“Trieste, city out of history: out of history because its characters testify the plurinational history of Mitteleuropa, while its name express nothing but nationalistic obsession”. Claus Gatterer, scholar (translation of a quote from book “L’identità cancellata” – “Cancelled identity” by…
21 August 1917, a young Viennese hero: Oberleutnant Friedrich Franek The 11th battle of the Isonzo is Cadorna’s last push on the southern Isonzofront before Caporetto. And it is the bloodiest all Great War battles on the southern front. The two…
The statue of Gabriele D’Annunzio, placed in Piazza della Borsa by the Municipality of Trieste. The warrior-poet hailed by Italian nationalists is one of the precursors of Fascism and of the racial persecutions that hit Trieste. The provocative inauguration ceremony…
This is one of the European open borders: the Free Territory of Trieste – Italy State border. The Free Territory of Trieste is an independent State since 1947. Since 1954, the administration of the Free Territory of Trieste is entrusted…
Facing the Hermada: from the war diary of Infanterieregiment Nr. 47 (K.u.K. 47) 25 May 1917, afternoon: the 10th battle of the Isonzo (LINK). Now the target of the Italians is definitively the Hermada. The greatest effort focuses on Valle…
15 September 1916, hell on Altitude 208 North: Oberleutnant Johann Fousek (K.u.K. I.R. 102, IV Battalion). “Retreat or surrender? Counterattack.” On 15 September 1916, in the middle of the battle for Altitude 208 North. The Italians call the two Altitudes…