Our hitherto silent artillery began its preparation at 0200, October 24, 1917. It was a dark and rainy night and in no time a thousand gun muzzles were flashing on both sides of Tolmein. In the enemy territory an uninterrupted bursting and banging thundered and re-echoed from the mountains as powerfully as the severest thunderstorm. We saw and heard this tremendous activity with amazement. The Italian searchlights tried vainly to pierce the rain, and the expected enemy interdiction fire on the area around Tolmein did not materialize as only a few hostile batteries answered the German fire. That was very reassuring and, half asleep, we retired to our cover and listened to the dying away of our own artillery fire.
At daybreak our fire increased in volume. Down by St. Daniel heavy shells were smashing positions and obstacles and occasionally their smoke obscured the hostile installations. The fire of our artillery and mortars became more and more violent. The hostile counter-fire seemed to be rather weak.
Shortly after daybreak the Wurttemberg Mountain Battalion got under way and headed forward in a heavy rain which had greatly reduced the visibility. Following Sproesser's staff, which hurried ahead, the Rommel detachment descended the boulder strewn slope toward the Isonzo. Once below, we moved up behind the right wing of the Bavarian Infantry Life Guards just above the steep bank of the Isonzo.
A few shells struck on both sides of the long column of files without doing any damage. The column halted close to the front line. We were frozen and soaked to the skin and everyone hoped the jump-off would not be delayed. But the minutes passed slowly.
In the last quarter hour before the attack the fire increased to terrific violence. A profusion of bursting shells veiled the hostile positions a few hundred yards ahead of us in vapour and a gray pall of smoke. Low-hanging rain clouds covered the mountain tops of the Hevnik and the Kolovrat.
Shortly before 0800, the assault squad ahead of us left its positions and headed toward the enemy. The defenders, in the turmoil of fire, did not see or resist them and we took advantage of the newly won area in order to prepare for the attack.
0800! The artillery and mortar fire still rained down upon the enemy. In front of us the Life Guards rose to the attack. Following closely behind their right flank, we moved to the right front and gained the hostile positions around St. Daniel. The remnants of the garrison emerged from the ruins and hurried toward us with hands raised and faces distorted with fear. We hastened forward over the broad plain still separating us from the north slope of the Hevnik. To be sure, machine-gun fire from the eastern spurs of the Hevnik hampered our advance here and there; but our attack across the open surface kept moving.
While the Life Guards moved toward the east slope of the Hevnik, our objective was the northeast slope to which Major Sproesser and his staff hurried ahead of the soldiers who, hampered with heavy packs, machine guns, or ammunition, did not move forward so rapidly.
After reaching the vicinity of Elevation 179, the wooded slope of the Hevnik protected our left flank from fire from the heights. (Sketch 39)
The whole Rommel detachment reached the protecting slope. On orders from Major Sproesser, it moved up the footpath leading to Foni as advance guard of the Wurttemberg Mountain Battalion on the north slope of the Hevnik. Elements of the 1st Company under Technical Sergeant Seitzer formed the point. The remainder of the detachment followed with 150-yard intervals between units. A platoon of the 1st Machine-Gun Company followed the point, then the detachment staff, 1st Company, 2nd Company, and the rest of the 1st Machine-Gun Company. With Lieutenant Streicher, my new adjutant, I took my place in the column a few yards behind the point.
The footpath on which we climbed toward Foni was narrow and overgrown with bushes and gave little evidence of having been used by the enemy. The slope on both sides of the path was very steep and densely wooded. Autumn foliage was still on the trees. We had only a few yards visibility through the dense underbrush and seldom got a glimpse of the valley. A few deep rills led to the Isonzo. The impact of heavy German shells resounded dully up from the valley and also from the left rear where we supposed the Life Guards to be. The slope before us was unnaturally quiet and we expected to meet the enemy at any moment. None of our artillery was in position to help us in the mountain wood; we were completely on our own.
