1.1 FORCELLA LAVAREDO (M

Home , 1873 Alpago earthquake, Col di Lana, Falzarego Pass, Hill castle, Lake Misurina, Piz Popena

routes hemappedoutontherock wallsnearby. the many Histakes of memorial theform Guide Pier Azorean thebusiness. ran people. ber of numerous andalargenum- authorities er openingceremony inthepresence of there wasanoth- onlytwo years later, On14July 1957, ed therebuilding works. theItalian Alpine Club) pressed forandsupport- theCadore of branch man of Chair- andSilvia, Aaronson, whowasthe Mayor of brotherty andsister (Attila, Mon- The to rebuild thewill quicklywasstronger thanever. however, At thattime, thisnewmisfortune. of witnesses were thevalley helpless theinhabitantsof From Aaronson, ly destroyed by fire. before on 16 thenight April 1955thebuildingwascomplete- tures were not over: But themisadven- thegreat Aaronson Alpine guide. icated to Caldara, Bruno which thehut wasded- attheendof later stillanotherreconstruction, mountains; itanotherunavoidable andwith Then anotherwarstarted from separation the places themostvisited intheDolomites. into oneof itwastransformed more thanthis, DufferandPress; worthy heirsof Mary Virile... Casing, Dismay, Comic, thattime: and ameetingpointforthegreat climbersof mountainhut The therefore base forart’s becameasupport art sake...” sibility..., impos- inviolability, height, “...beauty, asPaul Grohmann wrote: faces expressed, thisnew ageandtheirrock TheTre Cime were theessence of artists. traordinary andperfectionto works inthemostpreciousbyin theirbeauty carved ex- marble cadente della goccia the thosewhodevised inspiring paradise, Lavaredo becameamountaineers’ timetheTre Cime di In afewyears’ it boasted apaidmounted courier service. Principe Umberto itwascalledRifugio and but in1925thenewrefuge wasready: Several years passedbefore theproject wascompleted, planning to rebuild it. theItalian Alpine Clubstarted theCadore of branch When peace wasrestored, the front line. itwassituated alongway from theshootingon even if thefighting, aged during It wasbadlydam- theItalian supplybaseontheLavaredo plateau. of coming part be- upinwarevents, itwascaught still uncompleted, Three years later, zo started. theRifugio Auron- theconstruction of after much discussionanddoubt, In 1912, T H Walking route. DEGREE OFDIFFICULTY 3-4 hours. DURATION terized bycontinuousascentsanddescents. 400-550 metres,bearingitinmindthatisahigh-altitudeitinerary, charac- DIFFERENCE INALTITUDE Lavaredo. crossing thescreeslopesbelownorthernrockfacesofTre Cimedi to theLavaredopass.Markings:tracks.Descent:returnColdiMezzopass dro (2,536m)thenpassingmilitaryinstallationstothewestandeast From theColdiMezzopass(2,315 m)totherockyfoothillsofSassodiLan- DESCRIPTION OFTHEROUTE 1.1 Walk of greathistorical interest. DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY About 1,30hours. DURATION About 140metres upanddownslightinclines. DIFFERENCE INALTITUDE Route 104, tracks,unmarkedsections. RifugioAuronzo. Starting point: the LavaredoplateauandAuronzo Refuge(2,330m). From theLavaredopass(2,457 m)totheColdiMezzopass(2,315 m)across DESCRIPTION OFTHEROUTE 1.2 E

A U FORCELLA LAVAREDO QUOTA aiPianidiLavaredo “2385” R O N Z O

fligdo tnrre) rock routes thatwere similar very drop(falling itineraries), R E F U G E

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P A S S Battalion, 1915. the Val PiaveAlpine 268th Companyof Longéres bythe Shelter buildingat Cime diLavaredo. 79. AreaoftheTre War Museum,118/ Rovereto Historical

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vie Not far away from thebuilding, in thegreen of theplateau of Lavaredo, there cated. hit byan Austrianshell on24May1915, where theofficers’quarters werelo- low cliffbeyond whicharetheruinsof small barrackbuildingandshelter After lookingat theGothiccathedralofCadini ofMisurina,youwillreach a commanded by CaptainMazzini. pany atthebeginningof war, laterjoinedby the58thMountainBattery Italian artilleryobservationpost. Thiswasheldbythe75thAlpineRegimentCom- lasted wallsatthesidesleads toaheightat2.385metres,wheretherewasan past themeadowsinfront.An unusualmilitaryvehicularroadwithhigh,bal- very smallandsometimesdry Lavaredolake,leavethemarkedtrailwalkingon of route104 towardsthe path leadingtoPiandiCengia.Afterreachingthe ter theroutepreviouslydescribed.FromLavaredopass, take ashortsection This itinerarycanbechosenasaninterestingalternativeway ofreturningaf- THE POSITIONAT 2,385METRESONTHELAVAREDO PLATEAU further onthereisasmallmachine-gunpositionincavern. terrace protectedbyrobustwallsandsupportedwoodentrellis-work.Afewmetres ily negotiableowingtothestepsthathavebeencarvedingrounduntilyoureacha and thentotheheartofCrodadelRifugiostronghold.Godowntunnelsthatareeas- line ofmilitaryinstallationsthat,withoutinterruptionorslackening,leadsfirsttothewalls buildings, cavernsandimposingwalls.Fromhere,tothewesteast,follow Rifugio. Asteepslopeandremainsofwalkwaysleadtoacantonmentwithroads,barrack (on screeslopesandnotmarked)leadingtotheColdiMezzopasstowardsCrodadel top stationofthecablewayupfromCasondelaCrosèra(Val Marzon),followthetrack sible bycar. Fromthe highestcarpark,wherethereisabigbuildingaccommodatingthe either fromtheArghenapass,or, moreeasily, fromtheAuronzoRefuge(2,330m),acces- The startingpointisForcellaColdiMezzo,theMezzopass,whichcanbereached ments locatedonthepassesbetweenthreepeaksofTre CimediLavaredo. line alsoconnectedthelook-outposts,machine-gunpositionsandartilleryemplace- the frontier, whichhad salientsattheColdiMezzoandLavaredopasses.Thisdefence The itineraryfollowsthetracesofItaliansoldiersthatwerefirmlyduginallalong THE LAVAREDO PLATEAU

Fornari A. plateau. The returnpathfrom2,385mtotheLavaredo First Italiananti-aircraftpositionontheLavaredoplateau.

Alfarè I. the plateau. the easternedgeof Lavaredo passalong leading tothe Restored mule-track Alfarè I. Lavaredo passandCrodadiPassaporto. stone; inthebackgroundtoleft Area oftheTre CimediLavaredo.Memorial Rovereto HistoricalWar Museum,25/66. 2,385 m. to thecolat steps leading with original Cabled route

Alfarè I. P In ashort time you will then get back to the starting point. Succour. time for ashortstop at thesmallchurch, originally dedicatedto OurLadyof manding Officer oftheAlpineVal PiaveBattalion,whodied inbattle.Thereis which wasthe HQofLieutenant-GeneralLieut GeneralAntonioGioppi,Com- pass, wherethere aremorerelicsofwarand theperimeterofastonebuilding en andcontinuetothemule-track fromtheLavaredopasstoLongéres and smallwoodenbridges.Then godowntothefootofAngelFall- 2,385 metres,beyondwhichthere arestillhutsandeasywalkwayswithsteps Continuing tofollowthetrack oftheoldroad,youwillgettopositionat the importantstretchoffront fromMisurinatoLandroandMountPiana. naissance planesthatcarriedoutfrequentflightsfromToblach aerodromeover remains oftheItaliananti-aircraftoperationsdirectedagainst Austrianrecon- ing fromthem,onwhichafieldgunwasinstalledatthe time. Thesearethe are twostrangecementstructures,truncatedconeswithashort ironpoleemerg- Mezzo pass. walls ofthemountain,whichwepass,takinganeasypathtogobackdownColdi After thistherearenomoresignsofwar, whichgivewaytotheforbidding northern dug outofthestone. mass ofrockthatlookslikeafanfromdistance,islook-outpostwithaccessbysteps the Lavaredopass,fromwhichtherewasawiderrange.Atthispointoningreat plateau. Afewmetresafterthisthereisagunemplacement.Thepiecesweremovedto Turn northandyouwillseeanothersmallmachine-gunpositioncommandingtheentire summit”) arethetracesofformerstonemarkingItalo-Austrianfrontierupto1915. of theCimaPiccola(the“lowsummit”);atbasePiccolissima“verylow and runsamongruinedstructures.TheremainsoftheItalianencampmentareatfoot “Our LadyofTheft”andtaketheoldtrackwhichhaspartlyconserveditsballastedwall summit), descendashortdistancetothechurchthatAlpinesoldiersbuiltitcalled After thesaddlebetweenCimaGrande(the“bigsummit”)andOvestwestern plateau. Lavaredo tion onthe aircraft posi- Italian anti- Second Austrian shelling. devasted by Auronzo Refuge) Refuge (nowthe Principe Umberto 25/28. War Museum, Rovereto Historical

Istituto Geografico Militare - Aut. n. 6109 del 12.10.2005 nerkofler. SeppIn- dugagrave Then they onthesummit to bury it hadcaught. usingropes to hisbody away drag from therocky face onwhich summit, theirbig enemy onto the the Italian soldiers hauledthe deadbody of forts, With ef- indescribable Mount Paterno stayed inItalian hands. The top of Emperor and Fatherland… maxim was God, whose the greatest heroes ever, like one of washow This Innerkofler fell, war. twentieth-century modern from to prehistory this which hascontinued throughout the centuries, man, man against theeternal battleof of a symbol duel, So endedthis mighty into dashing himdown theabyss. and thenthrew itathisenemy, hoiste bothhands, took upaboulderwith who man... strongly-built abig, lined againsttheskyabove the low wall, Suddenly anotherfigure becameout- But noexplosion shooktheair... one. thenasecond andathird thesmallItalian post; grenade behindthewallof amountaineer… With asweeping gesture itthrew a hand- pace of tranquil itmoved atthe serene, among therocky slopesandstood uponthetop; were riveted passand saddle… on thepeakfrom figure every A dark appeared from andenemy, friend theeyes of eyes, Thousandsof mountains. adead cannon andmachine-guns were still: Suddenly asmallyellow flagwaved ... Austrian hands…Minutes passed; The firstsunbeamsshouldhave illuminated amountainthatwasagainin thegrenades... machine-gun inthewake fire hurtled of terno andburstsof Pa- At daybreak on4July the Austrian fired batteries atthetop of hearts. Mount Sepphadbeenlistened to: that would never have if beennecessary And theevent took place atthe Austrian straight annoyingly positionsbelow. day eyes every from thesmallItalian postlooked dangerously and minute of Every Mount Paterno hadbeenoccupied by theItalians. theToblin pass: of from which thefirstgunshotswere fired atthedefenders Paterno, top of uponthe Oneday sprang aparapet But whathehadforeseen took place. his peace ... andkept however, to thedecision, positions…… Seppresigned himself whowere well aware very thatKofel overlooked the Austrian Auronzo, of He knewthatover there amongthe Alpini were theItalian guides trouble. He realized thatthismountainwould cause the Austrian defence much tain. The Captainwould notseereason andgave orders to abandonthemoun- He brought thenewsthattop hadnotbeenoccupied by theenemy yet... reached hispatrol. thetop with however, Sepp, thispeak. of the importance wasnotsufficientlyconvinced of whodidnotknow themountains, tain, But theCap- vain…Therefore asked they theircommander to holdPaterno. a rocky bastionagainstwhich entire would regiments hurl themselves in was it native valley; Paterno wasarockthatprotected fortress theguides’ itwould beapillarwhich noenemy would pass. itremained Austrian, If Mount Paterno rose threateningly above CapannaTre Cime. The peakof fromings theTyrolese Mountains ... thefirstwargreet- togreetings the theirblackhats, Alpine soldierswith whistledthefirst they When hadthechance, they snowby ahigh layer... warfare ontheSesto guerrilla started Sepp the Patrol”, “Flying passes… the mostimportant As commander of troops to garrison but hardly sufficientto collect asmallnumber of there, troops hadbeenpicked uphere and number small of was thataridiculously Theonlyinformation neitherhisstrength norhisintentions. this enemy, Nothing about wasknown theSesto Dolomites. rocky massesof mighty theItalian enemy stood behindthe It was24May andwarhadstarted, ever saw ... thegreatest thatourmountains fighters madehiminto oneof Fatherland, his hisEmperor, to God, hisduty Theardent consciousness of country.... andputhishandsonthoserockshe took to uphisrifle defendhisbeloved This fifty-year-old manhadalready career hadanunrivalled asaguidewhen menwhowere andwholive born inthemountains. of the sublimevirtues The bestmanamongthemwasSeppInne especially skilledinmountain-climbing… were They the Alps. most famousandaudaciousguidecorps inthewholeof the oneof Sesto wasthehomelandof were …they rocky theguides. deserts these were they themasters of aspecialcharacter; menwith consisted of thesesmallforces But thenucleus of mountains onalovely summerday. these can becounted of walkingalongthosepassesandclimbingthewalls that asfewthetourists ready intheDolomites to around fight Sesto, there were fewmen ...When warbroke outagainstItaly on24May 1915, p F T r a H o n m y E

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C o m - LIST OF ITINERARIES 1 11 GENERAL INFORMATION Alfarè I. In the new version of their father’s book, Guerra in Ampezzo e in Cadore (“War in 2 12 Ampezzo and Cadore”), Tito and Camillo Berti write: ”...only a few of the hundreds 3 2 6 1 of walkers who leave the Longéres pass for the Lavaredo pass every day in sum- 7 4 8 5 mer and autumn realise that they are moving in an environment which was made

AURONZO DI CADORE 3 13 sacred by events in the Great War…” CORTINA D’AMPEZZO 21 26 22 25 In fact Forcella Lavaredo (the Lavaredo pass, Paternsattel, 2,457 m), which was 4 14 called the Marzon pass by the inhabitants of Auronzo di Cadore in former times, 9 10 11 24 has become the centre of the memories of the Great War in the area of the Tre 12 13 23 14 15 16 Cime di Lavaredo. During the conflict it was the main lynchpin of the Italian de- 17 29 5 15 18 19 32 30 fensive line, along with the Pian di Cengia pass (Büllelejoch, 2,522 m) and the 20 27 28 31 MARMOLADA 34 Giralba pass (Giralbajoch, 2,431 m). It is a mountain pass filled with memories of 33 PIEVE DI CADORE 35 climbing and war history. It is enough to remember that in 1915 it was the fron- 37 6 16 ZOLDO tier between Italy and Austria, which had remained unvaried since 1753, when 38 36 an entente was signed by the Venetian Republic and Empress Maria Theresa of 7 17 Hapsburg. After this treaty, a large number of boundary stones were placed at 40 the most prominent points, while in other cases marble plaques with the Lion of

AGORDO St Mark and the Tyrolean coat of arms were applied to the mountainside. One of

39 these plaques could still be seen on the Lavaredo pass, at the foot of Cima Pic- 8 18 colissima (Kleinste Zinne, 2x700 m) in a kind of natural niche placed under a roof 1 Forcella Lavaredo 21 Col Ciampon of rock. It stayed there for 150 years, even miraculously surviving gunfire; only 2 Quota “2385” ai Piani di Lavaredo 22 Monte Tudaio when the Great War ended was it destroyed or taken away by unknown vandals. 3 Croda dell’Arghena 23 P.so Mauria - M. Miaron 9 19 All that remains now are the joins in the rock wall, like a frame without a paint- 4 Giro del Col di Mezzo 24 P.so Mauria - Col Audoi ing, with a small cross and the date “1753”. 5 Misurina - Monte Piana 25 Col Vidal 6 Rif. A. Bosi e Monte Piana 26 Anello dei Colli 10 20 The Lavaredo pass is a wide gravelly pass opening a half-moon of sky in the empyre- 7 Cristallino di Misurina 27 Forte Monte Ricco an of the Dolomites. There it is, at the point at which the rock of the smallest of 8 Valle delle Baracche 28 Batteria Castello GREAT WAR SITES IN THE PROVINCE OF BELLUNO the three Lavaredo peaks seems to fail, exhausted by the effort of supporting the 9 Posizione “Edelweiss” - Sella del Sief 29 Forte Col Vaccher Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park massif behind it. The rock gives way to a swarming mass of gravel, a wave that 10 Sella Sief - Cima Sief 30 Monte Tranego breaks to take shape again, mightier and more grandiose than before, on the cliffs 11 Cima Sief - Col di Lana 31 Forte Pian dell’Antro PRIMA LINEA AURONZO-CORTINA of Croda del Passaporto before it (Passportenkopf, 2,714 m). 12 Da Cima Lana ai Ciadiniéi 32 Col S. Anna - La Glories A. Fornari 13 Ciadinéi - Sella Sief 33 Vodo - Becco di Cuzze (Accesso A) Italian troops started occupying Forcella Lavaredo on 11 May 1915 and immedi- Cima Piccolissima di Lavaredo and Cima Grande di Lavaredo. 14 Variante Col de la Roda 34 Vodo - Becco di Cuzze (Accesso B) 1.1 FORCELLA LAVAREDO (m. 2457) ately began to dig trenches. They were Alpine Regiment men of the 67th Compa- 15 Cima Lana - Costone Castello - Sella Sief 35 Monte Rite 1.2 QUOTA “2385” ai Piani di Lavaredo ny of the Val Piave Battalion under Captain Busolli and of the 74th Company of The fundamental intention of this project is to acquaint the new generations with the splendid and enchanting places that were 16 Cima Lana - Agai e Palla 36 Col Pradamio the Cadore Battalion under Captain Gatto Raissard. On the following day, Austri- the backdrop to the terrible and tragic events involved in the Great War on the Dolomite front. The traces of 29 seemingly end- less months of struggle that have survived the passing of time enhance the fascination and the beauty of the landscape, teach- 17 Col Da Daut - Col Toront 37 Spiz Zuel an soldiers, mostly Tyrolese Landesschützen led by Captain Jaschke, also arrived ing us to observe, know and learn. 18 Museo storico a Serauta - Marmolada 38 Col de Saléra - Monte Punta History and description of the Great War sites to do the same thing, but it was too late. Nevertheless there were neither clash- Itineraries of various lengths and degrees of difficulty have been proposed for visiting these sites, some of them fully realis- able fully considering the needs of people with reduced mobility. The itineraries that are suggested have been selected bear- 19 Malga Ciapèla - Ombretta di Marmolada 39 Tagliata di San Martino es nor skirmishes: the Austrians withdrew willingly, in compliance with instructions ing some basic features in mind, such as historical significance, ease of access and nearness to other sites of historical interest. 20 Zona monumentale della Marmolada 40 Batteria Listolade from the High Command, which did not want to compromise the diplomatic ne- We hope that this new historical and cultural opportunity will find a large number of visitors and enthusiasts who not only gotiations still in progress between Austria and Italy. In order to prevent their op- love the mountains for their natural beauty but are able to perceive the relationship between man and nature, which has left Front cover: HQ hut on the Lavaredo plateau after restoration. A. Fornari very special traces in these spots as a result of the Great War. ponents from holding on to commanding positions, however, the Austrians formed Organising authorities and financing bodies Coordination: COMUNITË MONTANA AGORDINA - Via IV Novembre, 2 - 32021 Agordo (BL) - Italia so-called flying patrols, whose task was not only to spy on enemy moves, but al-

Tel. 0039 0437 62390 - Fax 0039 0437 62043 - Email [email protected] FREE OF CHARGE DISTRIBUTED “…the Alps see prodigies, not only on the part of individuals, but also of big patrols, platoons and whole companies. And not do we so to be seen everywhere, changing position continuously and so, as it were, fly- see feats performed by the most expert, but even the youngest recruits soon turn into accomplished climbers. Some new mountain I LUOGHI DELLA GRANDE GUERRA IN PROVINCIA DI BELLUNO Interventi di recupero e valorizzazione nei territori del Parco della Memoria ing from one mountain peak to another. The Italians had to be convinced that routes are even opened up under enemy fire to meet the needs of war..." (A. Berti). Progetto cofinanziato dall’Unione Europea mediante Fondo Europeo di Sviluppo Regionale A historical record to re-discover the Mountains, not to forget, to know the men that lived this tragic but extraordinary ad- Iniziativa Comunitaria Interreg IIIA Italia-Austria 2000-2006 - Progetto (Cod. VEN 222001) they were facing enemy troops who were ready, battle-trained and in great num- DIE ORTE DES ERSTEN WELTKRIEGES IN DER PROVINZ BELLUNO venture. Memories of war for paths of peace. Eingriffe der Wiederinstandsetzung und Valorisierung in den Gebieten des Erinnerungsparks bers. This has been, as it still is, the purpose of the work done by the Technical and Scientific Committee of the Italy-Austria Inter- Von der E.U. Unterstützes Projekt Mittels Europäischer Wärungsfonds zur Regionalen Entwicklung Gemeinschaftsinitiative Interreg IIIA Italien-Österreich 2000-2006 - Projekt (Cod. VEN 222001) reg III A project called "Great War sites in the Province of Belluno. Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial GREAT WAR SITES IN THE PROVINCE OF BELLUNO Park". The results of the Committee's labours are the guides and leaflets that give everyone the chance to tackle easy itiner- Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park The most famous patrol was formed on 20 May 1915: it consisted of very skilful Project co-financed by the European Union through European Found for Regional Developmen aries and experience life on the front line at first hand, realising the difficulties of the existence at an altitude of more than 2,000 Community Initiative Interreg IIIA Italia-Austria 2000-2006 - Project (Cod. VEN 222001) Tyrolese mountain guides. Among them were Joseph and Christl Innerkofler, Hans metres of the soldiers of the opposing armies. This is to remember that the war is not something that has been forgotten and that, in the words of Surgeon Second-Lieutenant Forcher, Andreas Piller, Benitius Rogger, Stefan Becher and Anton Schranzhofer. Gino Frontali, "...it is not a parenthesis that we can hasten to close to go back to what we were saying before...". In only a few days they were seen on the summits of Paterno (Paternkofel, 2,744

Coordination and Scientific and Technical Committee CONTINUE

ginning of the twentieth century ... these were the officers’ quarters. The small bar- small The quarters. officers’ the were these ... century twentieth the of ginning observation post at 2,385 metres. 2,385 at post observation Alpine troops. There were only to be two days of relative tranquillity, followed tranquillity, relative of days two be to only were There troops. Alpine

so hotly disputed, boasted a paid mounted courier service. courier mounted paid a boasted disputed, hotly so of young ladies brushed by respectful lips, a taste of an ordinary day at the be- the at day ordinary an of taste a lips, respectful by brushed ladies young of enough to fire against aircraft. There was also a good mule-track to the artillery the to mule-track good a also was There aircraft. against fire to enough On 23 May, the 58th Mountain Battery commanded by Capt Mazzini joined the joined Mazzini Capt by commanded Battery Mountain 58th the May, 23 On

was also badly damaged during the war. When it was rebuilt in 1925 this refuge, this 1925 in rebuilt was it When war. the during damaged badly also was of smoke from expensive cigars smoked in graceful drawing-rooms, the dainty hands dainty the drawing-rooms, graceful in smoked cigars expensive from smoke of truncated cones were used to lift the field-gun trunnions in order to tilt them up them tilt to order in trunnions field-gun the lift to used were cones truncated

The Auronzo Refuge near the Longéres pass, formerly the Principe Umberto Refuge, Umberto Principe the formerly pass, Longéres the near Refuge Auronzo The gant tea-cup. Vestiges of home and family, serenity denied, hazy memories of puffs of memories hazy denied, serenity family, and home of Vestiges tea-cup. gant all his ability during the extraordinary feat of the taking of Cima Undici. Cima of taking the of feat extraordinary the during ability his all my positions on the stretch of front from Misurina to Landro and Mount Piana. These Piana. Mount and Landro to Misurina from front of stretch the on positions my

factured sugar bowl buried by the collapse and the bottom of a beautiful, ele- beautiful, a of bottom the and collapse the by buried bowl sugar factured mand of a very good mountaineer, Lieutenant Fausto De Zolt, who was to show to was who Zolt, De Fausto Lieutenant mountaineer, good very a of mand an reconnaissance planes that took off from Toblach aerodrome to spy on the ene- the on spy to aerodrome Toblach from off took that planes reconnaissance an

of Our Lady of Theft”. of Lady Our of ten lives; remains and fragments of crockery, a teaspoon, an exquisitely manu- exquisitely an teaspoon, a crockery, of fragments and remains lives; ten Regiment Company were housed with three platoons, one of them under the com- the under them of one platoons, three with housed were Company Regiment are the remains of the first Italian anti-aircraft operations directed against Austri- against directed operations anti-aircraft Italian first the of remains the are

around them in the construction of the church, had another name for it: the “Church the it: for name another had church, the of construction the in them around the windows, survive, whereas on the ground there is litter from simple, forgot- simple, from litter is there ground the on whereas survive, windows, the ting it on fire. In this small world that seemed safe from any danger, the 75th Alpine 75th the danger, any from safe seemed that world small this In fire. on it ting are two strange cement structures with a short iron pole emerging from them. These them. from emerging pole iron short a with structures cement strange two are

of the fallen. The Alpine soldiers, who had used whatever they could lay hands on hands lay could they whatever used had who soldiers, Alpine The fallen. the of corner of the mountain. The thin red friezes adorning the empty architraves of architraves empty the adorning friezes red thin The mountain. the of corner trian gunfire at the Lavaredo pass, hitting the small barracks just below and set- and below just barracks small the hitting pass, Lavaredo the at gunfire trian Not far away from the building, lost in the green of the plateau of Lavaredo, there Lavaredo, of plateau the of green the in lost building, the from away far Not

the 7th Alpine Regiment. The result was a work of moving piety, built in memory in built piety, moving of work a was result The Regiment. Alpine 7th the hawk-like Austrian warplanes could have singled it out. But they had surveyed each surveyed had they But out. it singled have could warplanes Austrian hawk-like the summit of Mount Paterno on 25 May 1915 that Sepp Innerkofler aimed Aus- aimed Innerkofler Sepp that 1915 May 25 on Paterno Mount of summit the

refuge. refuge. Church of Maria Ausiliatrice), tirelessly led by Don Pietro Zangrando, Chaplain to Chaplain Zangrando, Pietro Don by led tirelessly Ausiliatrice), Maria of Church is left of the building, literally clinging to the rocks, we cannot imagine how the how imagine cannot we rocks, the to clinging literally building, the of left is ly and showed that they had an excellent knowledge of the territory. It was from was It territory. the of knowledge excellent an had they that showed and ly

venge: well-aimed gunfire set fire to the Dreizinnenhütte, the historic Lavaredo historic the Dreizinnenhütte, the to fire set gunfire well-aimed venge: defence works, the army built a little church dedicated to Our Lady of Succour (the Succour of Lady Our to dedicated church little a built army the works, defence old stone steps, we feel we are returning to the past, and when we look at what at look we when and past, the to returning are we feel we steps, stone old Toblin (Tobligerknoten, 2,617 n) and Alpe Mattina (Morgenalpe). They moved quick- moved They (Morgenalpe). Mattina Alpe and n) 2,617 (Tobligerknoten, Toblin

rack building was destroyed with all its symbols. Then the Italians took their re- their took Italians the Then symbols. its all with destroyed was building rack In 1916, to give themselves spiritual help while manning this complex system of system complex this manning while help spiritual themselves give to 1916, In by the tragic events of 25 May, during the second day of war. As we go down the down go we As war. of day second the during May, 25 of events tragic the by m), Cima Undici (Elfer, 3,092 m), Popera (Hochbrunnerschneide, 3,046 m), Torre di Torre m), 3,046 (Hochbrunnerschneide, Popera m), 3,092 (Elfer, Undici Cima m),

Alfarè I. Alfarè I.

and infantrymen. and Regiment cantonment. Regiment

Alpine Regiment troops Regiment Alpine 7th Bersaglieri 7th

Longéres pass. Longéres Longéres pass. Longéres plateau.

the Lavaredo plateau. Lavaredo the Rovereto 25/70. The 25/70. Rovereto Museum 197/86. The 197/86. Museum track on the Lavaredo the on track

Angel of the Fallen on Fallen the of Angel Historical War Museum, War Historical Rovereto Historical War Historical Rovereto View of the mule- the of View Piana to Landro. sector directemplacements from onthewhole forguns trained Mount with Later oncaverns were dugthere, Italian inthatsector. strongholds Croda wasthemostadvanced dell’Arghena positioninthesystem of only beenintheenemy’s hours. handsfortwenty-eight ithad forgood: thecrag the Italian Alpine troops took backthetop of and hegave orders to retreat, As there wasnomore ammunition, face. thesheerrock- orgobackdown desperately he wasto go onfighting At thispointPlankhadto decideif themessengers. of was notrace andthere bullets By late afternoon the Austrian outof soldiershadrun towardsbegan to climbstraight thepeak. the Alpine soldie ataboutnoon, while, Mean- andthesewere thegarrison’s onlyhope. HQ wasby messengers, communicating with of Sotheonlypossibility cablesavailable. enough there because were not thementhathadclimbedcrag, to gowith HQatLandro hadrefused therequest foratelephonist unit to arrive. werethey still waitingforthemessengersto return orreinforcements while troops wasapproaching thepassandheadingtowards thecrag, Alpine At dawn the Austrians realised that at leastonecompany of snow thenight fell. During rison’s clothingwascompletely saturated. harder wasfalling Therain andthegar- aiminmind. aspecial ing with were They probably reinforcements com- theCol diMezzo pass. area of movements signalled At thesentries intheItalian nightfall linesinthe ments andsupplies. already sentamessengerto HQatLandro urgentlyaskingforreinforce- Plankhad Ensign had decidednotto puttoo much intheirrucksacks. they asthesoldiersknewhow difficulttheclimbwould be, consumed; Thelastfoodsupplieswere because there wasnowater around thespot. fillingthem flaskswere andtherethe lastdrinking wasnoway empty of Towards theevening even afternoon there was afallinthetemperature. In the raining. thenitstarted fogappeared; teriorated andpatches of Theweather de- gained thetop andprepared to defendtheposition. thesoldiers having beendiscovered, Exhausted butwithout the Italians. provokingwithout acounter-move from beinginterceptedthe summitwithout and andtheattackers alsohadto reach most, skillto theut- taxedthe crag theclimbers’ sidesof the steep northern The ascent of dido. SanCan- 3rd Landesschützen Regiment of the Haslauer PlankandCadetErnst of rad thisunitwere Kon- Ensign In command of enterprise. outsuch arisky tingent to carry July could thatthey spare asmallcon- of It wasonlyinthemiddle forces to doso. make any plansto take thepositionbecausethere were notenough the Austrian HQatLandro could not however, At first, the mountain. guns could sectors command of boththeeastern andthenorthern from there Mount Pianahadbeentaken by the Austrians: summit of sincehad become thenorthern more strategically andmore important Croda dell’Arghena In July intensified 1915fighting inthewholearea. From T D H E and thevisitstodefenceworks. except forsomeexposedstretchesinthefinallegofclimbtosummit This itinerarytakesyoualongmilitaryroadsandpaths;itisawalkingroute DEGREE OFDIFFICULTY From about3to3,30hours. DURATION About 400metres. DIFFERENCE INALTITUDE same way;redmarkings. Arghena pass;thelogisticalbaseatRinbiancocanalsobevisited.Backdown From MalgaRinbianco(1,841 m)tothesummitofCrodadell’Arghena viathe DESCRIPTION OFTHEROUTE 2.1 Itinerary along military roads andpaths; walking route. DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY About 3,30hours DURATION About 450metres DIFFERENCE INALTITUDE di Mezzopass(2,315 m).Descent:alongValle dell’Acqua; redmarkings From MalgadiRinbianco(1,841 m)totheArghenapass(2,087and theCol DESCRIPTION OFTHEROUTE 2.2 L E L

Monte Piana S ’ A H CRODA DELL’ARGHENA GIRO DELCOLDIMEZZO R O G R H T E

A N N A by WalterSchaumann D

F E L A E K E T I N G

A U rs crossed thesmallsaddleand S T R m 2252) (m. I A m 2315) (m. N

C O N Q U E S T

O F

C R O D A and Grava Longa. short tunnel withembrasures looking downaprecipice overtheRienza valley ing youtothe meadows ontheslopesofCol diMezzo,whereyoucanenter a Take thepathon theright,whichzig-zagsdown steeplyandtightly, quickly tak- do peaks. Mezzo fromthewesternspur ofthewesternmostthreeCimediLavare- unique ofitskind.Thisisasecondary passbetweenaheightseparatingColdi Go totheArghenapassby previous itinerary, passinganunusualopentrench, TOUR OFCOLDIMEZZO HQ. Notfarbelowaretheruinsofalargekitchen. rent atwhoseentrancearetheremainsofbuildingwhichhousedItalianArea Following thetracesofolddry-stonewalls,youwillentergorgeator- buildings. of woodlandyouwillseetheremainsabigItalianencampmentandimposing takes arestbeforeflowingdowntowardstheRienzavalley. Afterashortstretch In about20minutesyouwillreachtheflatspacewhereRinbiancotorrent Napoleone. line sectorthatstretchedfromCrodadell’Arghena toForcelletteandGuardia The formermule-trackwasusedtotakereinforcementsandsuppliesthefront- Mount PianathroughtheVallon deiCastrati. to yourleft,whichledthevillagebelowbeginningofpathgoingup If youchoosethisalternative,takethepavedmilitaryroadthatdescendssteeply also asmallcemetery. ing theinterestingsupplybaseatRinbianco.Initsimmediatesurroundingsthereis Either goondirectlytowardsthetopordevoteashorttime(aboutonehour)tosee- tion, whereyouhavetwochoices. take thefinemule-track(signposted)onleft.Followituntilnextintersec- From MalgadiRinbianco(1,841 m),gobeyondthefirstbendafterhutand CRODA DELL’ARGHENA arrives. Mail Arghena pass(1753). Old frontiermarkeratthe

Fornari A. was located. emplacement artillery pass wherethe the Arghena spur ofrockon View ofthe

Fornari A.

Alfarè I.

artillery position. pine hutsatthe Ruins ofCimbran Alfarè I. the Arghenapass. hanging fromatreeonthepath Insulator withironbasestill P Monte diFuori leads back toMalga Rinbianco and tothe starting place. From the valley, aneasycattle-track through thewoodskirting thewalls of tracks withstrong surfaces. operations, and communicatedwiththerestof thevalleybysolid,well-laidmule- This wastheHQ oftheentireColdiMezzo andPianidiLavaredotheatre of a furnacetobakebuildinglime. racks datingfromtheearly1900s equippedwithmulestables,awellandeven to theattractiveValle dell’Acqua, whichconcealstheremainsofanItalianbar- At theColdiMezzopass,continue southwardsandyouwillfindtheentrance take youupto2,252metres,whichisthebigflatspaceonsummitwherethere If youcontinuealongthemainroute,someslightinclinesandaneasyrockslope another intersection,whereyoualsohavetwochoices. The pathnowgoesondowntheeasternsideofmountainandsoonreaches bearing witnesstothefactthatthiswasagunposition. dow isdecoratedwithawell-executedfriezerepresentingtheFieldArtilleryand el moundwithacementedwindowandsmall-calibregunemplacement.Thewin- After returningtothepassyouwillseeawide,brightchamberincavernongrav- moured position. ground passageexcavatedfromthebowelsofmountainandendinginanar- If youhaveatorch,taketheexcellentwoodenstepsthatgodownintoanunder- very interestingcavernpositions. Beyond thepassthereisawalkwaylookingoverRienzavalleythatleadstosome located. is veryeasytomakeout,passesasmallrecesswherethetopcablewaystationwas big stonebuilding,youwillseethepathgoingontosummit.Thepath,which A typicallongtrenchrunsalongthepass;toleft,withremainsofa pass (2,087m). Go backtotheintersection,takemule-trackagainandwalkupArghena (Katzenleitensattel). Arghena pass

Alfarè I. magazine. cavern: the gun the insideof dell’Arghena, Croda

Fornari A. Ruins ofbarracksattheArghenapass.

Fornari A.

Istituto Geografico Militare - Aut. n. 6109 del 12.10.2005 from the 67th Company, Sergeant Sergeant Apigalli from Sospirolo and Private DeMario.from the67th Company, were They men were who killed-the first fallenonthe Cadore front. soldiers, exploded ontheCol diMezzo passandhittwo Alpine Regiment fired in shrapnel, Thesecond shot, which the Austrians have into turned afortress. Mount Rudo, from and ominousmass thattowers over Landro anddominates Monte Piana: rocky Thetwo shotswere fired from thathuge, “War!” fromcape theirchests: all ablastandshoutses- whistle, sharp a After afewseconds there isanotherroar, theirhoesandspadesinhands. with them andmakes themstandupright petrifies themen onthepasses, At noisestartles aroaring 8.45inthemorning thesoldiersfeelthatasolemnmomentis approaching. hearts intheir nevertheless, two are countries atwarhasnotyet reached thesummit but, News that the theTre Cime Refuge. of big Red Cross flagiswaving ontheroof A butbeyond there theRinbonvalley are no Austrian soldiers. Mezzo passes, Works are inprogressDaybreak asusualattheLavaredo on24May. andCol di serted. often andindeedthey have grooves inwhich atowing hookcould bein- weight, several hundred- weighed They theyear clearly showing 1753. Roman numerals, in both and Arabic Each marker aprogressive also hadto with becarved number, ametre high. howev- ishalf marker, er, Even of thistype theseisatthe pass. Arghena andone of arms, markers wereer simplerboundary thatbore installed neithertilesnorcoats of oth- Finally, Theentire were structures protected by iron bars. the Austrian side. listening to different delegationsand oldpapers, After extensive consultation of had never smoothedover. localconflict thatthepassingyears tain linethathadalready beenthecauseof longriver which wasavery andmoun- frontier areas between thetwo powers, to the defineall solutionitfoundwasahuge The task: for futurerules cases...” theproblems andsetting fromputes arising any cause…makingupalist of Vienna and Venice alldis- wasto requested by of “...take therulers cognisance of in1750andhadbeen which started Rovereto, theCongress of of The purpose between Croda andCol dell’Arghena diMezzo. which istheoldfrontier marker placed notfarabove thelittlepass of evidence Tyrol. Venice of andtheCounty in 1753between theMost Serene Republic of involving theevents inhistory theborders established thatof more ancientstory, there isaneven andtrenchesAmong thememories at pass(2,087m), Arghena Return tothestartingpointsameway. of thecavern. old ammunitionandshellcrates.Lookattheprintsofnailedbootsonfloor shackle bridgeandreachthesplendidcavernemplacement,wheretherearestill With thehelpofametalcable,youwillpassoverwhatremainssmallram- western faceofCrodadell’Arghena. The formerItalianArtilleryroadisontheleft,entirelyexposedsouth- turn totheintersection. is asignindicatingthetrigonometricpoint.Fromhere,retraceyourstepsandre- F T T r H H o m E E

B G F winter 1915/16. Croda dell’Arghena. Agunnerlifting224kilos, Rovereto HistoricalWar Museum,Photo212/30. O u I R e U r S r N a T

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D O white marble fromwhite marble Falzes for escutcheonand theimperial in representing Venetianterritory coloured from marble Istria) Castellavazzo orstraw- (in yellowish stone from theLion tilesfeaturing marble hadto beartwo too, markers, These seen from adistance. couldpoints sothatthey be situated atkey the ground, whose baseswere embeddedin two-metre-high columns were on ones, most important the marks, Other boundary the Austrian dynasty. of device the Adriatic andthegorgeous StMark fortheQueenof of respectively theLion arms, of thetwo therock coats with of Somewere out carved forms. kindsand various were of along theinterminable border markers set The boundary agreements. Loredan counter-signed the enna) andDogeFrancesco Vi- andthecitizens of friends (RessliCristina forherclose Theresa Walpurga Amalia The Austrian QueenMaria numerous signing protocols. of volved atlastreached thestage in- theparties and surveys, painstaking reconnaissance G E

A N D

M A R I A

T H E R E S A eyseiltae nteesosa euto theGreat War. inthesespotsasaresult specialtraces very of love butare ableto beauty themountainsfortheirnatural pe andenthusiasts visitors whonotonly We find alargenumber of will opportunity andcultural hopethatthisnewhistorical interest historical access to andnearness othersites of easeof such significance, ashistorical ing somebasicfeatures inmind, T reduced peoplewith mobility. considering theneedsof able fully have difficulty been lengthsanddegrees of various of Itineraries know andlearn. ing usto observe, teach- thelandscape, of timeenhance thefascinationandbeauty thathave thepassingof struggle survived less monthsof end- 29seemingly events involvedthe backdrop andtragic to theterrible of Thetraces intheGreat War ontheDolomite front. thisproject thesplendidandenchanting isto places acquaint with thatwere thenewgenerations The fundamentalintention of Field artillerypositionatForcellettaontheCrodadell’Arghena (Katzenleitenkopf). Gino Frontali, This isto remember thatthewarisnotsomethinghasbeenfo theopposingarmies. thesoldiersof metres of more than theexistence atanaltitudeof realising thedifficultiesof andexperience lifeonthefrontaries lineatfirsthand, theCommittee's laboursare theguidesandleafletsthatgive everyone thechance to tackleeasyitiner- Theresults of Park". theareas intheMemorial Preservation andpromotion of Belluno. reg III A project "Great called War sites intheProvince of theItaly-Austria Inter- thework doneby theTechnical andScientificCommittee of of thepurpose asitstillis, This hasbeen, peace. warforpathsof Memories of venture. ad- to know butextraordinary thementhatlived thistragic notto forget, recordA historical to re-discover theMountains, war..." theneedsof fire enemy upunder tomeet opened routes are even theyoungest but even bythemostexpert, featsperformed see but individuals, of notonlyonthepart “…the Alps prodigies, see "...it is not a parenthesis that we can hasten to close to go back to what wewere before..." togobackwhat saying toclose "...it isnotaparenthesis thatwecanhasten ghena pass (Katzenleitenkopf). recruits soon turn into accomplished climbers. Some new mountain Somenew intoaccomplishedclimbers. turn soon recruits cieterltosi ewe a n aue which hasleft rceive therelationship between manandnature, loo i arl,paon n hl opne.And notdowe companies. platoonsandwhole bigpatrols, of also gte n ht ntewrso Surgeon Second-Lieutenant inthewords of rgotten andthat, rpsdfrvstn hs ie,sm fthemfullyrealis- of some thesesites, proposed for visiting he itineraries thatare suggestedhe itineraries have beenselected bear- C A Berti). (A. o o r d i n a t O i o r n g

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e b 2,000 o d i e s . Front cover:FiringpositionontheArghenapass,inbackgroundTorre deiScarperi(Schwabenalpenkopf). oriain OUIËMNAAAODN - COMUNITËVia IVNovembre, 2-32021Agordo(BL)Italia MONTANA AGORDINA Coordination: 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 LIST OFITINERARIES 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Zona monumentale dellaMarmolada Malga Ciapèla-OmbrettadiMarmolada aSerauta -Marmolada Museo storico Col DaDaut- Toront Cima Lana-AgaiePalla Cima Lana-CostoneCastelloSellaSief Variante ColdelaRoda Ciadinéi -SellaSief Da CimaLanaaiCiadiniéi Cima Sief-ColdiLana Sella Sief-Cima -SelladelSief Posizione “Edelweiss” Valle delleBaracche diMisurina Cristallino BosieMontePiana A. Rif. -MontePiana Misurina Giro delColdiMezzo Croda dell’Arghena aiPianidiLavaredo Quota “2385” Forcella Lavaredo MARMOLADA 18 17 20 19 e.0039043762390-Fax [email protected]. Eingriffe der Wiederinstandsetzung und Valorisierung in den Gebieten des Erinnerungsparks des Gebieten den in Valorisierung und Wiederinstandsetzung der Eingriffe 14 9 12 10 15 I LUOGHIDELLAGRANDEGUERRAINPROVINCIA DIBELLUNO 13 Interventi direcuperoInterventi evalorizzazione neiterritoridelParco dellaMemoria DIE ORTE DES ERSTEN WELTKRIEGES IN DER PROVINZ BELLUNO PROVINZ DER IN WELTKRIEGES ERSTEN DES ORTE DIE 11 16 40 Von derE.U.UnterstützesProjektMittelsEuropäischerWärungsfondszurRegionalenEntwicklung Project co-financedbytheEuropeanUnionthroughFoundforRegionalDevelopmen Gemeinschaftsinitiative InterregIIIAItalien-Österreich2000-2006-Projekt(Cod.VEN222001) AGORDO Progetto cofinanziatodall’UnioneEuropeamedianteFondoEuropeodiSviluppoRegionale Iniziativa ComunitariaInterregIIIAItalia-Austria2000-2006-Progetto(Cod.VEN222001) 39 Community InitiativeInterregIIIAItalia-Austria2000-2006-Project(Cod.VEN222001) GREAT WAR SITES IN THE PROVINCE OF BELLUNO OF PROVINCE THE IN SITES WAR GREAT Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park Memorial the in areas the of promotion and Preservation CORTINA D’AMPEZZO 38 ZOLDO 37 36 34 8 33 7 PIEVE DICADORE 35 6 5 2 4 31 3 32 1 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 30 29 AURONZO DICADORE Batteria Listolade Batteria Tagliata diSanMartino Col deSaléra -MontePunta Spiz Zuel Col Pradamio Monte Rite Vodo -BeccodiCuzze (AccessoB) Vodo -BeccodiCuzze (AccessoA) Anna-LaGlories Col S. Piandell’Antro Forte Monte Tranego Col Forte Vaccher Castello Batteria MonteRicco Forte Anello deiColli Col Vidal P.so -ColAudoi Mauria Miaron P.so -M. Mauria Monte Tudaio Col Ciampon 27 28 25 26 22 21 23 24 War Museum, Photo 25/23. Some cheerful moments in the barrracks.War Reconstruction of a stretch of trench for didactic purposes, Ar

DISTRIBUTED FREE OF CHARGE 10

A. Fornari 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 GREAT WAR SITESIN THE PROVINCE OFBELLUNO Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park andpromotionoftheareasinMemorial Preservation History anddescriptionoftheGreatWar sites 2.2 2.1 PRIMA LINEAAURONZO-CORTINA GIRO DELCOLDIMEZZO CRODA DELL’ARGHENA m 2252) (m. m 2315) (m.

