Italy's Bastion in the West: the Adamello Massif

Mte Adamello

Immediately after hostilities began, the Italian Army made a concerted effort to occupy the three peaks of the Adamello Massif in the far westerly sector of the war zone. The Italian-Austrian border ran at that time across two important mountain ranges, the Ortles-Cevedale and the Adamello-Brenta range, where the so called “white war” was fought between 1915 and 1918. 

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Trentino Sector of the Italian Front with
Location of Adamello

This Alpine War, lead on positions at 3000m above the sea level and—as a consequence—in difficult climatic and geographic conditions was, especially in winter, a double fight—against the enemy and the nature—surviving with temperatures dropping deep below zero also during the day. Capturing the Adamello would give them command of the Trentino's Val de Genova, the strategic east-west Tonale Pass, which lies just to the north, and and an excellent series of observation posts at 3,000 meters altitude.

The Commanding View from the Peak of Adamello

In April 1916, Alpini ski troops under Capt. Nino Calvi of the 5th Division successfully assaulted Austro-Hungarian strong points at Monte Fum and Lobbia Alta. On the 20th of the month, in a fierce battle that required extensive mountain climbing, his troops captured the remaining peaks giving Italy complete control of the massif. For the entire war, the Adamello would provide them a secure anchor on the left of their frontline.  A breakthrough in this area would expose Milan—critically important to Italy's war effort—to a decisive attack.

Possibly an After-Action Photo of Lt. Calvi and
Alpini Ski-Troops

In  June 1918, the sector was the location of a major Austro-Hungarian divisersionary attack in support of their assault on the Asiago-Piave River line.  The Austrians launched an attack with two divisions at the Tonale Pass, at the prewar border on the far west of the Trentino.  The mountainous area had seen little serious fighting recently. Austrian Chief of Staff Arz von Straußenburg had previously argued that the brunt of the offensive should fall there. The Italians, however, knew the attack was coming, due to information from deserters, and were able to stop the Austrian advance within hours without diverting reserves from the main fighting areas..

Over 100 Years Later, an Italian Artillery Piece Still Sits
at 3000 Meters Atop the Adamello Ridge

Many marks of WWI can be seen even today: trenches, bunkers and fortress are everywhere on the three peaks of the Adamello and relics, remnants, weapons, and even soldiers bodies emerge every year, as the glaciers of Adamello melt and release them.