The point advanced with extreme care, stopping frequently and listening carefully for any sound from the woods ahead, then moving forward again. But all this caution was to be of no avail for the enemy lay in ambush. When we had advanced to a point a thousand yards east of Hill 824, we were suddenly fired on by machine guns at close range. I received the report: “Enemy in front of us in developed positions behind wire entanglements. Five men of the point are wounded.” (Sketch 40)
Without artillery support an attack on both sides of the path along the roof-steep slope through dense underbrush and across obstacles against the very attentive and well dug in enemy appeared hopeless to me, or only possible with heavy losses. Therefore I decided to try my luck elsewhere.
The existing point remained in contact with the enemy and I ordered another group of the 1st Company to act as the new point and to climb up the slope to the south through a stony draw about two hundred yards in front of the hostile position. My intention was to outflank the enemy from the left and from above. I informed Major Sproesser.
The ascent proved to be very difficult. Lieutenant Streicher and I followed forty yards behind the new point. Close behind us came the crew of a heavy machine gun carrying their disassembled gun on their shoulders.
At this moment a hundred-pound block of stone tumbled down on top of us. The draw was only ten feet wide and dodging was difficult and escape impossible. In a split second we knew that anyone hit by the boulder would be pulverized. We all pressed against the left wall of the draw. The rock zigzagged between us and on downhill, without even scratching a single man.
Happily, the supposition that the Italians were rolling stones down on us was false for the point had dislodged the stone.
Farther up the slope a rolling stone tore the heel strap off my right boot and crushed my foot so badly that I required the help of two men to proceed during the next half hour. I was in agony.
Finally the steep draw was behind us. In pouring rain, wet to the skin, we climbed the slope through dense undergrowth, looking and listening intently in all directions.
The wood in front of us thinned out. My map showed that we must be half a mile east of Hill 824. We worked our way cautiously to the edge of the wood where we discovered a camouflaged path leading down the slope to the east. Beyond it, on the bare rising slope, we made out a continuous, well-wired position running uphill in the direction of Leihze peak. This hostile position appeared unmanned and no German artillery fire had come to bear on it. My decision was: A surprise attack after a brief heavy machine-gun preparation with our left flank along the edge of the wood. The situation was very reminiscent of the situations prior to the attacks on Mount Cosna on August 12 to 19, 1917.
Under the protection of a heavy machine-gun platoon disposed in concealed positions in the bushes, I prepared the detachment for
Sketch 40
Penetration of the 2nd Italian position, October 24, 1917. View from the north.
The attack in a small hollow in the woods sixty yards in front of the hostile obstacles. to the splendid combat discipline of the mountain troops, the movement was accomplished in the pouring rain without a sound. Far off the noise of battle resounded in the Isonzo valley, and somewhat nearer to the left rear on the ridge the Lifers seemed to be fighting hard. Peace prevailed around us and on the surface of the meadow.
Now and then we saw a few men moving about in and to the rear of the hostile position—a sign that the enemy in front of us
Had no suspicion of our presence. A few German shells began to hit six hundred yards to our left rear. The hostile position in front of us must, to judge from its direction, connect with that position on both sides of the path to Foni which we had encountered forty-five minutes before. My guess was that it was part of the second Italian position. Further soundless approach was impossible in the dense underbrush. The detachment stood ready—should I give the order to attack? Sixty yards of underbrush—then the wire! If the enemy was even reasonably on the alert, I could not expect an easy victory.
The well camouflaged path along the wood's edge gave me an idea. This path probably constituted the means of communication with the forward Italian line near St. Daniel or with the garrisons on the east slope of the Hevnik or the artillery observation outposts located there. Since our arrival it had not been used by the Italians. The path was winding and the camouflage on the south side gave such good concealment toward the up-slope and in the direction of the Italian positions that it would be difficult to identify friend or foe using it. Without enemy interference we could move over the path and be in the enemy positions inside of thirty seconds. If we moved rapidly then we might capture the hostile garrison without firing a shot. A task for a valiant man! If the enemy resisted, then I would have to launch my prepared attack under the fire protection of the machine-gun company.