Fornari A. 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11

Rovereto Historical War Museum, Photo 212/74. Mount Fuori. A149G piece in firing position (winter 1915/16). Museum, Photo 212/74. Rovereto Historical War Rovereto Historical Alfarè I. Alfarè advanced positionintheItaliansystemofstrongholdsthisfrontlinearea. excavated, togetherwithnumerousbuildingsandbarrackhuts.Itbecamethemost ian cavernsweretunnelledforgunemplacementsandlongentrenchments a fewhours,eveniffromthatdateonwardsitwasalwaysbitterlycontested.Ital- finally madeitwasunsuccessful.ThelittlepeakonlystayedinAustrianhandsfor position, buttheundertakingwasbothdifficultandrisky. Whenthe attackwas It wasonlyinearlyJuly1915 thattheAustrianscouldmakeplansfortaking northern andeasternsectorsofthemountaincouldbecommandedfromtop. Piana, however, itbecame moreandimportantstrategicallybecauseboththe was undefended.AftertheAustrianoccupationofnorthernplateauMount ley andclimbedupagaintoMountRudo.Atfirst,therefore,Crodadell’Arghena at Landro.ThisdefencebarrierstartedfromMountPiana,crossedtheRienzaval- withdrew fromtheimmediateborderzonetoregroupnearfixeddefensiveworks midable andunusualItaliantrenches.InMay1915 theAustrianarmy, lackingtroops, as shownbythefrontierstoneslightlyabovethanArghenapassandfor- with theAustro-HungarianEmpirewoundalongitsslopesandridgesfrom1753, The historyofthismountainisblendedwitholdfrontierdisputes.boundary installation withadirectlinktotheheadquartersinMisurina. Col diMezzopassandfinallythesmallbarracksinValle dell’Acqua valley, an to thetop,thentrenchesonArghenapass,mule-trackleading The entiremountainisaproperopen-air-museum:first,thepathwindingupwards and Landro. objective wastoattackthesectorconnectingdefensiveinstallationsofSesto Brigade wastobeusedalongwithAlpinetroopsinanimminentactionwhose command ofGeneralAugustoFabbri.Thereasonforthesemoveswasthatthe deployed tothePopena valleyandafterwardsagaintotheMarzonunder The MarcheBrigadealsostayedinthesurroundingsforawhile,butitwaslater Mazzini andundertheordersof2ndRegimentBellunoArmyGroup. The 58thMountainBatterycameherewith65Bpieces,commandedbyCaptain over MountPianawheretheenemytroopsheldontightlytotheirpositions. observation post.Infactthereisaconcretegallerywithwindowsdirectlylooking dell’Arghena wasneverthesceneofextensivefighting,itbecameanexcellent tres andpasttheArghenapass(2087m).EvenifmodestsummitofCroda Mount PianatotheRinbiancovalley, uptotheColdiMezzopassat2,315 me- During World War I,theItalianfrontlinerandownfromsouthernplateauof GENERAL INFORMATION Valle dell’Acqua barracks. dell’Acqua Valle Cime di Lavaredo massif with the foothills of Croda del Rifugio. In the background the Tre 3.1 MISURINA - MONTE PIANA (m. 2324) MISURINA TO MOUNT PIANA tracks will lead to the very regular bends of a firm road, sometimes carved out THE LITTLE CHURCH OF MARIA SANTISSIMA DELLA FIDUCIA The Vallon dei Castrati (Gorge of the Castrated) owes its name to the fact that the of the rock. DESCRIPTION OF THE ROUTE shepherds of Pustertal used to take their flocks there to pasture. It is not one of The strong dry stone walls have survived the years. After a hollow, the path winds Today the little Chiesa di Santis- From the toll-booth to the Tre Cime di Lavaredo (1,866 m) across the Rinbian- the easiest places on this mountain to find, going up its north-western rib and upwards and becomes steeper and steeper before entering a lateral valley to the sima Maria della Fiducia (“Our co valley. Descent: down the Mount Piana vehicular road as far as Forcella Al- gradually narrowing towards the notorious positions of Fosso Alpino (Mulde) and right. On the other side you will see the entrances to the Italian assault tunnels. Lady of Trust”) overlooks the site ta and then by the front-line paths to the lake at Antorno and back to the toll- Kuppe, marked on Austrian military maps by a simple “K”. If you go a little further, you can see the Kuppe K position, where two caverns of the Italian supply base during booth. Routes 108, 103, 111 (formerly 6) and 122. A solid mule-track went up it, connecting the complex road system leading to for machine-gun posts were excavated after it was taken by the Italians in Oc- the Great War. DIFFERENCE IN ALTITUD the installations on Croda dell’Arghena with the supply bases of the Tre Cime di tober 1916. In 1937 the veterans of the 55th Lavaredo plateau and Misurina. Returning to the marked path, keep left to get to the exposed crag along which About 650 metres Infantry, who had borne the ma- It was an important route for Italian reinforcements and supplies, supported by wound the system of Italian positions called Guardia Napoleone. Work on the jor burden of the battles on DURATION a cableway that was constructed after the war started. The Forcella dei Castrati strengthening of these installations continued throughout the war. Mount Piana, first expressed the 4-5 hours depression opens out at the top of the gorge, near the plateau at 2,272 metres. When the war finished, there were some huts in recesses on the ledge at the desire and the will to build a DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY This was a no-man’s-land at the beginning of the war, owing to the strange method end of the path. chapel on the spot. Floriana Dal- Walking route. in which the border had been established. There is a cavern with the mouth of a tunnel coming from what was known as l’Arma, who had been an officer in Path 108 on the left after the toll-booth follows the wartime-mule track, going the approach trench (Sappe) and there is also the entrance to the so-called as- that regiment, already had a project but it was interrupted by the outbreak of slightly downhill. sault tunnel, constructed when the Italians were considering conducting mine war- World War II. THE MAJOR ANGELO BOSE REFUGE After quite a long stretch, you will reach a flat clearing where there was a vil- fare. At the end of the war, praiseworthy efforts by General Giuseppe Ardi, Commenda- lage of barrack huts, a small field hospital, some kitchens and a small cemetery. The climb finishes near the wide depression of the Castrati pass and the memo- tore Silvio Monti and Dott. Amos Rossi were successful in raising funds for the In 1915, when Mount Piana became caught up in the battle zone, the Italian It is a beautiful spot: the glitteringly transparent water of Rio Rinbianco contrasts rial stone to Lieutenant Ruggero De Simone, killed on one of the last days of the construction of the church. Cavaliere De Francesch, the owner of the Bosi Refuge, High Command considered where the best logistic location would be for the with the incredible emerald green of the meadows, which are still pocked with war by a final blow from a nailed club that shattered his forehead. gave the land and on 17 July 1963, the site was blessed and the foundation stone area headquarters. They decided to set it up at the end of the road from Mis- shell-holes even almost 90 years after the end of the war. A sign (route 111) shows Cross the wide northern plateau to the refuge and the vehicular road for Misuri- laid in the presence of the Bishop of Belluno. The first stone of the church was a urina, where the mountain refuge stands today. the way to the gorge. na as far as Forcella Alta (2,000 m), where a path turning off slightly to the left block from the trenches, and later the stones for the walls were also taken from There is a footbridge over the river: go over it and very soon the hardly visible (the former Artillery Road) goes through the woods back to your starting point. the front line area. Commendatore Monti, whose father had built the road to When the exhausting positional war began, the need for reinforcements grad- Mount Piana, donated the material for the foundations and the soldiers of the ually increased, so that this base became more and more important and had 2nd Mountain Artillery Regiment of the Tridentino Brigade and the Pioneers of to be strengthened and better organised. the 7th Alpine Regiment helped with the building. The consecration was delayed The first installations, mostly tents and makeshift encampments, were replaced Fornari A. Alfarè I. in September 1966 by a catastrophic flood that damaged roads and other access by wooden huts and later on even by spacious brick buildings. The army built routes. a small group of barrack buildings in the hollow where the southern slope A bronze bell hangs in the small belfry, in memory of all the Italian and Austri- forms a semi-circle, and walls were constructed on the steep hillsides below an dead. The interior is simple: in the foreground stands a sweet image of Our to enlarge the flat area. After this, storerooms, kitchens, a big field hospital and Lady of the Trenches, attended by an Austrian and an Italian soldier. Mass is cel- strong shelters were added. ebrated in the church on the first Sunday of September every year; there are prob-

Heavy Austrian guns often fired at this important strategic position, so the Istituto Geografico Militare - Aut. n. 6109 del 12.10.2005 ably no more Great War veterans in the congregation, but the memory is still alive army then built underground shelters and dug a long tunnel to the front line and ever-present. positions on the top of the mountain.

After the Great War, the underground networks were used by large numbers MAJOR ANGELO BOSI of walkers sheltering from bad weather. Owing to the elements and lack of The plaque in memory of Lieutenant De Simone near the Castrati Monte Piana by Nazareno Meneghetti maintenance, these precious places of refuge rapidly deteriorated, and by the pass. Trenches visible in the foreground. late nineteen-twenties the area was a desolate sight, scattered with heaps of Major Bosi settled in at a high point to the east of the Carducci pyramid, whence waste materials. It was urgently Mortar positions, reconstructed in the 1980s by the Friends of the Dolomites. he would have a view of the whole operation as soon as the first rays of the sun necessary to construct a build- appeared, paying no heed to the fact that he was on the same mountain wall as

ing. Captain Agosto Martinelli Fornari A. the reinforcements and in danger because he was easily visible. The first rays of Bianchi, a war veteran, decided the 17 July sun illuminated Sergeant Amedeo Boenco of Oderzo as he hurled him- to build one of his own on the self at the enemy at the head of the 4th platoon of the 9th Company. Bosi saw site where the Italian HQ had him. Those who knew this leader closely may have had some idea of the feelings stood. He chose a position just that vibrated in his being. All his life as a man, as a scholar and as an officer, all behind the building that had ac- P the effort that he had put into making his post a mission, into transfusing him- commodated the General Staff. self into his men, were on the point of being crowned by success: his battalion In 1932 the mountain refuge had passed the test ... His tormented nights, the nagging worry that the dead weight was opened and dedicated to the Mortar of the inveterate habits of peacetime would hamper memory of Major Angelo Bosi, trench. the men’s zeal, that their offensive spirit would not Alfarè I. who died during the terrible Roverto Historical War Museum 123/156. Lake Misurina, be able to overcome the ancient instinct of self- battle of 17 July 1915. in the background, the Tre Cime di Lavaredo. preservation, all vanished: his battalion was attack- The artillery cavern under the summit of Mount Piana. ing ... World War II again put a brutal stop to tourism in the Mount Piana area, which Through his binoculars he could not make out in- had started to flourish. In 1943 a sophisticated German anti-aircraft observa- THE ANGELO BOSI REFUGE AND MOUNT PIANA Over the void on the edge of the cliffs you will see the remains of several huts dividuals, but his heart told him that the spearhead tion post was set up on the site, and by the end of the hostilities in 1944 the After the war began in 1915, the Italian High Command set up a headquarters and emplacements. Paths to the front-line trenches turned off the gullies lead- of the tragic rush must be Boenco, the Boenco who refuge was so badly damaged that lengthy restoration work was plainly nec- on Mount Piana, at the end of the road from Misurina, where the Refuge now ing to the top from the edge of the plateau. was the embodiment of all the warlike spirit awok- essary before it could be re-opened. The reconstruction finished in 1962, when stands. The gunners, under the orders of HQ at Forcella Alta, had observation posts at en in the people by the Libyan campaign, from Cavaliere De Francesch bought the house and the Carducci hut, committing Unfortunately the position was quickly detected by Austrian air reconnaissance the top of the most exposed gorges. which he had returned with a promotion for mer- himself personally and with the support of his family to the renovation of which made it an easy task for their artillery to shell it, causing serious dam- After walking along a long ledge, you will find the old 1753 border stone, and itorious conduct ...To see even better, Major Bosi ex- the whole complex, realising a project that satisfies the highest contemporary age. behind the stone the plaque commemorating Lieutenant Giuseppe De Pluri’s sac- Major Angelo Bosi. posed himself still further: he was a big figure stand- standards of accommodation. In the nineteen-twenties Captain Agosto Martinelli Bianchi, a war veteran, de- rifice of his life. ing on the mountainside and the heart that beat in cided to build a refuge on the southern edge of the southern plateau behind From here it is only a short distance to the great Cross. his breast seemed to make him bigger still, gigantic ... His figure could not pass A modest museum has been set up in a spacious room in the Refuge, a sim- the former Italian Staff headquarters,. Further down, in a cavern, is an Italian observation post destroyed by an Aus- unnoticed among the clamour of the fighting, and perhaps this was why all the ple, enlightening exhibition of arms, ammunition and soldiers’ personal pos- From Bar Genzianella at Misurina (1,756 m), the former military road (route 122), trian shell that exploded during a handover, fired from the mountain opposite, life, passion, longing and striving were an easy target for a sniper ... The binocu- sessions. partly tarmac and closed to traffic, climbs the south-eastern slope of Mount Col di Specie (Geierwand, 2,095 m). lars fell. Saetta, his aide, and Corporal Bernacchi, the messenger, who were on Piana in wide bends. The traces of the fatal explosion can be seen on the walls and roof. Also below the spot and were under the spell of the miracle of the Major’s transfiguration, With a low gradient, the road goes through woods, passing a fountain that ex- the top is a second cavern that had machine-gun positions and perhaps a search- felt the lifeless body of their leader and master slump into their arms. A sharp- isted at the time of the Great War and was repaired as part of the extensive light that illuminated the plain of Carbonin. shooter’s bullet had shattered his heart just as it was swelling with joy. Religious- 3.2 RIF. A. BOSI e MONTE PIANA restoration works carried out in the nineteen-seventies by the Dolomiten Fre- An easy path, route 122, will take you to the Carducci pyramid, a monument ly they took him down to headquarters, like the holy women taking Christ’s body unde Association, founded in 1973 by Walter Schaumann, a Viennese historian erected in 1909 in memory of the poet who so loved Cadore and its moun- down from the Cross, and when their beloved commander was laid on a stretch- DESCRIPTION OF THE ROUTE and career officer. tains. er in the middle of the clearing, all the men present, officers and men, even the From Misurina (1,756 m) to the Major Angelo Bosi Refuge (2,205 m) by the ve- A little further up there is a large clearing with several Italian barrack build- To the north you will see an emplacement for a heavy mortar, looking like a small wounded who could hardly move, knelt down and cried. hicular road, the front-line paths and Forcella Alta (2,000 m). Descent: along the ings. The road goes on over daring cement bridges built on rock, with the traces amphitheatre, surrounded by a network of trenches and walkways communi- Major Bosi did not stand out physically and did not cut a particularly striking fig- military works on the southern plateau, the road, Forcella Alta and the Artillery still visible of uprights for the protective roofing that continued as far as the cating with the HQ cavern and the garrison barrack huts. ure in uniform. In the Auronzo garrison nobody had ever seen him on horseback, Road as far as the lake at Antorno (1,866 m). Routes 122 and 6a. plateau known as Forcella Alta at 2,000 metres. Here, after a short walk fol- Return to the Bosi Refuge, descend and resume the vehicular road as far as he never buckled on a sword and he covered his neck and chest with a big ple- DIFFERENCE IN ALTITUDE lowing an indistinct track that goes for a short distance up the wooded slopes Forcella Alta, where you have three choices: you can follow the main route to beian scarf. One might have considered him a person in poor health. But he was About 550 metres. of Col de le Saline, you will be able to see the remains of the anti-aircraft bat- Misurina, take the front-line paths to the right to the Antorno lake or go a an officer that studied and knew a lot, that concealed the fire of his native Ro- tery at 2,028 metres. short distance below the big cement road bridge and enter the front-line zone magna within his Garibaldine soul, that loved his brother officers and soldiers and DURATION What is left is a large cement cone from which a short iron shaft emerges, on- in front of the Popena Bassa valley by a path that is still practicable. was loved so much by them in their turn that he could ask any sacrifice of them. 3 hours. to which a small field-gun was fixed. The unusual function of the shaft was to The Italian army used the steep cattle-track to communicate with the Barac- His was the difficult art of being a leader of men. He was inspiring, because he DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY allow the gun to rotate through 360 degrees. che valley and Cristallino di Misurina. had an apostolic soul. He did not say, but could very well have said, “I am the Bat- Walking route, although there are some exposed stretches when you visit the From the Bosi Refuge, continue towards the top of Mount Piana (2,324 m) by In peacetime this route, classified as easy and practical, was crowded with moun- talion!” defence works and the paths on the front line on the plateau. These sections, the path (route 6a) winding up the south-western slope on exposed ledges of- tain guides taking their clients from Carbonin or Leandro to Mount Piana for a Bosi died with the vision in his eyes, anxious and joyful at the same time, of his however, are well cabled. ten interrupted by gorges and steep gullies. fee of 7 Austrian crowns. battalion launched in an assault.

eyseiltae nteesosa euto theGreat War. inthesespotsasaresult specialtraces very of love butare ableto beauty themountainsfortheirnatural pe andenthusiasts visitors whonotonly We find alargenumber of will opportunity andcultural hopethatthisnewhistorical interest historical access to andnearness othersites of easeof such significance, ashistorical ing somebasicfeatures inmind, T reduced peoplewith mobility. considering theneedsof able fully have difficulty been lengthsanddegrees of various of Itineraries know andlearn. ing usto observe, teach- thelandscape, of timeenhance thefascinationandbeauty thathave thepassingof struggle survived less monthsof end- 29seemingly events involvedthe backdrop andtragic to theterrible of Thetraces intheGreat War ontheDolomite front. thisproject thesplendidandenchanting isto places acquaint with thatwere thenewgenerations The fundamentalintention of The Tre CimediLavaredofromColSpecie(Geterwand).Ontheright,MountPianawith thePioneers’Path (Pionerrweg). Gino Frontali, This isto remember thatthewarisnotsomethinghasbeenfo theopposingarmies. thesoldiersof metres of more than theexistence atanaltitudeof realising thedifficultiesof andexperience lifeonthefrontaries lineatfirsthand, theCommittee's laboursare theguidesandleafletsthatgive everyone thechance to tackleeasyitiner- Theresults of Park". theareas intheMemorial Preservation andpromotion of Belluno. reg III A project "Great called War sites intheProvince of theItaly-Austria Inter- thework doneby theTechnical andScientificCommittee of of thepurpose asitstillis, This hasbeen, peace. warforpathsof Memories of venture. ad- to know butextraordinary thementhatlived thistragic notto forget, recordA historical to re-discover theMountains, war..." theneedsof fire enemy upunder tomeet opened routes are even theyoungest but even bythemostexpert, featsperformed see but individuals, of notonlyonthepart “…the Alps prodigies, see Alfarè I. Alfarè "...it is not a parenthesis that we can hasten to close to go back to what wewere before..." togobackwhat saying toclose "...it isnotaparenthesis thatwecanhasten recruits soon turn into accomplished climbers. Some new mountain Somenew intoaccomplishedclimbers. turn soon recruits cieterltosi ewe a n aue which hasleft rceive therelationship between manandnature, loo i arl,paon n hl opne.And notdowe companies. platoonsandwhole bigpatrols, of also gte n ht ntewrso Surgeon Second-Lieutenant inthewords of rgotten andthat, rpsdfrvstn hs ie,sm fthemfullyrealis- of some thesesites, proposed for visiting he itineraries thatare suggestedhe itineraries have beenselected bear- C A Berti). (A. t Piana. o o r d i n a t O i o r n g

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e b 2,000 o d i e s . ket once again. Paths and refuges again became deserted and solitary. On 8 March and refuges again became deserted and solitary. ket once again. Paths and the in 1931) rented both the Bosi Refuge (built 1943 the German Wehrmacht Capanna Carducci. An anti-aircraft observation post with the most sophisticated equipment at the time was set up in their immediate surroundings. In 1962 Cavaliere De Francesch bought the mountain refuge and both the building and the mountain resumed their peaceful existence. Front cover:CrossonMountPIana. oriain OUIËMNAAAODN - COMUNITËVia IVNovembre, 2-32021Agordo(BL)Italia MONTANA AGORDINA Coordination: 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 LIST OFITINERARIES 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Zona monumentale dellaMarmolada Malga Ciapèla-OmbrettadiMarmolada aSerauta -Marmolada Museo storico Col DaDaut- Toront Cima Lana-AgaiePalla Cima Lana-CostoneCastelloSellaSief Variante ColdelaRoda Ciadinéi -SellaSief Da CimaLanaaiCiadiniéi Cima Sief-ColdiLana Sella Sief-Cima -SelladelSief Posizione “Edelweiss” Valle delleBaracche diMisurina Cristallino BosieMontePiana A. Rif. -MontePiana Misurina Giro delColdiMezzo Croda dell’Arghena aiPianidiLavaredo Quota “2385” Forcella Lavaredo MARMOLADA 18 17 20 19 e.0039043762390-Fax [email protected]. Eingriffe der Wiederinstandsetzung und Valorisierung in den Gebieten des Erinnerungsparks des Gebieten den in Valorisierung und Wiederinstandsetzung der Eingriffe 14 9 12 10 15 I LUOGHIDELLAGRANDEGUERRAINPROVINCIA DIBELLUNO 13 Interventi direcuperoInterventi evalorizzazione neiterritoridelParco dellaMemoria DIE ORTE DES ERSTEN WELTKRIEGES IN DER PROVINZ BELLUNO PROVINZ DER IN WELTKRIEGES ERSTEN DES ORTE DIE 11 16 40 Von derE.U.UnterstützesProjektMittelsEuropäischerWärungsfondszurRegionalenEntwicklung Project co-financedbytheEuropeanUnionthroughFoundforRegionalDevelopmen Gemeinschaftsinitiative InterregIIIAItalien-Österreich2000-2006-Projekt(Cod.VEN222001) AGORDO Progetto cofinanziatodall’UnioneEuropeamedianteFondoEuropeodiSviluppoRegionale Iniziativa ComunitariaInterregIIIAItalia-Austria2000-2006-Progetto(Cod.VEN222001) 39 Community InitiativeInterregIIIAItalia-Austria2000-2006-Project(Cod.VEN222001) GREAT WAR SITES IN THE PROVINCE OF BELLUNO OF PROVINCE THE IN SITES WAR GREAT Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park Memorial the in areas the of promotion and Preservation CORTINA D’AMPEZZO 38 ZOLDO 37 36 34 8 33 7 PIEVE DICADORE 35 6 5 2 4 31 3 32 1 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 30 29 AURONZO DICADORE Batteria Listolade Batteria Tagliata diSanMartino Col deSaléra -MontePunta Spiz Zuel Col Pradamio Monte Rite Vodo -BeccodiCuzze (AccessoB) Vodo -BeccodiCuzze (AccessoA) Anna-LaGlories Col S. Piandell’Antro Forte Monte Tranego Col Forte Vaccher Castello Batteria MonteRicco Forte Anello deiColli Col Vidal P.so -ColAudoi Mauria Miaron P.so -M. Mauria Monte Tudaio Col Ciampon 27 28 25 26 22 21 23 24

DISTRIBUTED FREE OF CHARGE When the thundering of the guns ceased, a desolate scene of devastation was When the thundering of the guns ceased, a desolate scene left behind. The first to set foot again on Mount Piana were the shepherds with their herds. They rounded out their modest earnings by collecting scrap: so great was the quan- tity of ammunition, weapons, shells and scrap iron left on the fields on which long, exhausting battles had been fought that this activity lasted right up to the be- tourism started again and a strong Meanwhile, War. ginning of the 2nd World wooden building called the Carducci hut was built, for many years the only new construction on the mountain. Then the new war stopped the healthy tourist mar- 10

A. Fornari 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 GREAT WAR SITESIN THE PROVINCE OFBELLUNO Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park andpromotionoftheareasinMemorial Preservation History anddescriptionoftheGreatWar sites 3.2 3.1 PRIMA LINEAAURONZO-CORTINA I.A OIeMONTEPIANA BOSI e A. RIF. MISURINA -MONTEPIANA Alta. the Angelo Bosi Refuge stands there. Italian HQ at Mount Piana (1920). Today Barbed-wire fence on the Austrian side of Moun m 2324) (m.

Alfarè I.

20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 Fornari A. Fornari the northern plateau to the Sassi trench, which was the most advanced position the northern plateau to the Sassi trench, which was the most facing the Italian forces. The line went down the Rienza valley for about 400 metres to the confluence of Rio Rinbon and Rio Rinbianco and went up again to the rock fortifications of Mount Rudo. There were also Italian and Austrian cableways to the tops of Mount Piana The battles in this area were fearful and swayed and Mount Piano during the war. For this reason and owing to the vast in favour of one side and then the other. numbersl who died in these conflicts, Mount Piano was known as Monte del Pianto (Mount of Tears). had againplungedintosilenceandsolitude. trains andimmediatelyreturnedtotheirhomes.Afewdayslaterthemountain came tohaltwhileatitsheight;climbersandtouriststookthelastscheduled After theassassinationofAustrianArchdukeatSarajevo,touristseason altitude militaryconstruction. taken bytheroadhasremainedunalteredanditisasuperbexampleofhigh the mostimportantsupplyrouteforforcesengagedinthissector. Theline zo diCadoretodesignandcompleteit.Duringthewar, thisroadprovedtobe decided tobuildavehicularroad,askingtheMonticonstructionfirmofAuron- With theadvantagethatsouthernslopewasmoreeven,Italianarmythen summit. This,too,becameafavouritetouristattraction. Another pathfromLakeMisurinawentupthesouthernslopeto onerweg, (Pioneers’Path). the Rienzavalley. InwartimeitwasadaptedtomilitarypurposesandcalledPi- was knownastheTourist Path. Walkers enjoyedusingittodescendtowards military interests:theAustrianTouring Clubhadanaccessrouteconstructedthat crease intheflourishingtouristtradecontinuedtohaveacertainpriorityover Mount Pianaacquiredgreaterstrategicandmilitaryimportance,buttherapidin- When relationsbetweenItalyandAustro-Hungarybecameparticularlystrained, pyramid. derline betweenAustriaandItalynotfarawayfromthepresentCarducci Touring ClubbuilttheprettylittlePianoHütte(PianoRefuge)onverybor- Mount Pianabecameoneofthemainattractions,sothatin1887Viennese beauties oftheDolomites. The defenceworksproceededatthesamerateasgrowinginterestfor Piazza andtheytransformedMountRudointoanimpregnablefortress. up asystemofdefenceinstallationsconsistinginthefortsLandroandPrato wards Dobbiaco.TheAustrianarmycounteredthisdangeroussalientbysetting completely Italianandhadtheformofathreateningwedgewithpointto- The Tavolato Superiore,higherplateau,ofthemountainthusprovedtobealmost the Castratipassandvalley. der Bridge),lightlybrushedthenorthernsideofMountPianaandwentthrough The borderwentfromtheMarognabridge,knownasPonte diConfine(Bor- ty ofTyrol. that hadbeenestablishedin1753betweentheRepublicofVenice andtheCoun- most everywhere,butnothereonMountPiana,whereitrestoredthefrontier The Italo-Austrianbordercommission,whichmetin1866,favouredAustriaal- the finestpanoramicsitesinDolomites. serving ofthecovetouslooksclimbers,evenifitverysoonbecameone Apart fromthis,itwasconsideredaninsignificantmountain,certainlynotde- poachers. Throughout thecenturies,widetablelandwasagameareaforsportsmenand certifying thedonationmadebyDukeTassilo totheChapterofSanCandido. The nameofthismountainwasrecordedasearlyin788A.D.adocument shaped. The southernplateau(Pianoro)iswideandthenorthernslightlydome- divided intotwobyasaddlefromwhichdescendbarrengorges...”(A.Berti). “...Mount Pianaisisolated,squat,bare.Foursteepwallsandawidetableland above, GENERAL INFORMATION CONTINUE The Carducci pyramid. In the distance, Picco di Vallandro. of the slaugh- Mount Piana, with its 14,000 fallen, afterwards became a symbol front lines ter that took place on the mountains. During the war the opposing moved to and fro until the Italians finally settled on the southern plateau and the Austrians on the northern plateau, the two armies separated by the Castrati pass. the Italian defence line began at 2,323 metres, the Carducci pyramid Precisely, site, cut across the southern plateau, went down to the Rinbianco valley and then went up to the Col di Mezzo pass by the Arghena pass. The Austrian line climbed from the hollow of Carbonin along the western rib of Mount Piana and crossed Camouflaged road to Mount Piana protected by tree-trunks at Forcella ops,wihcmad h hl fVal Fonda. which commands of thewhole lo pass, and on18May waseven establishedontheCristal- garrison 1916apermanent An improvement inweather conditions allowed two cableways to bebuilt far.” realised atallso hasnotbeen altitudes athigh winter saying that ary “ But inthePustertal di- onlytwo Division monthslater there was anentry the troops, huts at3,000metres ... mentary On 30September 1915anewspaperthatwaswell to known themountain inrudi- theirtimeinsleepingbags soldiers were forced to themostof spend To theintense cold withstand the neitherwoodmunications norfuel. andwith telephone com- without for more thanthree weeks, ma Ovest were cutoff Vecio delForame and Antici- thepositionsonCresta Bianca, ly March 1916, andear- late February ing theheavy andthefearfulsnowstorms snowfalls of Dur- ourlives. incomingperformed to each other’s of assistance attherisk heroic andunsungdeeds comrades swept away by avalanches; mit positions; toilsome a climbupsteep to andicygullies reach thesum- hardA very winter, Berti, A. ter win- next happen cannotgoonlike will troops this;no onecanforesee what TheItalian above1,000metres. inencampments on thefront lineare living thetroops four-fifths campaign; of awinter the Italian attheprospect troops of W ble rock. ing withoutobjectivedifficulties;exposedstretchesonnon-cabledandunsta- Route forexperiencedclimbers.SometimestheexcursioninvolvesGradeIclimb- DEGREE OFDIFFICULTY 3 to?hoursfortheascentand2descent. DURATION About 1,100 metresconsideringtheshortdownhillsectioninhigherPopena valley. DIFFERENCE INALTITUDE markings. Period recommendedfortheclimb:frommid-JulytolateAugust. mit ofCristallinodiMisurina(2,775m).Descentthesameway. Route224,red m) toValle delleBaracche,thenbyForcellaMichele(2,590m)uptothesum- Misurina (1,752m)byCaseradi(1,795andForcelladellePale (2,140 DESCRIPTION OFTHEROUTE 4.1 other atthe destination. ings inthe eventoffog. Two carsareneeded, oneat the startingpoint andthe Itinerary onmilitary roadsandpaths.Theremay be difficultyinfindingyourbear- DEGREE OFDIFFICULTY 5-6 hours. DURATION About 900metres. DIFFERENCE INALTITUDE a wartimemule-tracktoMisurina. Route222,redmarkings. at 2,400metres.Thenalongtracks tothePopena saddle(2,214 m).Descentby the positionat2,000metres,thenthroughBarrackValley tothePopena pass Across thebridgeoverupperPopena valleyandthroughtheasfar DESCRIPTION OFTHEROUTE 4.2 ...”. I N T E CRISTALLINO DIMISURINA VALLE DELLEBARACCHE R Guerra in Ampezzo einCadore Allgemeine Tiroler Anzeiger

1 9 1 Rovereto HistoricalWar Museum.Photo212/27. SoldiersinMisurina. 6 The hope that our flabby enemies wouldnotlastouttheharsh The hopethatourflabbyenemies

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W There dismay isgreat among m 2775) (m. A T E R S H E D The routeisnotwellmarked,butretainstheclassicalmilitarymule-trackstruc- no andthepeaksofupperPopena valley. Baracche (BarrackValley), theItalianarmysupplybaselyingbetweenCristalli- from whichyoutakeacattletrack,haspartlysubsided,totheValle delle Here thereisaclearlyvisibletrackdowntothebottomofPopena valley, tres. It takesabout40minutestogetthepositionsonPale passat2,140me- with thelay-byesusedduringtransportofheavyguns. proves tobearealmasterpiece;theballastedcontainingwallshavesurvived, delle Baracche(route224).Itverysoontakesonitsoriginalappearanceand was infactthemilitarytrackthatcommunicatedwithpositionsValle path, slightlyconcealedbythegrass,startsfromveryclosetobuilding:it Casera diMisurina(Misurinadairycottage,1,795m),whereyoucanpark.The Drive fromMisurinaashortwayupthetarmacroadleadingtorestored CRISTALLINO DIMISURINA The mule-track goeson towardsthepass, whichliesbetween PizPopena andCro- the soldiers uptothepositions onCristallino. of highwalls,barrack huts,cavernsheltersand the remainsofropewaythat took not beintoomuch ofahurryhere.Ifyouwatch carefully, youwillseetheremains ley, the militarymule-trackrunsalong apleasantvalley, theValle delleBaracche.Do left. BetweenMountCristallino diMisurinaandthepeaksofupperPopena val- where thevalleyopensout, youwillseethesignforPopena pass tothe Follow theItalianAlpineClubmarkings forquitealongstretchasfarthepoint m). Thepathgoesupthevalley totheleftoflinetakenbyRioPopena. bonin, youwillseeroute222 to Val Popena Alta(theupperPopena valley, 1,659 Coming fromMisurina,tothe left ofahairpinbend5kmalongtheroadtoCar- VALLE DELLEBARACCHE(BARRACKVALLEY) dating backto1753. Middle frontierstone1inVal Fonda,

Alfarè I. Alfarè I. the plaque. Val Fonda,near Barrier wallin on theForame. Austrian storeshut Inside ofan the car for theshorttrip backtoMisurina. From here aneasypath goestotheMisurina dairycottage, whereyou canpickup the symbolsof the CountyofTyrol andtheRepublic ofVenice. Carved onagreat rockjustbelowtheruined building isa1753bordermark with Piana. Ithasnever beenrestoredorre-opened. the GermanarmyduringSecond War, similarlytotheBosiRefugeonMount dle aretheruinsofPopena Refuge,builtprivatelyin 1938 butdevastatedby between Misurinaandtheupper Popena valley. Onthenorthernslopeofsad- an openspacewithaviewofthe Pale diMisurinapeaks:thisisthefinest opening Recently installedsignspointthe waytotheclimbupPopena saddle, quite traordinarily fineview. Fromherereturntothevalley bed,stillonamule-track. da diPausa Marza.Itisalongclimb, butyoureffortswillberewardedbyanex- the mountain.Descendsamewaybacktostartingpoint. From here,aneasyledgedottedwithformerarmyworksleadstothetopof post. Just abovethisisthelowersummitwithwhatleftofItalianobservation down encampment. rise comesintosightandyouwillbeamazedtoseeaghosttownnearburnt- dug outoftherock,withoccasionalremainsoldsteps.Atlastfinal go alongittotheend.Theclimbbecomessteeperagain:tightzig-zaggingbends When youemergefromthecouloirwillbeonaneasybutexposedledge; of men,armsandmaterials. bridges, ringsandspikesthatwereusedduringthewartohelpinascent Negotiate thiswiththehelpofremainsoldequipment,smallsuspension tres. passable rockpassagetothecraggyForcellaMicheletuckedinat2,590me- ture andthereforeremainseasytofollow. Itcontinuestoanapparentlyim-

Alfarè I. Hapsburg eagle. Foot, bearingtheVenetian lionandthe A memorialtothe23rdRegimentof Carbonin toMisurinaroad. Boundary stoneat7.2kmonthe

Fornari A. Italian positions. Piz Popena andCimaPrincipale ofCristallofromthe Italian poststowardstheZurlon.

Fornari A. Fornari A.

Istituto Geografico Militare - Aut. n. 6109 del 12.10.2005 then turned away turned then abruptly. heuttered the lastwords inamuted voice and tears, filled with His eyes it.’ theSonand the Holy Spir- theFather, Iblessyou allinthename of er forhim. theroad toHeaven beshort- will anyone falls, if So, intoconsideration. gatory brave!Be You take yourPur- andGodwill suffertoday country foryournative pectedly. that youdon’t already know canItellyou butwhat thatawaits you, enterprise telling youaboutthisnew Ishouldbe toyourheroic deeds. bearwitness Iwill I knowallyourfamilies. Iknowyouallonebyone. Cadore, ‘My of dearmen ebrated Mass said, andthen cel- he gathered ustogether, looked sad, Thegood priest ustoo. joined Don Piero considered thebestassault troops. ular Alpine units, tothereg- wasentrusted which itwasadesperate thought undertaking, seemed, it Even Supreme Headquarters, thatorders toattackwerethe news ontheway. “ He writes, the assault. blessedthe Alpine troops before theTre Cime, astheChaplainof known cose tone andbecomes whenhetells how serious DonPiero Zangrando, Edoard hiscomrades, regular soldiers, the Alpine Regiment Always serene thelifeof andcheerful whendescribing From no andthe Valfonda meet. valleys Auronzo diCadore where theCristalli- theMunicipality of of theterritory within inawooded area Ponte dellaMarogna ontheway to from Misurina, Carbonin anhourfrom of aboutaquarter 1,500metres, Thissite isatanaltitudeof Venice. this marked theexact border between theHapsburg Empire andtheRepublic of thedate theriverbed bearing “1753”: stone of inthemiddle There isaboundary trees thatshow damagefrom shells. There are stillsome HQ wasslowly covered by vegetation andsankinto oblivion. andthestone neartheir behind, lefteverything they after therout atCaporetto; thePiave wasordered to thegarrison retreat to thelineof In late October 1917, passed. where thefrontier the Valfonda torrent, crossing thebedof no diMisurina, Mount Pianaupto Cristalli- trenches from thebottom of lineof ing thehistoric by garrison- theCompany distinguisheditself 1915-1916, of thewinter During awaybeen carried by avalanches. 51whohadeitherdiedinbattlethePopena inearly1916orhad valley those of theCompany onthestone carved were themembersof Among the269namesof gust 1916. theUmbria since Brigade 31 Au- the 6thCompany of theHQof ble onthesite of rub- which hadbeendeepunderapileof into divided panels, nearly six square metres, asurface of metres high: metres longby oneandahalf three andahalf brought upanexceptionally they digging largestone, valuableandextraordinarily someenthusiasts followed hisdirections andafter somepatient The year after, hisfind. announced thenewsof discovered from alargeplaqueemerging theground and Great War mementos, asalvager andakeen collector of Rolando Lancedelli, On 21November 1982, D T 212/27. Val Popena. Alook-out. Rovereto HistoricalWar Museum.Photo H O E N

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P S L S A I ” N Q ? G Things that seem hopeless often turn outunex- turn often hopeless thatseem Things U E o Rossaro suddenly abandonshisjo- yC Coletti by C. ” eyseiltae nteesosa euto theGreat War. inthesespotsasaresult specialtraces very of love butare ableto beauty themountainsfortheirnatural pe andenthusiasts visitors whonotonly We find alargenumber of will opportunity andcultural hopethatthisnewhistorical interest historical access to andnearness othersites of easeof such significance, ashistorical ing somebasicfeatures inmind, T reduced peoplewith mobility. considering theneedsof able fully have difficulty been lengthsanddegrees of various of Itineraries know andlearn. ing usto observe, teach- thelandscape, of timeenhance thefascinationandbeauty thathave thepassingof struggle survived less monthsof end- 29seemingly events involvedthe backdrop andtragic to theterrible of Thetraces intheGreat War ontheDolomite front. thisproject thesplendidandenchanting isto places acquaint with thatwere thenewgenerations The fundamentalintention of Ruins ofthePopena refuge,inthebackgroundpartofCristallinogroupMisurina. Gino Frontali, This isto remember thatthewarisnotsomethinghasbeenfo theopposingarmies. thesoldiersof metres of more than theexistence atanaltitudeof realising thedifficultiesof andexperience lifeonthefrontaries lineatfirsthand, theCommittee's laboursare theguidesandleafletsthatgive everyone thechance to tackleeasyitiner- Theresults of Park". theareas intheMemorial Preservation andpromotion of Belluno. reg III A project "Great called War sites intheProvince of theItaly-Austria Inter- thework doneby theTechnical andScientificCommittee of of thepurpose asitstillis, This hasbeen, peace. warforpathsof Memories of venture. ad- to know butextraordinary thementhatlived thistragic notto forget, recordA historical to re-discover theMountains, war..." theneedsof fire enemy upunder tomeet opened routes are even theyoungest but even bythemostexpert, featsperformed see but individuals, of notonlyonthepart “…the Alps prodigies, see "...it is not a parenthesis that we can hasten to close to go back to what wewere before..." togobackwhat saying toclose "...it isnotaparenthesis thatwecanhasten

Val Fonda plaque. 6th Fonda Val the 55th Company of Infantry Regiment, attached to the Umbria Brigade. Alfarè I. Alfarè recruits soon turn into accomplished climbers. Some new mountain Somenew intoaccomplishedclimbers. turn soon recruits cieterltosi ewe a n aue which hasleft rceive therelationship between manandnature, loo i arl,paon n hl opne.And notdowe companies. platoonsandwhole bigpatrols, of also gte n ht ntewrso Surgeon Second-Lieutenant inthewords of rgotten andthat, rpsdfrvstn hs ie,sm fthemfullyrealis- of some thesesites, proposed for visiting he itineraries thatare suggestedhe itineraries have beenselected bear- C A Berti). (A. o o r d i n a t O i o r n g

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i Alfarè I. i t n t g e At the foot of the Costabella ridge, the immensity of the Graon del Forame leads At the foot of the Costabella ridge, the immensity of the Graon which crosses a the eye of the beholder towards the ethereal Cristallo bridge, to Forcella Grande. Here the remains and dizzy rift on Cristallino d’Ampezzo that they make us memories of war are of such a kind and so many in number altitude of nearly go back in time. It was up here, on a ridge that runs at an military 3,000 metres, that the Italians set up one of the most extraordinary to works on this part of the Dolomite front: a daring line of communications link the positions on the eastern side of Cristallo (Forcella Stauníes, Cristalli- no, Forcella Grande) and those in the other direction (Col dei Stombi and Tes- Col Pistone, Vécio del Forame taccio across Cresta Bianca, Forcella Padeon, and Zurlon, where the area artillery HQ was located). Opposite rise the Forame The peaks, where there was fearful fighting, above all in the summer of 1916. heroes of these encounters were the Cadore regular Alpine troops under Lieu- tenant Arduino Polla.

e b 2,000 o d i e s . Front cover:remainsoftheItalianobservationpostonAnticimaCristallinodiMisurina. oriain OUIËMNAAAODN - COMUNITËVia IVNovembre, 2-32021Agordo(BL)Italia MONTANA AGORDINA Coordination: 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 LIST OFITINERARIES 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Zona monumentale dellaMarmolada Malga Ciapèla-OmbrettadiMarmolada aSerauta -Marmolada Museo storico Col DaDaut- Toront Cima Lana-AgaiePalla Cima Lana-CostoneCastelloSellaSief Variante ColdelaRoda Ciadinéi -SellaSief Da CimaLanaaiCiadiniéi Cima Sief-ColdiLana Sella Sief-Cima -SelladelSief Posizione “Edelweiss” Valle delleBaracche diMisurina Cristallino BosieMontePiana A. Rif. -MontePiana Misurina Giro delColdiMezzo Croda dell’Arghena aiPianidiLavaredo Quota “2385” Forcella Lavaredo MARMOLADA 18 17 20 19 e.0039043762390-Fax [email protected]. Eingriffe der Wiederinstandsetzung und Valorisierung in den Gebieten des Erinnerungsparks des Gebieten den in Valorisierung und Wiederinstandsetzung der Eingriffe 14 9 12 10 15 I LUOGHIDELLAGRANDEGUERRAINPROVINCIA DIBELLUNO 13 Interventi direcuperoInterventi evalorizzazione neiterritoridelParco dellaMemoria DIE ORTE DES ERSTEN WELTKRIEGES IN DER PROVINZ BELLUNO PROVINZ DER IN WELTKRIEGES ERSTEN DES ORTE DIE 11 16 Rovereto Historical War Rovereto Historical 212/27. Museum. Photo Shot Valley. Popena after shot. 40 Von derE.U.UnterstützesProjektMittelsEuropäischerWärungsfondszurRegionalenEntwicklung Project co-financedbytheEuropeanUnionthroughFoundforRegionalDevelopmen Gemeinschaftsinitiative InterregIIIAItalien-Österreich2000-2006-Projekt(Cod.VEN222001) AGORDO Progetto cofinanziatodall’UnioneEuropeamedianteFondoEuropeodiSviluppoRegionale Iniziativa ComunitariaInterregIIIAItalia-Austria2000-2006-Progetto(Cod.VEN222001) 39 Community InitiativeInterregIIIAItalia-Austria2000-2006-Project(Cod.VEN222001) GREAT WAR SITES IN THE PROVINCE OF BELLUNO OF PROVINCE THE IN SITES WAR GREAT Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park Memorial the in areas the of promotion and Preservation CORTINA D’AMPEZZO 38 ZOLDO 37 36 34 8 33 7 PIEVE DICADORE 35 6 5 2 4 31 3 32 1 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 30 29 AURONZO DICADORE Batteria Listolade Batteria Tagliata diSanMartino Col deSaléra -MontePunta Spiz Zuel Col Pradamio Monte Rite Vodo -BeccodiCuzze (AccessoB) Vodo -BeccodiCuzze (AccessoA) Anna-LaGlories Col S. Piandell’Antro Forte Monte Tranego Col Forte Vaccher Castello Batteria MonteRicco Forte Anello deiColli Col Vidal P.so -ColAudoi Mauria Miaron P.so -M. Mauria Monte Tudaio Col Ciampon 27 28 25 26 22 21 23 24 The Italian stormed the Austrian positions in September and in October 1916, then The Italian stormed the Austrian positions in September and in October 1916, long and exhausting positional warfare began: soldiers dug, built, fortified and set up lodgings and shelters, forcing their way into the bowels of the mountain. When military operations began, their consequences could be imagined: a holocaust which would sanctify this place of blood and tears. DISTRIBUTED FREE OF CHARGE year and the shape of the ridge itself, which was so narrow that it could only year and the shape of the ridge itself, which was so narrow entailed. The most be travelled along in single file, with all dangers that this metres and 2,659 serious hazards were to be found at the highest altitudes, 1,722 went down to the metres. These were where the barbed-wire fences started that between the Verde bottom of Gravon del Forame and up again to the outcrop at 2,450 2450, (Tower and Gialla passes, the infamous Stutzpunkt, or Torrione the Schwarze Hütte Metres). Close to this stood a group of huts and their HQ in (Black Hut). Supplies were taken to the ridge by a powerful cableway from Val Pra Del Vècia. 10

A. Fornari 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Fornari A. GREAT WAR SITESIN THE PROVINCE OFBELLUNO Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park andpromotionoftheareasinMemorial Preservation History anddescriptionoftheGreatWar sites Rovereto Historical War Rovereto Historical 212/43. Museum. Photo Misurina. Ambulance on sledge, winter 1915/16. 4.2 4.1 PRIMA LINEAAURONZO-CORTINA VALLE DELLEBARACCHE CRISTALLINO DIMISURINA m 2775) (m. 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 The long ridge called Schönleitenschneide, or Cresta di Costabella, stretches The long ridge called Schönleitenschneide, or Cresta di Costabella, masks a ter- rib, opposite Mount Cristallino. Its lovely name, Costabella, beautiful It is a majestic section of ridge acting as a wa- rible and bloody story of war. Pra del Vécia, while to the Costabella and Val Fonda, Val tershed between Val south it pushes through the small Cresta Bianca glacier to Forcelle di Costa- bella. During the war it was bravely held by the Austrians, who found very ef- an excellent mountain guide, even if rather an old ficient scouts in Hans Forcher, and his men. The Ital- one, from Sesto who was also a friend of Sepp Innerkofler, ian attacks against the Austrian positions on this ridge were intensive but of little use: it seemed impossible to hold each metre of ridge gained without considerable casualties, because of the harshness of the weather conditions that Apart from the higher Popena valley, access in wartime was ensured by firm mule- access in valley, Apart from the higher Popena saddle and then down again tracks that went up from Misurina to the Popena of huts. to the valley bottom, where there was a large concentration the mainpeakbyrouteopenedupPaul Grohmann.Fromthere,inan chine-gun sectionandpickedBersaglierisoldiers,wentupCristallo,occupying In themiddleofJuly1915, alongcolumnofAlpinetroops,followedbyma- intensified. crating theseheightstohistoryforever whereby themountainsturnfrompinktovioletatsunset) wrote, “ that thesesummitswouldbetouchedbythewar, whichwas,asAntonioBerti to blend,untouched,withthecloudsandbluesky. Itseemedunthinkable rounded theslopesofentiregroupsmountains.Theloftypeaksseemed Carbonin plain.Inthefirsttwoyearsofwar, theopposingarmiescompletelysur- was behindtheItalianlines,whichrantonorthofitalongedge the terrainoccupiedbyAustrians.ThelowerPopena group, ontheotherhand, top, theAlpineunitsofVal PiaveandCadoreBattalionseasilycommanded The ItalianlineranalongthemainpeakoflowerCristallogroup.From peaks. Cristallo, butintheendWar itselfstretchedoutitshandstothesemarvellous foreign mountaineersstilltestedthemselvesagainstthesheerrockwallsof going thepremonitorysignsofbeginningFirstWorld War, localand longed for20thcenturybegan.WhiletheEuropeanpoliticalscenewasunder- The endofthecenturypassedamongexplorationandconquestuntilmuch Michele Innerkofler, thegreatTyrolese guide. had setfootonthissuperbpeak.Annawasaccompaniedinherundertakingby 15 September1874causedagreatsensation:thiswasthefirsttimewoman Ploner, daughterof the hotelkeeperatCarbonin,hadclimbedmountainon although itwasthoughtthatlocalclimbershaddoneso.ThenewsAnne Cristallo in1865,therewasnoinformationabouthowtoreachthesepeaks, Before theViennesemountaineerPaul Grohmannclimbedthemainpeakof tered theexclusivedomainofsportsmen. to Val PradelVéciaandfromVal Felizontothesprings.Aftertheseyouen- leys forshortstretches,suchastheonefromFontanadiSigismondovalley glacier moraine.Therewerealsogoodpathsrunningalongtheothermainval- atre closingtheheadofvalleytocontinueinformatrack mountain group,justagoodpathupthebedofRioValfonda totheamphithe- ing underthenorthernribsofCristallo.Therewerenoroadsthatwentinto en thenoblenameofStradad’Alemagna ranbetweenLandroandAmpezzo pass- from thelowerPopena group.Justoveracenturyago,goodroadthatwasgiv- na. Thedeep-cutCristallopass(2,808m),separatesthelowergroup the threeCristallopeaks,PizPopena, PuntaMicheleandCristallinodiMisuri- Col deiStombi,Zurlon,VéciodelForame,CrestaBianca,Cristallinod’Ampezzo, are theheartofthisgroup,whichishorseshoe-shapedwithseveralhighpoints: The mainpeakofCristallo,3,221 metreshigh,andPizPopena, 3,152metres, the Tre Crocipass. Grava diCerigéres,whichstartsattheCristallopassandgoestoRudavoi important one,goingfromtheStauniespassdowntoSomforcaand streams of idly changeshueandappearance.Betweenthewallsofrocktherearewide rise high,bare,completelyrockyand,atdusk,turnintoabrightpinkthatrap- trian hands.OntheItaliansidefacingLakeLandro,thesegroupsofmountains ginning ofthewar, and theroadfromOspitaletoCarbonin,whichwasinAus- low, thelowerPopena valley, whichwasoccupiedbytheItalianforcesatbe- The CristalloandPopena groupliebetweentheVal Grande,theMisurinahol- GENERAL INFORMATION to createanew grave The “church”: remains The “church”: Piave of the big Val Battalion headquarters building on the Zurlon.

