am grateful to Prof. Schindler for giving the English speaking world the opportunity of learning in such detail of the tragedy and the bloodshed that happened here during WWI. One of the best war books I've ever read.

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Summary: Excellent WW1 Account
Review: John R. Schindler's outstanding book on the numerous battles fought along the Isonzo River during the Great War is one of the best military history accounts I have read for some time. The Isonzo River ran between the then warring nations of Italy and Austria (Habsburg Empire) and saw some of the bloodiest fighting of World War One. According to the author over 1.75 million men became casualties during the numerous offensives fought along this river and upper valley and should be placed along such names as Verdun, the Somme, and Passchendaele.

After reading his book I fully agree with the author in this regard. Before reading this book I had never really appreciated this campaign in the context of the Great War. I knew of the role of the young German officer, Erwin Rommel, and the Battle of Caporetto. Before now I had never read of the outstanding valour shown by the Italian and Austrian-Hungarian soldiers who fought for four grueling years along this forgotten front line.

I was not aware that Benito Mussolini had fought as an Italian Alpini soldier along this front and that he was a dedicated and brave soldier. I learnt from reading this book that the many ethnic nationals that made up the old Habsburg Empire fought bravely and without compliant for their Emperor regardless of what was happening to the old Empire back home.

The descriptions of the fighting were excellent and the details of the many campaigns and offensives never once got boring. The story was well told and the accounts of the many soldiers and officers involved were well told and insightful. This is an excellent historical account and rightly sub-titled as "The Forgotten Sacrifice of the Great War". The narrative was compelling throughout and I found it hard to put the book away late at night. In just under 350 pages of text we get a fascinating and before now untold account of a terrible conflict.

The author offers a highly interesting chapter on the ramifications of this WW1 campaign on the region after the end of the Great War. He also provides a chapter outlining the battlefield as it is today. There are a number of black and white photographs of the area and numerous maps (which could have been better but were sufficient). I cannot recommend this book highly enough for any World War One reader. Although the price tag may put off some buyers, it actually took me a few months to make the decision to buy this book, it is well worth the expenditure.

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Summary: A MUST READ
Review: This book is an eye-opening and informative account of a little-known theatre of the First World War. Schindler pulls no punches in pointing out the incompetence of the Italian commanders and the role that Italian Nationalism played in stoking the fires of this needless tragedy. A must read for anyone interested in the battles and campaigns of the First World War