I singled out Lance Corporal Kiefner of the 2nd Company, a veritable giant, gave him eight men, and told him to move up the path as if he and his men were Italians returning from the front, to penetrate into the hostile position and capture the garrison on both sides of the path. They were to do this with a minimum of shooting and hand grenade throwing. In case a battle developed they were assured of fire protection and support by the entire detachment. Kiefner understood, and selected his companions. A few minutes later Kiefner led his patrol up the camouflaged path. Their rhythmical steps died away— would it work? We listened tensely, ready to attack or to furnish steady fire. One shot would send three companies off to the attack. Again long, anxious minutes passed and we heard nothing but the steady rain on the trees. Then steps approached, and a soldier reported in a low voice: “The Kiefner scout squad has captured a hostile dugout and taken seventeen Italians and a machine gun. The garrison suspects nothing.”
Thereupon I led the whole Rommel detachment (2nd and 1st Companies, and 1st Machine-Gun Company) up the path and into the hostile position. The Schiellein detachment (3rd and 6th Com-
Panics and 2nd Machine-Gun Company), which had joined me shortly before Kiefner's successful breakthrough, followed us. Assault teams noiselessly widened the breach until we had fifty yards on either side of the path. Several dozen Italians, who had sought shelter in their dugouts from the streaming rain, were thus captured by the skilful mountain troops. to the heavy cover the enemy farther up the slope did not perceive the movement of the six companies.
I then had to decide whether I should roll up the hostile position or break through in the direction of Hevnik peak. I chose the latter. The elimination of the Italian positions was easy once we had possession of the peak. The farther we penetrated into the hostile zone of defence, the less prepared were the garrisons for our arrival, and the easier the fighting. I did not worry about contact to right and left. Six companies of the Wurttemberg Mountain Battalion were able to protect their own flanks. The attack order stated: “Without limiting the day's activities in space or time, continue the advance to the west, knowing that we have strong reserves near and behind us.”
The 1st Machine-Gun Company was echeloned farther forward, for in case of a struggle I wanted to have a strong fire force right at hand. The heavy machine gunners, carrying loads of ninety pounds, determined the speed of ascent. This gigantic accomplishment can only be understood by one who has climbed around in the high mountains with a similar load and under similar weather conditions.
Our thousand-yard column worked its way forward in the pouring rain, moving from bush to bush, climbing up concealed hollows and draws, and seizing one position after another. There was no organized resistance and we usually took a hostile position from the rear. Those who did not surrender upon our surprise appearance, fled head over heels into the lower woods, leaving their weapons behind. We did not fire on this fleeing enemy for fear of alarming the garrisons of positions located still higher up.
During the advance we were repeatedly endangered by our own strong artillery fire. We did not give light signals to shift the fire forward, since they would have alerted the hostile garrisons. One man of the detachment was wounded by a rock dislodged by a heavy German shell.
Our booty included a 210mm battery which had been under gas bombardment and whose crew had disappeared without leaving a trace. Mountains of shells were piled by the giant guns and the dugouts and ammunition dumps blasted in the rock were undamaged. Three hundred feet up hill we came upon a medium battery whose guns were located in absolutely shell-proof rock casements equipped with small loopholes. Here, too, the crews had vanished.
At 1100 we reached the ridge running from Hevnik peak toward the east where we made contact with units of the 3rd Battalion of the Life Guards and accompanied them for a way along the ridge toward Hevnik peak, which was under heavy German fire. While the Lifers rested and waited for the artillery to shift its fire, I turned off with my companies toward the north slope of the Hevnik and reached the peak at noon without encountering any resistance. We saw numerous groups of scattered Italians and took a number of them prisoner.
The rain had stopped and the clouds hanging low overhead began to move so that we had occasional glimpses of Hill 1114 and the Kolovrat Ridge from whence heavy artillery fire was being directed at the Hevnik. Apparently we had been detected by Italian observers in front of Hill 1114. To avoid needless losses, I moved both detachments out of the endangered area in a northerly direction and, in accordance with our mission, let them clean up hostile artillery nests between the Hevnik and Foni. Reconnaissance detachments secured the southern slope of the Hevnik and the Nahrad Saddle which lay three hundred yards southwest of the peak. We marked all our booty with chalk. The bag had risen to seventeen pieces including twelve heavy calibre guns. Italian preserves and a prepared meal appeased our great hunger.