, graveltorrentbeds.TheGravadiStauniesisanespecially Fornari A. Fornari noaia(thephenomenonpeculiartotheDolomites, enrosadira ”. Butthefightingslowlyandinexorably CONTINUE with blood,conse- admirable feat of mountaineering, these brave men let themselves down to the admirable feat of mountaineering, these brave men let themselves climbed up again to the middle and the north- del Cristallo and rugged Porta in the mean- western summit, afterwards linking up with the platoons that, time, had occupied Forcella Grande. forces’ commu- Cristallino di Misurina was an important salient in the Italian Innerkofler nications on the plain of Carbonin. Its peak, first climbed by Michele a very important along with the Hungarian Baron Roland von Eötvos, became artillery observation post, the top of which commanded the entire Landro valley as far as the Dobbiaco saddle. A large number of barrack huts were built in the green hollow at the foot of delle Baracche. From here, with the rocks and it was therefore named Valle venturesome equipment and considerable courage, the Italian soldiers climbed exposed but practica- to the rock of Forcella Michele and then across a dizzy, ble ledge to the top. summit area. above inthe all are to beavoided, ontheotherhand, Thetunnels, ply perfect. from is sim- thisplatform view The therock. steps cutoutof of flight a short It terrace approached isa small by completely still intact. for theobservers, intended to takeis enough you to thesummitwork, diversion ashort from thepath Once you getto FW5, Zipfelwache -Castello wood 5. position-stronghold any to troops advance thattried to the flank of directed insuch away asto fire against theleft mate, the machine-gun installedinthe Wasserwache case- thework would have been Thecompletion of tacks. sitions wasto avoid at- beingsubjected to surprise thesepo- of the purpose plained forthe Wasserwache, As ex- saddle. crossingto theSief without Pralongià panel)thatleads aninformation with ly signposted from alternativeall visible route by path23(recent- which are climbs towards 5, stronghold theformer that works alongtheramp completed of by aseries LittleSettsasswere subsequently of fortifications defence The theSettsasswall (2,571m). the baseof LittleSettsass(2,429m)and between thesummitof 5(FW5)trench whileastronghold ran saddleandpass, theSief in front of theembrasures were mainlyintended to defendtheground that poked outof Themachine-guns inaprotected entrance asingle position. a tunnelwith could bereached by thewar, during which, embrasures canstillbemadeout, three justabove on thewall itself, thesaddle lower down, to bedistinguished: works are where two orders of saddle, thedefence lineprotecting theSief of extremity LittleSettsasswasthenorthern asSassoRichthofen, Also known reasons. are forsafety notadvisable unfortunately, the caverns, Visits to 1 August failedandthearea remained in Austrian handsforgood. Italian The attempt to regain the Wasserwoche-Roccione area on work. tory thanksto meticulousprepara- this timetheattackwasacomplete success, the again: V/bh 2tried on31July the1stCompany of positions), their original buthadto return to the breakthrough, V/bh 2madeatemporary pany of whileon28June the1stCom- from Battalionfailed, the160th Landsturm After attempting someactions(on15 April twelve units the Wasswerwoche. andinthiscontext to gain itbecameimportant posts nearer to theenemy, out- the Austrian Command High decidedto setupalineof saddle, Sief the bad weather conditions actioninthedirection to of attempt asurprise take thattheItalians fearing might advantage of di Lanaon17 April 1916, Col After thefallof saddle. used asanoutpostintheadvance towards theSief At firsttheRoccione -Big Rock -wasoccupied by theItalians and Gerda. Thesetwo cupolasare reached after passingthelittleLake isvaguer. hand, ontheother works, (Ringelspiel)and “lower 2,191metre” er 2,191metre” the “high- of theevidence and otherobjectsthatwere thewar; usedduring guard posts trenches, come across inevitably you theremains of will sitions, When you wander around thetwo po- toarrive attheentrance thecasemate. andthen the Wasserwoche, thecement embrasure of soon passinfront of you will rocks, thepathgoingtowards theuntidy massof of thetraces lowing Fol- theentrances. oneof acollapse ortheinvasion of intheevent of a trap cordance aclassicalscheme whereby with acavern positiondoesnotbecome which isU-shapedinac- belongto They thesamecavity, cavern entrances. itisaneasydescent to thetwo-pointed rock where you seetwo will tions, the Wasserwache andBlockwache posi- As soonasyou come of into sight L W I cular difficulty, itisa pleasantwalk.N.B. thetimeindicatedonlyincludeswalk. You needonlytakesomecareduringthefirstfewmetres,thenthereisnoparti- DEGREE OFDIFFICULTY After anumberofascentsanddescentsthedifferenceislessthan200metres. DIFFERENCE INALTITUDE 1,15 hours. DURATION 5.1 leave thepath. N.B. Thetime indicated is for thewalk only. not take long.Afterleaving theSiefsaddle itisimportant thatyoushould not If youarenotso fit,theclimbofMountSief may bealittletiringbutitdoes DEGREE OFDIFFICULTY Mount Sief(2,424 m). From thewoodenbuilding(2,261 m)totheSiefpass(2,209and topof DIFFERENCE INALTITUDE 45 minutes. DURATION 5.2 A T S T S L E E POSIZ. R SELLA SIEF-CIMA

S W E A T C T H S NE A E S

EEWIS -SELLA DELSIEF “EDELWEISS” A S N D

S U R R O U N D I N G S do not know whatthe inscription “S J”stands for that is to beseen bythe south- room) and theareaopposite Siefsattel (theembrasure intheleft-hand room).We fire tobearon the southernsideofMountSief (theembrasureintheright-hand did notgivedirectly ontheenemylinesbutwhich wasintendedtobringlateral the rightand secondlowerdownonthe left,eachwithanembrasure that visited. Insidethiswork,ashort entrancecorridorleadstotworooms,thefirst constructed walkwayuntilitreaches theentranceofonlycavernthatcanbe and theTeriol Ladin,ourroute goesupthenorthridgeofSiefpassingbyare- few cementruinsnowremain alongit.AfterthecrossingbetweenSiefpass almost completelywipedoutthe trenchesandburiedtheshelters,sothatonlya has fewtracesofthepastwar, becausetheweather andthehandofmanhas pass at2,209metresandthengoesupagaintowardsthetop. Theunsurfacedpath scends bytheItalianAlpineClubroute21 downtheslopethatleadstoSief the ridgeoverfencebetweentwopastures.Fromthis point theroutede- To continuefromthewoodenbuildingtoSiefsaddleyou only havetogoalong and ColdiLana,leavingthevariantthatleadstoLittleSettsassPralongià the chaosofrocks.InfactitisbettertoenjoyviewtowardsMountSief trians), which,ontheotherhand,ishiddeninwoodbelowmidstof position furtherahead(theMountCastellostronghold,ZipfelwachefortheAus- (Settsasspostierung, calledRothstellungafter12August1917) andtheItalian halfway betweentheAustriandefencelineattopofmountainwalls is nothingtolookatduringalargepartoftheroute,whichmoreorlessruns sometimes cuttinghorizontallyacrossthescreeconescomingfromgullies.There Castello andthesurroundingheights,sometimesgoingthroughwoodland coincides withItalianAlpineClubroute23,windingroundthefootofMount slope thatwouldotherwiseberathersteep.Fortherest,allthispartofroute diately following,wherelogsarrangedinstepswillhelpyoueasilytogoupa pleasant slips.Thereisnothingparticularlydifficulteveninthesectionimme- a gullythatisalwayswet,recentlyequippedwithmetalfittingstoavoidun- After passingtheEdelweissposition,routebeginswithafewmetresdown FROM THEEDELWEISS POSITIONTO THESIEFSADDLE FROM THESIEFSADDLETO THETOP foot ofLittleSettsass. Information pointontherouteto Sief saddle,ColdiLanaandtheCastellorib. View fromSettsass:lefttoright,theLittleSettsass, Castello ribat2,250m. Austrian Fortonthe tooth (7)ColdiLana(8) of MountSief(6)the Sief saddle(5)thesummit (3) Wasserwache (4)the Lake Gerda(2)Blockwache Club path23:(1)thelittle View fromItalianAlpine of thesite.Afewmetresfromwoodenconstruction,youcanalsogoto of theinformationpanelsplacedaroundareatoincreaseyourappreciation fortably devotingafewminutestocontemplationandperhapstakingadvantage construction thatexploitedapre-existingfoundation,whereyoucanrestcom- across soilfromalandslipbeforeyoufinallyreachyourdestination:wooden A fewstepsfurtherwilltakeyoufirstontoatampedearthsurfaceandthen which aretheItalianpositions(seeboxesformoredetails). the path,therearetracesof“higher2,191 works”andthe“lower2,191 works”, the stretchofwaterislittleLakeGerda,behindwhich,asyoulookfrom casemate thatappearamongthemassofrocksbelongtoWasserwache, while often referredtoinwarliterature,istheBlockwache,whileembrasureand ately eastofaheaprocksandnearsmallpool.The“forkedrock”,asitis A littlebelowthepath,easilyvisible,youwillseeatwo-pointedrockimmedi- Col diLanaandtheCastellorib. of thewholefrontlinefromSiefsaddletoMountandthere to therightuntil,whenyouhavecomeroundasmallrib, yougetanoverallview place along thenetwork of tunnels known asthe “Austrian mine tunnels” some for some tracesofcement, becausemovements inthisparticularly exposed areatook The topofMount Sief,2,424metreshigh,has nosignsofdefenceworksexcept the topofMount Siefwerequartered. entrances tothe summitcavern(donotenter!), wherethetroopspostedtodefend east, whileasectionofwalkway descendsabovetheValiate hollow towardsthe ian Viktorstronghold.Asyoucome nearthesummitarea,otherpiecesoftrenchlook and Spositions,whichsucceeded eachothersouthwardsuntiltheyfacedtheItal- Lower down,ontheeastslope, thetracesarestillvisibleofRippenwache,Max easily seethenetworkofexcavations thatprotectedthispartofthefrontline. stretch oftrenchbeforethesummit hasbeenliterallyrenewedandtodaywecan visible effects.Startingfromsomestillrecognisablesectionsof positions,thelong passing theareainwhichworkoftrenchrestorationhas producedthemost After comingoutofthecave,resumeclimbtowards top ofthemountain, Col diLana. ern embrasureintheright-handroom,fromwhichthereis a veryclearviewof on thetopofLittleSettsass. Steps andobservationpost casemate. The Wasserwache and theSieftooth. Sief, theminecrater climb tothesummitof final sectionofthe View fromSettsass:the west rib. as onedescendsfromthetopofMountSiefalong A stillintactsectonoftrenchalongtheMittelstellung northern ridgeofMountSief. The Siefsaddlepathtowardsthe

Istituto Geografico Militare - Aut. n. 6109 del 12.10.2005 Teriol, which crosses theValiate hollow and then takesyou tothe Sief pass. as far thecrossingwith theTeriol Ladin, whereyou canturnleftfollowing the by, going toColdiLanaalongtheridge ofSiefordescendingthewest ribofSief three routes:returning bytheSiefsaddlealong the sameridgeasoneyoucame When youareready toleavethetopofMount Sief,youcanchoosefromamong wark wasreallyendangered. few hourson20September1917, theonlytimeatwhichthis remoteAustrianbul- of themountainandtunnels underneathwereoccupiedbytheItaliansfora March and27September1917. Apartfromtheseepisodesintheminewar, thetop on 21 October 1917, swallowingupthetwocraters madebyItalianmineson6 mite) thatblewoutthecrater between thetopofMountSiefandtooth “mine tunnels”. Thenameisduetothecolossalexplosion(45,005 kgofdyna- between thevariouspositions,embrasuresandobservationposts, andfinallythe have beenmorethanhalfakilometreoftunnelsintendedto provideasafelink still quiteplainlyseeninadepression:atthetimeofGreat War theremust metres belowthesurfaceofground.Thehigherentrance tothissystemis lossesamounted to one dead andonewounded. tackers’ Theat- positions. to theiroriginal before withdrawing prisoners number of abouttenceeded orinjuring Italian inkilling soldiersandtakingthesame the9thCompany theoutpostandsuc- surprised themen of thesnow, out of Hidden inatunnelexcavated March theItalian 1917against Lanzaoutpost. underReserve conducted Lieutenant Fischer on26 by theStyrians the snow” the “attack in lower down: thisdefence line, from 2of stronghold former itskindoriginated unique of An action thefront line. with connecting theKaarsteig shelters walkways theremains of with intersected the PlândelaMina, along theslopethatoverlooks are curled some well preserved, trenches, remains of number of A Rechtsstellung lower down. stellung inthemiddleand Mittel- tion nearest thesummit, Spitzstellung wasthesec- three: defence into work wasdivided This Sief. sition ontheflankof theSiefhangstellung -po- sector: ian endeavours to advance inthis trench thatconfronted theItal- thelast Austrian the lineof approximately corresponds to goingalongaroute that yourself you find will the mountain, Teriol of Ladinalongthewest rib to the Mount Sief the summitof you decideto descend from If quest inthebudandSiefsattel passageremained prohibited. con- nippedany Brigade ideaof and96thInfantry the Austrian artillery Thecombined response by Regiment on20and21 the 82ndInfantry April. repeated by theTurin of Brigade which wasafailure from thestart, 1916, firstundertaken by theaction on18 the17thDivision and particularly April Col diLana, mainly recorded are thoseimmediately theconquest following of battles The attempts wereno serious madeto break through inthissector. quently wonderVal they why hindsight andwith Pusteria and Val d’Isarco, Val Badiaandconse- (Siefsattel)saddle wasthegateway to theIncisa pass, Various emphasisethefactthatSief writers along themountainridge. saddle advancing firsttowardscerned with Col diLanaandthento theSief were asthey mainlycon- thefront line, any of large-scaleactionsinthispart becausetheItalian partly Army didnotundertake lung apassingmention, War literature onlygives orSiefsattelstel- astheSemmering thelineknown Return thesamewaybypath23. the presentPlândelaMina. line counteringtheItaliansadvancingfromformerRothschanzeacross through afewtrenchestheycouldquicklygettotheSiefhangstellung,front the AustriantroopsdefendingMountSiefafterfallofColdiLana,and ern sideoftheribalmostasfarsummit.Itprovidedasaferefugefor practicable atpresent,butwhich,duringtheGreatWar, wentupthenorth- ber ofhuts.ThesemarkthestartingpointKaarsteig path,whichisim- ern extremityofthehollow, agroupofcavernsthatprotected large num- and withnootherhelpthanagoodpairofbinocularsyoucansee,atthewest- dendrons inbloomcolourthewholebasinred,makinganamazingspectacle, was lowdowntotherightasyoulookfromcapital.Inspringrhodo- Roda, istheValiate basin.TheAustrianencampment,Alpenrose,rhododendron, rib thatgoesdownfromthetoptowardswest,indirectionofColdi tween theramp(Siefnordgrat)thatgoesuptowardstopofSiefand the columnonridgeandlooksouth:naturalamphitheatrelyingbe- T H H I S E T

W O R E I S C T A

R L I

N B

O O T F E

M S O U N T

S I E F Infantry Regiment). 1917; sketch21 takenfromthehistoryof27th Archive; apartofFigure88inMountSief1916- opposite Austrianoutpost2(RobertStriffler on 26March1917 (Rothschanze Feldwache) Plan oftheattackagainstItalianLanzaoutpost LIST OF ITINERARIES 1 11 GENERAL INFORMATION

COL DI LANA – BLOODY COL (Part I) 2 12 War diary of an Austrian Captain and an Italian officer 3 2 6 1 7 4 8 5 On Col di Lana, now frequented by walkers, there was bloody fighting from 1915

AURONZO DI CADORE 3 13 to 1917 between Italians and Austro-Hungarians and Germans for the possession CORTINA D’AMPEZZO of this position, which was considered decisive by both sides. 21 26 22 25 An Austrian Captain and an Italian officer made notes in their diaries of the deeds 4 14 of arms in which they played a part. The following are extracts from the pages that 9 10 11 24 recall these tragic events. 12 13 23 14 15 16 17 29 5 15 18 19 32 30 Austrian Captain Ebner: “San Martino in Val Badia, 11 October 1915. We are on the 20 27 28 31 MARMOLADA 34 march to relieve the Germans on Col di Lana ... carriages, horsemen, carts and trucks 33 PIEVE DI CADORE 35 pass, both German and Austrian, mingled together ... the two armies are as one ... 37 6 16 ZOLDO we shall have plenty of snow on Col di Lana ... it’s already from 60 to 80 centime- 38 36 tres deep ... we had music all the way ... nobody has any idea of what’s in store for 7 17 us ... my horse was a bit nervous and shied every time a car passed ... on the whole 40 our relations with the Germans are good but one couldn’t say that we get on very

AGORDO well with the Prussians ... they are incredibly arrogant ... our Kaiserjaeger already had

39 a fight with them at Bruneck and in the end they threw them out of the window ... 8 18 but they are wonderfully well organised ... they are amazingly well trained ... the 1 Forcella Lavaredo 21 Col Ciampon Bavarian light infantry music was waiting for us and came as far as here with the 2 Quota “2385” ai Piani di Lavaredo 22 Monte Tudaio Battalion. The way the Bavarians march is like our Landschützen ... I don’t know 3 Croda dell’Arghena 23 P.so Mauria - M. Miaron 9 19 exactly what they’re going to do with me ... I haven’t had any mail yet ... the Italian 4 Giro del Col di Mezzo 24 P.so Mauria - Col Audoi Velschens will soon be attacking ...”. 5 Misurina - Monte Piana 25 Col Vidal 6 Rif. A. Bosi e Monte Piana 26 Anello dei Colli 10 20 Italian officer (signature illegible): “Agai rib, 18 October 1915. Dear Father, a big 7 Cristallino di Misurina 27 Forte Monte Ricco battle is starting ... I’m writing on my knees, sitting on a camp-bed in the small but 8 Valle delle Baracche 28 Batteria Castello GREAT WAR SITES IN THE PROVINCE OF BELLUNO clean shelter named after Cabibi, the Mountain Artillery 2nd Lieutenant ... yester- 9 Posizione “Edelweiss” - Sella del Sief 29 Forte Col Vaccher Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park day Peppino Garibaldi told me about the general offensive ... on our whole sector, 10 Sella Sief - Cima Sief 30 Monte Tranego and even, people say, on the whole Italian front and on that of our allies ... It’s 11 Cima Sief - Col di Lana 31 Forte Pian dell’Antro PRIMA LINEA CORTINA-MARMOLADA thrilling to think that we’re taking part in the biggest battle in human history. 12 Da Cima Lana ai Ciadiniéi 32 Col S. Anna - La Glories We stayed with Garibaldi till midnight ...”. 13 Ciadinéi - Sella Sief 33 Vodo - Becco di Cuzze (Accesso A) NE Reconstructed casemate at the Edelweiss position. 14 Variante Col de la Roda 34 Vodo - Becco di Cuzze (Accesso B) 5.1 POSIZ. “EDELWEISS” - SELLA DEL SIEF Austrian Captain: “Col di Roda, about 1,950 metres up, 14 October 1915. At last 15 Cima Lana - Costone Castello - Sella Sief 35 Monte Rite I’ve got to my destination ... a platoon has taken up its position on the Sief saddle,

Where not already mentioned, text and photos are supplied by Progetto Col di Lana. 5.2 SELLA SIEF - CIMA SIEF The fundamental intention of this project is to acquaint the new generations with the splendid and enchanting places that were 16 Cima Lana - Agai e Palla 36 Col Pradamio another is at Corvara as a reserve for Col di Lana ... There are various works that we the backdrop to the terrible and tragic events involved in the Great War on the Dolomite front. The traces of 29 seemingly end- less months of struggle that have survived the passing of time enhance the fascination and the beauty of the landscape, teach- 17 Col Da Daut - Col Toront 37 Spiz Zuel have to do: winter quarters and so on ... Up to now I haven’t heard the Italians firing us to observe, know and learn. 18 Museo storico a Serauta - Marmolada 38 Col de Saléra - Monte Punta History and description of the Great War sites ing much. I’ve just heard that more troops are joining them, which are sure to attack Itineraries of various lengths and degrees of difficulty have been proposed for visiting these sites, some of them fully realis- able fully considering the needs of people with reduced mobility. The itineraries that are suggested have been selected bear- 19 Malga Ciapèla - Ombretta di Marmolada 39 Tagliata di San Martino us. We’ll have a job ... it’s raining and the road is full of mud ... We relieved the 10th ing some basic features in mind, such as historical significance, ease of access and nearness to other sites of historical interest. 20 Zona monumentale della Marmolada 40 Batteria Listolade German Reserve Light Infantry Battalion, soldiers from Hanover, Mecklemburg, etc. We hope that this new historical and cultural opportunity will find a large number of visitors and enthusiasts who not only ... we got orders to go up the road, which was in the open, divided into small groups love the mountains for their natural beauty but are able to perceive the relationship between man and nature, which has left Cover: the Sief saddle, the summit of Mount Sief and Col di Lana from Settsass. A. Fornari very special traces in these spots as a result of the Great War. ... two or three hundred metres apart ... when we got to the Boschetto ... there was Organising authorities and financing bodies Coordination: COMUNITË MONTANA AGORDINA - Via IV Novembre, 2 - 32021 Agordo (BL) - Italia some enemy gunfire ... From the Boschetto del Mulo 1 the road goes down to a small

Tel. 0039 0437 62390 - Fax 0039 0437 62043 - Email [email protected] FREE OF CHARGE DISTRIBUTED “…the Alps see prodigies, not only on the part of individuals, but also of big patrols, platoons and whole companies. And not do we valley that leads to Boschetto 2 ... Captain Pauer, Lieutenant Wundram, Lieutenant see feats performed by the most expert, but even the youngest recruits soon turn into accomplished climbers. Some new mountain I LUOGHI DELLA GRANDE GUERRA IN PROVINCIA DI BELLUNO Interventi di recupero e valorizzazione nei territori del Parco della Memoria Volpes, W.O. Paulsen ... Pauer showed me the huts for the soldiers, for the NCOs, the routes are even opened up under enemy fire to meet the needs of war..." (A. Berti). Progetto cofinanziato dall’Unione Europea mediante Fondo Europeo di Sviluppo Regionale A historical record to re-discover the Mountains, not to forget, to know the men that lived this tragic but extraordinary ad- Iniziativa Comunitaria Interreg IIIA Italia-Austria 2000-2006 - Progetto (Cod. VEN 222001) infirmary ... one could almost say that they are cheerfully furnished ...”. DIE ORTE DES ERSTEN WELTKRIEGES IN DER PROVINZ BELLUNO venture. Memories of war for paths of peace. Eingriffe der Wiederinstandsetzung und Valorisierung in den Gebieten des Erinnerungsparks This has been, as it still is, the purpose of the work done by the Technical and Scientific Committee of the Italy-Austria Inter- Von der E.U. Unterstützes Projekt Mittels Europäischer Wärungsfonds zur Regionalen Entwicklung Gemeinschaftsinitiative Interreg IIIA Italien-Österreich 2000-2006 - Projekt (Cod. VEN 222001) Italian officer: 19 October, two o’clock in the afternoon “... Encampment on the Agai reg III A project called "Great War sites in the Province of Belluno. Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial GREAT WAR SITES IN THE PROVINCE OF BELLUNO Park". The results of the Committee's labours are the guides and leaflets that give everyone the chance to tackle easy itiner- Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park rib ... in three hours I had a very strong shelter built for Garibaldi in the inner- Project co-financed by the European Union through European Found for Regional Developmen aries and experience life on the front line at first hand, realising the difficulties of the existence at an altitude of more than 2,000 Community Initiative Interreg IIIA Italia-Austria 2000-2006 - Project (Cod. VEN 222001) most corner of the dugout ... At this moment, lying on his camp-bed, he’s dictat- metres of the soldiers of the opposing armies. This is to remember that the war is not something that has been forgotten and that, in the words of Surgeon Second-Lieutenant ing the orders for an attack in depth on the Castello rib, which is on our right; Gino Frontali, "...it is not a parenthesis that we can hasten to close to go back to what we were saying before...". the shooting will start soon ... for now I’m acting as aide-de-camp; the other two

Coordination and Scientific and Technical Committee CONTINUE

(Episode I, for other references see Maps 6, 7 and 8.) and 7 6, Maps see references other for I, (Episode Austrian Captain: “Col di Lana, 1,950 metres up. 15 October 1915, a convoy with pro- with convoy a 1915, October 15 up. metres 1,950 Lana, di “Col Captain: Austrian 30 minutes: one shot every few seconds and you could see the great flares of fire of flares great the see could you and seconds few every shot one minutes: 30 ow- ... wire the from metres thirty about already were they side, Castello the on

falling horribly until they were dashed into a couloir ...” couloir a into dashed were they until horribly falling “When the signal was given, our mountain battery section ... started rapid fire for fire rapid started ... section battery mountain our given, was signal the “When forts Austrian small the of one attacking were men “Our October: 21 officer, Italian

the wounded hurled down the steep grassy hillside ... they tumbled down like stones, like down tumbled they ... hillside grassy steep the down hurled wounded the Lana. di the middle of the enemy trenches, which are still very formidable.” very still are which trenches, enemy the of middle the

we would have to fall back at least as far as the Incesa valley.” Incesa the as far as least at back fall to have would we through my binoculars ... deadly enemy shrapnel fire ... machine-guns and rifles ... rifles and machine-guns ... fire shrapnel enemy deadly ... binoculars my through Col on attack general the was It begin’. to going racket’s the up, ‘Wake saying, up directed any intense fire against us ... I saw one of our 210 shells explode right in right explode shells 210 our of one saw I ... us against fire intense any directed

hold of Col di Lana, our whole position in this sector would become untenable and untenable become would sector this in position whole our Lana, di Col of hold I spent looking at the assault on the Austrian fort on the wall of the Castello rib Castello the of wall the on fort Austrian the on assault the at looking spent I me woke Garibaldi midnight at ... shot rifle a getting even without through get batteries of Mount Porè swept the trenches and the forts ... the Austrians haven’t Austrians the ... forts the and trenches the swept Porè Mount of batteries

than this either ... it is said that the Italians should be trying an attack ... If they got they If ... attack an trying be should Italians the that said is it ... either this than were able to see the whole operation ... I won’t try to describe the painful hours painful the describe to try won’t I ... operation whole the see to able were to managed I and rib Castello the on troops assault the to order an take to me must already have come out in the newspapers. The guns thundered all day ... the ... day all thundered guns The newspapers. the in out come have already must

them to have a snack of bread and butter, tea and herrings. I didn’t have any more any have didn’t I herrings. and tea butter, and bread of snack a have to them terday at 12.30 the Salisei rib entrenchments were assaulted. From the Agai rib we rib Agai the From assaulted. were entrenchments rib Salisei the 12.30 at terday sent Garibaldi ... matter the were nothing if as round look and sandbags of wall top from the three ribs and drive the enemy off ... the taking of Sasso di Stria di Sasso of taking the ... off enemy the drive and ribs three the from top

was exquisite ... as the German officers had nothing to eat in the evening, I invited I evening, the in eat to nothing had officers German the as ... exquisite was bullet near his heart ... my men took him to Andraz, where he was buried ... yes- ... buried was he where Andraz, to him took men my ... heart his near bullet the onto up get Austrian an saw I next the and shot one between ... air the in forces behind this famous hill in a pincer movement. We shall have to get to the to get to have shall We movement. pincer a in hill famous this behind forces

mess, pea and meat soup, chicken liver and potatoes and a dessert that I thought I that dessert a and potatoes and liver chicken soup, meat and pea mess, ... Sergeant Mariotti was badly wounded ... afterwards I was told he died with a with died he told was I afterwards ... wounded badly was Mariotti Sergeant ... up leaped rocks and earth hit a was there time every and fort the against firing left and right wings of the army corps advanced yesterday, trying to squeeze the squeeze to trying yesterday, advanced corps army the of wings right and left

visions and the mail ... it’s been snowing ... Captain Pauer asked me to the German the to me asked Pauer Captain ... snowing been it’s ... mail the and visions in the darkness of the night ... it was nearly dawn ... the battle was still going on going still was battle the ... dawn nearly was it ... night the of darkness the in was artillery our ... spot blind a in wait to had they fire, machine-gun the to ing ribs are to the left and to the right, under Garibaldi’s command. Meanwhile, the Meanwhile, command. Garibaldi’s under right, the to and left the to are ribs

Gabrieli).

Guglielmo

(Architect

evident embrasures.

trenches still trenches tunnel

the covered the machine-gun can be visited. be can

the wars, with wars, the the box, the three the box, the positions. only cavern that cavern only

saddle between saddle Little Settsass; in Settsass; Little Settsass embrasure of the of embrasure

shows the Sief the shows saddle towards saddle one of the of one near the south the near

This photo This View from the Sief the from View Embrasure in to in Embrasure The initials “S J” “S initials The swallowing upthetwoswallowing Italian minecraters. the chambers of explosive charged inthetwo mine the45,005kgof At 22.00on21October 1917, thetunnels. damaging however, the explosion two killed Austrian sapperswithout, whilethegasfrom andthetooth, theridge buttheonly result achievedthey theeastwallof wasto graze apit, atthebottom of explosive setoff 5,000kgof works with to the ruin On27September tried Austrian they covering fire. acomplete lackof of butwere soonthrown pointsbecause backto theirstarting tunnels andthesummit, reached they the causingterminal damageto theunderground works, intention of With the to putanend toand tried theproblem by asurface attackon20September. theimminentthreat of whounderstood theseriousness theItalians, again alarmed which wasusedby bothsides, Thelistening tunnelservice, 14 metres into down apit. ot fSe stayed initsplace. Sief tooth of nofewer setasideandthe than50,000kg)wasnaturally hadplannedamineof (they tooth to destroy theoccupying forces ittogether with tunnels asfarundertheSief The themine Austrian onwith project to carry fighting. years of two andahalf had to about leave thathadbeenmadeduring theefforts Col diLanathus frustrating thedefeatatCaporetto, theconsequences suffering of A fewdays later theItalians, wards soldierswere thewest andonlytwelve by sixty debris buried were rescued alive. theformer Austrian lower theslopeto- fortification down but inthetrenches of aged, theItalian works were dam- notseriously 6March and27September 1917, mines of the postthatwassituated between thetwo craters of asentry fromApart thelossof tunnels butnotthesystem of tening tunnel, to damagethe managing Austrian lis- theridge, out thefirstcrateronedgeof explosive blew March 1917anItalian minecontaining from 3,600to 4,000kgof andon6 Very soonbothsidesrealised thatunderground works were inprogress, theirpositionsslowly moving forward. began to builduptheirforces onthetooth, outconventional by carrying offensives andthus Mount Sief able to take thetop of TheItalian attackers soonrealised would thatthey notbe ontheridge. stronghold exploiting themonth’s given grace putupby themby the fight thedesperate Mina, resistance opposite thepresent alongtherib onthesummitandall Plândela of thedefendershadtimeto setupanewline point2,387, of north Meanwhile, it. sion of managedto gainposses- infantry untiltheReggio Brigade the Austrian position, tothis overcome unitssucceeded andvarious each otherintrying “rocky bump”, Italian The attacksbroke upagainst acavern. months to setupandwasequippedwith which hadtaken post)at2,387metres, support (ridge theGratstützpunkt of form obstacleinthe aformidable but itcameupagainst Mount Sief, the direction of wasattempted anaction in hadpassedinthisway, the “Bloody Col” occupation of the After earlydays thevery of theKaiserjäger. of tempts itbackonthepart to win wasthreatened by at- moreover, which, that hadjustbeengained, theposition the consolidation of followed preference wasgiven to thedays andduring that units, theattacking among someof afailure inliaison cause of advance didnottake place be- The Col diLana. thetop of of theoccupation consequence of asanimmediate route, ridge by the vance onMount Sief theplanwasto ad- April 1916, between 17and18 the night Col diLanaon After of thefall T H certain amountofcarewhenwalkingalongtheridge.K The improvementshavemadethepathsafer, butitisstilladvisabletotakea DEGREE OFDIFFICULTY vey) andtothesaddlethatprecedesslopeupsouth-westsummit. Sief), thengodownagaintoaltitude2,387(2,383accordingtheItalianArmysur- tens ofmetresintotheminecraterandthengoupagainto2,424m(thetooth From 2,424to2,452metresabovesealevel(ItalianArmysurvey).You godownafew DIFFERENCE INALTITUDE 1 hour. DURATION 6.1 N.B. Thetime indicated isfor thewalk only. pass over theCappellodi Napoleone. The firstpartof thedescentisrathersteep.Be carefulnottoleanoutasyou DEGREE OFDIFFICULTY A littleover300 m. DIFFERENCE INALTITUDE 45 minutes. DURATION 6.2 N.B. Thetimesindicatedareforthewalkonly. E

I T CIMA SIEF-COLDILANA DA CIMA LANAAICIADINIÉI A L I A N minensystem

A D V A N C E were set off and dug out the crater that is still visible, anddugoutthecrater thatisstill were setoff

A L O N G

T itself, which began further backandwent which beganfurther itself, H E

R I D G E

eep tothepath O F

M O U N T !

S I E F at Caporetto(RobertStrifflerArchive,figures68and69onpage318 ofMonteSief1916-1917). Austrian worksasLieutenantTraube foundthesituationafterItalianretreatcaused bythedefeat above, andshowsthesection“fromeast”ofItaliantunnelsystemapart Knotzstützpunkt Oktober1917. Thisdrawingistheresultofuniontwoillustrationsquoted “… adrawingtakenfromMinenkriegBeilage21, EigeneundfeindlicheMinensituationMt.Sief nel systemandcontinuetowardstheoldstrongholdat2,387m(2,383accord- the westsideofridgeuntilyoupassbylowerentrancetoItaliantun- Leaving thesteelropethathelpsyoutogoovertooth,descendkeeping them becauseoftheinstabilityareasundersurface. to theuppersectionsofthissystem,butyouarestronglyadvisedavoidgoingnear round thetopofmountainyouwillnotfinditdifficulttodetectentrances try post,wipedoutbytheexplosion)hadavastnetworkoftunnels:asyouwalk stronghold thatwasnearesttoMountSief(furtherforwardthereonlyasen- top oftheSieftooth(2,424m.accordingtoItalianArmysurvey).The ble andothermetalanchoragesfixedatthemostdifficultpoints,youreach side ofthecrater, first amongfallenmassesandthen,withthesupportofca- used fortheexplosionof21 October1917. Thenyoustartgoingbackupthesouth the crater, whereit passes thetracesofonetwominechambersthatwere front ofthecementembrasureamachine-gunpostandthengoesstraightinto nitely saferandeasierthanthepreviousone,thissecondlineofdescentpassesin of asteelropeuptotherouteintowhichstepshaverecentlybeeninserted.Defi- crater isquiteeasy, then becomesnarrowerandsteeper, butthereishelpintheform trian hands.Thefirststretchofthepaththatfollowsridgetowardsmine ian advancesalongtheridgebackwards,startingfromlastbulwarkleftinAus- To carryonfromMountSieftoColdiLanameanspursuingthehistoryofItal- FROM THETOP OFMOUNTSIEFTO COLDILANA tone. memorating theposition ofCiadiniéi,also knownasInfanteriestellung andPanet- towards Ciadiniéi, crossingascreeslopeandin theendyoureachstone com- goes ondownto theentranceofSantaBarbara tunnelandtakesasharp turn alder trees.On the leftthereisamemorialstone totheFelsenwache.The route Cappello diNapoleone–Napoleon’s Hat–andthencarryonwiththedescentthrough the tunnelinrockto right andgoon,passingjustunderthetopof When yougettoashortstretch ofslightlyslopingground,passbytheentranceto es overwestwardstothesmall saddlebetweenColdiLanaandSpizdeCiamplàc. passes overtheeasternmouthof thetunnel-shelter(seeCaetani’s sketch)andcross- From thetopofColdiLana pathkeepstotheleft-handsideofmountain, FROM THETOP OFCOLDILANATO CIADINIÉI metres high). di Lanafromwhichonereachesthesouth-westsummit(2,452 crater, thetoothofSiefandridgetowardswestsideCol The ridgeroutetoColdiLanafromthetopofMountSief,mine of MountSief. the Italiantunnelsintooth Col diLanafromawindowin Mount Sief(2,424metres). crater andthesummitof maps), thenthemine Italian ArmyEngineers’ metres abovesealevelin tooth totheleft(2,424 from ColdiLana:theSief The ridgeofMountSief in his metres away, andhere thefullsignificanceofwordsDonFortunatoVerocai metal supportingjoistsasopposedtotheusualwoodenbeams.Thetopisonlyafew because theinteriorisnotsafeatall)intoonlycaverninareafittedwith detour southwardstohaveaglancefromtheentrance(thisisbetakenliterally, west peak,butbeforegettingtothecross,itissuggestedthatyoumakeashort tecting communicationsinthewholesummitarea.Continuinguptowardssouth- gain thetopandthenitwasexpandedbecameapartofvastsystempro- the tunnelwasfirstusedbyItalianstocounterAustrianattemptsre- without beingexposedtoItalianfire.AfterthefallofColdiLanaon17April1916, by theAustrianstoreachshelterssituatedjustundernorth-westsummit out anembrasurethatprobablycorrespondstotheentranceoldtunnelused which keepstotheMountSiefgully(calledValley ofBlood),youwilleasilymake and hereyoubegintogouptowardsColdiLana.Afterclimbingthefirstsection, of thelittlesaddlethatseparatesridgeSieffromwestslopeColdiLana, more thanamonth–youhavetonegotiateshortdescentgetthebottom hold Gratstützpunkt2387wasconstructed–thisheldofftheItalianadvancefor the groundunderridgenearpathbelowyou.Afterplatformwherestrong- ing totheItalianArmysurvey),withentrancestunnelsthatgothrough ian soldiers saw itas soonas theyhad conquered the rock. TheSanta Barbara tun- movements, fromwhich wecanseeCiadiniéi andthe AustrianVillage astheItal- just underthesummit, andtheopeningin rockthatcoveredtheItalian troop top ofColdiLana. OnNapoleon’s Hat,thereisstill thetunnelthatwasdugout mental picture of theworkscarriedoutinpreparation oftheattackagainst the to thetunnel-shelterwillenable you,withthehelpofCaetani’s sketch,toforma ian barracksinthequiethollow justunderthetop,andpresenceofentrance the top,youcanstillmakeout traces oftheterracingthataccommodatedItal- little saddlebetweenColdiLana andtheCappellodiNapoleone,lookingtowards and againtotryrecognise thespotsmadefamousbyfighting:from across becausetheyarenotsound enoughtowalkthrough;juststopeverynow On thewaydown,youareadvisednottoconsiderinvestigating the tunnelsyoucome a stupendousview sible thatColdiLana,whichisonly2,465metreshighandsoeasytoclimb, hassuch Guida perLivinallongo down ontheright. the leftandCiadiniéilow Cappello diNapoleoneto View fromColdiLana:the 33 ofMonteSief1916-1917). activity (RobertStrifflerArchive,figure illustrating asceneofconsiderable original sizeofthecrateraswell Regiment. Thephotographshowsthe Museum ofthe7thBellunoAlpine ”. in 1889immediatelybecomesclear:“ summit andsaddleMountSief. trench ontheridgebetween A recentlyrestoredsectionof It seemsimpos- te hnfotlatc otk odo Col diLana. other thanfrontal attackto take holdof alsoadoptingmethods deployment, massacres andimprove thetroops’ of less series thattheItalian Command High decidedto stop the use- Battalions were employed, theBellunoand Val Cordevole theonlyattackinwhich the Alpine troops of cember, theattempt madeon16De- and it wasonlyafter thefailure of December 1915, dle of Theassaults were repeated untilthemid- the Landesschûtzen underCaptain Valentini. Col diLanabefore beingthrown backby thecounter-attack by ment took thetop of Istituto Geografico Militare - Aut. n. 6109 del 12.10.2005 a pit in which they placeda pitinwhich they acounter-mine thatwasintended to theItalian crush tun- underground out attackby digging to counterwas happeningandtried of thisform the Austrians managedto realise what cautions taken to keep secret, theoperation thepre- In spite of an explosion powerful to demolish thedefensive enough works. extend underthe Austrian trenches andallow theobstacleto beeliminated with theItalians th from existingStarting shelters, for somehoursthe3 when success on7November 1915, note ephemeral of began which endedinasingle attacks aninterminable sequence of Once theway to thesummitwasopened, tober. on 29Oc- feature cake lookinglike Italian Christmas –three thetraditional days later, laying thefoundationsforoccupat cision, pre- fire were butthey with ableto direct theirartillery diniéi (the Austrian Village), shelters inthedepression behindCia- asystem of the Italians discover theexistence of notonlydid Napoleone –Napoleon’s Hat upbehindtheInfanteriestellung, -higher When atlastgotto they theCappellodi on 26October. position fellfourdays later, this itsflankingsupport; theFelsenwache thus depriving of wasoccupied, Castello rib the at2,250metres thestronghold atthewest of extremity on22October 1915, other: thethree oneafter strongholds the which ledto of thefall assaults, large number of which were better organisedthis tacks, Italian at- hadto who take thesecond wave of and were replaced by theKaiserjaeger, Alpenkorps leftCol diLana the October 1915mostof In 2,250metres. the altitudeof asthe known Austrian Fort at ing themselves intheposition establish- Col diLana, side of ers drew backtowards thewest Thedefend- Corps. Bersaglieri the thefounderof honour of Redoubtthe Lamarmora in thennamed the Castello rib, metres of attheeastextremity thecupolaat2,221 quest of onlyattainedthecon- efforts whentheItalian August 1915, July of to thebeginning end of fromters theperiod the during were especiallyintense encoun- There ed anascent to thetop. which imped- theSaleseirib), andontheInfanteriestellung (onthesummitof rib) the Agai theFelsenwache (onthesummitof ontheCastello thestrongholds rib, of guard coming uptowards Col diLanaandtook uppositionsonthelineconsisting the Austro-German force easilyrepulsed theadvance tact inthe Agai area on7July, When thetwo cameinto armies con- precarious untilthen. which hadbeenrather thedefence works, first gave intheconstruction andconsolidation precious support of the Alpenkorps troops From theFrench front intrench andexperts warfare, units. rps were butthey soonflanked by German Alpenko- were who militia, territorial schützen, Col to diLanawasentrusted afewStand- thedefence of hostilities, At theoutbreak of you to Pieve diLivinallongo. From Plân delaLastait isonlytenminutes toPalla, andfromhere theroadtakes towards Agai,from whichyoucanreachthe hamlet ofPala followingtheroad. Plân delaLasta, orturnoffthroughthewood, followingtheTeriol Ladinroute Teriol Ladin),which followsthetrackof“Caetani route”andthencontinue to wards theAgairibandgodown tothevehicularroadbyazig-zagroute(the ular road(ortakingashortcut, followingthesigns).Otherwise,youcancrossto- ing totheSaleseirib, fromwhichyoureachPlândelaLastafollowingthe vehic- To goonfromCiadiniéitoPieve youcangodowntothePiandelaChiccia,keep- you aview, closeandfromabove,ofonethemost disputedareasonthefront. to takeColdiLana,andthesection immediatelybeforetheCiadiniéiplateaugives nel wasthetemporaryhomeofheadquarterstroops thatweretrying T H E

C O N Q U E S T

O rd F atlo fteClbi rgd fthe60 of Brigade theCalabria Battalion of

C O L take place either. Col di Lanadidnot theoccupation of consequence of thathad beenplannedasanimmediate against Sief buttheItalian offensive tempts to regain itfailed, Col andtheat- diLanahadfallen had to surrender. Mount Sief inacavern170 sheltering of onthegully Another ordazed. buried 100 Kaiserjäger were killed, more than achieved theeffectthathadbeenintended: andfully wassetoff explosive gelatine, 5,000 kgof consisting of At 23.25thecharge, after theexplosion. tions were madefortheattackthatwasto belaunched andthefinalprepara- between 17and18 night April, TheItalian minewasready onthe to stop theworks. completely insufficient al damageto theItalian tunnels, there wasonlymargin- however, 5 April 1916, noon of When the Austrian charge blewupontheafter- nel.

