Battle of Caporetto

Battle of Caporetto, engagement of World War I, fought between October and December 1917, that resulted in a disastrous defeat of the armed forces of Italy by the armies of the Central Powers. On October 24, German and Austrian troops launched a sudden attack on Italian positions near the Austrian town of Caporetto (now Kobarid, Slovenia). Within 24 hours, units of the Italian army, under the command of the general Conte Luigi Cadorna, collapsed along the entire Isonzo River front, precipitating a retreat that continued until November 12. During this period, the forces of the Central Powers occupied Italy as far south as the Piave River, captured vast quantities of material, and inflicted casualties totaling about 300,000 killed, wounded, and missing. British and French troops that had arrived early in November saved Italy from total defeat. General Armando Diaz replaced Cadorna as Italian commander in chief.