The Austro-Hungarians are attacking the Italians, crossing the Piave along a broad front and also advancing from the Asiago plateau. The attack is intended to draw Allied reinforcements away from France and Ludendorff‘s offensives there. The Austro-Hungarian attack has however not gone well. An Italian counter-attack has brought the Asiago attack to an end while the Austro-Hungarians who crossed the Piave find themselves unable to break out of their bridgeheads. Then unexpectedly heavy rainfall causes the river to flood, washing away many of the Habsburgs’ pontoon bridges, leaving the men on the west bank dangerously exposed.
Austro-Hungarian commanders decided to transfer men and guns from the Asiago to the Piave, whereupon the offensive will be renewed. In the meantime the men will just have to hold on, subjected to relentless bombardment by the enemy and the attentions of the Italian air force.
image source:
Resolute Italian defenders (MetroPostcard Guide to the campaigns of the Italian Front during World War One on postcards)
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