The Battle of Caporetto was a World War I battle fought between the armies of Italy and Austria-Hungary. The word "Caporetto" is pronounced /kapoˈrɛtto/ in IPA phonetic transcription. It is spelled with a "c" instead of a "k" because Italian words do not use "k" except in loanwords. The second "o" is pronounced as a short "o" sound, and the stress is on the second syllable. This battle was a turning point in the war, as the Italian defeat led to political instability and a change in leadership.
The Battle of Caporetto, also known as the Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo, was a World War I military conflict that took place from October 24 to November 19, 1917, between the forces of the Kingdom of Italy and the Central Powers led by Austria-Hungary and Germany.
The Battle of Caporetto was a pivotal event in the Italian front of World War I and is marked by its significance in military strategy and the scale of its impact. It resulted in a resounding victory for the Central Powers, allowing them to break through the Italian lines and push the Italian army into a hasty retreat.
The battle took place in the mountainous region of Caporetto (modern-day Kobarid, Slovenia), which was strategically located along the Isonzo River and dominated by rugged terrain. The Central Powers exploited this challenging landscape to their advantage, utilizing innovative tactics such as infiltration and gas warfare. This overwhelmed the poorly prepared Italian forces and contributed to the collapse of the entire Italian front.
The Battle of Caporetto is often associated with the concept of "total war" due to the extensive damage inflicted on both military and civilian infrastructure in the affected areas. It also led to significant losses for the Italian army in terms of casualties, equipment, and territory, seriously threatening Italy's ability to continue participating effectively in the war. The defeat at Caporetto resulted in major political and military repercussions for Italy, including a change in leadership and a subsequent reorganization of its armed forces.