Page - 1000 - in THE FIRST WORLD WAR - and the End of the Habsburg Monarchy, 1914 – 1918

1000 The War becomes History remained where they were or began the march back home.2482 Orders were no longer valid, and practically no one could be convinced any more by appeals to camaraderie, loyalty, a sense of honour or anything else to come to the help of the troops at the front. These soldiers fought in isolation for their survival and were ultimately betrayed. But who should be reproached by whom ? On 26 October, the Italians extended their offensive to Army Group Belluno ; it was not very emphatic, but it sufficed. The Austro-Hungarian front still stood firm, but the losses were high and the ammunition ran out. Army Group Belluno reported that they now only had enough ammunition for one day of fighting.2483 It finally proved possible after all to bring reserves forward ; no-one, however, brought the wounded to the rear in exchange. To the surprise of everyone concerned, a counterattack was launched. The soldiers obeyed and the Italians retreated. Then the ammunition ran out, however, and the army group was ripe for the ceasefire. The Italians remained where they were.2484 Now another phenomenon manifested itself : the troops had endured the fighting, but no sooner had the pressure subsided when they got into in another stress situation. They received their post, learned something of events at home and established that they had been left alone whilst the others had returned home. Since they were now no longer fighting for their own survival, they could not be held back any longer. When the elite formations of the Austrian Alpine lands, the ‘Kaiserjäger’ Imperial Rifles, the Imperial Infantry, Carinthians, natives of Salzburg and Austrians learned that they were to be used to replace departing Hungarian forces, they also rebelled.2485 The report of Army Group Command Tyrol from 26 October stated : ‘Scarcely had they been or- dered to march to the plateau of the Sette Comuni, when the majority of these troops also refused, however, to obey  – doubtlessly infected by the failure of the Hungarian regiments, which had quickly become known, and strengthened by their impunity.’2486 The Tyrol front and Army Group Belluno no longer constituted military factors. The Allied offensive was then expanded to the Piave front, which could also no longer be held after another day of fighting. On the Piave River, it also turned out that the Italians were not that eager to charge forwards, after all.2487 They advanced only hesitantly, without urgency or a feeling of triumph. It was the British and the French who eventually took the Italian 8th Army to the centre and attacked the Imperial and Royal front. They also wanted to savour the victory. On 27 October, they won bridgeheads east of the Piave. In accordance with normal military procedures, a counterattack could have been expected from the Austro-Hun- garian troops on 28 October. The divisions were available and were to make themselves ready, but they mutinied. The word ‘mutiny’ is not in fact suited to describe the gener- ally calm way in which the soldiers stated that they would no longer fight, but instead wanted to return home. Nothing was left of the emotional mood of the April and May rebellions of the same year, or of the wild, defiant protests. The soldiers simply