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Full Austrian victory at Asiago (RAR)

Posted: 2010-09-24 07:37am
by lord Martiya
A WWI scenario about Italy and Austria-Hungary.
In this scenario Conrad von Hötzendorf's 1916 offensive in the battle of Asiago has a little but important difference: he has his soldiers immediatly penetrate in Valsugana, fully routing the Italian lines on May 20, well before the Brusilov Offensive forced him to divert troops in Galicia. What would happen?

Re: Full Austrian victory at Asiago (RAR)

Posted: 2010-09-24 08:55am
by Metahive
Come Caporetto a year early you mean? I think unless the blow comes harsh enough to knock Italy out of the war or at least out of the offensive in the foreseeable future like it happened with Romania the same year it won't matter much because what the Austrians need is to get rid of that second front that's sucking up their already strained resources. A front established further inside Italy and away from the more easily defendable mountain ranges (meaning also longer supply lines which need to go through those mountains) might also not prove to be all that beneficial for their war effort.

Re: Full Austrian victory at Asiago (RAR)

Posted: 2010-09-24 09:14am
by lord Martiya
Well, it's quite similar to Caporetto, only without German help and the Duke of Aosta replacing Cadorna instead of Diaz (the Allies actually requested that after the Battle of Asiago, and Cadorna narrowly avoided being sacked only because of the governement don't daring to outright demand it and the Duke having a bad relationship with his cousin the King. After such a defeat, bad relationship or not the King would have no choice, and the governement, whatever Salandra avoided being sacked or Boselli still took his place, would demand the sacking). The only other possible consequence would be Gardone Val Trompia (where Italy manufactured and still manufactures the vast majority of its small arms and related rounds) becoming a major target.
Plus, I have no idea of Austro-Hungarian consequences. Would von Hötzendorf would keep his job in spite of the Brusilov Offensive? Would Germany still get into war with Italy? And the likes...

Re: Full Austrian victory at Asiago (RAR)

Posted: 2010-09-25 07:25am
by lord Martiya
Ghetto edit: Got mistaken about Cadorna and the allied powers: they demanded Cadorna's sacking only after Caporetto, posing it as the first condition for helping in Italy's defence. After Asiago, Salandra still asked for Cadorna's sacking, but without his governement backing him the king refused.