D I

L A N figure 78fromColdiLana). different fromitsrealshape(RobertStrifflerArchive, Note theoutlineofdeepsteep-walledcrater, report, thetunnelplan. Sketch 28fromVolume IIIoftheofficialItalianwar A time. The infantry played aleadingrole Theinfantry ina time. us beganexcavating atunnelthatwould o fthePanettone –ageographical ion of th Infantry Regi- Infantry LIST OF ITINERARIES 1 11 GENERAL INFORMATION

COL DI LANA – BLOODY COL (continued from Map 5) 2 12 War diary of an Austrian Captain and an Italian officer 3 2 6 1 7 4 8 5 Austrian Captain, Col di Roda, 16 October 1915. “The Boschetto del Mulo and Alpen-

AURONZO DI CADORE 3 13 rose tracks were quite heavily bombarded … we had a long wait for the mule trains CORTINA D’AMPEZZO … a number of animals either died on the way or fell down … Riss and another doc- 21 26 22 25 tor have arrived to have medical experience … we don’t get any news here of what 4 14 is happening on the other war fronts and even when we hear something it’s all 9 10 11 24 nonsense …” 12 13 23 14 15 16 17 October 1915. “Even the Italians are reasonably quiet today, as if they want- 17 29 5 15 18 19 32 30 ed to observe the day of rest on Sunday … Dr Giesinger and Senior Dr Brunner … 20 27 28 31 MARMOLADA 34 were here trying out a new stretcher system … the mail arrived … it brought me 33 PIEVE DI CADORE 35 two postcards and a letter from Giovannina. The letter said, among other things, 37 6 16 ZOLDO that they have all been awarded the honorary Red Cross medal and were over- 38 36 joyed. Yesterday I congratulated Giovannina and today Carolina … Giovannina’s 7 17 mother has also said that she is in favour of Vittorio’s idea of marriage … after she 40 gradually fell in love with him … what good times they were! Fine hopes! But false!

AGORDO Now it’s all over and we’d better not think of it any more … Now in my letters I

39 treat her as a sister … Perhaps a better opportunity will present itself somewhere 8 18 else … it will survive as a simple friendship …The Chaplain … Mass in front of the 1 Forcella Lavaredo 21 Col Ciampon half Landsturm battalion barracks … a table as an altar and two field lanterns 2 Quota “2385” ai Piani di Lavaredo 22 Monte Tudaio instead of candles. He used wine from a flask instead of wine … the service was 3 Croda dell’Arghena 23 P.so Mauria - M. Miaron 9 19 crowned by the wonderfully blue sky with the Dolomites in the background. It was 4 Giro del Col di Mezzo 24 P.so Mauria - Col Audoi all moving and inspired a deeper faith than you feel in the Agostinian Church in 5 Misurina - Monte Piana 25 Col Vidal Vienna, in the midst of all the choirs, organs and associated pomp and ceremo- 6 Rif. A. Bosi e Monte Piana 26 Anello dei Colli 10 20 ny. The Landsturm lieutenant asked us to have a glass of grappa with him … we 7 Cristallino di Misurina 27 Forte Monte Ricco had a meal … spent some time playing cards … I got mail … if only I could man- 8 Valle delle Baracche 28 Batteria Castello GREAT WAR SITES IN THE PROVINCE OF BELLUNO age to get divine protection until the end of the war to come to an understand- 9 Posizione “Edelweiss” - Sella del Sief 29 Forte Col Vaccher Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park ing with Eva; all my sorrows would have an end: she’s fond of me and one would 10 Sella Sief - Cima Sief 30 Monte Tranego hope that our characters are quite compatible. But there’s no sign of it coming 11 Cima Sief - Col di Lana 31 Forte Pian dell’Antro PRIMA LINEA CORTINA-MARMOLADA to an end here and you don’t get to any conclusion, so it’s useless building cas- 12 Da Cima Lana ai Ciadiniéi 32 Col S. Anna - La Glories tles in the air unless the war finishes. It’s madness to start thinking of anything Austrian soldiers and huts, covered walkways, cableways and other Italian works on the south side of Col di Lana. 13 Ciadinéi - Sella Sief 33 Vodo - Becco di Cuzze (Accesso A) apart from the war.” (Robert Striffler Archive). 14 Variante Col de la Roda 34 Vodo - Becco di Cuzze (Accesso B) 6.1 CIMA SIEF - COL DI LANA 15 Cima Lana - Costone Castello - Sella Sief 35 Monte Rite Italian officer, 22 October. “Yesterday we lost a lot of men. But the survivors

Where not already mentioned, text and photos are supplied by Progetto Col di Lana. 6.2 DA CIMA LANA AI CIADINIÉI The fundamental intention of this project is to acquaint the new generations with the splendid and enchanting places that were 16 Cima Lana - Agai e Palla 36 Col Pradamio stayed in their places heroically and at last today, after a terrible and magnifi- the backdrop to the terrible and tragic events involved in the Great War on the Dolomite front. The traces of 29 seemingly end- less months of struggle that have survived the passing of time enhance the fascination and the beauty of the landscape, teach- 17 Col Da Daut - Col Toront 37 Spiz Zuel cent bombardment with our 210s, the Fortino was taken with some prisoners, ing us to observe, know and learn. 18 Museo storico a Serauta - Marmolada 38 Col de Saléra - Monte Punta History and description of the Great War sites of whom six were Italians by blood; they gave us a lot of precious information Itineraries of various lengths and degrees of difficulty have been proposed for visiting these sites, some of them fully realis- able fully considering the needs of people with reduced mobility. The itineraries that are suggested have been selected bear- 19 Malga Ciapèla - Ombretta di Marmolada 39 Tagliata di San Martino … On Garibaldi’s orders, I rushed to the bend of the rib where our two moun- ing some basic features in mind, such as historical significance, ease of access and nearness to other sites of historical interest. 20 Zona monumentale della Marmolada 40 Batteria Listolade tain guns are … in fewer than three minutes these two small pieces were firing We hope that this new historical and cultural opportunity will find a large number of visitors and enthusiasts who not only one shot after another … there was absolute pandemonium … our guns were fir- love the mountains for their natural beauty but are able to perceive the relationship between man and nature, which has left Cover: the crucifix inside the Church on the top of Col di Lana. A. Fornari very special traces in these spots as a result of the Great War. ing … the big Austrian 105 and 152 mm spring grenades were flying over our Organising authorities and financing bodies Coordination: COMUNITË MONTANA AGORDINA - Via IV Novembre, 2 - 32021 Agordo (BL) - Italia heads … the rifle fire had become a continuous crackle … Austrian flares to

Tel. 0039 0437 62390 - Fax 0039 0437 62043 - Email [email protected] FREE OF CHARGE DISTRIBUTED “…the Alps see prodigies, not only on the part of individuals, but also of big patrols, platoons and whole companies. And not do we detect our cannons on the Agai rib flashing in the sky without respite … there see feats performed by the most expert, but even the youngest recruits soon turn into accomplished climbers. Some new mountain I LUOGHI DELLA GRANDE GUERRA IN PROVINCIA DI BELLUNO Interventi di recupero e valorizzazione nei territori del Parco della Memoria were straight searchlight beams from Mount Porè and two other very far-away routes are even opened up under enemy fire to meet the needs of war..." (A. Berti). Progetto cofinanziato dall’Unione Europea mediante Fondo Europeo di Sviluppo Regionale A historical record to re-discover the Mountains, not to forget, to know the men that lived this tragic but extraordinary ad- Iniziativa Comunitaria Interreg IIIA Italia-Austria 2000-2006 - Progetto (Cod. VEN 222001) mountains … rifle bullets hit the stones with their characteristic spattering sound, DIE ORTE DES ERSTEN WELTKRIEGES IN DER PROVINZ BELLUNO venture. Memories of war for paths of peace. Eingriffe der Wiederinstandsetzung und Valorisierung in den Gebieten des Erinnerungsparks or screamed over us. The shells sent up reddish flashes as they exploded on the This has been, as it still is, the purpose of the work done by the Technical and Scientific Committee of the Italy-Austria Inter- Von der E.U. Unterstützes Projekt Mittels Europäischer Wärungsfonds zur Regionalen Entwicklung Gemeinschaftsinitiative Interreg IIIA Italien-Österreich 2000-2006 - Projekt (Cod. VEN 222001) mountainside, and our cannons from over the valley added to it all, as if every- reg III A project called "Great War sites in the Province of Belluno. Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial GREAT WAR SITES IN THE PROVINCE OF BELLUNO Park". The results of the Committee's labours are the guides and leaflets that give everyone the chance to tackle easy itiner- Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park one had been woken up by the general alarm. An extraordinary and unforget- Project co-financed by the European Union through European Found for Regional Developmen aries and experience life on the front line at first hand, realising the difficulties of the existence at an altitude of more than 2,000 Community Initiative Interreg IIIA Italia-Austria 2000-2006 - Project (Cod. VEN 222001) table sight … in an hour the enemy attack was repulsed and everything soon metres of the soldiers of the opposing armies. This is to remember that the war is not something that has been forgotten and that, in the words of Surgeon Second-Lieutenant fell enormously quiet again. It was as if the world had stopped for breath after Gino Frontali, "...it is not a parenthesis that we can hasten to close to go back to what we were saying before...". a titanic effort …”

Coordination and Scientific and Technical Committee CONTINUE

(Episode II, for other references see Maps 5, 7 and 8). and 7 5, Maps see references other for II, (Episode and tumble down the slope. They get nearer until they are inside the enemy barbed enemy the inside are they until nearer get They slope. the down tumble and Regimental HQ wanted to send me on Sief as commander, it would have been mad- been have would it commander, as Sief on me send to wanted HQ Regimental 19 October 1915, 4.30 in the morning. “We’re still waiting … absolutely inexplica- absolutely … waiting still “We’re morning. the in 4.30 1915, October 19

bodies lying on the ground … ground the on lying bodies ning from one shell hole to another, from rock to rock. The wounded and dead fall dead and wounded The rock. to rock from another, to hole shell one from ning 11 at night. Shells and shrapnel whistling over our heads without a stop. At about 9.30 about At stop. a without heads our over whistling shrapnel and Shells night. at 11 ing … They’ll probably attack at dawn …” …” dawn at attack probably They’ll … ing

trembling … we ran back … we had to be careful not to stumble over all the dead the all over stumble to not careful be to had we … back ran we … trembling long that shatters everything … at 10.45 there’s another attempted attack … run- … attack attempted another there’s 10.45 at … everything shatters that long to stay with me. A thick fog has risen, which will certainly help the Italian attack … attack Italian the help certainly will which risen, has fog thick A me. with stay to … the attack we’re expecting is sure to take place tonight … We’re sitting here wait- here sitting We’re … tonight place take to sure is expecting we’re attack the …

out moving not to give ourselves away … it was bitterly cold and my men were men my and cold bitterly was it … away ourselves give to not moving out barbed wire, they are thrown back by hand-grenades and a great mine 30 metres 30 mine great a and hand-grenades by back thrown are they wire, barbed pulsed? 7.15. Two platoons are sent to Col di Lana. I’ve put a fifth platoon together platoon fifth a put I’ve Lana. di Col to sent are platoons Two 7.15. pulsed? 10.30 at night. “The artillery has been booming all the afternoon and is still firing still is and afternoon the all booming been has artillery “The night. at 10.30

moon came out from behind the clouds and we bent down and stayed there with- there stayed and down bent we and clouds the behind from out came moon trenches in the darkness of night. The soldiers advance but, when they get to the to get they when but, advance soldiers The night. of darkness the in trenches toons for the night … the Italian attack will be starting … will tonight’s attack be re- be attack tonight’s will … starting be will attack Italian the … night the for toons do is wait for everyone to be killed …” killed be to everyone for wait is do

tled to the Carosi trench … we were about 40 metres from the enemy trench … the … trench enemy the from metres 40 about were we … trench Carosi the to tled was another attack on the Salesei rib. Our guns on the Agai rib sweep the enemy the sweep rib Agai the on guns Our rib. Salesei the on attack another was a lot of munitions and provisions … 4.30 in the afternoon. Egmuth asked for two pla- two for asked Egmuth afternoon. the in 4.30 … provisions and munitions of lot a battery. Now it flies over the Sief saddle, between Sief and Settsass … And all we can we all And … Settsass and Sief between saddle, Sief the over flies it Now battery.

der the knife-edge mound of rock known as Napoleon’s Hat … at a run, we hur- we run, a at … Hat Napoleon’s as known rock of mound knife-edge the der Italian officer, 22 October 1915. “Fresh troops arrive. At 3.30 in the morning there morning the in 3.30 At arrive. troops “Fresh 1915. October 22 officer, Italian and 19.00, in greater strength on the Sief saddle and less on the left … the enemy have enemy the … left the on less and saddle Sief the on strength greater in 19.00, and to fire at us. Up till now the shrapnel has gone off harmlessly above our Alpenrose our above harmlessly off gone has shrapnel the now till Up us. at fire to

where … Meanwhile our men had also pushed forward on the Agai rib as far as un- as far as rib Agai the on forward pushed also had men our Meanwhile … where tack … according to the prisoner’s statements, the attack will take place between 18.00 between place take will attack the statements, prisoner’s the to according … tack over our heads … We had a report of a new battery that is in an excellent position excellent an in is that battery new a of report a had We … heads our over

fire starts up. The shells explode on the Salesei trenches, wreaking destruction every- destruction wreaking trenches, Salesei the on explode shells The up. starts fire guardian angel … The shrapnel and shells hiss in the air like a strong north wind …” wind north strong a like air the in hiss shells and shrapnel The … angel guardian … very intense artillery fire everywhere … we can begin to make out the infantry at- infantry the out make to begin can we … everywhere fire artillery intense very … infantry assault … the gunfire lasted all today without a break and the shells passed shells the and break a without today all lasted gunfire the … assault infantry

to the “valley of death” … Unfortunately, in the afternoon infernal enemy artillery enemy infernal afternoon the in Unfortunately, … death” of “valley the to very happy about what I said. She’s a sweet girl! In the end she wishes me a good a me wishes she end the In girl! sweet a She’s said. I what about happy very outside! 6 in the morning. We’ve spent the night waiting in vain … 10 in the morning the in 10 … vain in waiting night the spent We’ve morning. the in 6 outside! the morning, everywhere and from all directions … It was probably followed by an by followed probably was It … directions all from and everywhere morning, the

wire … rifle shots … our wounded try to drag themselves along and roll down in- down roll and along themselves drag to try wounded our … shots rifle … wire ness … I got a card, 200 cigarettes and a letter from Eva. After my last letter, she was she letter, last my After Eva. from letter a and cigarettes 200 card, a got I … ness ble stillness … nothing’s happening … it’s quite incomprehensible … it’s a superb night superb a it’s … incomprehensible quite it’s … happening nothing’s … stillness ble Austrian Captain, 18 October 1915. “Brisk artillery fire had already started early in early started already had fire artillery “Brisk 1915. October 18 Captain, Austrian

Gabrielli Archive) Gabrielli

(Guglielmo explosions.

be seen. be before the three the before

trenches can still can trenches of the ridge the of

The covered The shows the line the shows

at 2,387 metres. 2,387 at approximately

the old stronghold old the dotted line dotted

Army soldiers near soldiers Army planking. The crater. mine

of former Italian former of beams and beams the by separated

(top) with a group a with (top) Napoleone. supported by steel by supported Sief, of tooth

Silvio Gabrielli Silvio the Cappello di Cappello the Col di Lana: tunnel Lana: di Col the and summit

photograph shows photograph Ciadiniéi from Ciadiniéi west summit of summit west the Settsass:

This 1932 This View over View Near the south- the Near from View ino itsruins. tion of There hasbeenarecent conservative restora- doned. aban- useandfinally whatever wasof of stripped thecastlewasgiven up, Bressanone, of cipality theEcclesiastical Prin- After of thesecularisation refuge from persecutionby theEmperor. former, agreat Church re- “IlCusano”, Nicolò daCues, Castlegave Andraz Cardinal go andMarebbe, Livinallon- LadinediBadia, tion over of thevalleys jurisdic- forsixcenturies byerned aCaptainwith Gov- Valparola inBadia. andSanMartino Castello, forprocessing intheforgesof it wastransported andthelatterthe former wastheroute by which iron wasexcavated in Fursill andthe Via delFerro: Bressanone kept control over theminesof op of Buchenstein) whereby wastheinstrument theBish- Castle(Schloss Andraz Built inaround 1000, who gavewho theirlives fortheircountry. there isaceremony inthe War to commemorate Cemetery those Italian front, theGreat War onthe theendof of theanniversary Every year on4November, to thefallen. anameinthisshrine or without thoseresting with thespotswhere diedmostof andsoon, Settsass such asSief, theplaces where took bitter place, fighting where there are thenamesof interior, monoliths takes from approach thevisitor thememorial to the A succession of theinscription on asquare plinthwith “ there thememorial isagreat Cross In themiddle of that have beenidentified. thedead of inalphabeticalorder, thenamesandranks, alphabetical order with slabsengraved green marble in cells closedwith buildingholdsrowsmasonry of The alpine church thathasbeenrepaired appearance. buthasretained itsoriginal the War lookslike thelittle cross Cemetery anenormous with Seen from above, were marked by wooden crosses inthebare soil. thefallen inwhich thegraves of replacing existing warcemetery, thepreviously by thearchitectdesign Giovanni Greppi andthesculptor GianninoCastiglioni, It wasbuiltin1938 to a and4,705 deadwhosenamesare notknown. garians, amongwhom19 Austro-Hun- 704fallenwhohave beenidentified, the remains of Here are interred nearPieve diLivinallongo. theDolomites Road, SS 48state road, Campolo aresigns forPasso Falzarego, by theprovincial road from (theroad to Digonera Caprile upper Cordevole valley, militare –isinthe andcemetery –awarmemorial The PiandiSaleseiSacrario L T A i H N v N.B. Thetimesindicatedareforthewalkonly. A pleasantwalkwithoutanygreatdifficulties. DEGREE OFDIFFICULTY Negligible. DIFFERENCE INALTITUDE 1,30 hours. DURATION 7.1 always safe. N.B. The timeindicated isfor thewalk only. ences. It isinterestingto visitthemilitary worksoffthe beatentrack, butnot This isnotadifficult walk,butyouhavetotake carewithsignsand/orrefer- DEGREE OFDIFFICULTY It ismorethan 500 metresfromthestoneto tarmac DIFFERENCE INALTITUDE 2 hours. DURATION 7.2 i n E D a

R P l l o A I CIADINIÉI -SELLASIEF VARIANTE COLDELARODA A n Z g N o

d D A e l I S

Remains offortificationsatstronghold1theLastaposition.

C T S o A L l

E L d E i

L S a E n I a

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C E ngo andPordoi) thatafterwards joinsthe M PRESENTE E T E R Y ”(“HERE!”) !” the background. Falzarego. LittleSettsassin Andraz Castle,ontheroadto it doesnotmakeverymuchdifference.Whatiscertainthaton31 October taken orabandonedbytheAustriansandoccupiedItalians,butinend position, whichtheAustriansreferredtoasoutpost7,ColdiRodawasreally colo italiano,takeninOctober1915 cross aslightinclinetothestonethatsays,“ After theAustrianVillage,yougoondown,crossaditch,ascendslightlyand after withstandingnumerousattacks. the ItaliansthreemoredaystotakePanettone aswell,withitsshelters, artillery firefromtheheightofthesecharacteristicrocks,sothatitonlytook or Felsenwache,on26October1915. Itwaseasyfortheattackerstodirecttheir it wasonlydiscoveredbytheItaliansafterfallofCappellodiNapoleone, of sheltersimmediatelybehindtheInfantieriestellung,sofaroutsightthat Austrian Village,tacticalandlogisticalbasetakeninOctober1915 es asecondstonewherewefindtheinscription,“ soon afteryouhavecomedownintothedepressionbehindPanettone, pass- Austrians, takeninOctober1915 m., positioncalledthePanettone bytheItaliansandInfantieriestellung was placedindefenceofColdiLana.Thestonewithaplaquewhichsays,“ on thetopofSaleseiribwheremoststubbornthreepositions The itinerarystartsfromCiadiniéi(orPanettone, orInfantieriestellung),aspot FROM THECIADINÉITO THESIEFSADDLEONTERIOLLADIN hamlet ofSief, orlet yourself beguided by themarkings indicating theway tothe ing the path thatpasses infrontofstronghold 5,theLasta position,leading tothe can choosebetween goingdownthesideoverlooking theCordevolevalley, follow- of fighting.When youreachthelittlesaddlebefore thetopofColdelaRoda, you other trenchesbelow, especiallythose belongingtostronghold4,which sawalot away fromthepath,youcanlook overfromtheridgeandseeserpentinesof number ofoldexcavationsthat werepartoftheseconddefenceline.Afewsteps As youcontinuetowardsColde laRoda,thepathremainsalmostlevel,passinga tunnel-shelter. easily seeamachine-gunembrasure, notfarawayfromalowrisewherethereis rock emergingfromtheground inwhichacavernhadbeenexcavatedyoucanstill behind alargeclearingwhereyoucanmakeouttheworksof stronghold5.Ona er sectionwherethepathgoesthroughvegetation.Itcomesout intotheopenjust ing, youmeetsomeremainsoftrenchesinthefirststretch,then nothinginthesteep- trian barrierontherightflankofColdiLana.Goingdownfrom the Petersattel cross- but nolessrichinhistorythanthemountainsaroundit.ItisCol delaRoda,anAus- From thePetersattel crossingwecangodowntoanareathatisusuallyoverlooked, COL DELARODADIVERSION ” isnearthestartingpointofTeriol, which, ”. Infactitisnotquitecertain whetherthis encampment. Roda Works atthe 2,200 m.,positioncalledMontu- 284 ofColdiLana). figure 104 onp. Striffler Archive, Roda (Robert outpost 3ofColdi The trenchof 2,125 m.,positioncalledthe ”. Itwasagroup 2,150 held outuntil21 April,whenitwasoccupiedbythe60 After thefallofsummitColdiLanaon17April1916, theRothschanze as ColdiLana. Gratweg, theridgepath,whichthusconnectedBergsappewithSiefaswell stützpunkt, theridgesupportpostat2,887metres.Bergsappemet the topofColdiLana.OnSiefridge,nearaspotwhichbecameGrat- at thisheight.FromtheRothschanze,Bergsappepathcommunicatedwith italiano) fell,theRothtrenchwasconstructedtobackupItalianadvance er downtheslope,butwhenInfantieriestellungandoutpost7(Montucolo schanze, theAustrianHillock.Originallythisoutpost6ofColdiRodawaslow- ther, withoutnoticing anychangeinheight,tothestoneindicatingRoth- After theareaofMontucoloitaliano,ItalianHillock,continuealittlefur- Col diLana. attributable totheItalianwalkwayexcavationsafteradvanceonthissideof excavations bythesideofTeriol itineraryaretheworkofdefendersor Grünestellung; ontheotherhand,itisnotatalleasytoestablishwhether wards thesummit,theymadetrenchknownasCalabriaRedoubt,or 1915 thisareawasinItalianhands,andashorttime,littlehigherupto- The Tschan, Popperich andVonbank constructions areonlythree ofthemany works trance allow youtosee itrightasfar theendeasily keepingasafe distance. thing bynotgoing in,becauseitssizeandthe absenceofanyobstaclesatthe en- matter offact, as fartheVonbank cavernisconcerned, youdonotloseany- see it,andthis also appliestotheothercaverns thathavebeenmentioned. Asa Vonbank cavernandthenlookinginto itFROMTHEOUTSIDEthaningoingto from itsplace.Itisbettertoemploy yourtimeinsearchingforandrecognisingthe in spring2004theinstability that affectsalltheworksinthisareadetachedit tion “Vonbank 1916” wasclearlyvisible attheentrance,highuponroof,but after theGeneralthathaditconstructed. Until2003theplaquewithinscrip- entirely plastered.Itwasusedas ashelterforabouttwohundredmenandwasnamed be describedasacylinderwithdiameteroffivemetres,twenty metreslongand a uniqueconstructionofitskind,forsizeifnootherreason. Thiscaverncan Popperich tunnel,hiddeninthevegetation,finallycomingtoVonbank cavern, Tschan cavern,wheretherehasbeenalandslip,andthemany entrancestothe de laRoda,followtheterracelyingnorthoftop,passing bythetracesof sibility isdefinitelyofftrackbutequallypracticable:fromthelittle saddlebeforeCol track thatcomesoutontheContrinroadnearcrossingfor Sief.Theotherpos- the hillside. remains ofexcavationson and Marmolada,with towards theridgeofPadon View fromPlândelaMina ridge fromthetopofMountSieftowardsColdelaRoda. Lanza, whichgavealotoftroubletotheAustriandefencesdeployedalong then becametheItalianfrontlineatthisaltitude,withanextremeoutpostcalled Archive, Rovereto). War HistoryMuseum Ornella (photofromthe from theslopesof (8 September1915) Detail oftheCortefort position. of theLasta Stronghold 1 background. Settsass inthe the Siefpass. Walls ofKöhleand th Infantry Regiment.It

Istituto Geografico Militare - Aut. n. 6109 del 12.10.2005 eoihtebidns Theorder wasgiven on18 demolish thebuildings. decidedto and evacuate thecivilians an authorities inthearea wasimminentthe when fighting Austri- andso closeto Corte thefort, isvery of The village rib beforegoingdownagaintoAgai. ing thepass,Teriol goestowardstheplainofCiânabonaandCastello saddle, totherightinclineleadingtopofSiefandstraighton,cross- On thepassthereisanothercrossroads:toleftclimbonSief Sief pass(2,209metresaccordingtotheItalianArmysurvey). remains oftheAustrianshelterexcavationsandthengoinggentlyupto amphitheatre withoutanyappreciabledifferencesinheight,passingbeforethe downhill stretchleadingtotheValiate hollow. TheTeriol crossesthisnatural can seesomestillintactwalls,knownasthewallsofKöhle,justbefore passing bytheremainsofKöhleencampment:Aftergoingroundaribyou left yougodowntoColdelaRoda.GostraightonreachtheSiefsaddle, upwards, youfollowthelineofAustriantrenchesuptotopSief, stone thatwecanimaginewasatthecentreofacrossroads:toright, na, ashortascenttakesyoutotheareaofPetersattel, wherethereisa had alreadyalteredtheoutlineofridge.AftercrossingPlândelaMi- were smaller, two other Italianmineson6Marchand27September1917 In factthe21 Octoberminewasnottheonlyone,justbiggest:evenifthey crater thatisstillvisibleontheridgeofSiefbetweensummitandtooth. mainly fromtheAustrianmineof21 October1917, theonethatblewout mine plain:socalledbecausethedebristhatfelldownontothisspotcame After theRothschanze,youcrossareaknownasPlândelaMina, have leftyour carin theopen space nearthe bend notfar underthe fort. and trenches arestillpractically intact andareallat walking distance afteryou sition wasjustunder theCortefort,beforesettlement ofFedera:drystonewalls dy oftheSnows andthewoodenChristonCross. Stronghold1oftheLasta po- name halfdestroyed bytheItalianartillery, thelittleshrinededicated toOurLa- its nametoastringofpositions) orCorte,withtheremainsoffortsame ings justoutsidethecentre;or, anotherpossibility, godowntoLasta(which gave the directionofhamlet Sief, wherethereareremainsofoldstonebuild- distance toCherz,wheretheAustro-German artillerywaspositioned;proceedin After this,youhavetodecidewhether togoonContran,fromwhereitisashort tarmac. resume thepath,followingitcloselyuntileasycarttrack thatleadstothe once youhaveseentheVonbank cavernitisbettertogobackthesaddleand der youmaysuddenlygivewayontheupperedgeofanexcavation. Allinall, the Vonbank thathasjustbeendescribed,butbecareful,becausethegroundun- ber ofcaverns,youhavetoguessyourwaydowntheslopeunder theterraceof els, orrathertwoterraces.To gettothelowerlevel,whichalso hasalargenum- that madeuptheRodaencampment,whichwasmoreorlesslaid outontwolev- C O R Corte Church. T E View ofthestronghold5clearing.MountCivettainbackground. hrho ot,wihwsrbitatrteedo thewar. which wasrebuilt after theendof Corte, church of theMadonna isagaininthe andthestatueof plosion, church theex- survived outsidethe crucifix The stroying thechurch. to be saved theSnows – Our Lady of beforeMadonna dellaNeve – the de-for thestatueof theless gave permission henever- ing hisorders, Implacable inobey- out. it carrying charged with was thefort, mand of incom- tenant Zeyer, andLieu- May 1915, Church. The crucifixoutsideCorte LIST OF ITINERARIES 1 11 GENERAL INFORMATION

COL DI LANA – BLOODY COL (Continued from Map 6) 2 12 War diary of an Austrian Captain and an Italian officer 3 2 6 1 7 4 8 5 Austrian Captain, 22 October 1915, from Panettone and Col di Lana. “Haber isn’t

AURONZO DI CADORE 3 13 sending any men to help us at all. He says he needs them too … 4 in the afternoon CORTINA D’AMPEZZO … intense artillery barrage … now they’re firing like mad again … We spend the nights 21 26 22 25 in a state of continual expectation and we can’t sleep during the day either … they’re 4 14 attacking all along the front … how can we replace all these men? As time passes, 9 10 11 24 there will be a shortage of human material … tonight we shall certainly not wait 12 13 23 14 15 16 in vain like last night. You can tell from the violent gunfire; here we are again un- 17 29 5 15 18 19 32 30 der this horrible bombardment!” 20 27 28 31 MARMOLADA 34 33 PIEVE DI CADORE 35 Italian officer, 23 October. “I stayed awake with Garibaldi all night, and in the 37 6 16 ZOLDO morning, after breakfast, I went into the little hut to sleep for a couple of hours. 38 36 Then the cannons started … Garibaldi dictated an extremely long phonogram to 7 17 me, asking me to transmit it … 105 and 120 mm shells started falling a very 40 short distance away … the crashes were so tremendous that the whole barracks

AGORDO shook … an enormous bang … a wounded soldier asked for help … I heard some-

39 one coming to his aid … he groaned, calling on his mother and Our Lady … in 8 18 the space in front of the tunnel I found a poor wretch with a leg completely 1 Forcella Lavaredo 21 Col Ciampon shattered by one of these shells … he was invoking his Caterina and singing a 2 Quota “2385” ai Piani di Lavaredo 22 Monte Tudaio heart-rending ditty … I gave him almost the whole flask of cognac to drink … it 3 Croda dell’Arghena 23 P.so Mauria - M. Miaron 9 19 calmed him down a bit …” 4 Giro del Col di Mezzo 24 P.so Mauria - Col Audoi 5 Misurina - Monte Piana 25 Col Vidal Austrian Captain, Col di Lana, infantry trench, Panettone, 2,200 metres, 23 Octo- 6 Rif. A. Bosi e Monte Piana 26 Anello dei Colli 10 20 ber 1915, “2.45 in the afternoon. We’ve had two really unpleasant days and I don’t 7 Cristallino di Misurina 27 Forte Monte Ricco think they’ll even be the last. We’re right in the middle of the fighting … orders to 8 Valle delle Baracche 28 Batteria Castello GREAT WAR SITES IN THE PROVINCE OF BELLUNO leave for Col di Lana, Panettone, in reserve … I’ve had very little sleep these days … 9 Posizione “Edelweiss” - Sella del Sief 29 Forte Col Vaccher Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park we’ve had a lot of losses, above all owing to the enemy bomb-launchers, 65 mm 10 Sella Sief - Cima Sief 30 Monte Tranego mountain guns … there are two German machine-gun sections as well as the 6th th 11 Cima Sief - Col di Lana 31 Forte Pian dell’Antro PRIMA LINEA CORTINA-MARMOLADA and some units of the 7 … 12 Da Cima Lana ai Ciadiniéi 32 Col S. Anna - La Glories “The assaults the Italians have attempted have been completely repulsed so far … 13 Ciadinéi - Sella Sief 33 Vodo - Becco di Cuzze (Accesso A) innumerable dead bodies lie in front of the barbed wire … As they came out of Col di Lana: the Cappello di Napoleone and Ciadiniei (photo from the War History Museum Archive, Rovereto). 14 Variante Col de la Roda 34 Vodo - Becco di Cuzze (Accesso B) 7.1 CIADINIÉI - SELLA SIEF their armoured shelters, they shouted ‘Long live Savoia’ at the tops of their voices 15 Cima Lana - Costone Castello - Sella Sief 35 Monte Rite … right now Col di Roda is under attack again. They’ve never attacked from that

Where not already mentioned, text and photos are supplied by Progetto Col di Lana. 7.2 VARIANTE COL DE LA RODA The fundamental intention of this project is to acquaint the new generations with the splendid and enchanting places that were 16 Cima Lana - Agai e Palla 36 Col Pradamio direction before. These attacks are odd … 6 in the afternoon … the Italian artillery the backdrop to the terrible and tragic events involved in the Great War on the Dolomite front. The traces of 29 seemingly end- less months of struggle that have survived the passing of time enhance the fascination and the beauty of the landscape, teach- 17 Col Da Daut - Col Toront 37 Spiz Zuel must have had a special supply of ammunition … “drumbeat fire”, as the Germans ing us to observe, know and learn. 18 Museo storico a Serauta - Marmolada 38 Col de Saléra - Monte Punta History and description of the Great War sites call it, on and off …here they’ve counted up to 56 shots a minute. It was like that Itineraries of various lengths and degrees of difficulty have been proposed for visiting these sites, some of them fully realis- able fully considering the needs of people with reduced mobility. The itineraries that are suggested have been selected bear- 19 Malga Ciapèla - Ombretta di Marmolada 39 Tagliata di San Martino against Cherz and Col di Roda yesterday afternoon too …” ing some basic features in mind, such as historical significance, ease of access and nearness to other sites of historical interest. 20 Zona monumentale della Marmolada 40 Batteria Listolade We hope that this new historical and cultural opportunity will find a large number of visitors and enthusiasts who not only Italian officer, 24 October. “I got back at 2.30 and slept in the hut for two hours. love the mountains for their natural beauty but are able to perceive the relationship between man and nature, which has left Cover: trench on the Sief saddle (photo by Da Val). A. Fornari very special traces in these spots as a result of the Great War. At 4.30 I got up because the action is to start again. At dawn our guns started a Organising authorities and financing bodies Coordination: COMUNITË MONTANA AGORDINA - Via IV Novembre, 2 - 32021 Agordo (BL) - Italia terrific barrage against the Austrian fort on the Cappello di Napoleone … this

Tel. 0039 0437 62390 - Fax 0039 0437 62043 - Email [email protected] FREE OF CHARGE DISTRIBUTED “…the Alps see prodigies, not only on the part of individuals, but also of big patrols, platoons and whole companies. And not do we little fort, they say, is the key to the entire critical position that we are in …” see feats performed by the most expert, but even the youngest recruits soon turn into accomplished climbers. Some new mountain I LUOGHI DELLA GRANDE GUERRA IN PROVINCIA DI BELLUNO Interventi di recupero e valorizzazione nei territori del Parco della Memoria routes are even opened up under enemy fire to meet the needs of war..." (A. Berti). Progetto cofinanziato dall’Unione Europea mediante Fondo Europeo di Sviluppo Regionale A historical record to re-discover the Mountains, not to forget, to know the men that lived this tragic but extraordinary ad- Iniziativa Comunitaria Interreg IIIA Italia-Austria 2000-2006 - Progetto (Cod. VEN 222001) Austrian Captain, 24 October 1915. “We’ve received the news that tomorrow or DIE ORTE DES ERSTEN WELTKRIEGES IN DER PROVINZ BELLUNO venture. Memories of war for paths of peace. Eingriffe der Wiederinstandsetzung und Valorisierung in den Gebieten des Erinnerungsparks the day after Cadorna is to direct an assault, with six regiments – a general offen- This has been, as it still is, the purpose of the work done by the Technical and Scientific Committee of the Italy-Austria Inter- Von der E.U. Unterstützes Projekt Mittels Europäischer Wärungsfonds zur Regionalen Entwicklung Gemeinschaftsinitiative Interreg IIIA Italien-Österreich 2000-2006 - Projekt (Cod. VEN 222001) sive.” reg III A project called "Great War sites in the Province of Belluno. Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial GREAT WAR SITES IN THE PROVINCE OF BELLUNO Park". The results of the Committee's labours are the guides and leaflets that give everyone the chance to tackle easy itiner- Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park Project co-financed by the European Union through European Found for Regional Developmen aries and experience life on the front line at first hand, realising the difficulties of the existence at an altitude of more than 2,000 Community Initiative Interreg IIIA Italia-Austria 2000-2006 - Project (Cod. VEN 222001) Italian officer, 25 October. “The big brass say that the Cappello di Napoleone has metres of the soldiers of the opposing armies. This is to remember that the war is not something that has been forgotten and that, in the words of Surgeon Second-Lieutenant to be taken at all costs. The Austrians have been keeping us off all this time, and Gino Frontali, "...it is not a parenthesis that we can hasten to close to go back to what we were saying before...". it’s the key to the situation because it commands the whole area …”

Coordination and Scientific and Technical Committee CONTINUE

(Episode III, for other references see Maps 5, 6 and 8). and 6 5, Maps see references other for III, (Episode “Almost on the edge of the precipice, near the higher part of the Cappello di Cappello the of part higher the near precipice, the of edge the on “Almost pello di Napoleone. I stay in readiness with my soldiers and at 11.30 I am ordered am I 11.30 at and soldiers my with readiness in stay I Napoleone. di pello probably frozen … the experiment fizzled out … it’s all quiet at the moment … moment the at quiet all it’s … out fizzled experiment the … frozen probably

tle went on like that until it was dark … now we could hold on to the position … position the to on hold could we now … dark was it until that like on went tle must have used some very bad language. bad very some used have must fixed bayonets, go round the position resolutely and got on to the top of the Cap- the of top the to on got and resolutely position the round go bayonets, fixed he wanted to throw down the hillside … the first didn’t go off. The powder had powder The off. go didn’t first the … hillside the down throw to wanted he

with the mess hamper, as if we weren’t fighting but at work as usual … The bat- The … usual as work at but fighting weren’t we if as hamper, mess the with … most of the time I had to run from one place to another giving orders. I think I think I orders. giving another to place one from run to had I time the of most … Italian officer, 26 October. “After an intense bombardment, our men advance with advance men our bombardment, intense an “After October. 26 officer, Italian was a senseless invention … he came with three great barrels of dynamite that dynamite of barrels great three with came he … invention senseless a was

know if he’s dead … I was moved to see trusty Alessandrini arrive unexpectedly arrive Alessandrini trusty see to moved was I … dead he’s if know to shelter them from the infernal fire that was continuing to shower down on us on down shower to continuing was that fire infernal the from them shelter to tried out right here, in front of our Panettone trenches … mad, this Captain … it … Captain this mad, … trenches Panettone our of front in here, right out tried

… I saw Lieutenant Capironi staggering down with a hand to his side … I don’t I … side his to hand a with down staggering Capironi Lieutenant saw I … selves out in the open, and were filling sandbags … soon they had built parapets built had they soon … sandbags filling were and open, the in out selves ready want to attack us by day? It looks as if they do!” they if as looks It day? by us attack to want ready can be set off with a time fuse. On the order of Colonel Vonbanck, it was to be to was it Vonbanck, Colonel of order the On fuse. time a with off set be can

blow up that deliverer of death. A lot of soldiers had already been hit, however hit, been already had soldiers of lot A death. of deliverer that up blow spades, weapons and boards were now digging in like moles that had found them- found had that moles like in digging now were boards and weapons spades, rage, we’ll have the infantry attack … I can hear a machine-gun firing! Do they al- they Do firing! machine-gun a hear can I … attack infantry the have we’ll rage, ), who had a patent of his own for a barrel of dynamite that dynamite of barrel a for own his of patent a had who ), illegible name ( tain

and soon afterwards our cannons began rapid fire, which looked as if it did in fact in did it if as looked which fire, rapid began cannons our afterwards soon and certain … in all the shell holes and Austrian walkways a swarm of soldiers with soldiers of swarm a walkways Austrian and holes shell the all in … certain to give them any help. Today we’re certainly going to have a lovely day! After the bar- the After day! lovely a have to going certainly we’re Today help. any them give to Yesterday the Divisional Chaplain and Wanke came preceding the Cavalry Cap- Cavalry the preceding came Wanke and Chaplain Divisional the Yesterday

the top of Col di Lana, where the shooting was coming from. I phoned three times, three phoned I from. coming was shooting the where Lana, di Col of top the There were very few of us indeed on the summit and how it would end was un- was end would it how and summit the on indeed us of few very were There ical situation … may God let us get out of it safely … … safely it of out get us let God may … situation ical up there on the top of the rock being wiped out by the enemy guns without being able being without guns enemy the by out wiped being rock the of top the on there up

telephone, imploring Garibaldi to have a burst of artillery fire directed against directed fire artillery of burst a have to Garibaldi imploring telephone, 40 metres in front of us a fight was taking place with rocks and hand-grenades … hand-grenades and rocks with place taking was fight a us of front in metres 40 rect, because if they achieve their objective, we’re stuck in a trap here … a very crit- very a … here trap a in stuck we’re objective, their achieve they if because rect, is silent, on the other hand. It’s frightening, the feeling you get when you see our men our see you when get you feeling the frightening, It’s hand. other the on silent, is

… an enemy machine-gun suddenly leaped into action … I hurled myself at the at myself hurled I … action into leaped suddenly machine-gun enemy an … scattered my soldiers … Colapietro, Colamoneri and a few others were with me … me with were others few a and Colamoneri Colapietro, … soldiers my scattered probably attack Col di Roda and Mount Sief together. Tactically, this is more cor- more is this Tactically, together. Sief Mount and Roda di Col attack probably ing against the Guardia della Roccia/Cappello di Napoleone since 8.30. Our artillery Our 8.30. since Napoleone di Roccia/Cappello della Guardia the against ing

his face changed into a spasm of agony, he gave out a rattle and dropped dead dropped and rattle a out gave he agony, of spasm a into changed face his nel, shells, bombs and bullets … I went on running up, but the hellish fire had fire hellish the but up, running on went I … bullets and bombs shells, nel, they attacked Col di Roda in the morning and in the evening. Result – nil … They’ll … nil – Result evening. the in and morning the in Roda di Col attacked they 26 October. “11 in the morning. It’s all right again today. The Italians have been fir- been have Italians The today. again right all It’s morning. the in “11 October. 26

him, telling him not to act the idiot and get down to work like the others; then others; the like work to down get and idiot the act to not him telling him, pletely taken and there is still fighting; the enemy is still storming at us with shrap- with us at storming still is enemy the fighting; still is there and taken pletely ian front … front ian in the morning. Nothing has slipped out yet about Cadorna’s offensive. Yesterday offensive. Cadorna’s about yet out slipped has Nothing morning. the in

Napoleone, I saw a soldier sitting looking at me stupidly, laughing; I shouted at shouted I laughing; stupidly, me at looking sitting soldier a saw I Napoleone, to go up immediately with the whole platoon … the position has not been com- been not has position the … platoon whole the with immediately up go to it’s frightening … According to the papers, a great battle is raging all along the Ital- the along all raging is battle great a papers, the to According … frightening it’s Austrian Captain, Col di Lana, Infantry trench, 2,200 metres, 25 October 1915. “1.15 1915. October 25 metres, 2,200 trench, Infantry Lana, di Col Captain, Austrian

Rovereto).

Museum Archive, Museum

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(photo from the from (photo

Teriol Ladin. Teriol Marmolada Marmolada

ceremony of the of ceremony Col di Lana and Lana di Col Settsass.

