Hello soldiers !
We know you’re all excited for our upcoming, free update for Isonzo: the Caporetto Expansion! This season will include 3 new maps, the addition of the German Empire Faction and many other things ! In case you’ve forgotten, here’s our roadmap overview
For the release date, we can’t say anything for now, but we’re aiming to release it this year! Besides the expansion, we continue to work on further improving and fixing issues you encounter in the game. Thank you for your reports and patience. We recently released a new patch , be sure to update your game !
For now, let’s learn a bit about the Battle of Caporetto. But first, here's a screenshot that shows a bit of the Caporetto map in Isonzo
The final battle
The Battle of Caporetto, also known as the 12th Battle of the Isonzo, was one of the most significant battles of World War I along the Italian Front. This battle was fought between the Italians and the Central Powers, between October 24 - November 19, 1917.
When autumn arrived in 1917, Luigi Cadorna’s strategy of continuous offensives near the Isonzo River ,11 Italian attacks since May 1915, had cost the Italians heavy casualties for an advance of less than a few kilometers, only one third of the way towards their preliminary objective, the city of Trieste on the Adriatic Sea. However, the wave of Italian attacks had also taken a serious toll on Austro-Hungarian resources in the region. Indeed, in the wake of the Eleventh Battle of the Isonzo in August 1917, their positions around the city of Gorizia were dangerously close to collapse. As a result, the German Supreme Command, led by Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff, determined with Arz von Straussenberg that they would launch a counter assault on the Italians mid-September.
To prepare for this, the German army transported seven divisions of troops to reinforce the upper banks of the Isonzo. Cadorna, learning by aerial reconnaissance of the Austro-German movements, pushed back his own army’s scheduled September offensive, so he would be able to prepare for the defensive positions to prepare defensive positions. However due to unfavorable weather, this resulted in the plans being pushed back, and by the time Germany and Austria-Hungary were ready to attack, they were able to catch the Italians by surprise.
The early morning of October 24, the battle began when the Austro-Hungarians and Germans carried out a series of poisonous gas attacks against the Italian trenches, meaning that the Italian soldiers had to retreat. Followed by these gas attacks was a heavy ‘Stormtrooper’ assault by both parties, including the usage of flamethrowers, grenades, machine guns and mortars.
German assault troops
The Italian 2nd Army commander Luigi Capello was bedridden with fever. Recognizing that his forces were ill-prepared for this attack and were being routed, Capello requested permission to withdraw to the Tagliamento. Cadorna, who believed the Italian force could regroup and hold out, denied the request. Finally on October 30th, the majority of the Italian force were ordered to retreat to the other side of the Tagliamento river.
It took the Italians four full days to cross the river, and by this time the German and Austro-Hungarian forces were closing in on them, the Italians being ambushed as they tried to cross the river. These ambushes would become known as the Battle of Pozzuolo.
The rapid success of the Austro-Hungarians and Germans pushing the Italians back, caught up with them. Their supply lines were stretched to the breaking point and unable to launch another attack to isolate a part of the Italian army against the Adriatic. Cadorna was able to retreat further and by 10 November had established a position on the Piave river and Monte Grappa.
Italian trenches along the Piave River
Italian casualties during the Battle of Caporetto were almost 700,000—40,000 killed/wounded, 280,000 captured and another 350,000 deserted. In the wake of the battle, violent anti-war protests reached a peak in Italy, as Cadorna was forced to resign his command. His successor, General Armando Diaz, would oversee a new Italian strategy, going for a more defensive approach. He remained in charge during the remainder of the war, including a greater reliance on the resources of the stronger Allied powers.
Fun fact, nowadays the term “Caporetto” is used by Italians to refer to a ‘ terrible defeat’. For example, the failed General Strike of 1922 by the socialists was referred to by Mussolini as the "Caporetto of Italian Socialism".
Another Caporetto teaser
A pistol that needs little introduction, and you might've spotted it already in the screenshot previously. One of the most iconic firearms in history, the Luger P08 was the German Army’s primary side-arm during the Great War. Replacing the Reichsrevolver family or firearms, Germany found itself going from an antiquated and poorly thought-out revolver to something that could at the time be considered truly modern. A weapon that would offer up capacity and speed the likes of which the service revolvers of Entente nations simply could not match.
Designed by Georg Luger in the latter years of the 1890’s, the Luger is a toggle-lock, recoil operated pistol that improved on the design of the Borchardt C-93. Developed with Lugers’ own 9mm “Parabellum“ cartridge in mind, it would enter service first with the Swiss Army in 1900, and in 1908 for the German Army ( though earlier adoption had been made by the German Navy). Multiple variants were issued throughout the course of the war, including variants with butt-stocks, longer barrels, and drum magazines. Around 2 million Luger pistols would see use during the Great War.
Eventually to be officially replaced by the Walther P38 in 1938, the Luger saw major use in both world wars. A desired war trophy, the impact this pistol had can not be underestimated. Even if in time the Luger action would eventually become obsolete - the pistol cartridge itself is one of the most, if not the most, popular handgun and submachine gun cartridges.
A familiar sight to the game series, the Lugers media appearances are widespread and it can be spotted in the original All Quiet on the Western Front, the television series Band of Brothers, and in Hollywood blockbusters including Indiana Jones.
Community Screenshot
To end this devblog, we share a screenshot from player, showing off some firey action ;)
By Raccon-m