Elements of the Life Guards arrived in the Nahrad Saddle around 1530 and I joined them with my two assembled detachments. A half hour later the 3rd Battalion of the Life Guards (3 rifle companies) began to climb the camouflaged main track leading to Hill 1114 via 1066. Bearing in mind the fact that our mission was to protect their right flank, I followed them with my six mountain companies. Rommel detachment led, followed by Schiellein's.
Lieutenant Streicher and I marched at the head of my column. The weather had cleared and the Kolovrat Ridge, Hill 1114, and the ridge running from Hill 1114 to Jeza were sharply outlined. For the moment no enemy hindered our ascent. Around 1700 the leading Life Guard company was fired on as it approached the rock outcrop of Hill 1066, and two of the companies took cover under the cliffs to the east of the path.
I ordered the Rommel detachment to march up under cover on the right of the path to the level of the 3rd Battalion companies' second line, and then Lieutenant Streicher and I reconnoitred the area in vicinity of Hill 1066. (Sketch 41)
Here we met elements of the 12th Life Guards engaged in a fire fight with a strong enemy located in a series of closely-linked positions on the hill six hundred yards northwest of Hill 1114 and on Hill 1114 itself. These positions dominated the area and appeared to be well wired. The Italians were also in position to the right of the path running past the 12th Company's right flank.
I quickly moved the 1st Company under Lieutenant Triebig forward and ordered it to clear the enemy from the positions on the right of the path in the area southwest of Hill 1066. The company executed this mission with neatness and dispatch, and we managed to take the positions at no cost to ourselves. Our prisoner bag showed seven officers and 150 men.
Meanwhile in accordance with my orders, the 2nd Company and 1st Machine-Gun Company cleared up the trenches, dugouts, and observation posts west of Hill 1066. The Schiellein detachment came up and went into reserve a hundred yards northwest of Hill 1066 and just below the rocky crest which we had finished clearing.
Lieutenant Streicher and I headed for the right wing of the 12th Life Guard Company. We thought their positions superior to ours for close observation of Hill 1114, and we also wanted to establish closer liaison with the 3rd Life Guard Battalion. There, in the forward line, some fifty yards short of Hill 1066, we met several 3rd Battalion officers who pointed out a scout squad attempting to creep up to the nearest hostile position by moving through the draw leading toward the saddle between Hill 1114 and the hill six hundred yards northwest of Hill 1114. The scouts did not enjoy favourable prospects; for the enemy, obviously unshaken, was from time to time traversing the bare grassy slopes in front of his wire with bursts of machine gun fire in various directions. This local enemy garrison appeared to be on its toes and was not inclined to surrender ground at any price.
The officers of the 3rd Life Guards Battalion, Lieutenant Streicher and I were all of the opinion that the commanding upper positions on Hill 1114 and on the hill six hundred yards to the northwest defended by a strong and resolute enemy could only be taken in cooperation with the artillery. Up to that time neither hill had been subjected to artillery fire. Using my field glasses, I made a careful study of the details of the hostile positions, although a machine gun emplaced somewhere on Hill 1114 frequently obliged me to dive for cover.
Darkness fell slowly and all attempts of the 1st Company to take additional sectors of the hostile positions on the hill six hundred yards northwest of Hill 1114 were unsuccessful. My elements of the Wurttemberg Mountain Battalion made ready for the night,
Sketch 41
In front of Hill 1114. View from the northeast.
And the 1st and 2nd Companies were detailed to furnish combat reconnaissance during the night. A former Italian artillery observation post located behind the 1st Company served as command post for the Rommel detachment. Lieutenant Streicher, various 3rd Life Guards Battalion officers and I discussed our plans for the attack against Hill 1114 and the Kolovrat Ridge. At that time the 10th and 11th Life Guards Companies had not been committed and nothing was known of the success of the 12th Life Guards Company against Hill 1114.
