Military sanctuary of Montello, Nervesa

Since December 1917, Austro-hungarian and Italian armies were facing on the banks of the Piave River.

From 15th to 23th June 1918, the Austrians, with 58 divisions, launched a major offensive in the region Montello. They managed to cross the Piave river and advanced a few kilometres but there, they met a strong Italian resistance.

Due to very bad weather conditions, large quantities of water descended from the Alps and enlarged the river... In addition with the effects of artillery, the floods scattered the boat-bridges... The troops who passed on the southern bank of the Piave river were taken into a trap and Borojevic, the Austrian Chief Commander, had resolved to order his troops to withdraw, with heavy losses on both sides : 150,000 men on the Austrian side, including 24,000 prisoners).

What the Italians call the Solstice battle was the last offensive of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Indeed, as a result of this expensive military failure, a mutiny broke out : this was the beginning of the disintegration of the Empire.