Kobarid

Kobarid (Italian Caporetto) is a town (population 1,250) in the upper Soča (Italian Isonzo) valley, West Slovenia, near Italian border.

Kobarid is eminently known for the famous battle (Battle of Caporetto) that took place in its territory, from October 24 to November 9, 1917, on the Austro-Italian front of World War I. Austrian forces, reinforced by German units, were able to break into the Italian front line, using grenades and flamethrowers, and rout the Italian army, which had practically no mobile reserves. Austrian forces advanced more than 100 km in the direction of Venice, but they were not able to cross the river Piave[?], where the Italians (with substantial help from French, English and American allies) established a new defensive line, which they held for the rest of the war.

Among the Italian generals, led by Pietro Cadorna[?], there was also Pietro Badoglio, that later would have taken the place of Mussolini after the chute of Fascism in 1943.

The action is known as the first successful Blitzkrieg of bellic history.

The rout is beautifully described in the Ernest Hemingway's novel A Farewell to Arms and is often indirectly recalled by Emilio Lussu's "Un anno sull'altipiano".

In the town, the Kobariški muzej (Kobarid museum) (reputed one among the best in its genre) collects memories of the battle.