Inauguration front line line front and saddle

Vonbank cavern. Vonbank September 2000. September pulled towards the towards pulled Sief the hollow,

Entrance to the to Entrance Ciadiniéi, 10 Ciadiniéi, Howitzers being Howitzers Valiate The T S A T from thechurch belfry. thecraternearstone wasoriginally The iron cross now ontheedgeof beforeAustrian onCol diLanaintheperiod theminewent off. fortifications theItalian and thelayout isaplanshowing of ontheeastwall, Outside, 1938”. to thepho- Also inside isacopy of Ortisei. at Grünwald of by Vincenzo Moroder, sculpted inthetrenches has awooden Christ theinterior August 1935, Consecrated on 18 ans. Fodom Great War veter- chapel erected by the thisisavotive vich, and builtby Luigi De- bysigned CarloRagnes C able. but isstilldistinguish- flatter thantheoriginal, we seenow issmallerand crater The erful mine.” apow- of after thefiring taken on17 April 1916 Col diLanaposition, m., T Italian theLivinallongo Alpine Regiment Association. di LanaGroup of thiswasplaced onthesummitby theCol iron wreath, awrought pleted with T theItalian Alpine Regiment Association. byorganised theCol diLanaGroup of was inaugurated on6 August theannual remembrance 1995during ceremony thismonument Pieve diMarebbe, on thesummitby theSchützen Company of Placed bothnationalities. thiswork isdedicated to of thefallen Col diLana, rocks from with Filled figure. soasto acylindrical shape arranged human forms of atangle which portrays thisscupture, designed San Vigilio diMarebbe, of O ibrak tAab,ti rvdssetri aeo need. thisprovides shelter incaseof at Arabba, pi barracks longo Italian Alpine Regiment Asso he C he st he cr he c T ol diLanaC N.B. Thetimespecifiedisforthewalkonly. the walkimmediatelybecomesmorepleasant. You havetobecarefuloverthefirststretch,butonceyoureach2,250metres DEGREE OFDIFFICULTY m, andthenreturnstotheSiefpass. The itinerarydescendsnearly300metrestotheCianabonaplaindown2,164 DIFFERENCE INALTITUDE 1,30 hours. DURATION 8.1 N.B.The time indicated isfor thewalk only. Not difficult andquite quick. DEGREE OFDIFFICULTY Over 700 metres. DIFFERENCE INALTITUDE 1,30 hours. DURATION 8.2

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T e ihtewrs“uetPaishk 0408 thewordswith “Hubert Planinschek, N r H c at2,462m. ummit h ncito ntesoeras “2,465 onthestone reads, theinscription : ito n h lietop ftheGiop- ciation andthe Alpine troops of A Plan fixedtotheexteriorofColdiLanaChurch. E aeetrl flarch wood andcom- madeentirely of :

W O academy sculptor Johann Rindler, : R K S built in1992by theLivinal- : tunnels (tobe avoided) anda sentrypost reinforced in cement where thereis aplaque Around and onthecupola todayarethe visibleremains oftrenches, entrancesto the threeribsof ColdiLanathatwastakenby theItaliansuntilOctober1915. on 17July1915, thisposition, dubbedWeathercock Hill,wastheonly positionon the rib. Wrenchedfromthe BavarianJägertroopsbythe3rd RegimentofBersaglieri glei) at2,221 metres,going intheoppositedirectiontoItalianadvancealong continue alongtheridgeof Castello ribtotheLamarmoraRedoubt(SpizdeCen- metres, forthisitinerary, insteadofgoingdownto the Ciânabonaplainyoushould When youhavecomedownthe eastsideofColdiLanatotheAustrianFortat2,250 FROM THECASTELLORIBTO AGAI ANDPALLA BY THETERIOLLADIN astated byartillery, the AustrianFortwasconqueredon22October1915, itsfall Bersaglieri hadtakentheLamarmoraRedoubtat2,221 metreson17July1915. Dev- at thealtitudeof2,250metres,heldbydefendersColdiLanaafter to amemorialstonethatiscertainindicationofthepositionAustrianFort bad conditionofthewoodenreinforcements.Thereisanothershortstretchdown the path,butyouareadvisedagainstlookingaroundinteriorbecauseofvery has acavernwithnumberofwoodenbeams.Theentranceisclearlyvisiblefrom Pietra), whichwasoccupiedafterthefallofAustrianFortat2,250metres, near abigoutcropofrock.ThisistheItalianoutpostcalledLePietre(oralsoLa proceed takingduecareasfarthepointwhereslopebecomesmoregentle, The actualdescentstartshere,downaslopewheretherewasnointensefighting: before itgetstothepath,whichisnearedgeoverlookingSiefgully. until youseeatrackthatfirstcrossespatchofgrassandthenmassstones down themountain.Frombivouac,goroundeasternsideofColdiLana slipping, but,providedyoudonotleanoutovertheedge,thereisnoriskoffalling however, becausethe pathismerelysteep,steepenoughfortheretobeariskof route thatsomemapsshowas“difficult-forexperts”. Thisisacautiousassessment, ing downtheeastslopeofColdiLanaindirectionCastelloribalonga After seeingthetopofColdiLana,youcandecidetoreturnSiefsaddlego- BY THECASTELLORIBANDTERIOLLADIN FROM THETOP OFCOLDILANATO THESIEFSADDLE traces ofwalkways. View fromCiânabonaplaintowardstheViktorrockwith Mount Settsassinthebackground. The Teriol LadinneartheSiefsaddle; m position. (5) 2,250mposition(6)2,221 Lana (4)LePietreorLaPietra the twosummitsofColdi (2) CappellodiNapoleone(3) View fromPoure: (1)Ciadinièi at 2,250m. the AustrianFort Le Pietrefrom house ofGelasio Caetani, the sapper thatconstructed the Coldi Lana mine. After the roofs ofthehouses ofAgaiappear. As youleavethis hamletyoucan seethe until itbendssharply totheleft*andstartsgoing downhillagain.Afteralittle while the Teriol goes through thewoodforquitea long section,remainingalmost level After theRude laPorta ditch, nearwhichtherearesomewooden constructions, you turnrightwillcontinue ontheTeriol towardsAgai. as farapath.Ifyouturnleft, youwillgettothehamletofCastello,whileif sharply southanddescendssteeply downthesouthernsideofSpizdeCenglei unit responsible.Assoonasitpasses thispositionat2,221 metres,theTeriol bends commemorating thedateofits occupationbytheItaliansandnameof la orPralongià. ascent alongtheSiefsaddletoright.Fromhereyouresumeroute23Valparo- the Valiate hollow, withtheinclinefortopofMountSieftoleftand When yougettothepass,haveTerio Ladininfrontofyou:itgoes oninto pass. Pipsi andSandsach,whichalltogethermadeuptheRippenwache,verynearSief the Teriol LadinareallAustrian,belonging,inorder, totheoutpostscalledPepi, fore theMaxstronghold.Theothertracesoftrenchworkstillrecognisablenear and thelittleribonleftwhereAustrian“S”strongholdwassetup,justbe- Going upagainfromCiânabona,youpassbetweentheViktorpositiononright Sief tooth,thecraterand,lowerdown,pileofrubblefrommineexplosions. for thestrongholdataltitude2,387metreswentonmorethanamonth, left, inorder, arethe Valley ofBlood,theridgeMountSief,wherestruggle that connectedtheItalianBoschettopositionwithViktorrock,whileon As youcrossthislevelspace,ontherightwillseetraceofwalkway for theTeriol Ladin,whichgoesthroughsparsevegetationtotheCiânadonaplain. tifications, walkdownonthenorthernsideofCastelloribfollowingsigns After awalkroundthispositionat2,250metres,lookingtheremainsoffor- tober 1915. ier forthispositiontobetakentoo,whichhappenedfourdaysafterwardson26Oc- removing supportfromtheleftofCappellodiNapoleoneandthusmakingiteas- View fromtheTeriol overtheAgairibandColdiLana. (Ghedina Archive). - 04.08.1938” Planinschek -LaVilla inscription “Hubert Col diLana,withthe Cross ofCloudsover copy ofthephoto of ColdiLanaholdsa The churchonthetop road toLaste. Lana fromthe View ofColdi Col diLanafromtheTeriol. aa twstkno 9Otbr11 yteBslct rgd fthe2 It wastaken on29October 1915by of theBasilicataBrigade Lana. Col di defence pointof themostimportant tle moundthatoverlooks theSaleseirib, M low between Col diLanaandMount Sief. the 91 R Col diLana. placed theInfantieriestellung re- initsdefensive role onthewest slopeof justabove outpost6, theRothschanze, theMontucolo italiano, abandonment) of over wassetupontherib Grünestellung, TheRidottaCalab ians on31October 1915. whileaccording to othersitwastaken by theItal- the Austrians on29October 1915, Accor sition behindtheInfantieriestellung. La pie Regiment on22October 1915. the52ndInfantry It wastaken by the of Alpi Brigade Redoubt. theLamarmora Col diLanaafter of thefall hold defendingtheeastsideof C the Austrian Fort. It wasoccupied by theItalians after theconquest of Col diLana. between the Austrian summitof Fort at2,250metres andthenorth-east Quota 2250(A theCorps. Regiment on17July 1915andthus dedicated to thefounderof V between 17and18 onthenight Brigade) AprilCalabria 1916. Regiment (the59thand60thtogether madeupthe the59thInfantry 1st Battalionof thetop taken wasfinally by the Regiment on7November the60thInfantry 1915, of Occupied forafewhours by the3rd Battalion Cadore). of delCadore -Calvary vario Cal- Tears, -Hill Col of diLacrime (Monte origin diFuoco Mountain, literary -Fiery theother namesthatoccur forCol diLanaare mainlyof mountain by the Austrians, V where theItalianribs attacksonthePanettone were developed. Quota 2221(A (seeQuota2,250). therib atthewestern of extremity nearCol diLana, and the “tray” attheeastern (seeQuota 2221) extremity theelevation areas involved inthefighting: Here there are two Castello andFranza. di Lanabefore towards forking thehamletsof Istituto Geografico Militare - Aut. n. 6109 del 12.10.2005 fthe52 of It wastaken by the Alpi Brigade positions thatdefendedCol diLanaupto October 1915. Battalion of the 60th Infantry Regiment. the60thInfantry itfellto the2nd Battalion of Col diLana, after thetakingof On21 April 1916, general. infantry the 50 theParma of Brigade pello diNapoleone andCol diLanawasoccupied by unitsof C C akt h qaei iv,where itstandsnow. back to thesquare inPieve, andon17October 1964wastaken Trento, MuseumHistory intheprovince of thistimeto theRovereto War againon23October It 1923, wastransferred tion. the statuewasmoved to save to Corvara itfrom theimminentItalian occupa- on29June 1915, After onlythree years, 530kg. andweighing 2.2metres high 1912, heroine whodefendedhernative wasunveiled landandherreligion on23June monument This to the honoursatPieve. July military with 1854andwasburied Shediedat on8 Andraz from thechurch entering grounds. inherhands, fork afarm with famousby preventing Napoleon’s soldiers, April 1797shemadeherself andon2 that acted assacristan, working atSpingesforafarmer ageshewas At 25years of 1771. ilio diMarebbe on21September atSan Lanzwasborn Caterina Vig- me – e lina d R st C the mostusedplace names. It may behelpfulto have thislistof which intheirturn. often variations underwent were replaced by Austrian names, andItalian military infact, the Ladinnames, place; Col diLanaoften more presents thanonenameforthesame uswith of The history around Col di Lanaand Mount Sief starts. Italian barracks wereconstructed and then toCiadiniéi, wherethecircular route tone alongthetraces ofthepathnamedafterCaetani, passingterraceswheresome left; immediately afterthistheTeriol leavesthis easyroadtogoupthePanet- of theroute,just aftergoingroundtherib, youwillcometoahaybarn tothe the roadfromPalla uptoPiandelaChiccia.Shortlyafterthebeginningof thispart you decidetoturnuphillthe rightinsteadoftotheleft,youwillsoonget *As itbendstotheleft,thisroute meetsanothersectionoftheTeriol Ladin:if ends. Agai, goalongthetarmacroad toPalla andthecarparkwhereTeriol Ladin tion devoted to theGreat War. aswell asasec- and localtraditions culture hibits regarding history, ex- There are alargenumber of CèsadelaCultura Fodoma. miti, T T S I N al al othsc O ib) –C ost ia ol diLana(C ap h h e o l x F e e r lo lo diniéi –I T nt l M p ung o

o A m m ne d ne d E e uc e ne diC o t st th ust l E l hanz r lo diN R r u o la B a ( olo italiano(I Infantry Regiment. Infantry t Infantry Regiment. Infantry

s ost n ino aust E nd E r e e e r F u ian H T l S u S Q l and natyRgmn n2 coe 95 whilethesaddlebetween theCap- Regiment on26October 1915, Infantry m o la mo e -M he R m T nfant ast ne diF e angue (B U e ap lse I attheCentro Dolo- : e n lt ol diS N lt I e r il t ole it V l o it nf uola ( r o lo (C

lo G r ia e c u t ud A nt t r e k) -L o t e ( c o c

iest r ld ud

L k) uc o (f S ne (N e 2,250m)–Stützpunkt2250-F anza (F C talian H angue -B wa E I lo ast V n4Jnay11 tto ntenm ohTec,after an on 1916ittook 4January onthenameRoth Trench, : W e 2,221m)-R a olo aust e G al N o t o l e Pie c eathe l e e r H d ung –P le he l T r me ap lo r y i y o T n

h o fteAa i,telcto foeo the three oneof thelocationof the Agai rib, top the of : r V P ole anza R il a r t S al ib) –C r r

f L lo A r c e (

L lo le ia o o I D A ust c a N ane n c y) -S o k) -f c T eath) n C k H ’ o (A d s H he R r

z ib) y H E P ian F : tt ast id

il I o at) –Spizd o N ie h i htge atfo h atsd fCol thatgoeseastfrom therib theeastsideof : ust E l) –Spizd thedepression between the Agai andSalesei : e ne (I otta Lamar r il o l f me V okn hspsto.After (orthe thefall looking thisposition. A lo l) c ding to someversions itwasabandonedby o sc r ks) -P r fwe exclude thecover namegiven to this if : E ian H rüc M hl t) (aft Former HotelTirolontheleft,MountCivettainbackground. r st talian C

ria (Calabria Redoubt), also known as alsoknown Redoubt), (Calabria ria uc D E k r e S ht -Golad o I n –C il ala d

ng e e C L e C lo r 22Oc mo hold 7C I c ak e V k) -M iamplàc e l’O ng ost r o e) –StützpunktElf I a (Lamar r N le t o ino aust t i ne d A lm o taken by the3rd Bersaglieri : e o b l S ol diR L nt e thisistherocky outcrop : ˇ L r 1915) e ie -F uc i B O f mo olo e r N (S e e ia o r lse r da ie sag G c a R o (A Austrian strong- : f n O anAustrianpo- : x aust lie G wa e nd ul d r ust e c i (B oub r l Battalion of he -F y) ic r r ia h thehol- : ian F e t) -C thelit- : r c sag o (f e lse o lie o ol r n r t) r - - - i LIST OF ITINERARIES 1 11 GENERAL INFORMATION

COL DI LANA – BLOODY COL (Continued from Map 7) 2 12 War diary of an Austrian Captain and an Italian officer 3 2 6 1 7 4 8 5 Austrian Captain, 28 October 1915, 12.05 at night. “I’ve stayed here with the rest of the

AURONZO DI CADORE 3 13 5th Company and with a part of the 4th Regiment. So it is my honour to act as command- CORTINA D’AMPEZZO er of Col di Lana. There’s never been a situation like the one we’re in. It’s really desperate 21 26 22 25 and there’s no way out. Only God can help us here ... Yesterday, before noon, the rock that 4 14 overlooks our encampment was taken. As soon as our adversaries plant a machine-gun up 9 10 11 24 there, a bomb-thrower or a piece of artillery, it will be absolutely impossible to stand out long 12 13 23 14 15 16 or keep this position. It’s a matter of hours or minutes. ... The enemy’s heavy guns have al- 17 29 5 15 18 19 32 30 ready been firing at our barracks for hours ... our artillery has begun to fire at last, but against 20 27 28 31 MARMOLADA 34 our barracks from Sasso di Stria and Valparola ... If we have to go on living like this there’s 33 PIEVE DI CADORE 35 no hope ... The enemy infantry is attacking us from three sides ... Behind us, a narrow path 37 6 16 ZOLDO and the only walkway are under prohibitive fire ... no retreat that way is possible ... the phone’s 38 36 not working ... we’re abandoned here, completely cut off, left to our own devices ... Lieutenant 7 17 Schneider, the German commander of machine-guns 209. A man of profound culture, very 40 pleasant in his great courtesy ... I had the chance to have a brilliant conversation with him

AGORDO ... we sit together and chat ... The Alpine troops lowered themselves down the rock on ropes

39 and then attacked our left flank ... The Italians rightfully call this mountain “Bloody Col”. It 8 18 has already cost us so much blood and is going to cost us and the enemy a lot more: this 1 Forcella Lavaredo 21 Col Ciampon mountain costs such a lot of blood, I don’t know whether it’s worth while having it either 2 Quota “2385” ai Piani di Lavaredo 22 Monte Tudaio for us or the Italians. What a lot of dead are buried here! What a lot of dead bodies in front 3 Croda dell’Arghena 23 P.so Mauria - M. Miaron 9 19 of the trench! ... Now it’s snowing a bit ... it would be a good thing if there were a heavy fall 4 Giro del Col di Mezzo 24 P.so Mauria - Col Audoi ... fighting, alarms and excitement day and night ... I don’t even know what’s happened in the 5 Misurina - Monte Piana 25 Col Vidal world. But it isn’t even necessary to know, and now we’re making history ourselves ...” 6 Rif. A. Bosi e Monte Piana 26 Anello dei Colli 10 20 7 Cristallino di Misurina 27 Forte Monte Ricco Italian officer, 27 October. “Now we’ve taken the Cappello di Napoleone and we’ve had re- 8 Valle delle Baracche 28 Batteria Castello GREAT WAR SITES IN THE PROVINCE OF BELLUNO inforcements, we completely dominate the Austrian trenches and encampments on the Panet- 9 Posizione “Edelweiss” - Sella del Sief 29 Forte Col Vaccher Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park tone under us, at the foot of the big precipice. It feels like looking at a map ... On the oth- 10 Sella Sief - Cima Sief 30 Monte Tranego er hand, we’ve put ourselves right under the top of Col di Lana, and the Austrian infantry 11 Cima Sief - Col di Lana 31 Forte Pian dell’Antro PRIMA LINEA CORTINA-MARMOLADA in their turn can see us at their feet and fire at us ... It’s almost a funny situation! To pre- 12 Da Cima Lana ai Ciadiniéi 32 Col S. Anna - La Glories pare for the attack on the Panettone I’ve been told to set up a position on the edge of the 13 Ciadinéi - Sella Sief 33 Vodo - Becco di Cuzze (Accesso A) precipice so that it covers the entire enemy position ... a hole, sandbags, a rail, without show- The statue of Caterina Lanz at Pieve di Livinallongo. 14 Variante Col de la Roda 34 Vodo - Becco di Cuzze (Accesso B) 8.1 C. LANA - COST. CASTELLO - S. SIEF ing ourselves for more than two or three seconds at a time ... A sharpshooter tries to hit 15 Cima Lana - Costone Castello - Sella Sief 35 Monte Rite us every time we appear ... that’s the way we fight this war: a patient work of putting one

Where not already mentioned, text and photos are supplied by Progetto Col di Lana. 8.2 CIMA LANA - AGAI E PALLA The fundamental intention of this project is to acquaint the new generations with the splendid and enchanting places that were 16 Cima Lana - Agai e Palla 36 Col Pradamio stone on top of another, one sandbag on top of another, without getting killed ... the bul- the backdrop to the terrible and tragic events involved in the Great War on the Dolomite front. The traces of 29 seemingly end- less months of struggle that have survived the passing of time enhance the fascination and the beauty of the landscape, teach- 17 Col Da Daut - Col Toront 37 Spiz Zuel lets smash against the edge of the position in bursts, sending pebbles up in the air ... On ing us to observe, know and learn. 18 Museo storico a Serauta - Marmolada 38 Col de Saléra - Monte Punta History and description of the Great War sites the Cappello di Napoleone I went as far at the furthest position. There was a full moon Itineraries of various lengths and degrees of difficulty have been proposed for visiting these sites, some of them fully realis- able fully considering the needs of people with reduced mobility. The itineraries that are suggested have been selected bear- 19 Malga Ciapèla - Ombretta di Marmolada 39 Tagliata di San Martino and it was an icy night ... I found an enemy shelter and went on. There were the corpses ing some basic features in mind, such as historical significance, ease of access and nearness to other sites of historical interest. 20 Zona monumentale della Marmolada 40 Batteria Listolade of two Austrians lying on their backs on the ground: the memory of a brief drama that We hope that this new historical and cultural opportunity will find a large number of visitors and enthusiasts who not only nobody will ever tell. Who would they have been? And yet, I thought, they will have had love the mountains for their natural beauty but are able to perceive the relationship between man and nature, which has left Cover: the church on the top of Col di Lana and the Cadore Alpine Brigade Bivouac. Mount Civetta in the background. A. Fornari very special traces in these spots as a result of the Great War. brothers too, sisters, children, wives, parents that will wait for them in vain and will never Organising authorities and financing bodies Coordination: COMUNITË MONTANA AGORDINA - Via IV Novembre, 2 - 32021 Agordo (BL) - Italia know what really happened to them ... Horrible scenes ... Bodies of young men who have

Tel. 0039 0437 62390 - Fax 0039 0437 62043 - Email [email protected] FREE OF CHARGE DISTRIBUTED “…the Alps see prodigies, not only on the part of individuals, but also of big patrols, platoons and whole companies. And not do we been struck down and stay in the position they were in when they were hit, because the see feats performed by the most expert, but even the youngest recruits soon turn into accomplished climbers. Some new mountain I LUOGHI DELLA GRANDE GUERRA IN PROVINCIA DI BELLUNO Interventi di recupero e valorizzazione nei territori del Parco della Memoria freezing temperature has stiffened them! And who knows when they’ll be buried!” routes are even opened up under enemy fire to meet the needs of war..." (A. Berti). Progetto cofinanziato dall’Unione Europea mediante Fondo Europeo di Sviluppo Regionale A historical record to re-discover the Mountains, not to forget, to know the men that lived this tragic but extraordinary ad- Iniziativa Comunitaria Interreg IIIA Italia-Austria 2000-2006 - Progetto (Cod. VEN 222001) DIE ORTE DES ERSTEN WELTKRIEGES IN DER PROVINZ BELLUNO venture. Memories of war for paths of peace. Eingriffe der Wiederinstandsetzung und Valorisierung in den Gebieten des Erinnerungsparks Austrian Captain, 28 October. “The Italians have hit the barracks with heavy artillery. In spite This has been, as it still is, the purpose of the work done by the Technical and Scientific Committee of the Italy-Austria Inter- Von der E.U. Unterstützes Projekt Mittels Europäischer Wärungsfonds zur Regionalen Entwicklung Gemeinschaftsinitiative Interreg IIIA Italien-Österreich 2000-2006 - Projekt (Cod. VEN 222001) of this, they have been thrown back ... The men’s resistance is admirable ... they’re in a good mood reg III A project called "Great War sites in the Province of Belluno. Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial GREAT WAR SITES IN THE PROVINCE OF BELLUNO Park". The results of the Committee's labours are the guides and leaflets that give everyone the chance to tackle easy itiner- Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park and cheerful, joking ...They deserve a fate very different from that of being abandoned here ..”. Project co-financed by the European Union through European Found for Regional Developmen aries and experience life on the front line at first hand, realising the difficulties of the existence at an altitude of more than 2,000 Community Initiative Interreg IIIA Italia-Austria 2000-2006 - Project (Cod. VEN 222001) metres of the soldiers of the opposing armies. This is to remember that the war is not something that has been forgotten and that, in the words of Surgeon Second-Lieutenant Italian officer, 28 October. “Intense bombardment of the Panettone. Our men make a lit- Gino Frontali, "...it is not a parenthesis that we can hasten to close to go back to what we were saying before...". tle ground, but there are heavy losses. The attack has failed.”

Coordination and Scientific and Technical Committee CONTINUE

of the Austrians ... a great chorus of voices and shouting takes the place of the din of din the of place the takes shouting and voices of chorus great a ... Austrians the of cart rolling on steel wheels. I can observe the shell through my binoculars when it when binoculars my through shell the observe can I wheels. steel on rolling cart the position, which is unsustainable up here ... May God grant it goes well ..”. well goes it grant God May ... here up unsustainable is which position, the (Episode IV. End; for other references, see Maps 5, 6 and 7) and 6 5, Maps see references, other for End; IV. (Episode

tery on the Salesei rib today and buried him there.” him buried and today rib Salesei the on tery Panettone, and among the grey and green of our soldiers I can make out the blue cloaks blue the out make can I soldiers our of green and grey the among and Panettone, shells fire one after the other, travelling through the air with the raucous sound of a of sound raucous the with air the through travelling other, the after one fire shells ... he’ll find the right way of talking to the Colonel and will also tell him the whole truth about truth whole the him tell also will and Colonel the to talking of way right the find he’ll ...

render and died a hero’s death. A Diary is found on his person ... we took him to the ceme- the to him took we ... person his on found is Diary A death. hero’s a died and render rendering!”. The artillery and rifle fire cease and now a crowd of figures gathers on the on gathers figures of crowd a now and cease fire rifle and artillery The rendering!”. Lieutenant Amici directs the artillery from the top of the Cappello di Napoleone. Our 210 Our Napoleone. di Cappello the of top the from artillery the directs Amici Lieutenant about a replacement for me, which he’ll push for. Let’s hope he manages to do something do to manages he hope Let’s for. push he’ll which me, for replacement a about

hut Captain Ebner lies on his back, serene in his attitude of death ... He refused to sur- to refused He ... death of attitude his in serene back, his on lies Ebner Captain hut Suddenly the firing slackens, I hear loud shouting, you can hear the words, “They’re sur- “They’re words, the hear can you shouting, loud hear I slackens, firing the Suddenly Italian officer, 29 October. “Another deadly barrage against the Panettone is starting. is Panettone the against barrage deadly “Another October. 29 officer, Italian Today Egmuth promised me that he’d go to Regimental HQ and see what he can find out find can he what see and HQ Regimental to go he’d that me promised Egmuth Today

soldiers killed as they ran. A 210 mm shell brought slaughter in the infirmary. Behind a Behind infirmary. the in slaughter brought shell mm 210 A ran. they as killed soldiers The battle goes on like that for a while. Then I see some dash along the enemy trenches. enemy the along dash some see I Then while. a for that like on goes battle The resources of our country. Shall I be able to get to the walkway towards Corvara? I don’t know. don’t I Corvara? towards walkway the to get to able be I Shall country. our of resources

the place, in all imaginable postures; men crushed or struck down where they had fled, had they where down struck or crushed men postures; imaginable all in place, the ing; the men are already in the barbed wire, they hesitate, they kneel down and shoot. and down kneel they hesitate, they wire, barbed the in already are men the ing; with wood ... What will be the end of all this?” all of end the be will What ... wood with ways getting fresh stocks from the sea, from America, while we have to make do with the with do make to have we while America, from sea, the from stocks fresh getting ways

ened and cemented by the cold. In the middle of all this jumble, dead bodies all over all bodies dead jumble, this all of middle the In cold. the by cemented and ened tering. The outlines of our men are silhouetted on the skyline. I can see the bayonets gleam- bayonets the see can I skyline. the on silhouetted are men our of outlines The tering. to complain of is the miserable situation and the shortage of candles ... they’re tight they’re ... candles of shortage the and situation miserable the is of complain to no sign of their running out of ammunition at all ... they accumulated supplies and are al- are and supplies accumulated they ... all at ammunition of out running their of sign no

sils of all kinds; everything’s dirty, muddy, bloody, with crusts of snow and mud stiff- mud and snow of crusts with bloody, muddy, dirty, everything’s kinds; all of sils shouts 500 metres away as they cross the Valley of Death. I’m breathless, my heart flut- heart my breathless, I’m Death. of Valley the cross they as away metres 500 shouts wine, white bread, salted bread, cheese and butter for the entire winter ... what we have we what ... winter entire the for butter and cheese bread, salted bread, white wine, of munitions; the heavy guns fire without a break, the 210s fire continuously and there’s and continuously fire 210s the break, a without fire guns heavy the munitions; of

a carpet of rags, straw, weapons, chests, rucksacks, mess tins, bottles, flares and uten- and flares bottles, tins, mess rucksacks, chests, weapons, straw, rags, of carpet a move. Through my binoculars, I see men fall and mines explode, while I hear the soldiers’ the hear I while explode, mines and fall men see I binoculars, my Through move. come ... As regards provisions, we’re very well off. Inch serves us handsomely: we have beer, have we handsomely: us serves Inch off. well very we’re provisions, regards As ... come Austrian Captain, 29 October. “I don’t see any way out. The Italians have an amazing amount amazing an have Italians The out. way any see don’t “I October. 29 Captain, Austrian

a pandemonium, what chaos ... on the ground, on tables, on cots it looks as if there is there if as looks it cots on tables, on ground, the on ... chaos what pandemonium, a first, then in a rush. The guns have stopped firing; it’s time for the assault. I follow every follow I assault. the for time it’s firing; stopped have guns The rush. a in then first, war ... For my mother too, I wish this never-ending misery would cease and a better time better a and cease would misery never-ending this wish I too, mother my For ... war

trenches and walkways ... The Austrian Village of armoured shelters is amazing ... what ... amazing is shelters armoured of Village Austrian The ... walkways and trenches man body ..”. body man moving, running, firing a rifle and throwing hand-grenades. Our men advance slowly at slowly advance men Our hand-grenades. throwing and rifle a firing running, moving, really loves me. It would be wonderful if I survived and could get back to her after the after her to back get could and survived I if wonderful be would It me. loves really

Lieutenant Cappello ... he died heroically on the Panettone last summer ... A maze of maze A ... summer last Panettone the on heroically died he ... Cappello Lieutenant hell. You see sandbags, boards and barbed wire fly up, and, every now and again, a hu- a again, and now every and, up, fly wire barbed and boards sandbags, see You hell. tone is a mass of smoke and flames, a real hell. And yet in that hell I can still see a man a see still can I hell that in yet And hell. real a flames, and smoke of mass a is tone two books and wrote me such an affectionate and moving letter. This showed me that she that me showed This letter. moving and affectionate an such me wrote and books two

of men. I’ve lost a quarter of my platoon in ten days ... We find the remains of poor of remains the find We ... days ten in platoon my of quarter a lost I’ve men. of more than 50 metres in the air and the rocks fly about like a Catherine wheel out of out wheel Catherine a like about fly rocks the and air the in metres 50 than more great rifles, because they are only a few hundred metres from their target. The entire Panet- entire The target. their from metres hundred few a only are they because rifles, great now ... Eva’s a very dear girl. As soon as I asked her for something to read, she sent me sent she read, to something for her asked I as soon As girl. dear very a Eva’s ... now

... The mass of prisoners come down from the top of the Panettone ... We’ve lost a lot a lost We’ve ... Panettone the of top the from down come prisoners of mass The ... volcano. The black and white smoke and the reddish soil make immense clouds that rise that clouds immense make soil reddish the and smoke white and black The volcano. spitting out their shells with great precision against the most vital points, as if they were they if as points, vital most the against precision great with shells their out spitting pital ... Giovannina asks about Vittorio in every letter too ... Everything seems to be all right all be to seems Everything ... too letter every in Vittorio about asks Giovannina ... pital

battle. Some distraught prisoners hurl themselves down the Valley of Death, disarmed Death, of Valley the down themselves hurl prisoners distraught Some battle. lands on its target like a black torpedo, and see the colossal explosion like an erupting an like explosion colossal the see and torpedo, black a like target its on lands Italian officer, 29 October. “The 210s are joined by the field and mountain artillery, near us, near artillery, mountain and field the by joined are 210s “The October. 29 officer, Italian Austrian Captain. “Antonio has sent some letters: he’s not all that well; he’s still in hos- in still he’s well; that all not he’s letters: some sent has “Antonio Captain. Austrian

plaque. Archive). Deltedesco (Franco

the Viktor rock. Viktor the Museum. a with fortifications of Remains Castle Andraz of ruins the near

The Castello rib seen from a cavity in cavity a from seen rib Castello The Guided tour of the Ladin-Fodom the of tour Guided Redoubt. Lamarmora the - m 2,221 Cemetery War Italian Verdinois The 9.1 COL DA DAUT - COL TORONT COL DA DAUT – COL TORONT (Rocca Pietore) sive views not only of Col di Lana but of other surrounding Dolomite peaks Laste and the Fedaia pass. Shortly after this there is a fork with a rough Digonera - Col Da Daut - Davedino - Tofane, Lagazuoi, Pore, Pelmo, Civetta and Migogn, all mountains that were wooden sign pointing the way to two mountaineering excursions, Gran Plòn DESCRIPTION OF THE ROUTE Turn right after the bridge over the Cordevole just outside Caprile, going to- either theatres of war or immediately behind the front line. and Crepe Rosse. Rendezvous: Digonera (Rocca Pietore; from Caprile (Alleghe), provincial road wards Malga Ciapèla and Marmolada on provincial road SP 642; you will come The Italian High Command (General Luigi Cadorna) chose Col Da Daut as Davedino is a typical mountain hamlet, abounding in hay barns and typical SP 563, road signs for Digonera, Laste, Passi Pordoi, Campolongo and Falzarego. to a nature oasis with a sulphur spring that used to be considered medicinal one of the positions from which to fire mountain guns against Col di Lana, farm equipment, which has conserved all its features from the past except Digonera is about 5 km from Caprile). and which was restored by the Veneto Region Forestry Corps in 2004. Take which was in Austrian hands. Some batteries, among which two 152 Mari- for a few houses that have been modernised. You will feel as if you have DURATION the right-hand fork 200 metres further on. There is a car park at the traffic na, shelled Col di Lana while the Austrians held it, that is until the top was been thrown back into the nineteenth century as you go round it. Very few lights at the entrance to Digonera, with an Interreg information panel. Take blown up by a powerful Italian mine on 17 April 1916. The batteries of Col inhabitants are left, generally elderly and very hospitable. During the war, From 4 to 5 hours there and back according to walking speed. the road towards the mountain, the first part of which is tarmac; there is Da Daut, in concert with all the others encircling the Bloody Hill, made their the area HQ was set up in one of the houses here, which has remained struc- DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY another Interreg information panel after a crossroads. The road continues as contribution to the hell that broke out on the summit, already devastated turally identical, near a column to Our Lady. No difficulty. Medium-altitude excursion with hill-walking equipment. Take some a tamped earth farm, country and pastoral track built by the Italian Army En- by the mine. After the barrage stopped, the Calabria Brigade infantry com- You can also get to Davedino by car, although the road is very narrow and provisions. gineers in 1916 to a design by Alberto Alpago Novello, then a Second Lieu- manded by Major Ottorino Mezzetti launched their assault against the re- steep and there is parking for only about ten vehicles. The road is the SP 563 tenant, discharged as a Captain. After about 4 kilometres of easy uphill walk- maining Austrian soldiers, disconcerted by the mine that had shaken the en- provincial road from Caprile to Salesei. Turn left (road sign Vallazza - Dav- ing, you will get to the Great War positions and tunnels. Before the big open tire mountain. The mountain was conquered and 130 prisoners were taken; edino) at a bridge over the Cordevole, the river that marked the border be- A person to remember: space at the top, with a barrack building, there are the reconstructed remains about a hundred met their deaths buried by the explosion. tween the Agordo area and South Tyrol before war broke out between the DELCROIX, DISABLED GREAT WAR HERO. of an artillery emplacement and a checkpoint by the roadside, near tunnel- After Col Da Daut the itinerary continues on slight inclines for about an Kingdom of Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1915. On the Italian Letter from Delcroix to captain Andreoletti shelters for the troops and observation posts over Col di Lana and the Corde- hour along the unsurfaced track to Davedino, where a path to Moè di Laste side there was an Italian Revenue Guard barrack building, which was af- vole valley. There are numerous tunnels, which have been restored under an forks off to the left. Moè is about an hour away. Just before the little vil- terwards destroyed; immediately opposite, Austrian gendarmes guarded the “Dear Captain. I have received pre- Interreg project by the Italian Forestry Corps, from which there are exten- lage of Davedino, there is an Interreg direction panel and a path to Malga other side of the frontier. cise information from home about my brother, a soldier in the 118th Group of the 3rd Division, whom I INTERESTING SIGHTS IN THE AREA have not seen for three years. He is to The Gothic Church of Santa Maria Maddalena, in the centre of Rocca Pietore, built in be given leave during the second half Col Da Daut: reconstruction 1442, now a national monument, has a Ghibelline spire and holds some precious works of this month. This is to repeat the of the access to an of art, among which the big altarpiece by Roberto Potsch, 1517, a Trinity by Francesco request I made of you orally. I would emplacement for guns that fired on Col di Lana. Frigimelica, 1600, and other treasures from the past. be infinitely grateful if I could be The shrine of Santa Maria delle Grazie, 1965, situated halfway between Alleghe and granted leave for around that time Caprile on the SS 203 state road, the Agordina, is frequently visited by pilgrimages, too. In repeating my request, I am en- Istituto Geografico Militare - Aut. n. 6109 del 12.10.2005 and not from the province of Belluno alone. It has fine sculptures by Augusto Murer couraged by the hope that you gave and Toni Benetton. Children are still presented to Our Lady for supernatural protec- me on other occasions, and by your tion. Beside the shrine is the little original church of this hamlet, now deconsecrated, promise to do all you can for me. which was built in 1724 as a result of an ex voto of the inhabitants of Regola (“Rule”) Please excuse the liberty I have tak- Col Da Daut Reconstructed barrack di Calloneghe (rule and name no longer exist). Here there were a large number of ex en and accept my sincerest thanks. hut on Col Da Daut. voto for grace received. Respectfully yours, Second Lieu- Carlo Delcroix, Silver Medal for Valour The little Church of Santi Rocco e Fabiano at Sottoguda was built in 1486, an ex voto tenant Carlo Delcroix.” (Dario Fontanive Archive). of the inhabitants of Laste and Sottoguda after they emerged unscathed from the ter- Troop movements in the high rible pestilence of 1487. A metal plaque on the front, observed by a wooden Christ, com- mountains (Historical War memorates 1915-1918 war dead. CARLO DELCROIX BLINDED BY A HAND-GRENADE Museum Archive, Rovereto). Opposite the church is the elegant old building that was the primary school until the 1930s, afterwards used as a workshop and now abandoned. The date 1884 is carved Officer Delcroix was in charge of training the troops in the throwing of hand- above the door. This school was dedicated to Carlo Delcroix and the inscription with grenades. After an instruction session at Malga Ciapèla, the ground had to be the dedication can still be seen, with some difficulty, in the middle of the back of the cleared of some unexploded grenades, and one went off in a soldier’s hand, killing building. him. Delcroix, as an officer, wished to avoid further cases of this kind and took The Church of San Gottardo at Laste, 1863, was designed by the famous Giuseppe Se- the place of a private soldier in carrying out this work. gusini. One of these offensive devices exploded in his hand, filling his entire body with Serrai di Sottoguda, a few kilometres after Rocca Pietore on the state road to Marmalo- hundreds of splinters. Delcroix did not die, recovering from his painful wounds Inside the City of Ice da, is a natural gorge of the canyon type, mentioned with admiration in Ottone Brentari’s after a long period of torment, but lost his hands and the sight in both his eyes. on Marmolada, 1916- 1887 guide to Belluno and Feltre. This “tortuous two-kilometre-long corridor ... flanked For his selfless deed, the hamlet of Sottoguda gave the primary school his name 1917 (photograph by by sheer cliffs ...” was passed through by Italian infantry in 1915-1917 and by mule carts and Delcroix became a symbol after the war. He was elected to the Italian Par- Leo Handl, Marmolada Museum and dogs laden with supplies, weapons and munitions for the troops stationed at Mal- liament and was appointed President of the Italian War Disabled and Invalids As- Archive). ga Ciapèla and on the front line on Marmolada, at an altitude of 3,000 metres. sociation. The Sass de la Murada, which you get to from the hamlet of Ronche di Laste, a former historic Roccabruna castle, now looks like a gigantic dolomite tower. It can be visited after a short cabled climb (you need proper equipment), with a bivouac on the top at about 1,500 metres. There is an extraordinary view reaching as far as the eye can see. The Pian di Salesei War Memorial and Cemetery, in the form of an imposing cross, is 1,5 kilometres after Digonera as you go towards Salesei. It holds more than 5,000 Great War dead, of whom 4,700 “unknown to the world, known to God”. During the period from 1930 to 1940, the Italian and Austrian fallen that were buried loosely in numerous cemeteries in the fields and meadows in all the hamlets around Col di Lana, including Digonera and other nearby places, were exhumed and gathered together in this Entrance to the shrine. Marmolada Great War The Marmolada Great War Museum holds about 800 exhibits from the war in the high Museum (Marmolada Museum Archive). mountains. It is open at Christmas, Easter and from July to September: get off at the in- Marmolada, 1916-1917. Four Garibaldi brothers on termediate station of Serauta, at 2,950 metres. High altitude Austrian Col di Lana; Peppino Garibaldi At Punta Rocca (top cable car station at 3,250 metres), visit the grotto excavated by position in the Sasso di in the centre (photograph by the Alpine troops and dedicated to Our Lady of the Snows, a gift from Pope Karol Wo- Mezzodì area (photograph Anita Garibaldi, Marmolada by Leo Handl). Museum). jtyla when he came to Marmolada on 26 August 1979. 9.2 MUSEO STORICO A SERAUTA - MARMOLADA

DESCRIPTION OF THE ROUTE ALPI BRIGADE DIARY: DIARY OF THE 51st INFANTRY REGIMENT: KILLED BY A SHELL EXPLOSION The Marmolada Great War Museum was set up to preserve and catalogue the MAJOR GARIBALDI WOUNDED 1 September 1915. The strength of the Regiment is: 3 senior officers, 76 junior officers, 3,590 other ranks, 20 finds that recall the First World War on the Marmolada front, and to narrate The Alpi Brigade Diario Storico entry for 23 Septem- officers’ animals, 364 other ranks’ animals, 30 carts. the events in this sphere of operations. It stands at Punta Serauta, which was ber 1916 reads, “With a surprise action, the enemy suc- Dislocation: HQ and HQ Company at Tabià Palazzo. 1st Battalion: 2 companies at the Contrin and Ombretto- a theatre of confrontation. The rock positions and trenches of both Austrians and ceeded in entering one of the low tunnels of Forcella la passes, 2 companies at Rocca Pietore. 2nd Battalion: 2 companies at outposts between the Fedaia pass and Italians are visible from the Museum windows. The remains of the City of Ice (at Vu, ed. n.) at 20.30, but were thrown out again Mount Mesola, 1 company in support, 1 company at Fratta and Ciapéla, 1 machine-gun section. 3rd Battalion: are particularly interesting. Rendezvous: depart from the Malga Ciapèla cable car after a sharp hand-to-hand counter-attack that left five 1 company at outposts on Mount Padon, 2 companies in support between Mesola and Padon, 1 company at station at 1,449 m. The alta via dei Dolomiti, Dolomite Mountain Way, abounds prisoners in our hands. Losses: Major Sante Garibal- Tabià Palazzo, 1 machine-gun section. in exciting moments. After going from Rocca Pietore (1,149 m) to Malga Ciapèla, di, Captain Bonifazio and Lieutenants Schiavone and The patrols that went out during the night did not see anything significant. One of our Alpine reconnaissance you can go on to the Fedaia pass, 2,056 m. and see Lake Fedaia. Bonacina slightly wounded, as also 18 other ranks. squads on Marmolada saw an Austrian officer and soldier and shot at them, wounding one. They could not fol- DIFFERENCE IN ALTITUDE There is continuous enemy fire at 3,069 metres, coun- low them because of the crevasses on the glacier. The enemy is preparing mines on Pescoi but the fog prevents us The museum is at 2,950 metres by the glacier and can be reached by cable car. tered by our artillery, which destroyed an enemy po- from watching them. We are carrying on with our approach work and with setting up shelters. Two men from DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY sition on the Marmolada pass ...”. our regiment were killed by the explosion of an enemy shell while they were in one of our advanced trenches... Elementary, but take the usual precautions of equipping yourself for the high Colonel commanding the Brigade Colonel Amos Dal Mancino mountains. G. Garibaldi Regiment CO. Reconstructed barrack hut before Col Da Daut. LIST OF ITINERARIES 1 11 GENERAL INFORMATION

THE ITALIAN DEPLOYMENT 2 12 FOR THE ATTACK ON COL DI LANA AND MARMOLADA, 3 2 6 1 FIRMLY IN AUSTRIAN HANDS 7 4 8 5 (May 1915 to October 1917)

AURONZO DI CADORE 3 13 CORTINA D’AMPEZZO The war plan drawn up by General Luigi Cadorna, in command of the Italian 21 26 22 25 Army on the outbreak of hostilities on 24 May 1915, envisaged crossing the 4 14 border between the Kingdom of Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire and 9 10 11 24 taking as much territory as possible with a vigorous action. The areas of Mar- 12 13 23 14 15 16 molada (Italy) and Col di Lana and Buchenstein-Livinallongo (Austrian South 17 29 5 15 18 19 32 30 Tyrol), were entrusted to General Luigi Nava’s 4th Army. The aim of carrying 20 27 28 31 MARMOLADA 34 out a rapid advance failed from the start owing to the difficulty of the moun- 33 PIEVE DI CADORE 35 tainous terrain, with roads that were not very passable or did not exist at all, 37 6 16 ZOLDO poor knowledge of enemy forces and insufficient siege equipment (heavy ar- 38 36 tillery), of which General Nava complained. General Nava was charged with 7 17 not carrying out General Cadorna’s orders and was replaced by General Mario 40 Nicolis di Robilant in September 1915.

AGORDO The Italian territorial gains, therefore, were confined to the taking of Cortina

39 d’Ampezzo, abandoned by the Austrians because they considered it unassail- 8 18 able, Colle Santa Lucia and some hamlets in the Livinallongo-Buchenstein area 1 Forcella Lavaredo 21 Col Ciampon (three localities that at that time were at the extreme limits of Austrian South 2 Quota “2385” ai Piani di Lavaredo 22 Monte Tudaio Tyrol). The Austrians, helped by the German Alpenkorps, a special force of 3 Croda dell’Arghena 23 P.so Mauria - M. Miaron 9 19 26,000 men under the command of General Krafft von Dellmensingen, forti- 4 Giro del Col di Mezzo 24 P.so Mauria - Col Audoi fied themselves on the Dolomite peaks, Marmolada and Col di Lana, putting 5 Misurina - Monte Piana 25 Col Vidal up an almost unsurmountable barrier. In order to attack, the Italian forces 6 Rif. A. Bosi e Monte Piana 26 Anello dei Colli 10 20 slowly brought up the siege guns, not many to tell the truth, up to the ene- 7 Cristallino di Misurina 27 Forte Monte Ricco my lines in summer 1915 and took up positions on the front line and imme- 8 Valle delle Baracche 28 Batteria Castello GREAT WAR SITES IN THE PROVINCE OF BELLUNO diately behind. 9 Posizione “Edelweiss” - Sella del Sief 29 Forte Col Vaccher Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park A restricted document, No. 38, from the Calabria Brigade of the 18th Infantry 10 Sella Sief - Cima Sief 30 Monte Tranego Division, its title showing it to be a scale 1:25,000 outline sketch of winter 11 Cima Sief - Col di Lana 31 Forte Pian dell’Antro PRIMA LINEA CORTINA-MARMOLADA dislocations, undated but almost certainly relating to 1915, shows the fol- 12 Da Cima Lana ai Ciadiniéi 32 Col S. Anna - La Glories lowing positions: a regiment at Alleghe; HQ at the Hotel Posta, Caprile, with 13 Ciadinéi - Sella Sief 33 Vodo - Becco di Cuzze (Accesso A) General Carpi, and a battalion; three field batteries between Caprile and Roc- Installation of one of the two 152 Marinas on Col Da Daut (G. Angelini Foundation, architect A. Alpago Novello). 14 Variante Col de la Roda 34 Vodo - Becco di Cuzze (Accesso B) 9.1 COL DA DAUT - COL TORONT ca Pietore; two batteries at Rocca Pietore; in the higher area, near Salesei, a 15 Cima Lana - Costone Castello - Sella Sief 35 Monte Rite battalion of the 51st at Digonera, troops at Ronc and Battalion HQ at Moè;

Where not already mentioned, text and photos are supplied by Jacopo Da Val, Mario Fornaro, SFR Belluno. Where not already mentioned, text and photos are supplied by Jacopo Da Val, 9.2 MUSEO STORICO A SERAUTA-MARMOLADA The fundamental intention of this project is to acquaint the new generations with the splendid and enchanting places that were 16 Cima Lana - Agai e Palla 36 Col Pradamio two 149 batteries, a field battery and a 210 mm howitzer battery behind Col the backdrop to the terrible and tragic events involved in the Great War on the Dolomite front. The traces of 29 seemingly end- less months of struggle that have survived the passing of time enhance the fascination and the beauty of the landscape, teach- 17 Col Da Daut - Col Toront 37 Spiz Zuel Toront: Regimental and Battalion HQ at Salesei with mountain batteries; and ing us to observe, know and learn. 18 Museo storico a Serauta - Marmolada 38 Col de Saléra - Monte Punta History and description of the Great War sites an observation post on Mount Migogn, or Migon. Itineraries of various lengths and degrees of difficulty have been proposed for visiting these sites, some of them fully realis- able fully considering the needs of people with reduced mobility. The itineraries that are suggested have been selected bear- 19 Malga Ciapèla - Ombretta di Marmolada 39 Tagliata di San Martino In the Marmolada area: Regimental HQ and two companies at Sottoguda, Bat- ing some basic features in mind, such as historical significance, ease of access and nearness to other sites of historical interest. 20 Zona monumentale della Marmolada 40 Batteria Listolade talion HQ, a company, a mountain battery and a squad of Alpine troops and We hope that this new historical and cultural opportunity will find a large number of visitors and enthusiasts who not only of Revenue Guards at Malga Ciapèla; five platoons and two 51st Infantry com- love the mountains for their natural beauty but are able to perceive the relationship between man and nature, which has left Cover: top cable car station and Marmolada Great War Museum. A. Fornari very special traces in these spots as a result of the Great War. panies under the south wall of the mountain at the Ombretta Refuge (later Organising authorities and financing bodies Coordination: COMUNITË MONTANA AGORDINA - Via IV Novembre, 2 - 32021 Agordo (BL) - Italia called the Falier Refuge) in Val Ombretta; a platoon at Ombrettola and two

Tel. 0039 0437 62390 - Fax 0039 0437 62043 - Email [email protected] FREE OF CHARGE DISTRIBUTED “…the Alps see prodigies, not only on the part of individuals, but also of big patrols, platoons and whole companies. And not do we platoons at Ombretta. see feats performed by the most expert, but even the youngest recruits soon turn into accomplished climbers. Some new mountain I LUOGHI DELLA GRANDE GUERRA IN PROVINCIA DI BELLUNO Interventi di recupero e valorizzazione nei territori del Parco della Memoria In the Marmolada area towards Val d’Arei and the Fedaia pass: a 51st In- routes are even opened up under enemy fire to meet the needs of war..." (A. Berti). Progetto cofinanziato dall’Unione Europea mediante Fondo Europeo di Sviluppo Regionale A historical record to re-discover the Mountains, not to forget, to know the men that lived this tragic but extraordinary ad- Iniziativa Comunitaria Interreg IIIA Italia-Austria 2000-2006 - Progetto (Cod. VEN 222001) fantry battalion, Battalion HQ and a company at Tabià Palazza; and a bat- DIE ORTE DES ERSTEN WELTKRIEGES IN DER PROVINZ BELLUNO venture. Memories of war for paths of peace. Eingriffe der Wiederinstandsetzung und Valorisierung in den Gebieten des Erinnerungsparks tery of two 149 guns; opposite Mesola and Mount Padon: a position at Sass This has been, as it still is, the purpose of the work done by the Technical and Scientific Committee of the Italy-Austria Inter- Von der E.U. Unterstützes Projekt Mittels Europäischer Wärungsfonds zur Regionalen Entwicklung Gemeinschaftsinitiative Interreg IIIA Italien-Österreich 2000-2006 - Projekt (Cod. VEN 222001) di Mulo, two company positions at Tabià Erre, a platoon at the Lago dairy cot- reg III A project called "Great War sites in the Province of Belluno. Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial GREAT WAR SITES IN THE PROVINCE OF BELLUNO Park". The results of the Committee's labours are the guides and leaflets that give everyone the chance to tackle easy itiner- Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park tage, two field batteries and a position on Cima Val Bruna. Project co-financed by the European Union through European Found for Regional Developmen aries and experience life on the front line at first hand, realising the difficulties of the existence at an altitude of more than 2,000 Community Initiative Interreg IIIA Italia-Austria 2000-2006 - Project (Cod. VEN 222001) Col di Lana was attacked repeatedly and was taken on 17-18 April 1916, the metres of the soldiers of the opposing armies. This is to remember that the war is not something that has been forgotten and that, in the words of Surgeon Second-Lieutenant summit being blown up by a powerful mine. On Marmolada the Italians reached Gino Frontali, "...it is not a parenthesis that we can hasten to close to go back to what we were saying before...". the Vu saddle at 3,065 metres, but could not get any further, nor could they

Coordination and Scientific and Technical Committee CONTINUE

dered on 11 November 1918. November 11 on dered to Marmolada and Col di Lana, as it did to the rest of the Dolomites, and the and Dolomites, the of rest the to did it as Lana, di Col and Marmolada to Regiment, the authorities, veterans’ associations and ordinary civilians. ordinary and associations veterans’ authorities, the Regiment, thou- several is estimate the either: Marmolada on died who those garding

also have been attacked by Italy from the rear through Austria and surren- and Austria through rear the from Italy by attacked been have also new rearward front line from Grappa to Montello and the Piave. Silence returned Silence Piave. the and Montello to Grappa from line front rearward new the resting place of known and unknown soldiers, attended by the Italian Alpine Italian the by attended soldiers, unknown and known of place resting the re- data exact no are There Italian. were two-thirds about German): in berg

Germany, already under great pressure on the French front and in retreat, could retreat, in and front French the on pressure great under already Germany, from 25 October to 9 November 1917, the Italians withdrew to positions on the on positions to withdrew Italians the 1917, November 9 to October 25 from niversary of the end of the war on the Italian front on 4 November at this shrine, this at November 4 on front Italian the on war the of end the of niversary (Blut- Hill Bloody dubbed was which Lana, di Col on died men 18,000 to 10,000

of the Great War and to the end of hostilities on the entire Western front: Western entire the on hostilities of end the to and War Great the of After the Austro-German offensive at Caporetto and the consequent Italian rout Italian consequent the and Caporetto at offensive Austro-German the After all those who gave their lives for their country is held every year on the an- the on year every held is country their for lives their gave who those all from experts, various by estimates to according but, statistics, definite no are

4 November, sealed the Italian victory and its important contribution to the end the to contribution important its and victory Italian the sealed November, 4 and cavern shelters. shelters. cavern and War Cemetery at Livinallongo del Col di Lana. A ceremony to commemorate to ceremony A Lana. di Col del Livinallongo at Cemetery War There life. of loss great of price the at metres hundred few a of gains torial

signed at Villa Giusti in Padua on 3 November 1918, which came into force on force into came which 1918, November 3 on Padua in Giusti Villa at signed metres of snow that buried barrack buildings, men, cannons, trenches, mules trenches, cannons, men, buildings, barrack buried that snow of metres humed and gathered together, with or without names, in the Pian di Salesei di Pian the in names, without or with together, gathered and humed terri- insignificant claim to able being only armies opposing two the losers,

Vittorio Veneto, it was the turn of the Austrians to be routed and the armistice the and routed be to Austrians the of turn the was it Veneto, Vittorio of 1915-1916 and 1916-1917, in temperatures of -30° and -40° and tens of tens and -40° and -30° of temperatures in 1916-1917, and 1915-1916 of that had been buried loosely in numerous cemeteries in the fields were ex- were fields the in cemeteries numerous in loosely buried been had that or winners without ended Lana di Col and Marmolada on war mountain The

whole province of Belluno was under occupation for a year. After the battle of battle the After year. a for occupation under was Belluno of province whole sand, hundreds of whom died under avalanches in the two very cold winters cold very two the in avalanches under died whom of hundreds sand, During the Thirties, under Mussolini’s Fascist regime, the bodies of the fallen the of bodies the regime, Fascist Mussolini’s under Thirties, the During ice. the of heart the in excavated Ice” of “City the of out Austrians the prise

Archive).