At 1900 I was called to the 3rd Life Guards Battalion command post by Major Count Bothmer, the Life Guards commander, who had just arrived on the scene. His command post was near Hill 1066 in a dugout a hundred yards from mine. I reported the disposition of my six mountain companies and he then demanded that my units be attached to his command. I took the liberty of remarking that I took my orders from Major Sproesser, who, as far as I knew, was senior to the commander of the Life Guards, and that I expected Major Sproesser to arrive at my command post at any moment. Count Bothmer replied by forbidding me to move any part of my detachment to the west or against Hill 1114, saying that this was work for the Life Guards only. Then, as a sop to us, he allowed that the units of the Wurttemberg Mountain Infantry Battalion would be permitted to occupy and secure Hill 1114 after the Life Guards had captured the position on October 25; or we could follow the Guards Regiment in the second line behind their thrust to the west. I told him that I would inform my commander of his actions. Then I was dismissed.3
I was none too happy on my return to the command post. Fighting in second line did not appeal to us mountain troops at all, and I searched for ways and means of achieving complete freedom of action for my force. My final conclusion was that I would have to wait until Major Sproesser arrived.
At 2100, Lieutenant Autenrieth, the battalion quartermaster, arrived at our command post. He had been directed to us from the 12th Life Guards Company via the 3rd Life Guards Battalion command post, where he had been present at a discussion of the attack planned for October 25. This attack was to be made against Kolovrat Ridge and included artillery support. He told me that Major Sproesser had continued the attack on Foni with Wahrenberger's detachment and had broken in there just prior to dark. Lieutenant Autenrieth also reported that the 12th Infantry Division had made excellent progress in the Isonzo valley. I described the situation at Hill 1114 and our relationship with the Life Guards, urged him to report this to Major Sproesser as soon as possible, and to ask him to come to Hill 1066 with or without the Wahrenberger detachment before daybreak and thus restore my detachment's freedom of movement. Lieutenant Autenrieth gladly accepted this job, which was very difficult in the pitch-black night through terrain not completely cleared of the enemy, and started off for the Group command post.
Wet clothes and cold wind made the night of October 24-25 most unpleasant for the elements of the Wurttemberg Mountain Battalion on Hill 1066. Night patrols of the front line companies brought in a few dozen more prisoners, who were captured in front of the hostile obstacles. However, no patrols succeeded in getting through the obstacles into the foremost hostile position. The Italian sentries were extremely watchful and were quick to use hand grenades and machine-gun fire.
Late in the evening the 3rd Battalion of Life Guards informed us that the reserve companies located north of Hill 1066 had been committed against the left of the northeast slope but that they had failed to establish contact with the 1st Jager Regiment which was attacking across Hill 732. We were not told that Lieutenant Schoerner's company (12th Life Guard Company) had taken Hill 1114.4
Half asleep on a plank bed, I pondered over the possibilities of resuming the attack. A frontal assault? It seemed to me that a continuation of this operation from our newly-won positions — against such a strong enemy defensive system on the Kolovrat — would require a thorough artillery preparation which would not be possible before the morning hours of October 25. Moreover, there was the problem of the Life Guards not wishing to share the front line in the attack with the Wurttemberg Mountain Battalion.
If one did not wish to wait on time-consuming artillery preparation, the question of a surprise penetration of sectors of the 3rd Italian line not yet under attack came to mind. Perhaps the one on the west or the one on the southeast — both of which were little more than a thousand yards from the focal point of Hill 1114. On the west, the 3rd Italian line commanded the terrace-like ledges which rose toward Mount Kuk on the spine of the Kolovrat ridge. A successful attack in this quarter would certainly have an effect on the position lower down at Hill 1114 and would appeal to the aggressive officers and men of the Wurttemberg Mountain Battalion. On the southeast, where the enemy positions were down-slope from Hill 1114, a breakthrough would probably have little effect on conditions at the summit. In any case, an attack to the southeast was out of the question since we were on the right flank of the Life Guards. As for an attack to the west — had not the
Guards Commanding Officer forbidden the Wurttemberg Mountain Battalion any movement in that direction?
