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| Mte Mrzli vrh Overlooking the Soca (Isonzo River) and Tolmin |
Mte Mrzli vrh (Mount Mrzli vrh, literally "Cold Peak") is a 1,359-meter (4,459-foot) mountain in the Julian Alps above the Soča Valley near Tolmin, Slovenia. It is renowned as one of the bloodiest World War I battlefields on the Isonzo Front and today serves as an open-air historical museum In the First World War, it figured as one of the key points in the Austro-Hungarian defence of the Tolmino bridgehead. The ridge of Mt. Mrzli vrh is still densely crisscrossed by numerous trenches and caves of the two belligerent sides. Just below the top of the mountain, in its north-eastern slope, the Austro-Hungarian Army hollowed roomy caves. Mte Mrzli was the site of a critical breakthrough by Austrian-German forces that effectively destroyed the Second Italian Army in the opening of the 1917 Battle of Caporetto.
Memories of Those Who Served at Mte Mrzli
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| Austrian Trenches on the Slope of Mrzli vrh |
31 October 1915
It’s thundering, thundering … as if the whole world went mad. The man, the youths are falling – ours and Italian, the wounded are moaning. The sun has drowned in blood. Never before have I seen so intensely blood-red sky and sun. As if the sky and the sun both got drunk of the holy human blood – because the soil cannot soak it all in time – What are you doing, man?
Lieutenant Albin Mlakar, Slovenian Army
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| The Commanding View of the Soca Valley from the Summit of Mrzli vrh |
23 June 1916
Well, after I had shaved myself, I was also told that tomorrow would be Sunday; and I thought: let it be. Sunday? What do I profit from Sunday? Shall I possibly go to the holy service? Shall I throw bowls or go to see my girl? Nothing. No, those times have all gone!
Lieutenant Albin Mlakar, Slovenian Army
1917
However, man by the Soča got used to bearing everything. Cold, heat, dust, rock camps, water shortage, flies. He overcame fear of shells and air torpedoes, of bombs that fall from the sky, and of blasting mines which turn up ground, of daggers, hand grenades, booming fire. He got used to everything, almost to death. He only couldn’t get used to one thing – to Mrzli vrh.
Alice Schalek, Austro-Hungarian War Information Office
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| Alice Schalek Visiting Austrian Officers on Mte Mrzli |
24 October 1917
We were woken up by deep and heavy rumble in the Bovec basin and on the alp Zaprikraj. The pace of explosions was violent, booming. I asked Sassella to look at the watch: the hand showed two in the morning of 24 October 1917.
Lt. Carlo Emilio Gadda, Alpini Corps
25 October 1917
I can guess from the powerful fiery noise that the enemy in front of us is very strong. Few minutes were enough for the complete change of the situation which became very grave for us. At this moment, it is important that we defend against the attacks of the too powerful enemy the just conquered positions on the Kolovrat and keep them.
Lt. Erwin Rommel, Württemberg Mountain Battalion
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| Austrian Altar in Mte Mrzli Chapel |
Post-Caporetto
The war still rages. Nevertheless, the peace will eventually bless all the valleys, and the old heavenly tranquility will mercifully reign over the mountains. Then, we shall visit the graves and pay homage to our dead heroes.
Dr. Julius Kugy, Slovenian Travel Writer, Survivor of the Battle
Source: The First World War Outdoor Museums, the Isonzo Front, 1915-1917
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