Museum

(Marmolada

Lana

fired on Col di Col on fired

Toront. They Toront. Museum Archive). Museum

behind Col behind (Marmolada

howitzers pass, 1916-1917 pass, Daut. Da Col on

149 mm 149 Toront. Col the Ombrettola the position artillery

Summer 1916. Summer on position Shelter Italian barracks on barracks Italian to Repairs 10.1 MALGA CIAPéLA - OMBRETTA DI MARMOLADA MALGA CIAPÈLA-OMBRETTA DI MARMOLADA-OMBRETTOLA apart from a few short steeper stretches. Army vehicles, including artillery, went MEN AND EVENTS: MEMORIES OF THE GREAT WAR up this track during the Great War to bring provisions and ammunition to the Ezio Garibaldi saved by an anonymous DESCRIPTION OF THE ROUTE The Costabella-Marmolada sector HQ, under Brigade-Colonel Peppino Garibaldi, soldiers on the firing line on the Ombretta side of Marmolada. The short cut, a steep infantryman Uphill, sometimes on slight inclines and sometimes steep under the overhanging south wall the son of Ricciotti and the grandson of Giuseppe Garibaldi, the Hero of Two Worlds, path, is a turning up on the right, whereas the mule track, wider and with hair- During one of the innumerable attacks on of Marmolada to the 2,080-metre-high former Ombretta Refuge, now named Falier. Ren- was at Sottoguda, in a house that still exists next to the Ai Serrai Hotel, which has pin bends, goes towards Le Pale del Fop (2,550 m). Taking the path to the left, Col di Lana, while leading his troops to the dezvous: Sottoguda. Provincial road SP 641 to the Fedaia pass goes through the picturesque now been transformed into a general store. you will get to a fork leading to the Franzedas valley. Keeping right, you get to the attack Lieutenant Ezio Garibaldi was wound- Serrai gorge (also negotiable on foot, 2 km) to Malga Ciapèla (Rocca Pietore) at 1,449 me- In May 1915 a 9th Army Corps garrison was stationed at Malga Ciapèla, in a num- beginning of the Ombretta valley, which opens up to show the gigantic south ed in the throat by a splinter, probably from tres. You can also get to Malga Ciapèla along the SP 641 by car instead of entering Sot- ber of barrack buildings with dormitories, facilities, stores and motor vehicle parks. wall of Marmolada and the Pale di Fop to the left. At the end Mount Ombrettola shrapnel bursting in the air above the in- toguda. There is a car park outside the bottom Marmolada cable car station. The first sec- There was also a hospital at Malga Ciapèla, in the hotel of the same name, which (2,931 m) closes the valley with Sasso Vernale (3,058 m) and the eastern Om- fantry. He fell to the ground bleeding and tion of the cableway goes to Serauta-Punta Rocca at 2,950 metres, where you will find the has been reconstructed and enlarged. Near here there was a Revenue Guard detach- bretta peaks (2,653 m). unconscious while his men went on with the Marmolada Great War Museum with a restaurant and various facilities. The Punta Serauta ment in a small masonry barrack building that still stands, modernised and with some Unique in shape, the Fungo di Ombretta (the Ombretta Mushroom, 2,653 m) stands action. There was no time to stop to come and Vu saddle War Monument area goes from about 3,000 to 3,065 metres. The second ca- minor alterations. out against the sky in rather an irreverent attitude, overlooking the Venice Alpine to the assistance of those who fell. When ble car section takes you to an altitude of 3,250 metres, where there is the Grotto of Our Near the Fedaia pass at the beginning of the Arei valley there is a small cemetery Club Falier Refuge (managers: the Dal Bon family of Canale d’Agordo). During the they retreated, however, unable to sustain the Lady of the Snows dug out of the living rock by the Alpine troops and a bronze statue by in a clearing on the right not far from the road which was the temporary resting war this was the Ombretta Refuge, built in 1911 and occupied by the 206th Com- unequal fight against the Austrian and Ger- sculptor Franco Fiabene, a gift from Pope John Paul II when he visited Marmolada in 1979. place of the first dead in this sector (the bodies were transferred to the Pian di Sale- pany of the Val Cordevole Battalion commanded by Captain Arturo Andreoletti, man machine-guns, an infantryman saw the From Malga Ciapèla you can go up a first tarmac section of road by motorised vehicles. The sei War Cemetery in the 1930s). who was one of the founders of the Italian Alpine Regiment Association after the officer on the ground. He examined the body road is narrow and the direction signs by the Hotel Malga Ciapèla indicate a camp at 800 The Italian troops communicated with advanced positions on the Marmolada front war. It was destroyed by Austrian shells, re-built and dedicated to Onorio Falier, with to see whether it was dead or alive and saw m, a farm restaurant at 1800 m, and that the road is Italian Alpine Club route 610. Other line at the Fedaia pass, the Padon pass, Mount Mesola, the Antermoia valley, the funds given by his family. a red shirt under the grey-green uniform, re- Ezio Garibaldi wounded on Col di Lana, 1916. route signs point the way to a number of other high-altitude mountaineering excursions. Ombretta pass, Forca Rossa and other surrounding spots such as Col Toront, Col Da The mule track then leads into a path that passes in front of the grassy Malga Om- alised that it was a Garibaldino and lifted it DURATION Daut and Mount Migogn. On the other side of the imposing ridge of Marmolada, the bretta, 1,904 metres, an hour’s walk from the refuge. Route 610 from the Falier Refuge onto his shoulders, carried the dead weight to the first advanced first-aid post Austrians held positions on Padon, Col di Lana, Settsass, Sasso di Stria, Lagazuoi, To- leads to the Ombretta pass; the expert or the historian’s eye will see traces of the From 3 to 4 hours on a normal path, depending on walking speed: short cut 2,5 to 3,5 hours. and entrusted it to the Red Cross stretcher-bearers (he was presumably taken to fane and onwards in the direction of Cadore and Mount Piana. 1915-1917 war in every direction. Route 612 goes up the Ombretta valley; you can the Digonera hospital, ed. n.). DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY About a kilometre after the campsite, the gravel mule track can only be negoti- also head for the Banca di Valfredda saddle (2,777 m, route 678); or take route That nameless infantryman saved him from death. Ezio Garibaldi suffered all None. High mountain equipment needed. ated on foot, first climbing steeply and then continuing on a constant gradient 612 to the Bachet saddle (2,836 m) or the Ombrettola pass (2,864 m). the rest of his life, enduring serious pain because the surgeons kept him from being asphyxiated by inserting a tube of some kind into his windpipe, which had MARMOLADA been reduced to pulp. Live oral testimony from Anita Garibaldi, Enzo’s daughter, The view is taken up by the majesty of the best-known mountain group in the at the Red Cross Nurses during the Great War meeting at Arabba in July 2005 Dolomites, which stands among Veneto, Trentino and Alto Adige (South Tyrol) and the Cordevole, San Pellegrino, Biois and Fassa valleys. It culminates at a height of 3,342 metres (some say 3,44). The Austrians and Germans call it Die Marmolata. Curzio Malaparte wrote, “I have been clambering about in the rain in these mountains for a week: Col di Lana, the Contrin pass, the Fedaia pass on Marmolada ... where I fought as a private from June 1915 to the end of October 1917 ... I climb up the grassy slopes of Col di Lana, which we conquered one inch at a time under the bullets of the Austrian machine-guns and the shells from the fort at La Corte; from Caprile to Digonera, from Digonera to Pieve di Livinallongo, up the two terrible ribs of Salesei and Andraz up to the summit, up the valley that we called the Valley of Death, so full of dead was it, to Napoleon’s Hat, to the top of the mountain, and then on to the narrow rib of Mount Sief, towering over Arabba. And we were badly kitted out, badly fed, our boots without nails, almost without weapons, neither machine-guns nor hand-grenades, supported by poor artillery and only armed with the poor, dear 91 rifle.” Position at the Ombretta pass.

Italian barbed wire at Serauta, 1916 (Marmolada Museum Archive). The circle shows the cave where the 15 infantrymen were buried by the mine’s explosion. Small 1915-1917 mountain gun (Bartoli Archive, Marmolada Museum). Ruins of Italian position at Ombretta/ Ombrettola. THE 15 ITALIAN INFANTRYMEN BURIED BY A MINE The Vu saddle on Marmolada still holds a last secret. On 26 September 1917 Ital- Plan of the ians and Austrians were both frantically at work digging out mine tunnels on the Austrian City of Ice saddle with the intention of blowing up the enemy ensconced a few metres away, (Marmolada so near that during the day the sentries could look each other in the eye. The Aus- Museum Archive). trians won this dramatic race against time, and in the middle of the night their counter-mine surprised 15 Italian infantrymen and their Lieutenant Rosso, who Cabled path on the had already won a Silver Medal for Valour. The explosion caused their cavern to Forcella a Vu ridge to the Vu THE CITY OF ICE saddle fitted up by collapse, burying them all. The Marmolada City of Ice was conceived and designed by Leo Handl of Innsbruck, Alpine troops A project is in hand to recover the bodies of these infantrymen, whose names were an engineer that was the Commanding Officer of the Bergführer Company, to de- (Bartoli Archive, not even known until 1997, when they were discovered by Dott. Bartoli, and to give Marmolada fend the Austrians from Italian cannons and replenish the most advanced positions Museum). them proper burial in the Pian di Salesei War Cemetery at Livinallongo. The proj- on the ice while remaining under protection from machine-gun fire. It was a prop- ect partners are OnorCaduti (the Italian General Commission for Honouring the er fort under the surface of the ice at an altitude of 3,000 metres: there were about War Dead) in Rome, the Alpine troops of Bolzano and the Veneto Regional Coun- 30 wooden barrack huts for a garrison of 300 men in caverns excavated out of the cil. The attempt at recovery was strongly argued by the person that conceived and ice that exploited the geometry of the crevasses, connected with each other by ten built the Museum, Director Dott. Mario Bartoli, and by Dott. Bruno Vascellari, to twelve kilometres of tunnel as low as 50 metres under the surface. It was divid- the financial supporter, and was launched on 9 June 1990. The project was taken ed into 35 different areas, including storerooms, an infirmary, a bar, an air gener- over by the Marmolada Museum studies centre operations committee in 2004. ator, latrines, barrack huts, canteens, kitchens and even a chapel for Sunday Mass, The President of Italy, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, expressed a lively interest in the trag- as well as the obvious depots for munitions and arms of various kinds. ic fate of the fifteen infrantrymen, in response to a moving address by the ninety- What now remains of the City of Ice are four barrack huts that emerge from the year-old Dott. Bartoli, and has urged the competent organisation, OnorCaduti, Com- eternal snows of Marmolada each summer, and a fifth anchored to the rock of the missioner General Bruno Scandone, to do what they can to further the project’s goals. Vu saddle, where one of the tunnel entrances was. Work is in progress on the The Veneto Regional Council (President Giancarlo Galan and Councillor Floriana difficult work of restoring these constructions, strongly promoted by the Marmo- Pra) has provided a first sum of 25,000 euro to finance the work and complete the lada Museum studies centre. act of piety towards these infantrymen by finding their buried bodies. Istituto Geografico Militare - Aut. n. 6109 del 12.10.2005 10.2 ZONA MONUMENTALE DELLA MARMOLADA To go to the Vu saddle, whether you go through the tunnel or along the ridge, you which the city nestled. The time for the return journey is from 2 to 3 hours in- will need a helmet, a torch and crampons with you if there is ice in the tunnel and cluding a visit to the observation cavern, first Austrian and then Italian, at 3,065 There are two itineraries through the Marmolada War Monument area in the sum- gloves, snap-hooks and a rope for safety on the exposed stretches of cabled path. metres. mer: one to the left from the cable car station at Serauta, through the Rosso Tun- The sheer drop into the Antermoia valley 500 metres below is to the left of the The second cableway section takes you to Rocca della Grotta, excavated by the Alpine Malga Ombretta. path leading to the entrance to the Rosso Tunnel. troops as a home for Our Lady of the Snows and to protect her from the elements. The Ombretta Refuge, nel, coming out through a window in the rock onto the Vu saddle, and one to the an hour’s walk away, right along the cabled path along the ridge to the Vu saddle. If you turn right from the cable car station and do not take the tunnel route to This is a Queen of the Christian faith given to the Queen of the Dolomites, Mar- was destroyed by The Alpine troops have restored the entire area where there was fighting at 3,065 the Vu saddle, you will find that the path along the ridge is very narrow and ex- molada, by Pope John Paul II when he visited Marmolada, recited the Angelus in a shelling, reconstructed metres and the Rosso Tunnel, freeing it from the ice that blocked the entire 230 posed, although, as mentioned, it is cabled. To the left, along the ridge path to snowstorm and imparted his blessing to the whole world on 26 August 1979. and named after Onorio Falier. metres of its length in the heart of the mountain; they have also installed steel the Vu saddle, you will look down over the Ombretta valley, 650 sheer metres be- The refuges at the intermediate cableway station, where the Museum is, and at ropes on the path along the ridge to the Vu saddle and its branch towards the low, and on the right there is a 300-metre drop to the Marmolada glacier, where the top station at Punta Rocca have a bar, a restaurant and the usual facilities for position at 3,065 metres. the Austrian City of Ice used to be. You can still see the menacing crevasses in tourists and visitors. LIST OF ITINERARIES 1 11 GENERAL INFORMATION

BRIEF CHRONICLE OF THE MILITARY OPERATIONS 2 12 ON MARMOLADA DURING THE GREAT WAR 3 2 6 1 7 4 8 5 Until 24 May 1915, the date on which fighting began between the Kingdom of

AURONZO DI CADORE 3 13 Italy, governed by Victor Emmanuel III of Savoy, and the Austro-Hungarian Em- CORTINA D’AMPEZZO peror, ruled over by Franz Josef of Hapsburg, Marmolada was considered an area 21 26 22 25 of small military importance. In the Dolomites sector, the main offensive effort, 4 14 commanded by General Luigi Cadorna, was aimed at breaking through the Aus- 9 10 11 24 trian front in Val Pusteria (Pusterthal) with the intention of reaching Fortezza 12 13 23 14 15 16 and the Brenner Pass. This would have isolated the Austrian concentrations in Trenti- 17 29 5 15 18 19 32 30 no. Marmolada, therefore, at first remained no-man’s land, there only being the 20 27 28 31 MARMOLADA 34 occasional reconnaissance patrol on its slopes. When the two opposing high com- 33 PIEVE DI CADORE 35 mands came to see Marmolada as an area with a certain strategic importance, it 37 6 16 ZOLDO too became a theatre of war. The military operations can be divided into three 38 36 chronological phases. 7 17 40 Phase I, from 24 May 1915 to spring 1916: this period was characterised by slack

AGORDO fighting, mainly concentrated on the parallel chains of Mounts Padon (2,512 m)

39 and Mesola (2,462 m) to the north and Costabella (2,762 m) and Cima Uomo (3,010 8 18 m) to the south, while on the actual Marmolada massif there were only sporadic 1 Forcella Lavaredo 21 Col Ciampon skirmishes between patrols. Unfortunately there was very heavy snow in the win- 2 Quota “2385” ai Piani di Lavaredo 22 Monte Tudaio ter of 1915-1916 and the whole area suffered colossal avalanches. In March 1916 3 Croda dell’Arghena 23 P.so Mauria - M. Miaron 9 19 above all there were large numbers of military and civilian victims at Tabià Palaz- 4 Giro del Col di Mezzo 24 P.so Mauria - Col Audoi zo, Malga Ciapèla and the Serrai di Sottoguda gorge, near Rocca Pietore. 5 Misurina - Monte Piana 25 Col Vidal Phase II, from March 1916 to February 1917: particularly violent fighting de- 6 Rif. A. Bosi e Monte Piana 26 Anello dei Colli 10 20 veloped and intensified after Marmolada was discovered to be a mountain of 7 Cristallino di Misurina 27 Forte Monte Ricco strategic military significance. The Austrian headquarters first realised the ad- 8 Valle delle Baracche 28 Batteria Castello GREAT WAR SITES IN THE PROVINCE OF BELLUNO visability and importance of making sure of the permanent control of the dom- 9 Posizione “Edelweiss” - Sella del Sief 29 Forte Col Vaccher Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park inant positions and ordered the occupation - with observation posts and small 10 Sella Sief - Cima Sief 30 Monte Tranego garrisons - of the Marmolada saddle at 2,896 m, Punta Penia (3,344 m), Pun- 11 Cima Sief - Col di Lana 31 Forte Pian dell’Antro PRIMA LINEA CORTINA-MARMOLADA ta Rocca (3,309 m), Sass delle Undici (or Sass de Mesdi, 2,480 m), Sass delle 12 Da Cima Lana ai Ciadiniéi 32 Col S. Anna - La Glories Dodici (or Sass de Mèz, 2,742 m) and the Vu saddle (3,000 m). From these po- 13 Ciadinéi - Sella Sief 33 Vodo - Becco di Cuzze (Accesso A) sitions they commanded and harassed the Italian troops in the Pettorina val- Pack animals going through the Sottoguda gorge (Bartoli Archive, Marmolada Museum). 14 Variante Col de la Roda 34 Vodo - Becco di Cuzze (Accesso B) 10.1 MALGA CIAPéLA - OMBRETTA DI MARMOLADA ley (Rocca Pietore and Alleghe) and those attacking Col di Lana (2,454 m), which 15 Cima Lana - Costone Castello - Sella Sief 35 Monte Rite was firmly held by the Austrians with the assistance of German Alpenkorps units.

Where not already mentioned, text and photos are supplied by Jacopo Da Val, Mario Fornaro, SFR Belluno. Where not already mentioned, text and photos are supplied by Jacopo Da Val, 10.2 ZONA MONUMENTALE DELLA MARMOLADA The fundamental intention of this project is to acquaint the new generations with the splendid and enchanting places that were 16 Cima Lana - Agai e Palla 36 Col Pradamio Worried by this initiative, Italian headquarters hastened to follow the example the backdrop to the terrible and tragic events involved in the Great War on the Dolomite front. The traces of 29 seemingly end- less months of struggle that have survived the passing of time enhance the fascination and the beauty of the landscape, teach- 17 Col Da Daut - Col Toront 37 Spiz Zuel set by the Austrians: on 8 April 1916 a detachment of the Val Cordevole Bat- ing us to observe, know and learn. 18 Museo storico a Serauta - Marmolada 38 Col de Saléra - Monte Punta History and description of the Great War sites talion of the 7th Alpine Regiment ascended the Antermoia valley at night and Itineraries of various lengths and degrees of difficulty have been proposed for visiting these sites, some of them fully realis- able fully considering the needs of people with reduced mobility. The itineraries that are suggested have been selected bear- 19 Malga Ciapèla - Ombretta di Marmolada 39 Tagliata di San Martino occupied the Serauta saddle at 3,065 metres, leaving a small garrison from ing some basic features in mind, such as historical significance, ease of access and nearness to other sites of historical interest. 20 Zona monumentale della Marmolada 40 Batteria Listolade the Alpi Battalion of the 51st Infantry Regiment. The Austrian reaction followed We hope that this new historical and cultural opportunity will find a large number of visitors and enthusiasts who not only immediately and on 13 April 1916, on a day of polar cold and prohibitive weath- love the mountains for their natural beauty but are able to perceive the relationship between man and nature, which has left Cover: Marmolada today, a skiers’ paradise, the former 1915-1917 City of Ice (Bartoli Archive, Marmolada Museum). A. Fornari very special traces in these spots as a result of the Great War. er conditions, a unit attacked and overcame the very small number of Italian Organising authorities and financing bodies Coordination: COMUNITË MONTANA AGORDINA - Via IV Novembre, 2 - 32021 Agordo (BL) - Italia defenders, taking the position back. On 30 April 1916, however, in a raid that

Tel. 0039 0437 62390 - Fax 0039 0437 62043 - Email [email protected] FREE OF CHARGE DISTRIBUTED “…the Alps see prodigies, not only on the part of individuals, but also of big patrols, platoons and whole companies. And not do we had been carefully planned by the Commanding Officer of the Antermoia sec- see feats performed by the most expert, but even the youngest recruits soon turn into accomplished climbers. Some new mountain I LUOGHI DELLA GRANDE GUERRA IN PROVINCIA DI BELLUNO Interventi di recupero e valorizzazione nei territori del Parco della Memoria tor, Captain Menotti Garibaldi, a detachment from the 7th Alpine Regiment and routes are even opened up under enemy fire to meet the needs of war..." (A. Berti). Progetto cofinanziato dall’Unione Europea mediante Fondo Europeo di Sviluppo Regionale A historical record to re-discover the Mountains, not to forget, to know the men that lived this tragic but extraordinary ad- Iniziativa Comunitaria Interreg IIIA Italia-Austria 2000-2006 - Progetto (Cod. VEN 222001) the 51st Infantry Regiment climbed the minor peaks on the ridge, Piz Serauta DIE ORTE DES ERSTEN WELTKRIEGES IN DER PROVINZ BELLUNO venture. Memories of war for paths of peace. Eingriffe der Wiederinstandsetzung und Valorisierung in den Gebieten des Erinnerungsparks (2,942 m) and Punta Serauta (2,963 m), and attacked the Austrian position on This has been, as it still is, the purpose of the work done by the Technical and Scientific Committee of the Italy-Austria Inter- Von der E.U. Unterstützes Projekt Mittels Europäischer Wärungsfonds zur Regionalen Entwicklung Gemeinschaftsinitiative Interreg IIIA Italien-Österreich 2000-2006 - Projekt (Cod. VEN 222001) the Serauta saddle from above, taking it for good after a further frontal at- reg III A project called "Great War sites in the Province of Belluno. Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial GREAT WAR SITES IN THE PROVINCE OF BELLUNO Park". The results of the Committee's labours are the guides and leaflets that give everyone the chance to tackle easy itiner- Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park tack by a 51st Infantry unit coming up from the Antermoia valley. Two days lat- Project co-financed by the European Union through European Found for Regional Developmen aries and experience life on the front line at first hand, realising the difficulties of the existence at an altitude of more than 2,000 Community Initiative Interreg IIIA Italia-Austria 2000-2006 - Project (Cod. VEN 222001) er, on 2 May 1916, the Italians also got to an altitude of 3,065 metres, while metres of the soldiers of the opposing armies. This is to remember that the war is not something that has been forgotten and that, in the words of Surgeon Second-Lieutenant the Austrian units fell back on the Vu saddle, which had proved to be of fun- Gino Frontali, "...it is not a parenthesis that we can hasten to close to go back to what we were saying before...". damental strategic importance. On 18 and 30 June and 2 July 1916 the Aus-

Coordination and Scientific and Technical Committee CONTINUE

trian barrack quarter called Gran Poz under Punta Penia, killing about 300 soldiers. 300 about killing Penia, Punta under Poz Gran called quarter barrack trian mountain. same unit attacked and succeeded in taking another tunnel at the foot of the west the of foot the at tunnel another taking in succeeded and attacked unit same on the Piave, Montello and Grappa. Marmolada became no-man’s land again. land no-man’s became Marmolada Grappa. and Montello Piave, the on

avalanches on both sides. The most disastrous was the one that crushed the Aus- the crushed that one the was disastrous most The sides. both on avalanches the last man, as they considered it a key position for the defence of the entire the of defence the for position key a it considered they as man, last the the Austrians out and took their place. Five days later, on 26 September 1917, the 1917, September 26 on later, days Five place. their took and out Austrians the rout at Caporetto that had started on 25 October, falling back to the new front line front new the to back falling October, 25 on started had that Caporetto at rout

The winter of 1916-1917 was also exceptionally snowy, and there were numerous were there and snowy, exceptionally also was 1916-1917 of winter The part, the Austrian troops intended to retain the Vu saddle at all costs and to and costs all at saddle Vu the retain to intended troops Austrian the part, grotto and a 51st Infantry unit under Lieutenant Flavio Rosso, of Novi Ligure, drove Ligure, Novi of Rosso, Flavio Lieutenant under unit Infantry 51st a and grotto On 4 November 1917, the Italian troops abandoned Marmolada as a result of the of result a as Marmolada abandoned troops Italian the 1917, November 4 On

City of Ice (Die Eisstadt). (Die Ice of City some barrack huts, also setting up a precarious hand-operated cableway. For their For cableway. hand-operated precarious a up setting also huts, barrack some tion of wall gave way, furious hand-to-hand fighting broke out in the darkness of the of darkness the in out broke fighting hand-to-hand furious way, gave wall of tion ascent up a previously fitted-up cabled route from the saddle. the from route cabled fitted-up previously a up ascent

giving the complex the structure of a proper residential area that they called the called they that area residential proper a of structure the complex the giving they were in close contact with the enemy, they built an enormous cavern and cavern enormous an built they enemy, the with contact close in were they dle came out into an Austrian grotto just under 3,065 metres. When the last sec- last the When metres. 3,065 under just grotto Austrian an into out came dle bel, the Alpine soldiers took the strategic Austrian position after an daredevil night daredevil an after position Austrian strategic the took soldiers Alpine the bel,

tricity generator cabin and even a chapel for Mass not to speak of other facilities, other of speak to not Mass for chapel a even and cabin generator tricity and machine-guns and installing a system of cableways. At 3,065 metres, where metres, 3,065 At cableways. of system a installing and machine-guns and On 20 and 21 September 1917, a 230-metre-long Italian attack tunnel on the Vu sad- Vu the on tunnel attack Italian 230-metre-long a 1917, September 21 and 20 On l’Osbel of La Valle Agordina (known as Ross Faghèr) and Corporal Pietro Dell’Os- Pietro Corporal and Faghèr) Ross as (known Agordina Valle La of l’Osbel

as dormitories, storerooms, gunpowder depots, an infirmary, meeting huts, an elec- an huts, meeting infirmary, an depots, gunpowder storerooms, dormitories, as posts, putting up powerful searchlights, preparing emplacements for artillery for emplacements preparing searchlights, powerful up putting posts, ed Italian attempts to take the key position at the Vu saddle proved unsuccessful. proved saddle Vu the at position key the take to attempts Italian ed metres, where the jeering was coming from. Under Sergeant-Major Giacomo Del- Giacomo Sergeant-Major Under from. coming was jeering the where metres,

these tunnels, where there were even direction signs, they fashioned areas to serve to areas fashioned they signs, direction even were there where tunnels, these by excavating caverns in the rock, building barrack huts, setting up observation up setting huts, barrack building rock, the in caverns excavating by ca, Sass delle Undici, Sass delle Dodici, Col de Bous and the City of Ice. The repeat- The Ice. of City the and Bous de Col Dodici, delle Sass Undici, delle Sass ca, Giulia and eastern Veneto, decided to get even by attacking the position at 3,153 at position the attacking by even get to decided Veneto, eastern and Giulia

under the surface of the glacier going down to a depth of about 50 metres. Inside metres. 50 about of depth a to down going glacier the of surface the under fortified their positions at Punta and the Serauta saddle, and, at altitude 3,065, altitude at and, saddle, Serauta the and Punta at positions their fortified and at 3,065 metres, the Austrians on the Marmolada saddle, Punta Penia, Punta Roc- Punta Penia, Punta saddle, Marmolada the on Austrians the metres, 3,065 at and acclaiming the Austrian breakthrough at Caporetto and the invasion of Venezia of invasion the and Caporetto at breakthrough Austrian the acclaiming

es to dig out a complex system of tunnels from ten to twelve kilometres in length in kilometres twelve to ten from tunnels of system complex a out dig to es easier to reach logistically and more defendable tactically. The Italian troops Italian The tactically. defendable more and logistically reach to easier tain and reinforce their positions, the Italians on Punta Serauta, the Serauta saddle Serauta the Serauta, Punta on Italians the positions, their reinforce and tain the Val Cordevole Battalion of the 70th Regiment, provoked by some Austrian signs Austrian some by provoked Regiment, 70th the of Battalion Cordevole Val the

Lieutenant Leo Handl, had the idea of exploiting the geometry of the deep crevass- deep the of geometry the exploiting of idea the had Handl, Leo Lieutenant belligerents to devote their efforts to strengthening their positions to make them make to positions their strengthening to efforts their devote to belligerents hand, was the immobility of the two armies’ lines. Both formations tried to main- to tried formations Both lines. armies’ two the of immobility the was hand, On 28 October 1917, a party of Agordo Alpine troops from the 206th Company of Company 206th the from troops Alpine Agordo of party a 1917, October 28 On

by the explosion. The Vu saddle, however, remained firmly in Italian hands. Italian in firmly remained however, saddle, Vu The explosion. the by sition was completely exposed to Italian fire. Their Commanding Officer, Engineer Officer, Commanding Their fire. Italian to exposed completely was sition The approach of General Winter, the common enemy, made it advisable for the for advisable it made enemy, common the Winter, General of approach The Phase III, March 1917 to 4 November 1918: the feature of this period, on the other the on period, this of feature the 1918: November 4 to 1917 March III, Phase

in the summer when the snow thawed. snow the when summer the in Lieutenant Rosso and 15 infantrymen in it, burying them in the rubble produced rubble the in them burying it, in infantrymen 15 and Rosso Lieutenant bloody Italian attacks. attacks. Italian bloody dangerous operation both owing to the nature of the glacier and because the po- the because and glacier the of nature the to owing both operation dangerous

300,000 tons of snow swept down on the barracks; many bodies were only found only were bodies many barracks; the on down swept snow of tons 300,000 shoulder of the Vu saddle. The Austrians set up a mine and blew the tunnel up, with up, tunnel the blew and mine a up set Austrians The saddle. Vu the of shoulder trian defenders of this position successfully threw back three persistent and persistent three back threw successfully position this of defenders trian Above all, holding the position made it easier to bring supplies, a very difficult and difficult very a supplies, bring to easier it made position the holding all, Above

Archive).

Museum Museum).

Historical War Historical Museum). Marmolada

(Rovereto Archive, Marmolada Archive, Archive, (Bartoli

cabled path. cabled “Malga Ciapéla” “Malga m, 1995 (Bartoli 1995 m, 1916 Ice, of

shelter on the Eterna the on shelter former hotel former blocked by ice at 3,000 at ice by blocked City Marmolada

Grotto and tunnel and Grotto hospital in a in hospital Rosso tunnel, half tunnel, Rosso the in bridge a

Punta Serauta. Punta Italian military Italian Italian rest hut in the in hut rest Italian on unit Austrian 11.1 COL CIAMPON (m.1050) THE POSITION ON COL CIAMPON This entire military system had the basic purpose of commanding the two roads metres long, open gorges and short sides only 8 metres long. Access from the The proposed itinerary enables you to visit the Col Ciampon support position, built on the valley bed that went from Cima Gogna to Auronzo and Santo Stefano, south was barred by a palisade with a perimeter of more than 50 metres and DESCRIPTION OF THE ROUTE between 1900 and 1917. and was supported by mines laid along these routes. there were 4 field guns. The positions on the hill overlooking the narrow Tre Ponti passage can be reached Leave your car in Piazzale Arena at Laggio and walk along Via Villanova to Val, It was a typical mountain defence layout with the defenders positioned behind The 75 mm gun emplacements, the ammunition store, the two shelters for pho- by an easy military road, planned and built for artillery movements. Even if the and then take the former military road. it in the most favourable position to counter more numerous enemy forces emerg- toelectric appliances and supporting defences are still visible on the small lev- works are simply constructed, they are worth visiting because they were the fore- After about one kilometre, you will get to Rota, where the road levels and enters ing from a narrow space, beating them down with concentric fire and throwing el space on the top of Col Ciampon. runners of the more modern forts constructed at the beginning of the twenti- the wood. them back while they had a defile behind them. This artillery position, a few metres from the edge of the flat top, trained west- eth century. Rendezvous in Piazzale Arena, Laggio, Vigo di Cadore (945 m). A botany trail has been created here in memory of Gabriele Larese. When the mule- This area was involved in the aftermath of the 3rd Italian War of Independence: wards, clearly shows the purpose of these installations: to direct the fire of DIFFERENCE IN ALTITUDE track comes to a wide bend at Val Zenaria, look down at the foundations for the on 14 August 1866, two days after the armistice was signed at Cormons, a thou- two field guns on the defile below and operate in visual combination with the barracks that housed the Col Ciampon garrison during the Great War. From here, sand Austrian volunteers from Auronzo were stopped by 300 Italians, partly reg- batteries lower down on the hills of Vigo. About 100 metres. the track continues for 500 metres at a slight gradient up a section dug out of ular troops and party volunteers; and even before that, P.F. Calvi set up a barri- The path continues to the right of the top, reaching the little Church of San DURATION the rock with big scarp and counterscarp walls and a series of typical Stations cade here, with cannon and a permanent guard. Daniele (1,197 m) after 20 minutes. 3-4 hours; there are opportunities to stop on the way, according to the degree of the Cross by the wayside. Apart from Col Ciampon, other hills on which there were strong positions were From here there is a wide-open view over the other side of the Piave and cen- of interest in the various works that can be visited. After a small niche to Saint Teresa, you will get to Col Ciampon with its block- Col Tagliardo (930 m), Col delle Rive (959 m), Col Piccolo (1,038 m) and Col Pe- tral Cadore. DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY houses protecting the rear of the position. los (830 m). From here, too, a rather difficult path leads to the top of Col de Poeca (1,406 Tourist route; suitable for people with reduced mobility, but not for wheelchairs. The works on Col Ciampon were part of a defence system designed immediately Situated on a moraine that was longitudinal to the valley, they controlled access m), where the intermediate tower was erected of the long cableway from the OTHER INFORMATION after 1866 on all the hills around the Tre Ponti passage, where the singular Y- from the north and were equipped with field artillery served by military roads that plain of Cialea to the fort on Mount Tudaio. An excursion to Vigo may also include a visit to the Biblioteca Storica Cadori- shaped construction rising 28 metres above the Piave and the Ansiei, which at linked them from the back with the Pelos - Vigo - Laggio road, the only civilian na (Cadore Historical Library) and churches which have become national mon- that point squeezed through deep, narrow gorges, could easily be knocked down road in the valley. uments (San Martino, Madonna della Difesa, Sant’ Orsola, Santa Margherita, San- by artillery, thus preventing all further transit. The works were field forts for the protection of infantry with straight façades 35 t’Antonio Abate, San Bemardino). THE CHURCH OF SAN DANIELE (1,197 m) The small church of San Daniele and San Gottardo, on the side of Col de FERDINANDO PECCO Poeca, which can be reached by a steep 20-minute climb from Col Ciampon, is well known and a very popular with visitors in the summer. The local peo- De Donà G. Military shelters on Losco. Cavaliere Ferdinando Pecco (1864 -1929), was an Italian Army Engineers officer from On the Losco pass and on the rocky spur overlooking ple look upon it as their own little shrine, an important element in the histo- Ivrea. He worked on the fortifications of Bardonecchia from 1888 to 1890, in Ady-Caiè, the Inferna valley stand the ruins of two military ry of their native land, a comforting protector that Providence has asked to Eritrea, in 1896 and on the batteries and roadblocks in Val d’Aosta from 1900 to 1904. shelters built between the late nineteenth and early watch over their homes and harvests. He was posted to Cadore in April 1905 with the rank twentieth century. They were a support base for the troops controlling the Casera Razzo plateau. A watchtower is thought to have stood here during the Roman period, because

of Captain. He was to have been in charge of the fort on Istituto Geografico Militare - Aut. n. 6109 del 12.10.2005 a document dating back to 1200 shows that the area below Col de Poeca and Col Piccolo as Commanding Officer of the 3rd Sapper Col Ciampon was referred to as “Sub Castello”. The Roman presence is also Company of the 5th Regiment of Engineers, but only confirmed by numerous objects, such as buckles and other objects, that have had time to carry out an exemplary survey of Mount come to light, mainly during the substantial military works in 1915. Tudaio, which was sent to Engineers HQ on 29 Septem- There was already a church here in 1345; it was rebuilt in 1350 with the addi- ber 1908, when a sudden order came for him to be trans- tion of a bell in 1525. ferred to the other end of Italy, where an earthquake had Even though the feast of San Daniele falls on 3 January, in Vigo the Saint’s name hit Sicily and Calabria in December 1908. He was put in was, and still is, celebrated on 28 August, the day after the cattle come down command of two companies of Sappers in the disaster from the mountains. area at Reggio Calabria,, carried out his duties well and De Donà G. With the arrival of the Napoleonic troops and the succession of political and distinguished himself, among other things, by prepar- social upheavals that followed, interest in this small church decreased until it

ing a survey of the buildings in the town that was pub- De Donà G. fell into ruins; the re- lished in 1910. mains of this old When his tour of duty in Calabria ended, he was once church, a stone Gothic again put in charge of the Vigo unit in Cadore. With the benefit of the experience he construction, can still had acquired, he persuaded his superiors to have forts built on Mount Tudaio and Col Vi- be seen about 10 metres dal, and there were also two marvellous roads among his achievements: one 8 kilome- below the present tres long to the top of Tudaio at 2,114 metres and the 18-kilometre-long road to Col Vi- building. dal. These were followed by other impressive construction feats, such as the military roads After the storms and to Misurina, the Razzo dairy cottage and Mount Miaron, as well as barrack buildings political difficulties of and observation posts in the areas of Antoia, Pian dei Buoi and the Losco pass. The G. Spagnolli bivouac (2,045 m), built by the Vigo branch of the Italian Alpine Club the first half of the After being promoted to Major and years of patient work, in 1911 he was investigated, in 1985, stands on the site of an old barracks that, in 1916-17, housed the workers responsible for laying the mule-track between Starezza and Forcella Ciadin Alto Ovest nineteenth century had charged and imprisoned to await prosecution for a number of serious offences, includ- and constructing the relative defence works on the heights above it. It is accessible by abated, the devout being incompetence during his building works and committing accounting irregularities a 2-hour walk along the easy path from Fontanelle (1,300 m) in the Piova valley, to gan worshipping their in his personal interest. All the people of Cadore involved in the works he had carried the left of the road for the Razzo dairy cottage. patron saint with re- out rallied round “their” Major, giving a considerable amount of evidence during the var- newed vigour and ious trials that were held in Padua and Verona in the hope of proving the honesty and wished to implore his competence of the accused. The proceedings ended in 1914 with his being completely Col Piccolo fort, above Vigo, was built aid in a new and more cleared by the board of inquiry, and before long Pecco was called to carry out important between 1905 and 1909 on the site of decorous building. De Donà G. P a pre-existing battery constructed in duties on the Carnia front during the Great War, and was eventually made a General. 1890. It contained 4 guns protected by The first stone was laid The bitter experience of his trial, however, left a deep mark on the nature of this Pied- armoured Armstrong cupolas, but it was Col Ciampon, the location of an artillery in 1862; during the digging, a number of human bones came to light, some destroyed by the Austrians in October montese officer; they also, very unfortunately, entailed huge delays in the execution of position in1890; it was further strengthened of them of an unusual size. 1918. In 1943 it was occupied by Nazi between 1915 and 1917 by a powerful the Italian defence works. In 1917, the other Colonels and Generals that had taken his troops and stormed by partisans on 11 The new little church was inaugurated in the same year and it was restored searchlight, 8 cannon emplacements and a place while the forts were constructed and set up proved to be incapable of turning September 1944. In 1945 it was turned complex system of blockhouse positions to in 1965 and 1984. into an eyewear factory and until the the self-sacrifice and skill Pecco had put into his work into account, and thus betrayed protect the installation. The illustration is an The entire area was involved in military works at the end of the nineteenth end of the twentieth century it was the hopes that the whole country had pinned on these fortifications, which had been exact reconstruction of one of these positions. used as an army broadcasting centre. century and during the Great War, and the section of path between Ciampon considered impregnable. The illustration shows the arms of the and San Daniele Church was widened. 5th Sapper Engineers Regiment, whose Artistic worth aside, the main attraction of this little church for local people men worked on the fortification. and tourists is the fascination of its humble, devout architecture, harmonis- ing with its human and natural environment. 11.2 MONTE TUDAIO (m. 2114)

DESCRIPTION OF THE ROUTE THE FORT ON MOUNT TUDAIO Look at the big water tanks at Col dell’Elma and go on to La Pala di Jarone, Le Masiere, of an inverted U, with four 149A gunpits covered by armoured Armstrong cupolas The ruins of the big armoured fort can be reached by the military road that Leave your car near the Pino Solitario chalet and take the military road across Pian Il Pezzolon and Pian delle Mede and, after an hour, you will reach Col Muto, where weighing 180 tons, whose aim could be corrected from an observatory further goes up a series of inclines for 8.2 km from Rio Soandre (897 m) to the top of della Loppa (Wolf’s Plain) as far as the bed of the Rio Soandre. From there a path you can visit the long tunnel excavated between 1916 and 1917 as an alternative up. Near the battery you can still see the ruins of the top station of the biggest Tudaio (2,114 m). There is a spectacular view from the summit, mainly over cen- to your left gives takes you to the cavern works of Vallo Alpino del Littorio, con- to the fort. of the fort’s cableways. tral Cadore and the valley of the Ansiei. Rendezvous: in Piazzale Arena at Lag- structed between 1939 and 1941. It penetrates the entire hill and comes out into four embrasures over Comelico and It is not advisable to visit the tunnels in the fort because there is danger of col- gio di Cadore (945 m), from which you can drive to the car park just past the Resuming the uphill military road built by army Engineers and local workers between the Ansiei valley. Go on climbing, passing the Tofo tunnel to Panere, where the re- lapse. Pino Solitario chalet at 897 m. The route then continues across the Ciariè val- 1909 and 1912, you will come to the first bends, at Le Calade, and, after about 45 mains of barrack huts still stand, including the workers’ hut with traces of a bread The fortified perimeter, protected by a triple ring of defences, should have en- ley and up the military road. minutes’ walk, Pian de Liberal, where you will see the first of the two barracks that oven. abled about 200 men to hold out indefinitely, even if the enemy invaded from DIFFERENCE IN ALTITUDE were erected along this road. A short distance more will take you to the entrance to the fort, protected by a Cadore. But the fort was cut out of the theatre of operations from the very be- 1,217 metres, continuously ascending (average gradient 11%). Continue for about another 45 minutes past Il Fornato, L’Espola and La Lasta to small guardhouse. ginning of the Great War because it was too far from the front line. It regained im- the small plateau called La Busa, where there is the second barracks and a small A 30-metre-long tunnel behind this leads to the fortified perimeter. The fort was portance after the Italian retreat from Caporetto and came into action firing in- DURATION nearby spring. This is the last opportunity of getting water, so if you need some, blow built between 1911 and 1915 with three storeys. On the lowest storey there are an tensively at the Austrian troops that had reached Auronzo and Santo Stefano, 8-9 hours, according the time devoted to the visits on the way and on the summit. air into the upper pipe and breathe into the lower one to get about a litre of pre- ammunition depot and a provision store, and there was also a defence wall which but without appreciable results. DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY cious liquid to help you on your journey. commanded access to the top of the mountain from the Le Mede path. The middle The garrison eventually summarily sabotaged the installations and abandoned the Walking route; a certain amount of physical fitness is required, as this is a high rom La Busa the road climbs less steeply through the wood, and you may come across storey housed large barrack rooms and workshops and the armoured battery was fort, which was systematically destroyed by the Austrians when they withdrew mountain excursion; it is not suitable for persons with limited mobility. deer or chamois. on the top storey: the nerve centre of the fort. It was an a cement block in the shape between 18 and 26 October 1918. eyseiltae nteesosa euto theGreat War. inthesespotsasaresult specialtraces very of love butare ableto beauty themountainsfortheirnatural pe andenthusiasts visitors whonotonly We find alargenumber of will opportunity andcultural hopethatthisnewhistorical interest historical access to andnearness othersites of easeof such significance, ashistorical ing somebasicfeatures inmind, T reduced peoplewith mobility. considering theneedsof able fully have difficulty been lengthsanddegrees of various of Itineraries know andlearn. ing usto observe, teach- thelandscape, of timeenhance thefascinationandbeauty thathave thepassingof struggle survived less monthsof end- 29seemingly events involvedthe backdrop andtragic to theterrible of Thetraces intheGreat War ontheDolomite front. thisproject thesplendidandenchanting isto places acquaint with thatwere thenewgenerations The fundamentalintention of Tudaio barrackswiththetopofBragagnina. Gino Frontali, This isto remember thatthewarisnotsomethinghasbeenfo theopposingarmies. thesoldiersof metres of more than theexistence atanaltitudeof realising thedifficultiesof andexperience lifeonthefrontaries lineatfirsthand, theCommittee's laboursare theguidesandleafletsthatgive everyone thechance to tackleeasyitiner- Theresults of Park". theareas intheMemorial Preservation andpromotion of Belluno. reg III A project "Great called War sites intheProvince of theItaly-Austria Inter- thework doneby theTechnical andScientificCommittee of of thepurpose asitstillis, This hasbeen, peace. warforpathsof Memories of venture. ad- to know butextraordinary thementhatlived thistragic notto forget, recordA historical to re-discover theMountains, war..." theneedsof fire enemy upunder tomeet opened routes are even theyoungest but even bythemostexpert, featsperformed see but individuals, of notonlyonthepart “…the Alps prodigies, see