The night passed quietly broken only by a short hand grenade skirmish.
The scout squads sent out in the early morning hours against the hostile positions fared no better than the night patrols and were repulsed by alert Italian sentries. The 3rd Battalion of Life Guards gave us no indication that the situation had changed during the night. It was still pitch-black at 0500 when Major Sproesser arrived at my command post. The rest of the Wurttemberg Mountain Battalion (4th Company, 3rd Machine-Gun Company) followed close behind him. I described the situation on Hill 1114, our relationship with the Life Guards, and my plan of attack. I requested the use of four rifle and two machine-gun companies.
Major Sproesser agreed to my plan of operation against the third Italian position, but only gave me two rifle companies and one machine-gun company, though promising additional support in case of success. While I made the arrangements for the departure of my new formation, Major Sproesser reached an understanding with the Life Guards' commander, who arrived at my command post.
Observations: The first Italian position at St. Daniel consisted of a continuous trench in the front line with numerous dugouts, shelters, and strong wire entanglements. Individual machine-gun nests and strong points were located in the zone between the first and second positions. Front-line camouflage was deficient, while the installations between the first and second lines were barely perceptible.
The German artillery preparation demolished the front line and all but annihilated its garrison. The few machine-gun nests in the zone between lines which were not destroyed by the preparatory fire were unable to stop the attack which was launched on a broad front. If the Italians had had numerous machine-gun nests in the zone between the first and second positions, then the German attack would probably have been stopped. Gargantuan artillery preparation is required to demolish a modern defensive position which is laid out in great depth.
My detachment's point lost five men upon encountering the second Italian position on a narrow path along a steep and wooded slope. An increased interval between men would have reduced losses. In Rumania the Cossack points rode at intervals of more than two hundred yards when moving over open terrain. If something happened to the first man, the next one reported it. An infantry point must do likewise and the point commander must combat the herd instinct to close up.
While the Italian garrison of the second position on the way to Foni proved to be very wary, the garrison of the same position half a mile southeast was not sufficiently on the alert. It is not enough to have watchful sentries in the main position; the forward area must be constantly surveyed by patrols, especially in bad weather and in irregular and covered terrain.
Order of battle at daybreak October 25: The Kraus Group attacking in the Flitsch basin reached Saga on the evening of October 24 in the drive down the valley. It began to attack the Stol (1668) on the morning of October 25.
In the Isonzo valley the 12th Division—favoured by the rainy, murky weather, which nullified hostile fire effect from the moun-
Tains into the valley—had advanced on October 24 through Idersko and Karfreit to the Natisone valley near Creda and Robic. The
Eichholz Group (2 battalions, 1 artillery platoon) had branched off toward the Luico Pass. On the morning of October 25, weak units of the 12th Division (Schnieber's company) climbed the northern spurs of the Matajur massif and Eichholz's Group was engaged in hard fighting against greatly superior Italian forces.
In the Alpine Corps, the Bavarian Infantry Life Guards and the Wurttemberg Mountain Battalion were fighting at the cornerstone of the third Italian position on Hill 1114. Schoerner's company (12th Life Guards) held the peak proper, but the Italians held their surrounding positions and were attempting to regain their lost positions by counterattacks. The 1st Jager Regiment of the 200th Division was still fighting for the second Italian position in the region of Hill 732.
The 3rd Jager Regiment of the 200th Division had taken Jeza, and the 4th Jager Regiment was fighting for the second Italian position west of Hill 497.
The Scotti Group had, with the 1st Imperial and Royal Division, taken the first and second Italian positions and reached the line of Ostry-Kras-Pusno-Srednje-Avska.
Summary. The third Italian position on the powerful heights south of the Isonzo (Matajur, Mrzli, Golobi, Kuk, Hill 1192, Hill 1114, La Cime, Mt. Hum) remained, with the exception of a small segment on Hill 1114, in Italian hands. Their garrison was fresh, and they had ample reserves. The position had not suffered from German artillery fire.
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