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Entrance to the fort Entrance to and magazine De Donà G. Donà De recruits soon turn into accomplished climbers. Some new mountain Somenew intoaccomplishedclimbers. turn soon recruits cieterltosi ewe a n aue which hasleft rceive therelationship between manandnature, loo i arl,paon n hl opne.And notdowe companies. platoonsandwhole bigpatrols, of also gte n ht ntewrso Surgeon Second-Lieutenant inthewords of rgotten andthat, rpsdfrvstn hs ie,sm fthemfullyrealis- of some thesesites, proposed for visiting he itineraries thatare suggestedhe itineraries have beenselected bear- C A Berti). (A. o o r d i n a t O i o r n g

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f i o n m a n a steady trickle of requisitions began that ended by weakening the entire structure, a steady trickle of requisitions began that ended by weakening reducing it to a bad con- which was first under the command of General G. Venturi, dition of material efficiency as well as of strategic and tactical readiness. m c i i t n t g e Commanded in the frantic days after Caporetto by General A. Marocco, the forti- Commanded in the frantic days after Caporetto by General A. fied area was never given a clear and unequivocal function, often having to sub- mit to the diverse and fluctuating concepts of the Chief of Staff of the IV Army (General M. N. di Robilant) and the Commander of the I Army Corps (General S. Piacentini). It was abandoned prematurely with limited damage to its structures, without having the chance to engage in any worthwhile artillery action before or during the desperate and spasmodic defence put up by the Italian troops in central Cadore and the Boite valley.

e b 2,000 o d i e s . Front cover:centralCadorefromthefortonMountTudaio. oriain OUIËMNAAAODN - COMUNITËVia IVNovembre, 2-32021Agordo(BL)Italia MONTANA AGORDINA Coordination: 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 LIST OFITINERARIES 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Zona monumentale dellaMarmolada Malga Ciapèla-OmbrettadiMarmolada aSerauta -Marmolada Museo storico Col DaDaut- Toront Cima Lana-AgaiePalla Cima Lana-CostoneCastelloSellaSief Variante ColdelaRoda Ciadinéi -SellaSief Da CimaLanaaiCiadiniéi Cima Sief-ColdiLana Sella Sief-Cima -SelladelSief Posizione “Edelweiss” Valle delleBaracche diMisurina Cristallino BosieMontePiana A. Rif. -MontePiana Misurina Giro delColdiMezzo Croda dell’Arghena aiPianidiLavaredo Quota “2385” Forcella Lavaredo MARMOLADA 18 17 20 19 e.0039043762390-Fax [email protected]. Eingriffe der Wiederinstandsetzung und Valorisierung in den Gebieten des Erinnerungsparks des Gebieten den in Valorisierung und Wiederinstandsetzung der Eingriffe 14 9 12 10 15 I LUOGHIDELLAGRANDEGUERRAINPROVINCIA DIBELLUNO 13 Interventi direcuperoInterventi evalorizzazione neiterritoridelParco dellaMemoria DIE ORTE DES ERSTEN WELTKRIEGES IN DER PROVINZ BELLUNO PROVINZ DER IN WELTKRIEGES ERSTEN DES ORTE DIE 11 16 Fort cableway, May Fort cableway, 1917. 40 Von derE.U.UnterstützesProjektMittelsEuropäischerWärungsfondszurRegionalenEntwicklung Project co-financedbytheEuropeanUnionthroughFoundforRegionalDevelopmen Gemeinschaftsinitiative InterregIIIAItalien-Österreich2000-2006-Projekt(Cod.VEN222001) AGORDO Progetto cofinanziatodall’UnioneEuropeamedianteFondoEuropeodiSviluppoRegionale Iniziativa ComunitariaInterregIIIAItalia-Austria2000-2006-Progetto(Cod.VEN222001) 39 Community InitiativeInterregIIIAItalia-Austria2000-2006-Project(Cod.VEN222001) GREAT WAR SITES IN THE PROVINCE OF BELLUNO OF PROVINCE THE IN SITES WAR GREAT Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park Memorial the in areas the of promotion and Preservation CORTINA D’AMPEZZO 38

ZOLDO Alpago Novello Alpago 37 36 34 8 33 7 PIEVE DICADORE 35 6 5 2 4 31 3 32 1 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 30 29 AURONZO DICADORE Batteria Listolade Batteria Tagliata diSanMartino Col deSaléra -MontePunta Spiz Zuel Col Pradamio Monte Rite Vodo -BeccodiCuzze (AccessoB) Vodo -BeccodiCuzze (AccessoA) Anna-LaGlories Col S. Piandell’Antro Forte Monte Tranego Col Forte Vaccher Castello Batteria MonteRicco Forte Anello deiColli Col Vidal P.so -ColAudoi Mauria Miaron P.so -M. Mauria Monte Tudaio Col Ciampon 27 28 25 26 22 21 episode in 1916) or, oftener and oftener as time passed, as a plen- or, episode in 1916) 23 24 Strafexpidition the First War to indicate this defence system and the direct control it exercised above to indicate this defence system and the direct control the First War Maè was the Cadore-Maè fortifications. all over Cadore and Val When war broke out, however, this defence system, with all its 73 officers, 4,000 troops When war broke out, however, proved useless and and 92 guns and a substantial amount of reserves and munitions, incapable of favourably affecting the operations in progress on the front line, which was beyond the range of its gunfire. The Italian IV Army troops (commanded first by Gen- eral L. Nava and then by General M. N. di Robilant) could only count on these forts as a defence asset in the event of an unexpected collapse of the front line (for example the tiful reserve of soldiers, cannons, machine-guns, shells and various other materials to Giulia area. So be diverted for the needs of the front, above all the line in the Venezia DISTRIBUTED FREE OF CHARGE 10

A. Fornari 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 GREAT WAR SITESIN THE PROVINCE OFBELLUNO Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park andpromotionoftheareasinMemorial Preservation History anddescriptionoftheGreatWar sites Officers on the cupolas Officers on 1917. of the fort in 11.2 11.1 SECONDA LINEAFORTI DELCENTRO CADORE MONTE TUDAIO COL CIAMPON (m.1050) m 2114) (m. 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 A complex and unusual system of fortifications thus came into being, including the old installations of Pieve, soon downgraded to serve as stores and prisons, and the new high-level forts, with two distant outposts: one was established on Mount Miaron, above the Mauria pass, where a sighting post was constructed that could against forces coming from direct the action of the guns of the fort at Mount Tudaio Carnia, and one on Col Pradamio, chosen for the construction of a position above the Longarone-Zoldo road. The name adopted and usually employed throughout

even in the event of the valleys below being entirely occupied by the enemy. The by the enemy. even in the event of the valleys below being entirely occupied and provisions for garrison of 300 to 500 men also had shelters, wells, equipment weather con- months, so that they could operate even under completely adverse ditions. Racc. Zanetto Racc. opere alte (lower works)onColPiccolonearVigoandPiandell’Antro nearVenas, andthree strong armouredpositionswerethusconstructed,specificallytwo tance forthecontrolofcommunicationsbelowthemwereselected.Some and EngineeringInspectorates,somepositionsthatwereofparticularimpor- War Spingardi,ChiefofStaffPollio, theEasternMilitaryTheatreandArtillery cept. AfterlongtechnicaldiatribesamongH.R.H.theDukeofAosta,Minister ished, thatCadoreagaincametotheforegroundinItaly’s strategicdefencecon- It wasnotuntil1904,whenmorefundsarrivedandnewstrategicstudiesflour- cial resourcesthatwouldhavebeenneededtoupdateandrebuildthem. after the pletion coincidedwiththeprofoundmoralandeconomiccrisisthatafflictedItaly siege warfarethatweremadeinEuropeattheendofcentury, andtheircom- ended byverysoonbecomingobsoleteinthelightofsubstantialadvances cording toalmostmediaevalcriteria(ditch,drawbridge,machicolations,etc.),they out inthewoods,toprovideaproperprotectionforguns.Constructedac- ing heightsandunable,withtheirhollowtraversesthatcouldeasilybepicked The works,however, wereinordinarymasonry, easilydominatedfromthesurround- an advancetowardsVerona andLakeGarda. have beenfatallyexposedtoanobviousoutflankingmanoeuvreafteranyAustri- some impedimenttoanyItalianoffensiveinFriuliandontheIsonzo,whichwould cut offthewedgeofTrento territorythat,since1866,hadconstitutedatrouble- (Fortezza). Theideawastocarryoutarapidbreakthroughthewestinorder of Pieve,inwhichanarmycorpscouldeasilygetreadytoheadforFranzenfeste counter-offensive, asitwasdevotedtothesafeguardingofaprotectedarea,that The maintaskofthissystemwasnotsolelydefensive;italsointendedtobe valley. and complex,turnedthemouthsofitsfourtoeightcannonstowardsBoite Domegge andthefurtherbankofPiave,fortonColVaccher, veryvast of BatteriaCastelloandMountRiccopointedtheirmedium-calibregunsagainst Pian deiBuoiandVal Inferna,neartheCaseraRazzodairyfarm.Whileforts Costapiana-San DionisioandSant’Anna-Col Maò)andthemountainrefugeson Cadore, withawholeseriesofaccessandringroads(Pozzale-Mount Tranego, ColVaccher nearPieveandTai di and the fortsofBatteriaCastello,MountRicco the systemknownasPievediCadorefortificationswascompleted,including through towardsLongaroneandBelluno.Between18821896,accordingly, from thecentreofCadoreandVal Ansieibeforetheycouldeasilybreak Pieve diCadoreandTai diCadore,inordertocontainenemypenetrations both Afterwards, inaround1880,itwasdecidedtodesignthebarrierfurtherback,near ments convergedfromVal AnsieiandComelico. and aboveallthecrucialjunctionofTreponti, onwhichallsupposedenemymove- structed, withanaccessroadtothefortgorge,trainedcontrolbelow colo, ColRive,Tagliardo andColCiampon),fieldgunemplacementswerecon- on thehillsofVigodiCadore.Here,ataheightabout1,000metres(ColPic- of GeneralsPianellandCosenz,asystemmodestdefenceworkswasdeveloped After theannexationofVenice totheKingdomofItaly, mainly ontheinitiative offensive. ThiswasborneoutbytheheroicstandorganisedP.F. Calviin1848. capable ofallowingcentralCadoreanditsmaintown,Pieve,toresistanenemy Venice consideredtheVenas andLozzopassagesastwodefencebulwarksthatwere a mediaevaltradition,becauseinpreviouscenturiestheMostSereneRepublicof Defensive strategyinCadoreattheendofnineteenthcenturywasbasedon “ THE GENERAL INFORMATION CADORE-MAÈ” débacle (higher works)onMountTudaio, ColVidalandMountRite.Thesecon- General view of the General view fort from the Tudaio summit of Bragagnina. at Aduain1896;theinstallationsweredeprivedoffinan- FORTIFICATIONS CONTINUE

opere basse De Donà G. Donà De structions complied with the theory of armoured forts that then held sway in structions complied with the theory of armoured forts that by boldly conceived Europe, supported in Italy by General E. Rocchi; often served of Engineers, but and costly access roads, the fruit of the labours of thousands to hold concrete also of civilian contractors and labourers, they were designed batteries fitted with Armstrong model revolving nickel steel cupolas for 149 A guns, able to hit targets up to 14 kilometres away and were virtually resistant to any enemy attack. Each armoured battery was also served by a series of barracks, stores and workshops excavated out of the underlying rock, with the ca- through successions of defensive circuits, supplementary observation posts pability, and additional defences, mainly in caverns, of ensuring the impregnability of the entire fortification against any attack, keeping it operational to the bitter end, 12.1 PASSO MAURIA - M. MIARON (m. 1700) THE POSITION ON MOUNT MAIRON Magnete road and the alternative routes to Val Piova and the Stabie. As well as defences on the other side of the Piave, and by its progressively being deprived of This is a level space for medium-calibre guns. Close to it are shelters built by the this, the position controlled the entire inhabited area of Forni di Sopra and the artillery pieces in favour of the defence line below, that of Sasso-Croera Mezzaraz- DESCRIPTION OF THE ROUTE Italian Army Engineers at 1,700 metres, south-west of the Mauria pass, to defend high ground of Colrosolo, Caporosso and Col Torondo with all the secondary paths, zo-Colle Audoi. By 1915 work was in full progress on this line, whose objective was The itinerary starts from the Mauria pass and follows the curves of the fine the Cadore redoubt from the east and to counter enemy movements from Carnia. such as those of the Torondon pass (2,006 m), Passo del Ladro (Thief’s Path, 1,820 to counter any movements the enemy might make to outflank the defence of the military road that reaches a level space for medium-calibre gun emplacements The first general design of the access road from the pass and for the field artillery m) and La Sella (2,013 m). The position could aim indirect fire at any enemy columns Piave through the valleys of Frison and Pesarina and Degano-Tagliamento. after 4 kilometres. Another bend takes you to the Mount Miaron barracks, where and medium-calibre cannon emplacements was completed in 1910 and work start- that might go up the Ciaf torrent to reach the Scodavacca pass at 2,043 metres in By the second bend on the road to Micron, at a height of about 1,480 m, a large you will enjoy a breathtaking view from the Marmarole to the Tre Cime di Lavare- ed in 1911. an attempt to outflank all the Italian defences on the other bank of the Piave. But clearing was made for several medium-calibre pieces, with an adjacent ammuni- do, from Tudaio to Terze and as far as Carnia. Rendezvous: the Mauria pass. The military road, which is about 4 kilometres long, starts from the Mauria pass at its importance lay above all in its dominating view, as it overlooked a vast stretch tion store, while about 400 metres behind the pass two tunnels were excavated DIFFERENCE IN ALTITUDE 1,298 metres and climbs the northern slopes of the mountain in a constant gradi- of territory between Carnia and Cadore, and then also in its close visual contact with out of the bare rock near the Miaron haybarns (1,250 m), connected by a walk- 400 metres. ent and wide bends as far as the level area for artillery and ammunition stores at the forts on Tudaio and Col Vidal, Pian dei Buoi and all the supporting defence works way. 1,686 metres and then to the shelter, which was further to the west behind the set up on the intervening hills, such as Colle Audoi (1,560 m), Colle Mezzarazzo (1,544 The garrison abandoned this position before the Austrians reached Razzo, Rementera DURATION position at 1,703 metres. The access road to the shelter had a tunnel excavated m) and Sasso Croera (1,534 m) as well as on the garrisoned passes of Ciadin Alto and the Mauria pass on 7 November 1917; in these localities fierce fighting took 3-4 hours with the chance of some stops on the way according to the extent out of the rock that served as a store and a magazine. Est (2,222 m) and Ciadin Alto Ovest (2,285 m). place between units of the 11th Bersaglieri Regiment, with the Monte Assietta, of interest in the structures that can be visited. The artillery position was originally designed for medium-calibre 149G pieces but Its destiny, however, was merely to help in directing fire; it obtained information Monte Nero and Tolmezzo Alpine Battalions, and troops of the 94th and 92nd Aus- DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY was only used for small-calibre 75A cannon after the beginning of the war. The which it passed on to the other batteries in the Cadore-Maè fortifications, as shown trian Division. Walking route on a path through a wood on a constant gradient, unsuitable soldiers stationed there could command not only the pass below, but also the Col by its direct telephone connection with the fort on Col Piccolo, the heart of the for persons with limited mobility. THE BERSAGLIERI OF THE MAURIA PASS THE MAURIA PASS ROAD Even if the Italian High Command had created a Yellow Line some time before, The Mauria pass road was always one of the main ways to enter and leave Cadore De Donà G. running along stout defence positions, the 4th Army under General Di Robilant in past centuries, and in the Middle Ages it could even have been described as the were unable to put up any proper resistance just after the rout at Caporetto. While gate to Friuli. The Romans passed here, as shown by the findings of some Imperial most of this force, mingled with desperate civilians, was concentrating on the coins, and the Patriarchs of Aquileia and their legates during their pastoral visits to rail junction at Calalzo, during the night of 6 to 7 November the Austrians came Belluno and its province. The carts of forage imported from Friuli travelled that road, into contact with the Italian rearguard at the Razzo dairy cottage and the Mau- as demonstrated by the contract entered into in 1234 between Mainardo, Patriarch Istituto Geografico Militare - Aut. n. 6109 del 12.10.2005 ria pass. Colonel Ernesto Foglia, in command of the 57th Battalion of the 16th of Aquileia, Mainardo, and the Count of Tyrol and Gorizia that laid down regula- Regiment, the 27th Battalion of the 11th Regiment and the 7th Company of the tions for the passage of such 10th Regiment of Bersaglieri, with two Artillery sections and some machine-guns, goods. A convention in 1356 had been instructed to defend the pass. tells us that after each snowfall The 94th A.U. Division attacked the Italian Bersaglieri at about 6 a.m. on 7 No- it was the duty of the inhabi- Aldo and Miranda Vaccari Bivouac The haybarns of Mezzarazzo between Col Audoi and Sasso Croèra. vember. The Austrian guns opened fire against the Italian positions to cover the tants of Forni to shovel away at Cuna del Cridola (2,050 m), which These can be reached from the Mauria pass or from the military advance of their infantry, favoured among other things by thick fog banks. But can be reached from the Miaron road that comes up through the Pecosta woods from the Castello the snow as far as the torrent of barracks by the G. Olivato cabled di Mirabello, Lorenzago. the assault was thrown back by Italian machine-gun fire and hand-grenades. When Stabie, the people of Vigo were path up the western slopes of the enemy saw that their first attempt had failed, they regrouped at the foot of responsible for doing this from Miaron and Pitocco. Stabie, out of range of the Italian artillery. Now protected by thick vegetation there as far as the source of the and numerous rocky ravines, they managed to take Col Pioi and Col Rosolo at Tagliamento and the popula- the Doana dairy cottage, splitting the Italian forces into two and outflanking them. tion of Lorenzago had to clear It was then that the Italian soldiers, surrounded by the enemy, performed heroic it from the remaining stretch. deeds: at Crepo delle Staipe and Prà del Santo the Bersaglieri machine-gunners In 1401 Francesco di Carrara died at their posts after firing their last rounds. The Italian artillery was also si- came along it and in 1508 lenced, and the troops under Lieutenant-Colonel Edoardo Dezzani, pinned against Girolamo Savorgnano arrived with the troops of the Venetian Republic to help Cadore, the foot of Mount Miaron, were overwhelmed. At the roadman’s house, a vio- which was hemmed in on all sides by the troops of the Holy Roman Emperor; in 1509 lent hand-to-hand struggle took place and after the last of the ammunition had Prince d’Hanault came this way, unwitting of the defeat that awaited him a few miles been fired Colonel Foglia and his 2nd Company were surrounded and captured. further on in Vallesella. Then it was the turn of Nugent’s Austrians on 4 June 1848, The survivors, harassed by enemy machine-gun fire, tried to retreat towards Loren-

after overcoming Calvi’s stand at the Passo della Morte. De Donà G. zago, leaving 16 dead and 80 injured behind them, while the Austrians had 26 In 1862, perhaps bearing in mind the narrow passages that hindered its advance in dead and 110 wounded. 1848, Austria did not oppose the new road between Forni and Lorenzago. It was One of the concrete casemates built on the rocky spur A simple iron cross stands on Col Pioi to honour the fallen. While various army designed by Ingegnere Palatini and built by the De Podestà construction firm, no- of Sasso Croèra during the Great War, intended to headquarters engaged in sterile personal squabbles with each other, unimpor- table for its wide bends and above all for a fine bridge at 1,076 m over the Stabie, house machine-guns. De Donà G. tant men stuck to their posts, called upon to hold their ground to support a which marked the border between the provinces of Belluno and Udine. It was un- routed army and making sacrifices that have still not been acknowledged by their doubtedly an easy and attractive road, winding through landscape characterised by native land. the presence of Mounts Cridola and Miaron and by large numbers of fir-trees, which P were much sought after for their dark bark and are the explanation of the name of Pietro Fortunato Calvi, THE MONUMENT TO THE PARTISANS THAT DIED IN JUNE 1944 the pass (mauron is black in the local dialect). the hero who led the In the 1880s, after further improvements on which squads of Alpine Regiment sol- Cadorini in their epic resistence against the It was June 1944 and the partisan struggle had played a bold and ambitious card diers were employed, it was at last promoted to being the Carnia state road. In his Austrian troops in May in the form of the Allied airborne drop on the Mauria pass with arms for the famous guide to Cadore of 1888, Venanzio De Donà proudly described this major 1848. On 4 June he also Cadore liberation movement. During road, which boasted a roadman’s house, a stable and a mounted mail service. made a determined stand against overwhelming the night of 12 to 13 June, an Allied As regards its involvement in the Great War, it was one of the scenes of the dramat- numbers of Austrians aeroplane dropped a number of para- ic Italian retreat after Caporetto and the consequent headlong Austrian advance, which under Captain Ramming chutes, which, however, the wind blew encountered some desperate throes of Italian resistance in the vicinity of the road- at the Mauria pass. Villa Facheris, better known as Castello Mirabello, built by Senator G. Facheris in the late nineteenth century. General some way from the area that had been man’s house on the Mauria pass road on 7 November 1917. Cadorna stayed there in 1917, and, more recently, Pope John prepared to receive them in Valdepalù. Paul II when he came to Cadore on holiday. The recovery of the supplies was a long and difficult matter, lasting almost 24 hours, and this gave the Ger- 12.2 PASSO MAURIA - COL AUDOI (m. 1560) THE DEFENCE WORKS ON SASSO CROERA AND COL AUDOI ria pass. Other trenches with positions for artillery pieces and machine-guns, with man army the chance to organise a In summer 1915, just after the beginning of the war, the Italian General Staff con- ammunition stores, were constructed on the In Colle promontory opposite Sasso di sweep that started the night of 13 June DESCRIPTION OF THE ROUTE ceived the plan of a solid defensive line from Sasso Croera to Colle Mezzarazzo Croera. with an ambush just below Lorenza- The itinerary starts at the Mauria pass and goes along the municipal road to and Colle Audoi, whose objective was to counter an enemy move to outflank the The Bersaglieri of the 63rd Battalion were deployed up here in all haste, watched go. A truck taking partisans to the Stabie and Valdipalù from 150 metres before the pass (the distance is about Italian defences on the Piave through the valleys of Frisone, Pisarina and Degano- over by the cannons of Tudaio and Miaron, in the bedlam that followed Caporetto Mauria pass was attacked and Velio 3 km), then to Ghirlo and Mezzarazzo; it continues on the military road as far Tagliamento. A 75A battery from Miaron was transferred here and also two 120B and acting on a succession of flustered and contradictory orders. Their duty was to Zandanel and Giacinto Bianchi, the as Col Audoi for about 6 km. guns previously used for firing practice. Trenches were dug to the north-east of hold back the enemy advancing between the Mauria pass and Col Rementera. On two drivers, were killed. During the On the way you can visit the remains of the Yellow Line trenches and posi- the Mauria pass as far as the area of Mount Stabie. A military road was built be- the afternoon of 7 November 1917, combined forces of the 92nd and 94th Austri- hard fighting that ensued just above tions, the scenes of hard fighting between Italian and Austrian troops after tween May and July 1915, which started from just above Lorenzago near Villa an Division boldly and violently attacked the Italian defences between the Mauria the pass at about 10 a.m., Giuseppe the retreat from Caporetto in November 1917. Facheris, better known as Castello Mirabello: it went up to Mezzarazzo, where bar- pass and Razzo, engaging in bloody encounters on Col Pioi, Crepo delle Staipe and Gandin from Tai, Renato Frescura from Pieve, Arrigo Papazzoni from Vallesella DIFFERENCE IN ALTITUDE racks were built. A position for a powerful searchlight was constructed on the hill Giau dell’Orsat and completely encircling the Italian forces in the Landro pass area. and Pio Peis Sparin from Padola all died. Their corpses remained on the ground, 260 metres. of the same name, which commands the areas of Vigo and the Mauria pass. Although they were surrounded, the Bersaglieri put up a brave defence, firing up abandoned by their comrades in flight and by the German soldiers. They were re- The road forks after the hay barns at Mezzarazzo: one fork leads to the hay barns to the last round of ammunition, and finally surrendered after four had fallen. The covered by Don Sesto Da Prà, the young parish priest of Lorenzago, who coura- DURATION of Antrecolle, where a fountain was built with a tank to collect the marsh water Tolmezzo Alpine Battalion, sent to guard the fortified area of Sasso Croera, Mez- geously buried them in the face of a German ban. 4-5 hours, with the possibility of stopping on the way according to the ex- from the surrounding area, with a charcoal purification system, and then goes on zarazzo and Col Audoi (where Pope John Paul II had several walks during his holi- The fight on the Mauria pass was a failure for the partisans from the purely mil- tent of interest in the structures that can be visited. to Col Audoi (1,560 m). Several trenches were dug both on the Antrecolle rib and days in Cadore), was cut off, received no orders and was also finally forced to sur- itary point of view, but the defeat turned into a symbol: many young men of DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY on the southern slopes of Col Audoi, and on the summit gun emplacements with ad- render. Cadore, who had until then only looked on, realised that the Italian resistance A walking route on an easy forest road at a constant gradient; only the joining ammunition stores in a tunnel were constructed. In Valdirave and the Staipe area, some corpses from this fierce fighting were even movement was in earnest and began to join in large numbers. This was shown first stretch of road as far as Stabie is suitable for persons with reduced mo- The other fork goes up to Sasso Croera (1,534 m), where there were some cement found some years after the end of the Great War, but the exact number of those who by the fact that in a matter of two months the partisan detachment became a bility. casemates with embrasures for machine-gunners and riflemen directed at the Mau- died, were wounded or taken prisoner could never be counted. brigade of three battalions with more than 300 men. eyseiltae nteesosa euto theGreat War. inthesespotsasaresult specialtraces very of love butare ableto beauty themountainsfortheirnatural pe andenthusiasts visitors whonotonly We find alargenumber of will opportunity andcultural hopethatthisnewhistorical interest historical access to andnearness othersites of easeof such significance, ashistorical ing somebasicfeatures inmind, T reduced peoplewith mobility. considering theneedsof able fully have difficulty been lengthsanddegrees of various of Itineraries know andlearn. ing usto observe, teach- thelandscape, of timeenhance thefascinationandbeauty thathave thepassingof struggle survived less monthsof end- 29seemingly events involvedthe backdrop andtragic to theterrible of Thetraces intheGreat War ontheDolomite front. thisproject thesplendidandenchanting isto places acquaint with thatwere thenewgenerations The fundamentalintention of Barracks onMountMiaron. Gino Frontali, This isto remember thatthewarisnotsomethinghasbeenfo theopposingarmies. thesoldiersof metres of more than theexistence atanaltitudeof realising thedifficultiesof andexperience lifeonthefrontaries lineatfirsthand, theCommittee's laboursare theguidesandleafletsthatgive everyone thechance to tackleeasyitiner- Theresults of Park". theareas intheMemorial Preservation andpromotion of Belluno. reg III A project "Great called War sites intheProvince of theItaly-Austria Inter- thework doneby theTechnical andScientificCommittee of of thepurpose asitstillis, This hasbeen, peace. warforpathsof Memories of venture. ad- to know butextraordinary thementhatlived thistragic notto forget, recordA historical to re-discover theMountains, war..." theneedsof fire enemy upunder tomeet opened routes are even theyoungest but even bythemostexpert, featsperformed see but individuals, of notonlyonthepart “…the Alps prodigies, see

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s . De Donà G. Donà De Front cover:plaqueatthebarracksonMountMiaron. oriain OUIËMNAAAODN - COMUNITËVia IVNovembre, 2-32021Agordo(BL)Italia MONTANA AGORDINA Coordination: 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 LIST OFITINERARIES 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Zona monumentale dellaMarmolada Malga Ciapèla-OmbrettadiMarmolada aSerauta -Marmolada Museo storico Col DaDaut- Toront Cima Lana-AgaiePalla Cima Lana-CostoneCastelloSellaSief Variante ColdelaRoda Ciadinéi -SellaSief Da CimaLanaaiCiadiniéi Cima Sief-ColdiLana Sella Sief-Cima -SelladelSief Posizione “Edelweiss” Valle delleBaracche diMisurina Cristallino BosieMontePiana A. Rif. -MontePiana Misurina Giro delColdiMezzo Croda dell’Arghena aiPianidiLavaredo Quota “2385” Forcella Lavaredo MARMOLADA 18 17 20 19 e.0039043762390-Fax [email protected]. Eingriffe der Wiederinstandsetzung und Valorisierung in den Gebieten des Erinnerungsparks des Gebieten den in Valorisierung und Wiederinstandsetzung der Eingriffe 149 gun in position (Cadore Historical Library Archive, Vigo). 14 9 12 10 15 I LUOGHIDELLAGRANDEGUERRAINPROVINCIA DIBELLUNO 13 Interventi direcuperoInterventi evalorizzazione neiterritoridelParco dellaMemoria DIE ORTE DES ERSTEN WELTKRIEGES IN DER PROVINZ BELLUNO PROVINZ DER IN WELTKRIEGES ERSTEN DES ORTE DIE 11 16 40 Von derE.U.UnterstützesProjektMittelsEuropäischerWärungsfondszurRegionalenEntwicklung Project co-financedbytheEuropeanUnionthroughFoundforRegionalDevelopmen Gemeinschaftsinitiative InterregIIIAItalien-Österreich2000-2006-Projekt(Cod.VEN222001) AGORDO Progetto cofinanziatodall’UnioneEuropeamedianteFondoEuropeodiSviluppoRegionale Iniziativa ComunitariaInterregIIIAItalia-Austria2000-2006-Progetto(Cod.VEN222001) 39 Community InitiativeInterregIIIAItalia-Austria2000-2006-Project(Cod.VEN222001) GREAT WAR SITES IN THE PROVINCE OF BELLUNO OF PROVINCE THE IN SITES WAR GREAT Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park Memorial the in areas the of promotion and Preservation CORTINA D’AMPEZZO 38 ZOLDO 37 36 34 8 33 7 PIEVE DICADORE 35 6 5 2 4 31 3 32 1 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 30 29 AURONZO DICADORE Batteria Listolade Batteria Tagliata diSanMartino Col deSaléra -MontePunta Spiz Zuel Col Pradamio Monte Rite Vodo -BeccodiCuzze (AccessoB) Vodo -BeccodiCuzze (AccessoA) Anna-LaGlories Col S. Piandell’Antro Forte Monte Tranego Col Forte Vaccher Castello Batteria MonteRicco Forte Anello deiColli Col Vidal P.so -ColAudoi Mauria Miaron P.so -M. Mauria Monte Tudaio Col Ciampon 27 28 25 26 22 21 episode in 1916) or, oftener and oftener as time passed, as a plen- or, episode in 1916) 23 24 Strafexpidition the First War to indicate this defence system and the direct control it exercised above to indicate this defence system and the direct control the First War Maè was the Cadore-Maè fortifications. all over Cadore and Val When war broke out, however, this defence system, with all its 73 officers, 4,000 troops When war broke out, however, proved useless and and 92 guns and a substantial amount of reserves and munitions, incapable of favourably affecting the operations in progress on the front line, which was beyond the range of its gunfire. The Italian IV Army troops (commanded first by Gen- eral L. Nava and then by General M. N. di Robilant) could only count on these forts as a defence asset in the event of an unexpected collapse of the front line (for example the tiful reserve of soldiers, cannons, machine-guns, shells and various other materials to Giulia area. So be diverted for the needs of the front, above all the line in the Venezia DISTRIBUTED FREE OF CHARGE 10

A. Fornari 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 GREAT WAR SITESIN THE PROVINCE OFBELLUNO Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park andpromotionoftheareasinMemorial Preservation Mauria pass in Mauria pass 1920 (Teza Collection). History anddescriptionoftheGreatWar sites 12.2 12.1 SECONDA LINEAFORTI DELCENTRO CADORE PASSO MAURIA -COLAUDOI MIARON PASSO MAURIA -M. m 1700) (m. m 1560) (m. 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 A complex and unusual system of fortifications thus came into being, including the old installations of Pieve, soon downgraded to serve as stores and prisons, and the new high-level forts, with two distant outposts: one was established on Mount Miaron, above the Mauria pass, where a sighting post was constructed that could against forces coming from direct the action of the guns of the fort at Mount Tudaio Carnia, and one on Col Pradamio, chosen for the construction of a position above the Longarone-Zoldo road. The name adopted and usually employed throughout even in the event of the valleys below being entirely occupied by the enemy. The by the enemy. even in the event of the valleys below being entirely occupied and provisions for garrison of 300 to 500 men also had shelters, wells, equipment weather con- months, so that they could operate even under completely adverse ditions. opere alte (lower works)onColPiccolonearVigoandPiandell’Antro nearVenas, andthree strong armouredpositionswerethusconstructed,specificallytwo tance forthecontrolofcommunicationsbelowthemwereselected.Some and EngineeringInspectorates,somepositionsthatwereofparticularimpor- War Spingardi,ChiefofStaffPollio, theEasternMilitaryTheatreandArtillery cept. AfterlongtechnicaldiatribesamongH.R.H.theDukeofAosta,Minister ished, thatCadoreagaincametotheforegroundinItaly’s strategicdefencecon- It wasnotuntil1904,whenmorefundsarrivedandnewstrategicstudiesflour- cial resourcesthatwouldhavebeenneededtoupdateandrebuildthem. after the pletion coincidedwiththeprofoundmoralandeconomiccrisisthatafflictedItaly siege warfarethatweremadeinEuropeattheendofcentury, andtheircom- ended byverysoonbecomingobsoleteinthelightofsubstantialadvances cording toalmostmediaevalcriteria(ditch,drawbridge,machicolations,etc.),they out inthewoods,toprovideaproperprotectionforguns.Constructedac- ing heightsandunable,withtheirhollowtraversesthatcouldeasilybepicked The works,however, wereinordinarymasonry, easilydominatedfromthesurround- an advancetowardsVerona andLakeGarda. have beenfatallyexposedtoanobviousoutflankingmanoeuvreafteranyAustri- some impedimenttoanyItalianoffensiveinFriuliandontheIsonzo,whichwould cut offthewedgeofTrento territorythat,since1866,hadconstitutedatrouble- (Fortezza). Theideawastocarryoutarapidbreakthroughthewestinorder of Pieve,inwhichanarmycorpscouldeasilygetreadytoheadforFranzenfeste counter-offensive, asitwasdevotedtothesafeguardingofaprotectedarea,that The maintaskofthissystemwasnotsolelydefensive;italsointendedtobe valley. and complex,turnedthemouthsofitsfourtoeightcannonstowardsBoite Domegge andthefurtherbankofPiave,fortonColVaccher, veryvast of BatteriaCastelloandMountRiccopointedtheirmedium-calibregunsagainst Pian deiBuoiandVal Inferna,neartheCaseraRazzodairyfarm.Whileforts Costapiana-San DionisioandSant’Anna-Col Maò)andthemountainrefugeson Cadore, withawholeseriesofaccessandringroads(Pozzale-Mount Tranego, ColVaccher nearPieveandTai di and the fortsofBatteriaCastello,MountRicco the systemknownasPievediCadorefortificationswascompleted,including through towardsLongaroneandBelluno.Between18821896,accordingly, from thecentreofCadoreandVal Ansieibeforetheycouldeasilybreak Pieve diCadoreandTai diCadore,inordertocontainenemypenetrations both Afterwards, inaround1880,itwasdecidedtodesignthebarrierfurtherback,near THE GENERAL INFORMATION ments convergedfromVal AnsieiandComelico. and aboveallthecrucialjunctionofTreponti, onwhichallsupposedenemymove- structed, withanaccessroadtothefortgorge,trainedcontrolbelow colo, ColRive,Tagliardo andColCiampon),fieldgunemplacementswerecon- on thehillsofVigodiCadore.Here,ataheightabout1,000metres(ColPic- of GeneralsPianellandCosenz,asystemmodestdefenceworkswasdeveloped After theannexationofVenice totheKingdomofItaly, mainly ontheinitiative offensive. ThiswasborneoutbytheheroicstandorganisedP.F. Calviin1848. capable ofallowingcentralCadoreanditsmaintown,Pieve,toresistanenemy Venice consideredtheVenas andLozzopassagesastwodefencebulwarksthatwere a mediaevaltradition,becauseinpreviouscenturiestheMostSereneRepublicof Defensive strategyinCadoreattheendofnineteenthcenturywasbasedon C A D O débacle (higher works)onMountTudaio, ColVidalandMountRite.Thesecon- R Barracks on Mount Miaron. E

- De Donà G. Donà De M A at Aduain1896;theinstallationsweredeprivedoffinan- È FORTIFICATIONS CONTINUE opere basse structions complied with the theory of armoured forts that then held sway in structions complied with the theory of armoured forts that by boldly conceived Europe, supported in Italy by General E. Rocchi; often served of Engineers, but and costly access roads, the fruit of the labours of thousands to hold concrete also of civilian contractors and labourers, they were designed batteries fitted with Armstrong model revolving nickel steel cupolas for 149 A guns, able to hit targets up to 14 kilometres away and were virtually resistant to any enemy attack. Each armoured battery was also served by a series of barracks, stores and workshops excavated out of the underlying rock, with the ca- through successions of defensive circuits, supplementary observation posts pability, and additional defences, mainly in caverns, of ensuring the impregnability of the entire fortification against any attack, keeping it operational to the bitter end, 13.1 COL VIDAL (m. 1800) THE FORT OF COL VIDAL In 1911, however, Pecco, the site engineer, who was the subject of serious alle- tered around of the various storehouses and of the Villa del Capitano, the of- This system of fortifications was constructed by the Italian Engineers at the be- gations regarding the way he organised and managed the road and fort works, ficers’ quarters. DESCRIPTION OF THE ROUTE ginning of the twentieth century on Pian dei Buoi, above Lozzo di Cadore, to pro- was put under investigation and even imprisoned in Belluno. The road goes on for another 400 metres until it gets to a second barracks, The fort on Col Vidal, in conjunction with those on Col Piccolo and Mount Tu- tect the lower works on Col Piccolo above Vigo di Cadore and control the area Pecco succeeded in carrying on with his military career after a long trial, at the entirely excavated out of the bare rock: at the time, it had underground baths, daio, was to stop any Austrian penetration from Val Ansiei or Comelico. Its im- of Danta and the entrances from Val Piova and the Mauria pass. end of which he was acquitted, but in the meantime the Vidal job had been toilets and premises for troops to shelter in, storerooms and workshops. A ramp posing ruins can be reached by going 18 kilometres up the road from Lozzo di A comparative study from the V Army Corps in January 1909 concluded that given to another site engineer, Major Bianchi. more than 100 metres long went directly to the battery above. Cadore to the Buoi plateau. Rendezvous at Lozzo di Cadore for Pian dei Buoi, the position on Col Vidal enabled a larger number of more extensive targets to In 1914 the whole fort was ready, and in the summer steps could be taken to arm This fort also had emplacements for medium-calibre guns in caverns at a slight- locality of Sora Crepa, in a car or another suitable vehicle. be reached, so it was decided to put the project in hand immediately for the con- it, this process terminating in October. ly lower altitude than the battery, about 250 metres to the east. To defend the DIFFERENCE IN ALTITUDE struction of the road from Lozzo to Col Cervera and Col Vidal, which took until The main feature was the concrete armoured battery with four gunpits hold- fort from any possible enemy attack, a complex system of supplementary de- October 1914 to complete. This road, popularly known as the “Engineers’ Road” ing 149 A cannons with heavy turrets (Armstrong cupolas) weighing nearly fences, with a large number of observation posts, trenches, positions and paths, 1,127 metres. goes from Lozzo di Cadore (753 m) to Col Vidal (1,880 m); it is about 18 km two tons. were laid out on the whole Buoi plateau. On 24 May 1915 the fort at Col Vi- DURATION long and rises 1,127 metres with a maximum gradient of 12-13°. First it climbs Leave the car near the Sora Crepa barracks and go up the military road to the dal and the various other positions scattered over the Pian dei Buoi were gar- 5-6 hours with the possibility of visiting the fort or the various other military in- westwards, its many hairpin bends passing Roncole, Larcede, Pecol and Campo locality of Quoilo, go through a tunnel to Sora Mizzoi, continue for about 3 km risoned by about 5,000 men. stallations on the plateau. di Croce; after going round the Mizzoi landslip gorge, it turns in an almost straight to Pian dei Formai, where you can see the ruins of the top station of the fort Isolated from the thick of the operations in the tragic circumstances after Ca- DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY line from Sora Crepa towards the fort, crossing the slopes of Col Cervera and cableway coming from the locality of Le Spesse. The cableway was built under poretto, it remained all but inactive, and on 7 November 1917 it was abandoned The excursion is also suitable for persons with reduced mobility, and, for long Pian dei Formai. the supervision of engineer F. Benedetto, of Brown-Boveri of Zurich, to support by its garrison. stretches, even for wheelchairs. The general ground plan of the fort was drawn up in the summer of 1909, while activities on the plateau. The battery was blown up by the Austrians at 11.45 on 21 October 1918, con- in 1910 the executive design was submitted to the War Ministry, which allocat- The first construction that is seen when you come up to the fort, however, is siderably in advance of the withdrawal from Cadore, sharing the same fate as ed 400,000 Italian lire for the works. the vast barracks known as Vidal Basso (Lower Vidal), with the remains scat- all the other installations in the Cadore-Maè fortifications. THE DAIRY COTTAGES OF PIAN DEI BUOI

Mount Sovergna has always been the pasture mountain of Lozzo and the name THE ALPINE SHELTERS OF SOVERGNA originally indicated the area around the Malga delle Armente. Over time, and with the grazing extending across the plateau, the name most used is now Pian dei Buoi When in 1872 Chief of the Army General Staff G. Perrucchetti launched the idea (oxen pasture). Although a confirmed tradition has it that this mount was given of the Alpine Corps, he could not have predicted the influence the institution to Lozzo by a “Savorgnana” (or “Savorgnan”), it is certain that until 1188 it be- would have in Italy’s history. The 14th Alpine corps had been stationed at Pieve longed to Auronzo, after which year it was given to the Lozzesi in exchange for di Cadore (at Pecol) since 23 March 1873 and originally consisted of 250 men (under Capitano De Vecchi) and in 1877 it was renamed the 27th “Cadore” Bat-

De Donà G. talion, consisting of the 67th and 68th Alpine corps at Pieve and then at Au- De Donà G. ronzo. P When the armoured cupolas and guns were still far away and the modest field cannon thundered on the mountains, to help the summer and winter drills of the Alpine troops, and install an effective observation and logistics network in the event of war, three constructions were put up on Pian dei Buoi, then known more as the Sovergna Plateau, and one on the Losco pass, around the Casera Razzo The Sora Crepa barracks, intended to take 250 men, were built in P 1913 by constructor Francesco Chiamulera, who lodged his workers in plateau. the nearby hay barns. During World War II, in September 1944, it was Starting from 1890, three shelters were built at the foot of the Marmarole, one PRIVATE BOF’S used by the Calvi Partisan Brigade as a prison for German soldiers on the eastern slopes of Ciastelin (1,969 m), another on Col Cervera, on the east- MEMORIAL STONE captured during guerilla actions. Vittore Bof, 22 years of age, ern edge of the plateau (1,920 m) from Seren del Grappa, near and the last more to the north on Feltre, was one of the 140 “Lareto,” a zone that includes, among others, the hills of Villapiccola and Villa- Alpine diggers working on Col Vidal (1,789 m). All followed grande. the construction of the Col the same construction format: A centuries-old forestry and grazing activity existed on the plateau which cen- Cervara shelter in 1891. On brick-built with ground floor di- 22 August he was struck tered many on many rustic buildings called federe or casere.A casera is for milk dead by lightning while he vided into a officers’ mess, an- and cheese making. Some are now abandoned and reduced to melancholic ru- was resting in a tent, and other space for the troops, a ins. The Casera delle Armente is still used today and is the oldest and largest. Heir his comrades erected this kitchen, two storage spaces for stone on the Pian del Formai provisions and ammunition, and to those primitive federe - sheep shelters - of which mention is made in the Lauds in his memory. of Lozzo of 1444, its best period was the late last century when it was not large a stable. enough to house all the animals. In 1884, when the first dairy farm was estab- Col Cervera shelter. The garrison for each of them lished, Lozzo had 563 cattle and 642 smaller animals (goats and sheep), a large varied from 50 to 100 men and, part of which grazed the mountains around the casera, as well as the pastures of in the event of war, all would house the troops destined to occupy the zone. Dur- Polget, Col Cervera, Sora Mizzoi and Sopra Crepa. The Casera Confin, intended ing peacetime they were often used for the encampments of the detached Alpine for cows, was very old too, built according to the traditions with a large roof of troops’ maneuvres at Auronzo and Pieve. wooden horseshoe-shaped astragals. It had a brick annex used as both a shelter THE LITTLE CHURCH OF THE From their positions it was possible to survey the entire plateau, providing an for the shepherds and for making cheese. The Casera di Valdacene, which along MADONNA OF CIAREIDO excellent observation point towards Misurina and Comelico. From the Col Cervèra with the Casera Confin was once used for the livestock rotation, had been de- De Donà G. Built by the Lozzo di C. ANA shelter one could see the Italian fortifications at Pieve, assisted by the nearby wood- THE FORT CABLEWAY Group in 1969, it was blessed by signed for heifers, just like the Casera di Campiviei, farther down and to the east Constructed by engineers Tessarotto and Quaglio Bishop Gioacchino Muccin in en observation tower built for this purpose. Of the three shelters, only the re- and rebuilt in 1955. in 1911 to transport materials, its terminus was 1970. Mass is held in honour of born Ciareido Refuge still stands, nested like an eagle at the San Pietro and the just above Lozzo, in the Le Spesse locality. 860 the Penne Mozze (“Docked San Lorenzo passes, or if preferred, almost rooted in the rock, with which it seems The old casera of the Bassa pass served as a cattle shelter during the summer metres above sea level at bottom station, it Feathers”, a nickname given to the pastures and for the shepherds’ accommodation during pasturage. Of great im- climbed to the 1,841 metres of the Pian del Alpine troops), on the first Sunday to be a single body standing against the offenses of nature and men. portance was the Casera delle Pecore (sheep casera) beneath the Col dei Buoi (ox- Formai. During the war, especially in the winter, in July every year, a moving It is another opportunity, then, to walk the picturesque and peaceful paths on it was the only way supplies could reach the ceremony to which the local the tracks of the ineffable military logic of a century ago and to catch views and en hill) and demolished more than 25 years ago. Its renown derives precisely from garrison. populace is very attached. the importance sheep breeding always had in the history of Lozzo until the 1850s. glimpses that are wonderful and never commonplace, below the peaks of the Sheep and goats grazed the mountains of Pian dei Buoi for about four months Marmarole. and in early October were driven down to the village square of Piazza Da Rin Istituto Geografico Militare - Aut. n. 6109 del 12.10.2005 for the livestock to be divided among the various owners. THE HILL CIRCUIT here there is a beautiful view towards the other side of the Piave. Then the the summer. On the ground are the earthworks with the foundations of the The Anello dei Colli (Hill Circuit) is one of the 15 itineraries drawn up by the Loz- path clambers up along the northern side of Col Cervera, leading in about ten barracks that accommodated hundreds of workers during the fort’s construc- zo section of the Italian Alpine Club, named the Anelli e Vie di Lozzo di Cadore. minutes to the plain on which there was an army shelter built by the Alpine tion, and then, during the war itself, the soldiers working on the strengthen- After leaving Piazza IV Novembre in Lozzo and going up the military road as troops in 1891, destroyed by fire in 1907. The only thing that remains is a frag- ing of the fortifications. 13.2 ANELLO DEI COLLI far as the locality of Sora Crepa (the “Engineers’ Road”), all tarmac except for ment of the plaque above the entrance. There is an unimpeded view over the The first construction we see in the fort is the great Vidal Basso barracks, the last of the fourteen kilometres, leave the car in the Ciareido (250 spaces), pastures of the Buoi plateau and the fort on Col Vidal, and also over the finest with the ruins of the Engineers’ stores and the Villa del Capitano, the officers’ DESCRIPTION OF THE ROUTE Pellegrini (6 spaces) or Casera delle Armente (30 spaces) car park. Bear it in Dolomite peaks: Ciareido, Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Croda dei Toni, Popera, Cresta quarters, nearby. Continuing up the military road we come to the Vidal Alto This itinerary will enable you to visit the interesting series of defence works com- mind, however, that in July and August there are council traffic by-laws that di Confine, the Tudaio-Brentoni chain and the Cridola group. (Higher Vidal) barracks, and then, after another sharp bend, the exploded slabs plementing the fort on Col Vidal, constructed during the period from 1890 to envisage specific times for ascending and descending this road, so it is advis- In the immediate neighbourhood there are some objects from the Great War, of the armoured battery, the heart of the fort. 1917 to cover all the entrances to the Buoi plateau. Rendezvous: Lozzo di Cadore, able to obtain information in good time and pay attention to the signs on the such as ammunition cupboards in caverns, observation posts and trenches. A side road also leads in about 15 minutes to the caverns with the big ar- in Piazza IV Novembre, at the beginning of the military road going up to Pian route. Continue along the military road, now restored with Interreg. funds, pass by two tillery pieces of the Col Ciavalon battery, conceived as an alternative to the fort dei Buoi, or at the Bivio Pellegrini locality, at a height of about 1,820 metres. The hike along the Anello dei Colli (route 33, white and green) begins at Bivio ammunition stores and go to the large open space where the Cervera stables in the event of its destruction. DIFFERENCE IN ALTITUDE Pellegrini (1,820 m) and first goes south on the old Val da Porte military road; stood during the First War. Going round a low hill, the route takes you to the The route suggested for the return journey is to go along the path that fol- About 1,100 metres from Lozzo. after a hundred metres, there is a sharp diversion towards the east (alternative Pian dei Formai, the ruins of the top station of the fort cableway and the anti- lows the fort aqueduct; then to cross the open space in front of the Vidal route 33). Here you will see a small-calibre gun emplacement (Krupp 75) with aircraft post watched over by the stone erected in memory of Vittore Bof, the Basso barracks and take the route going westwards; after a kilometre this leads DURATION an observation post and ammunition stores in a cavern brought to light during young Engineer digger who died in August 1891, struck by lightning while he to the Somòl road. After about 10 minutes of slightly sloping ground, you reach 4-5 hours for the walking tour, according to the degree of interest in the vari- the recent Interreg. works. From this position the army kept a watch over the was asleep in a tent. the Armente dairy cottages. The itinerary then climbs towards the Lago delle ous installations that can be visited, to which about 2 hours should be added for entire area of Col dei Buoi and the points of access to it from the north. From the stone go north-east towards Col Vidal, and after 100 metres those who Sepolture (Burial Lake), which is a characteristic little peat bog. Finally, the last the ascent and descent by your own means. Back on route 33, continue past a cowherd’s hut until you reach the “Engi- wish may make a short 50-metre diversion to see a machine-gun post entirely level stretch takes you back to the starting point at Bivio Pellegrini in about 15 DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY neers’ Road” at the section characterised by the long Quoilo tunnel. From this dug out of the rock, from which attackers could be hit by enfilade fire. minutes. This tour is not suitable for persons with reduced mobility. LANDMARK AND point the route continues north-east and crosses the southern slope of Mizzoi The path goes on through the Ciadin wood until it enters the fort perimeter, pass- For further information contact the Italian Alpine Club at Lozzo or visit site REFRESHMENTS: Ciareido Italian Alpine Club refuge (1,969 m). hill halfway up until it comes to the military road at the Forzeluta bend. From ing by the Lago Morto (Dead Lake), which is organised as a cattle trough in www.antichisentieri.org. eyseiltae nteesosa euto theGreat War. inthesespotsasaresult specialtraces very of love butare ableto beauty themountainsfortheirnatural pe andenthusiasts visitors whonotonly We find alargenumber of will opportunity andcultural hopethatthisnewhistorical interest historical access to andnearness othersites of easeof such significance, ashistorical ing somebasicfeatures inmind, T reduced peoplewith mobility. considering theneedsof able fully have difficulty been lengthsanddegrees of various of Itineraries know andlearn. ing usto observe, teach- thelandscape, of timeenhance thefascinationandbeauty thathave thepassingof struggle survived less monthsof end- 29seemingly events involvedthe backdrop andtragic to theterrible of Thetraces intheGreat War ontheDolomite front. thisproject thesplendidandenchanting isto places acquaint with thatwere thenewgenerations The fundamentalintention of Ruins ofthefort,withTre CimediLavaredointhebackground. Gino Frontali, This isto remember thatthewarisnotsomethinghasbeenfo theopposingarmies. thesoldiersof metres of more than theexistence atanaltitudeof realising thedifficultiesof andexperience lifeonthefrontaries lineatfirsthand, theCommittee's laboursare theguidesandleafletsthatgive everyone thechance to tackleeasyitiner- Theresults of Park". theareas intheMemorial Preservation andpromotion of Belluno. reg III A project "Great called War sites intheProvince of theItaly-Austria Inter- thework doneby theTechnical andScientificCommittee of of thepurpose asitstillis, This hasbeen, peace. warforpathsof Memories of venture. ad- to know butextraordinary thementhatlived thistragic notto forget, recordA historical to re-discover theMountains, war..." theneedsof fire enemy upunder tomeet opened routes are even theyoungest but even bythemostexpert, featsperformed see but individuals, of notonlyonthepart “…the Alps prodigies, see

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Vidal Alto barracks. De Donà G. Donà De recruits soon turn into accomplished climbers. Some new mountain Somenew intoaccomplishedclimbers. turn soon recruits cieterltosi ewe a n aue which hasleft rceive therelationship between manandnature, loo i arl,paon n hl opne.And notdowe companies. platoonsandwhole bigpatrols, of also gte n ht ntewrso Surgeon Second-Lieutenant inthewords of rgotten andthat, rpsdfrvstn hs ie,sm fthemfullyrealis- of some thesesites, proposed for visiting he itineraries thatare suggestedhe itineraries have beenselected bear- C A Berti). (A. o o r d i n a t O i o r n g

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f i o n m a n m c i i t n t g e G. Venturini, reducing it to a bad condition of material efficiency as well as of G. Venturini, strategic and tactical readiness. Marocco, the forti- Commanded in the frantic days after Caporetto by General A. having to sub- fied area was never given a clear and unequivocal function, often mit to the diverse and fluctuating concepts of the Chief of Staff of the IV Army (General M. N. di Robilant) and the Commander of the I Army Corps (General S. Piacentini). It was abandoned prematurely with limited damage to its structures, without having the chance to engage in any worthwhile artillery action before or during the desperate and spasmodic defence put up by the Italian troops in central Cadore and the Boite valley.

e b 2,000 o d i e s . Cover: fromtheTre CimetoPopera fromareclaimedtrench. oriain OUIËMNAAAODN - COMUNITËVia IVNovembre, 2-32021Agordo(BL)Italia MONTANA AGORDINA Coordination: 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 LIST OFITINERARIES 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Zona monumentale dellaMarmolada Malga Ciapèla-OmbrettadiMarmolada aSerauta -Marmolada Museo storico Col DaDaut- Toront Cima Lana-AgaiePalla Cima Lana-CostoneCastelloSellaSief Variante ColdelaRoda Ciadinéi -SellaSief Da CimaLanaaiCiadiniéi Cima Sief-ColdiLana Sella Sief-Cima -SelladelSief Posizione “Edelweiss” Valle delleBaracche diMisurina Cristallino BosieMontePiana A. Rif. -MontePiana Misurina Giro delColdiMezzo Croda dell’Arghena aiPianidiLavaredo Quota “2385” Forcella Lavaredo MARMOLADA 18 17 20 19 e.0039043762390-Fax [email protected]. Eingriffe der Wiederinstandsetzung und Valorisierung in den Gebieten des Erinnerungsparks des Gebieten den in Valorisierung und Wiederinstandsetzung der Eingriffe Underground fort. stores at the 14 9 12 10 15 I LUOGHIDELLAGRANDEGUERRAINPROVINCIA DIBELLUNO 13 Interventi direcuperoInterventi evalorizzazione neiterritoridelParco dellaMemoria DIE ORTE DES ERSTEN WELTKRIEGES IN DER PROVINZ BELLUNO PROVINZ DER IN WELTKRIEGES ERSTEN DES ORTE DIE 11 16 40 Von derE.U.UnterstützesProjektMittelsEuropäischerWärungsfondszurRegionalenEntwicklung Project co-financedbytheEuropeanUnionthroughFoundforRegionalDevelopmen Gemeinschaftsinitiative InterregIIIAItalien-Österreich2000-2006-Projekt(Cod.VEN222001) AGORDO Progetto cofinanziatodall’UnioneEuropeamedianteFondoEuropeodiSviluppoRegionale Iniziativa ComunitariaInterregIIIAItalia-Austria2000-2006-Progetto(Cod.VEN222001) 39 Community InitiativeInterregIIIAItalia-Austria2000-2006-Project(Cod.VEN222001) GREAT WAR SITES IN THE PROVINCE OF BELLUNO OF PROVINCE THE IN SITES WAR GREAT Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park Memorial the in areas the of promotion and Preservation

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO De Donà G. Donà De 38 ZOLDO 37 36 34 episode in 1916) or, oftener and of- or, episode in 1916) 8 33 7 PIEVE DICADORE 35 6 5 2 4 31 3 32 1 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 30 29 AURONZO DICADORE Batteria Listolade Batteria Tagliata diSanMartino Col deSaléra -MontePunta Spiz Zuel Col Pradamio Monte Rite Vodo -BeccodiCuzze (AccessoB) Vodo -BeccodiCuzze (AccessoA) Anna-LaGlories Col S. Piandell’Antro Forte Monte Tranego Col Forte Vaccher Castello Batteria MonteRicco Forte Anello deiColli Col Vidal P.so -ColAudoi Mauria Miaron P.so -M. Mauria Monte Tudaio Col Ciampon Strafexpidition 27 28 25 26 22 21 23 24 When war broke out, however, this defence system, with all its 73 officers, 4,000 When war broke out, however, proved use- troops and 92 guns and a substantial amount of reserves and munitions, on the front less and incapable of favourably affecting the operations in progress Army troops (com- line, which was beyond the range of its gunfire. The Italian IV manded first by General L. Nava and then by General M. N. di Robilant) could only count on these forts as a defence asset in the event of an unexpected collapse of the front line (for example the tener as time passed, as a plentiful reserve of soldiers, cannons, machine-guns, shells and various other materials to be diverted for the needs of the front, above all the Giulia area. So a steady trickle of requisitions began that ended line in the Venezia by weakening the entire structure, which was first under the command of General DISTRIBUTED FREE OF CHARGE 10

A. Fornari 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 GREAT WAR SITESIN THE PROVINCE OFBELLUNO Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park andpromotionoftheareasinMemorial Preservation Armoured cupolas Col of the fort on Vidal in 1917. History anddescriptionoftheGreatWar sites

13.2 13.1 SECONDA LINEAFORTI DELCENTRO CADORE Alpago Novello Alpago ANELLO DEICOLLI COL VIDAL m 1800) (m. 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 500 men also had shelters, wells, equipment and provisions for months, so that 500 men also had shelters, wells, equipment and provisions they could operate even under completely adverse weather conditions. being, including A complex and unusual system of fortifications thus came into and prisons, and the old installations of Pieve, soon downgraded to serve as stores the new high-level forts, with two distant outposts: one was established on Mount Miaron, above the Mauria pass, where a sighting post was constructed that could against forces coming from direct the action of the guns of the fort at Mount Tudaio Carnia, and one on Col Pradamio, chosen for the construction of a position above the Longarone-Zoldo road. The name adopted and usually employed throughout to indicate this defence system and the direct control it exercised above the First War Maè was the Cadore-Maè fortifications. all over Cadore and Val complied withthetheoryofarmouredfortsthatthenheldswayinEurope,sup- (higher works)onMountTudaio, ColVidalandMountRite.Theseconstructions on ColPiccolonearVigoandPiandell’Antro nearVenas, andthree armoured positionswerethusconstructed,specificallytwo for thecontrolofcommunicationsbelowthemwereselected.Somestrong and EngineeringInspectorates,somepositionsthatwereofparticularimportance War Spingardi,ChiefofStaffPollio, theEasternMilitaryTheatreandArtillery cept. AfterlongtechnicaldiatribesamongH.R.H.theDukeofAosta,Minister ished, thatCadoreagaincametotheforegroundinItaly’s strategicdefencecon- It wasnotuntil1904,whenmorefundsarrivedandnewstrategicstudiesflour- cial resourcesthatwouldhavebeenneededtoupdateandrebuildthem. after the pletion coincidedwiththeprofoundmoralandeconomiccrisisthatafflictedItaly siege warfarethatweremadeinEuropeattheendofcentury, andtheircom- ended byverysoonbecomingobsoleteinthelightofsubstantialadvances cording toalmostmediaevalcriteria(ditch,drawbridge,machicolations,etc.),they out inthewoods,toprovideaproperprotectionforguns.Constructedac- ing heightsandunable,withtheirhollowtraversesthatcouldeasilybepicked The works,however, wereinordinarymasonry, easilydominatedfromthesurround- an advancetowardsVerona andLakeGarda. have beenfatallyexposedtoanobviousoutflankingmanoeuvreafteranyAustri- some impedimenttoanyItalianoffensiveinFriuliandontheIsonzo,whichwould cut offthewedgeofTrento territorythat,since1866,hadconstitutedatrouble- (Fortezza). Theideawastocarryoutarapidbreakthroughthewestinorder of Pieve,inwhichanarmycorpscouldeasilygetreadytoheadforFranzenfeste counter-offensive, asitwasdevotedtothesafeguardingofaprotectedarea,that The maintaskofthissystemwasnotsolelydefensive;italsointendedtobe turned themouthsofitsfourtoeightcannonstowardsBoitevalley. and thefurtherbankofPiave,fortonColVaccher, veryvastandcomplex, ria CastelloandMountRiccopointedtheirmedium-calibregunsagainstDomegge Buoi andVal Inferna,neartheCaseraRazzodairyfarm.WhilefortsofBatte- ana-San DionisioandSant’Anna-Col Maò)andthemountainrefugesonPiandei with awholeseriesofaccessandringroads(Pozzale-Mount Tranego, Costapi- ColVaccher nearPieveandTai diCadore, and forts ofBatteriaCastello,MountRicco tem knownasthePievediCadorefortificationswascompleted,including towards LongaroneandBelluno.Between18821896,accordingly, thesys- from thecentreofCadoreandVal Ansieibeforetheycouldeasilybreakthrough near PievediCadoreandTai diCadore,inordertocontainenemypenetrationsboth Afterwards, inaround1880,itwasdecidedtodesignthebarrierfurtherback, ments convergedfromVal AnsieiandComelico. and aboveallthecrucialjunctionofTreponti, onwhichallsupposedenemymove- structed, withanaccessroadtothefortgorge,trainedcontrolbelow colo, ColRive,Tagliardo andColCiampon),fieldgunemplacementswerecon- on thehillsofVigodiCadore.Here,ataheightabout1,000metres(ColPic- of GeneralsPianellandCosenz,asystemmodestdefenceworkswasdeveloped After theannexationofVenice totheKingdomofItaly, mainly ontheinitiative offensive. ThiswasborneoutbytheheroicstandorganisedP.F. Calviin1848. capable ofallowingcentralCadoreanditsmaintown,Pieve,toresistanenemy Venice consideredtheVenas andLozzopassagesastwodefencebulwarksthatwere a mediaevaltradition,becauseinpreviouscenturiestheMostSereneRepublicof Defensive strategyinCadoreattheendofnineteenthcenturywasbasedon THE GENERAL INFORMATION CADORE-MAÈ débacle

Vidal battery gunpits. De Donà G. Donà De at Aduain1896;theinstallationsweredeprivedoffinan- FORTIFICATIONS opere basse CONTINUE (lower works) opere alte ported in Italy by General E. Rocchi; often served by boldly conceived and costly ported in Italy by General E. Rocchi; often served by boldly conceived but also of civil- access roads, the fruit of the labours of thousands of Engineers, batteries fit- ian contractors and labourers, they were designed to hold concrete A guns, able to ted with Armstrong model revolving nickel steel cupolas for 149 hit targets up to 14 kilometres away and were virtually resistant to any enemy attack. Each armoured battery was also served by a series of barracks, stores and through suc- workshops excavated out of the underlying rock, with the capability, cessions of defensive circuits, supplementary observation posts and additional defences, mainly in caverns, of ensuring the impregnability of the entire fortification against any attack, keeping it operational to the bitter end, even in the event The garrison of 300 to of the valleys below being entirely occupied by the enemy. ordbc otebnso thePiave. poured backto thebanksof ori andalso, defensive lineto which hehadmadesuch agreat contribution, thatmighty of inthechaos after Caporetto, because itsaved himfrom thecollapse, wasatimelydeath, thatin practice Ivanoff’s bitter irony, with besaid, It might herothertwo children.Marina with had evacuated to Nicotera thefamouspoet, camefrom who thefamilyof to, EmmaFusina- hiswidow, while inthefront wasfighting line, who bye to his son, hediedat beingabletoArsiè bidgood- in1917without fromSuffering asthma, andthebell-tower atRocca d’Arsie. Adria area andnearFadalto, he alsocollaborated works incivil such assomehydro-electricity plantsinthe but onCima CampoandCima theworks ontheforts Lan, he wasincharge of From 1895to 1910 road communications. military someimportant trenches andtheconstruction of engaged intheCadore system of Cadore andPieve, anduntil1895lived andworked atTai di 1886, ScalaPrimolano from 1882to of thefort of gineer En- hewastheChief Among otherposts, cations. someimposingfortifi- andconstruction of design Army andthus hadapersonalrole Engineers inthe to theItalian hewasassigned engineering, itary thanksto hisexperience inmil- In hisnewcountry, atraveller from Vienna. guise of fromto setsailatnight Trieste to Venice underthe time whenhewasstillatRovigno andthus managed in waswarned Ivanoff tured inatavern atRonchi, While thelast-namedwascap- Guglielmo Oberdan. Count Ettore dallaZonca andthefamous engineer, an amongwhomFrancesco Marsich, friends, patriot whenhefledto someother Italian soilwith 1882, worked inPola engineer asacivil andTrieste until He Vienna University theItalians above andwith all. of thestudentminorities with hesoonsympathised ous andromantic inspirit, Gener- where inelectro-technical hegraduated engineering. andmarine enna, in andfinally theninGraz Vi- This young cosmopolitan studiedfirstinTrieste, toRussian Cracow thathademigrated origin andthento Trieste andPola. an Austrian Navy officer andbelongedto afamilyof wasthe sonof Austria, of Emperor Franz Josef asubjectof inTrieste, born (1851-1917), Giovanni Ivanoff Savoy aRussian of attheCourt of The fascinatingodyssey F R able forpersonswithpoormobility. None, asthisexcursion,atleastfartheentrancetofort,isalsosuit- DEGREE OFDIFFICULTY to devotethevariousconstructions,especiallyroomsinsidegorge. About 2hours.Thedurationofthetourdependsonamounttimeyouwish DURATION About 70 metres,onagentlyslopingroute. DIFFERENCE INALTITUDE government buildingcalledthePalazzo dellaMagnificaComunitàdiCadore. Cadore. RendezvousatPievediCadore,inPiazzaTiziano,outsidethehistoriclocal half anhour. Thereis anattractiveviewoverthelakebeneathandallcentral former casino.Thisgentleinclineleadstothemassiveruinsoffortinlessthan descent towardsSottocastellobeforegoingontothemilitaryroadjustbehind that isalmostentirelyclosedtotraffic.FromthecentreofPievethereashort The fortcanbeeasilyreachedafterapleasantwalkthroughthewoodsalongroute DESCRIPTION OFTHEROUTE 14.1 for all. assisted bysomewooden bridgesbut needssomecare andisnot suitable bility. Thewalkroundthebattery and thereturnjourneyfrom northis None fromthe south;thewalkisalsosuitable forpersonswithpoormo- DEGREE OFDIFFICULTY is privatepropertyandnotopen tothepublic. About 2hours,mostlyemployed inthewalkandgoingroundstructure,which DURATION About 70 metres, ongentleslopes. DIFFERENCE INALTITUDE ment building,orintheFatherChristmasPark bytheRoccolodiSant’Alipio. in frontofthehistoricPalazzo dellaMagnificaComunitàdiCadorelocalgovern- the north,takingacircularroute.Rendezvous:PievediCadore, inPiazzaTiziana, minutes). Itissuggestedthatyougotherefromthesouthand comebackfrom west byapathinthewoodsgoingupfromRoccolodiSant’Alipio (20-30 utes fromthecentreofPieve).Otherwise,youcanreachbattery fromthenorth- co fort,takingtheleft-handforkinwoodalittlebelowfort (about30min- This tripcanbemadefollowingthesamerouteasthatleadingto theMountRic- DESCRIPTION OFTHEROUTE 14.2 prevented hisbeingcaptured by troops theImperial thatsounexpectedly , O M

T H BATTERIA CASTELLO FORTE DI MONTE RICCO E

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D O L O M m 953) (m. I T m 953) (m. E S fortification worksinCadore. a largenumberof with theItalianEngineerson Giovanni Ivanoffworked a pri- gle level, while enough space fortwo levels had been obtained in thegorge ter- yard. Casemates wereconstructed under thefrontand sides,alllaid out onasin- while the sides,perpendicular tothefront andthegorge, enclosedanarrow court- leading tothe terreplein, waslargeenoughto taketwomedium-calibrepieces, The gunplatform, builtfromthefaçade,more than9metreswideandwith stairs parapets. metres long,dividedbytwohollow traversesandconstructedwith8-metrethick addition andasupplementto the nearbyfortofMonteRicco,itsfaçadewas25 Pieve. Completedduringthelast twentyyearsofthenineteenthcenturyasan the rockytopofMountCastello, 953metres,onthenarrowridgesouth-eastof The battery, anelegantconstruction,wasdesigned bytheItalianEngineerson a shortdistancefromthecentreofPieve. co fort,passingthroughacharming,quietwoodthatcomes asasurprisesuch You willusethesameformermilitaryserviceroadthatgoestoMountRic- THE CASTELLOBATTERY on theheightsabove,MountTranego, MountZuccoandColVidal.Servedby Castello batteryonlyabout200metresawayandthevariousartillerypositions fications, conceivedandconstructedtooperateincloseconjunctionwiththe of thenineteenthcentury, andwasthecentreofCadoresystemforti- The fort,standingataheightof953m,wasbuiltduringthelasttwentyyears struction stonesfromtheancientruinedPieveCastlewereused. towards therightand,after200metresyouwillgettofort,forwhosecon- disturbed byrelativelyrecentexcavationstosetupasportscentre;continue Turn leftandafterafewmetresyouwillgettominormilitaryposition,now tury, soonreaching anopenspacewithacrossroads. into thewood,goingthroughanareathathashardlychangedsincelastcen- of MountRicco.Take theroadthatforksleftfromnearstatueandgoup Pietro FortunatoCalvibythesculptorMariani,standingonsouthernslope and thentakethelittleroadtoleftthatleadsbigmonument For ashortway, godowntheroadfromcentreofPievetoSottocastello was thesiteofoldcastlethatsymbolthisareaforcenturies. tifications, climbingthehistoricmountainthatoverlookstown,which This visitwillallowyoutoenterwhatwastheheartofPievediCadorefor- THE FORTONMOUNTRICCO Musizza W. Mount Ricco. sculpture byMariniontheslopesof in 1931 bythepresent bronze Austrians blewitup.Itwasreplaced distance, butinMarch1918 the Contràs, whichcouldbeseenfroma Fortunato CalviwasunveiledonCol In 1909afinemonumenttoPietro MONUMENT TO CALVI. to therearofposition. Gorge ofthefortseenfromendmilitaryroadPievethatleadsstraight

Musizza W.

Musizza W. Castello battery. the gorgeof Covered wayon At theoutbreak ofwar itwasgarrisoned bythe7 and from 60to70 gunners. the eventofwar, the garrisonconsistedofhalfacompany ofFortressInfantry The artilleryconsisted of2medium-andsmall-calibre piecesontheright; in Cadore andthe riverbendinthevalleyatPozzale. and thegorge,onotherhand, couldonlybeshortrange,coveringPievedi more accessiblepartsoftheleft-hand bankofthePiave.Gunfirefromsides cally theslopesaroundCalalzo, GreaandVallesella, theDomeggeroadand range andwereabletocover asubstantialstretchofthePiavevalley, specifi- The gunsonthebatteryfaçade, trainedtowardsColleLePiazze,hadasignificant east wall. casemates andthecaponier, whichwasdesignedasacontinuationofthesouth- five metreswideandasmanydeep,coveredbythenumerous windowsinthe replein. Thegorge,whichwasaccessiblefromanirondrawbridge, hadaditch the leftbyacoveredway. with amasonrycounterscarp,haddrawbridgeoveritandwasdefendedto hind. Thegorgewasprotectedbya5-to6-metrewideand5-metredeepditch, hand sidewasnaturalrockinthefrontportionandmasonrypartbe- scarp waspartlynaturalrockanddugoutoftheground,whileright- There wasnoditchinfrontoftheandsides:toleft row courtyard,whileone-storeycasemateshadbeenexcavatedunderground. The sideswereperpendiculartothefrontand,withgorge,enclosedanar- slopes oftheterrepleinbysteps. wide, suitableformedium-calibregunemplacementsandconnectedtothe parts bythreehollowtraversesthatformedtwoplatformsnearly10 metres The façadeofthefortwasstraight,withaterreplein,dividedintotwoequal Mount Zovoandtheslopesnorth-eastofZucco. the otherhand,controlledTai-Perarolo roadasfarthewesternribof ponti gullytowardsPieveandTai alongthevalleyofPiave.Thegorge,on um- and4small-calibre)wastopreventtheenemycomingfromTre- sella. Themainfunctionoftheeightgunsthatwereplannedforit(4medi- Grea, coveringColesello(930m),westofCalalzo,asfarthePiaveandVale- the vehicularroadthatwehavecomeup,itsmainaxiswasdirectedtowards (Mobile Militia) and the70 last ofwhichin1922. fewer than22editions,the Milan andwentthroughno published byFratelliTreves in Fortunato Calvi,whichwas epic adventureofPietro Caccianiga devotedtothe eventful novelbyAntonio Pieve diCadore,inspiredthe the FatherChristmasPark in recently restoredbirdsnarein The RoccolodiSant’Alipio, a THE ROCCOLODISANT’ALIPIO

Musizza W. th Company of theVIII Group ofthe 9 P th Fortress ArtilleryRegiment th Fortress Ar- the lakeindirectionsofCalalzoandPerarolo. up therampleadingtoroof,fromwhichthereisanattractiveviewover concrete attheendof20thcentury. Fromthecourtyardyoucanstillgo fort, overSottocastello,wasunsafeandstrengthenedwithreinforced hardly makeoutwherethegunemplacementswere.Therightwingof trance areaccessible,whiletheareaoftraversesissoruinedthatonecan Nowadays thegorgeisalmostintact,andanumberofroomsnearen- ans inOctober1918, beforetheirfinalwithdrawalfromCadore. from thethickoffightingandwasirremediablydamagedbyAustri- during thewarintoalogisticscentreandstore,itwasimmediatelyisolated four 120Gcannonsandtwo1886modelGardnermachine-guns.Transformed 17th Companyofthe7thFortressArtilleryRegiment(MobileMilitia),with the VIIIGroupofFortressArtilleryRegiment(Territorial Militia)and the At theoutbreakofGreatWar itwasgarrisonedbythe70th Companyof in 1896. ready abletoprovideampleinformationregardingitslayoutandobjectives sonry; itwasaccuratelysurveyedbyAustrianintelligence,whichal- because itsvaluewasaffectedbythefactthatitbuiltinordinaryma- cause itwasvulnerabletoenemygunfirefromthesurroundingheightsand The fortwasalreadyobsoletebythebeginningoftwentiethcenturybe- ed withthenearbyCastellobattery. 40 gunners,whosewaterreservewasa400-cubic-metretankalsoconnect- In theeventofwargarrisonwastoconsistinfantrycompaniesand30-

Istituto Geografico Militare - Aut. n. 6109 del 12.10.2005 Caccianiga’s novel aboutthe Cadore hero, Pietro Fortunato Calvi. cality still preservessome ofthatmagical atmosphere thatinspired Antonio to theRoccolo di Sant’Alipio through thewoodin20to30 minutes.Thislo- provised bridges andadmiringtheviewover central Cadore,youcangetdown After goinground theleft-handsideofbattery withthehelpofsome im- interior isnotopentothepublic. century toadaptitforuseas a workshop;itisnowprivatedwellingandthe Extensive restorationworkswere carriedoutonitattheendoftwentieth tober 1918. tiny ofthenearbyMountRicco fort,beingdestroyedbytheAustriansinOc- In practicethebatterywasnot usedduringthewholewarandshareddes- Gardner machine-guns. tillery Regiment(Territorial Militia),withtwo149Gcannonsand1886 icised upto thattime. whohadbeenover-crit- thesenewtroops, show everyone theexceptional temper of to andonethatserved afeatthathasbecome amyth, nia to Perarolo andback: marched They from StazioneCar- intwo 200kilometres days). (areturn journey of onanincredible march menfrom thearea, mainlycomposed of Alpine Battalion, the10th thatin 1882 CaptainDavide Menini of ledthe35thCorps gust theyear after, alsocame to who Cadore onholiday in Au- It wasto inhomageto parade theQueen, intheCadore. wasstaying atPerarolo, atthesametimeasQueenMargherita Road, ria above allonthe Mau- exerciseswith thatsaw thesoldiersalsoengagedinroadworks, Regiment encampmentinJuly 1881, Alpine Battalionandthe78thInfantry the10th before that, June 1898and, encampmentatPelosthe 14thCorps in theseoccasions was of most memorable Among the campments were setup. theirfamousen- when early November, weather froming thewarmer 1May to andonlycameupto Cadorewinter dur- were the during stationedatConegliano In factthe Alpine troops car station. the present unused Mount Agudo cable It wasjustbeyond was soldto the Army. between Villagrande andRieve, Ferieve, di astheCasaGrande ing known whenthebuild- at Auronzo until1887, The and wassurrounded by a simple fence. hold 184soldiers(or368inbunkbeds), to largeenough tion 50metres long, construc- alargesingle and consisted of the present Buffa diPerrero barracks, was onthesite atpresent occupied by Thefirstbuilding theyear afterwards. ry It wasrebuilt inmason- stroyed by fire. whenitwasde- ed until2July 1913, andlast- (orcrow-feather)their eagle-feather bowlers wasbuiltatPieve inMay 1873, with newinfantrymen forthestrange Thefirstwooden barracks dation androads. unwonted clamourfrom gave thenonnaturally to theneedfornewaccommo- rise Cadore with The ever more complex manoeuvres thatbeganto fillthewoods of atPieve68th Corps andthe65that Auronzo. the67thand composed of terwards gave to the27thCadore birth Battalionin1877, andaf- thatyear, atPecòl wasgarrisoned on23March of under CaptainDe Vecchi, 250men madeupof The14th Alpine Corps, ready stationedinCadore by 1873. andthisbody wasal- the Alpine Corps, thecreation of uously arguedinfavour of stren- Italy onthe Alps, concept whose wasthedefence of Perrucchetti, Captain G. T H E Alpini

A L P had to waitto have abarracks I N E

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C A D O R E guide atMisurinain1900. Auronzo, QueenMargherita’s Alpine soldierGerardoPais, from eyseiltae nteesosa euto theGreat War. inthesespotsasaresult specialtraces very of love butare ableto beauty themountainsfortheirnatural pe andenthusiasts visitors whonotonly We find alargenumber of will opportunity andcultural hopethatthisnewhistorical interest historical access to andnearness othersites of easeof such significance, ashistorical ing somebasicfeatures inmind, T reduced peoplewith mobility. considering theneedsof able fully have difficulty been lengthsanddegrees of various of Itineraries know andlearn. ing usto observe, teach- thelandscape, of timeenhance thefascinationandbeauty thathave thepassingof struggle survived less monthsof end- 29seemingly events involvedthe backdrop andtragic to theterrible of Thetraces intheGreat War ontheDolomite front. thisproject thesplendidandenchanting isto places acquaint with thatwere thenewgenerations The fundamentalintention of Entrance totheMountRiccofort,withdrawbridgeandditch. Gino Frontali, This isto remember thatthewarisnotsomethinghasbeenfo theopposingarmies. thesoldiersof metres of more than theexistence atanaltitudeof realising thedifficultiesof andexperience lifeonthefrontaries lineatfirsthand, theCommittee's laboursare theguidesandleafletsthatgive everyone thechance to tackleeasyitiner- Theresults of Park". theareas intheMemorial Preservation andpromotion of Belluno. reg III A project "Great called War sites intheProvince of theItaly-Austria Inter- thework doneby theTechnical andScientificCommittee of of thepurpose asitstillis, This hasbeen, peace. warforpathsof Memories of venture. ad- to know butextraordinary thementhatlived thistragic notto forget, recordA historical to re-discover theMountains, war..." theneedsof fire enemy upunder tomeet opened routes are even theyoungest but even bythemostexpert, featsperformed see but individuals, of notonlyonthepart “…the Alps prodigies, see "...it is not a parenthesis that we can hasten to close to go back to what wewere before..." togobackwhat saying toclose "...it isnotaparenthesis thatwecanhasten Plan of the Mount Ricco fort and the Castello battery from a survey by Austro- Hungarian intelligence, 1896. recruits soon turn into accomplished climbers. Some new mountain Somenew intoaccomplishedclimbers. turn soon recruits cieterltosi ewe a n aue which hasleft rceive therelationship between manandnature, loo i arl,paon n hl opne.And notdowe companies. platoonsandwhole bigpatrols, of also gte n ht ntewrso Surgeon Second-Lieutenant inthewords of rgotten andthat, rpsdfrvstn hs ie,sm fthemfullyrealis- of some thesesites, proposed for visiting he itineraries thatare suggestedhe itineraries have beenselected bear- C A Berti). (A. o o r d i n a t O i o r n g

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C . Musizza W. f i o n m a n m c i i t n t g e line in the Venezia Giulia area. So a steady trickle of requisitions began that end- line in the Venezia command of Gen- ed by weakening the entire structure, which was first under the reducing it to a bad condition of material efficiency as well as eral G. Venturini, of strategic and tactical readiness. Marocco, the forti- Commanded in the frantic days after Caporetto by General A. fied area was never given a clear and unequivocal function, often having to sub- mit to the diverse and fluctuating concepts of the Chief of Staff of the IV Army (General M. N. di Robilant) and the Commander of the I Army Corps (General S. Piacentini). It was abandoned prematurely with limited damage to its structures, without having the chance to engage in any worthwhile artillery action before or during the desperate and spasmodic defence put up by the Italian troops in central Cadore and the Boite valley.

e b 2,000 o d i e s . Cover. RuinsoftheMountRiccofort,innercourtyardwithaccesstoguttedammunitionstores. oriain OUIËMNAAAODN - COMUNITËVia IVNovembre, 2-32021Agordo(BL)Italia MONTANA AGORDINA Coordination: 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 LIST OFITINERARIES 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Zona monumentale dellaMarmolada Malga Ciapèla-OmbrettadiMarmolada aSerauta -Marmolada Museo storico Col DaDaut- Toront Cima Lana-AgaiePalla Cima Lana-CostoneCastelloSellaSief Variante ColdelaRoda Ciadinéi -SellaSief Da CimaLanaaiCiadiniéi Cima Sief-ColdiLana Sella Sief-Cima -SelladelSief Posizione “Edelweiss” Valle delleBaracche diMisurina Cristallino BosieMontePiana A. Rif. -MontePiana Misurina Giro delColdiMezzo Croda dell’Arghena aiPianidiLavaredo Quota “2385” Forcella Lavaredo MARMOLADA 18 17 20 19 e.0039043762390-Fax [email protected]. Eingriffe der Wiederinstandsetzung und Valorisierung in den Gebieten des Erinnerungsparks des Gebieten den in Valorisierung und Wiederinstandsetzung der Eingriffe View of the Castello battery from Mount Ricco in a pre-First War photograph. 14 9 12 10 15 I LUOGHIDELLAGRANDEGUERRAINPROVINCIA DIBELLUNO 13 Interventi direcuperoInterventi evalorizzazione neiterritoridelParco dellaMemoria DIE ORTE DES ERSTEN WELTKRIEGES IN DER PROVINZ BELLUNO PROVINZ DER IN WELTKRIEGES ERSTEN DES ORTE DIE 11 16 40 Von derE.U.UnterstützesProjektMittelsEuropäischerWärungsfondszurRegionalenEntwicklung Project co-financedbytheEuropeanUnionthroughFoundforRegionalDevelopmen Gemeinschaftsinitiative InterregIIIAItalien-Österreich2000-2006-Projekt(Cod.VEN222001) AGORDO Progetto cofinanziatodall’UnioneEuropeamedianteFondoEuropeodiSviluppoRegionale Iniziativa ComunitariaInterregIIIAItalia-Austria2000-2006-Progetto(Cod.VEN222001) 39 Community InitiativeInterregIIIAItalia-Austria2000-2006-Project(Cod.VEN222001) GREAT WAR SITES IN THE PROVINCE OF BELLUNO OF PROVINCE THE IN SITES WAR GREAT Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park Memorial the in areas the of promotion and Preservation CORTINA D’AMPEZZO 38 ZOLDO 37 36 34 episode in 1916) or, oftener and of- or, episode in 1916) 8 33 7 PIEVE DICADORE 35 6 5 2 4 31 3 32 1 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 30 29 AURONZO DICADORE Batteria Listolade Batteria Tagliata diSanMartino Col deSaléra -MontePunta Spiz Zuel Col Pradamio Monte Rite Vodo -BeccodiCuzze (AccessoB) Vodo -BeccodiCuzze (AccessoA) Anna-LaGlories Col S. Piandell’Antro Forte Monte Tranego Col Forte Vaccher Castello Batteria MonteRicco Forte Anello deiColli Col Vidal P.so -ColAudoi Mauria Miaron P.so -M. Mauria Monte Tudaio Col Ciampon Strafexpidition 27 28 25 26 22 21 23 24

the Longarone-Zoldo road. The name adopted and usually employed throughout the Longarone-Zoldo road. The name adopted and usually employed it exercised above to indicate this defence system and the direct control the First War Maè was the Cadore-Maè fortifications. all over Cadore and Val this defence system, with all its 73 officers, 4,000 When war broke out, however, proved use- troops and 92 guns and a substantial amount of reserves and munitions, less and incapable of favourably affecting the operations in progress on the front line, which was beyond the range of its gunfire. The Italian IV Army troops (commanded first by General L. Nava and then by General M. N. di Robilant) could only count on these forts as a defence asset in the event of an unexpected collapse of the front line (for example the tener as time passed, as a plentiful reserve of soldiers, cannons, machine-guns, shells and various other materials to be diverted for the needs of the front, above all the arc. Molinari arc. DISTRIBUTED FREE OF CHARGE 10

A. Fornari 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 GREAT WAR SITESIN THE PROVINCE OFBELLUNO Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park andpromotionoftheareasinMemorial Preservation Covered way on Covered way the the gorge of Mount Ricco fort. History anddescriptionoftheGreatWar sites

14.2 14.1 SECONDA LINEAFORTI DELCENTRO CADORE Musizza W. Musizza BATTERIA CASTELLO FORTE DI MONTE RICCO m 953) (m. m 953) (m. 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 fences, mainly in caverns, of ensuring the impregnability of the entire fortification fences, mainly in caverns, of ensuring the impregnability of the even in the event of against any attack, keeping it operational to the bitter end, The garrison of 300 to 500 the valleys below being entirely occupied by the enemy. so that they could men also had shelters, wells, equipment and provisions for months, as exceptional snow- operate even under completely adverse weather conditions, such falls or particularly intense cold. A complex and unusual system of fortifications thus came into being, including the old installations of Pieve, soon downgraded to serve as stores and prisons, and the new high-level forts, with two distant outposts: one was established on Mount Miaron, above the Mauria pass, where a sighting post was constructed that could against forces coming from direct the action of the guns of the fort at Mount Tudaio Carnia, and one on Col Pradamio, chosen for the construction of a position above for thecontrolofcommunicationsbelowthemwereselected.Somestrong and EngineeringInspectorates,somepositionsthatwereofparticularimportance War Spingardi,ChiefofStaffPollio, theEasternMilitaryTheatreandArtillery cept. AfterlongtechnicaldiatribesamongH.R.H.theDukeofAosta,Minister ished, thatCadoreagaincametotheforegroundinItaly’s strategicdefencecon- It wasnotuntil1904,whenmorefundsarrivedandnewstrategicstudiesflour- cial resourcesthatwouldhavebeenneededtoupdateandrebuildthem. after the pletion coincidedwiththeprofoundmoralandeconomiccrisisthatafflictedItaly siege warfarethatweremadeinEuropeattheendofcentury, andtheircom- ended byverysoonbecomingobsoleteinthelightofsubstantialadvances cording toalmostmediaevalcriteria(ditch,drawbridge,machicolations,etc.),they out inthewoods,toprovideaproperprotectionforguns.Constructedac- ing heightsandunable,withtheirhollowtraversesthatcouldeasilybepicked The works,however, wereinordinarymasonry, easilydominatedfromthesurround- an advancetowardsVerona andLakeGarda. have beenfatallyexposedtoanobviousoutflankingmanoeuvreafteranyAustri- some impedimenttoanyItalianoffensiveinFriuliandontheIsonzo,whichwould cut offthewedgeofTrento territorythat,since1866,hadconstitutedatrouble- (Fortezza). Theideawastocarryoutarapidbreakthroughthewestinorder of Pieve,inwhichanarmycorpscouldeasilygetreadytoheadforFranzenfeste counter-offensive, asitwasdevotedtothesafeguardingofaprotectedarea,that The maintaskofthissystemwasnotsolelydefensive;italsointendedtobe turned themouthsofitsfourtoeightcannonstowardsBoitevalley. and thefurtherbankofPiave,fortonColVaccher, veryvastandcomplex, ria CastelloandMountRiccopointedtheirmedium-calibregunsagainstDomegge Buoi andVal Inferna,neartheCaseraRazzodairyfarm.WhilefortsofBatte- ana-San DionisioandSant’Anna-Col Maò)andthemountainrefugesonPiandei with awholeseriesofaccessandringroads(Pozzale-Mount Tranego, Costapi- ColVaccher nearPieveandTai diCadore, and forts ofBatteriaCastello,MountRicco system knownasthePievediCadorefortificationswascompleted,including through towardsLongaroneandBelluno.Between18821896,accordingly, the from thecentreofCadoreandVal Ansieibeforetheycouldeasilybreakthrough near PievediCadoreandTai diCadore,inordertocontainenemypenetrationsboth Afterwards, inaround1880,itwasdecidedtodesignthebarrierfurtherback, ments convergedfromVal AnsieiandComelico. and aboveallthecrucialjunctionofTreponti, onwhichallsupposedenemymove- structed, withanaccessroadtothefortgorge,trainedcontrolbelow colo, ColRive,Tagliardo andColCiampon),fieldgunemplacementswerecon- on thehillsofVigodiCadore.Here,ataheightabout1,000metres(ColPic- of GeneralsPianellandCosenz,asystemmodestdefenceworkswasdeveloped After theannexationofVenice totheKingdomofItaly, mainly ontheinitiative heroic standorganisedbyP.F. Calviin1848. and itsmaintown,Pieve,toresistanenemyoffensive.Thiswasborneoutbythe zo passagesastwodefencebulwarksthatwerecapableofallowingcentralCadore ous centuriestheMostSereneRepublicofVenice consideredtheVenas andLoz- The defenceconceptwasfirstbasedonamediaevaltradition,becauseinprevi- cient structureontheimmediatethresholdofGreatWar. ans from1866onwards,butwhichonlyacquiredanacceptablyorganicandeffi- and roadsthatwasconstructedbytheItalianArmytoserveagainstAustri- In Cadorethereisasystemofforts,batteries,positions,depots,observationposts THE PIEVEDICADOREFORTIFICATIONS GENERAL INFORMATION débacle opere alte Mount Ricco fort and Castello battery from the ruins of the cableway near di Cadore in Tai November 1917.

(lower works) arc. Fiala arc. at Aduain1896;theinstallationsweredeprivedoffinan- opere basse CONTINUE armoured positions were thus constructed, specifically two on Col Piccolo near Vigo and on Pian dell’Antro near Venas, and three near Venas, on Col Piccolo near Vigo and on Pian dell’Antro These constructions Col Vidal and Mount Rite. (higher works) on Mount Tudaio, in Europe, sup- complied with the theory of armoured forts that then held sway and costly ported in Italy by General E. Rocchi; often served by boldly conceived access roads, the fruit of the labours of thousands of Engineers, but also of civilian contractors and labourers, they were designed to hold concrete batteries fitted with Armstrong model revolving nickel steel cupolas for 149 A guns, able to and were virtually resistant to any enemy hit targets up to 14 kilometres away, attack. Each armoured battery was also served by a series of barracks, stores and through suc- workshops excavated out of the underlying rock, with the capability, cessions of defensive circuits, supplementary observation posts and additional de- these mountains. well saycan very thatSaintDionysius isagainthelawful lord andguardian of we thisisso, if and, Cadore thatprovides excellent andabove peaceful all views; army apeerlessterrace thisdaring over positionisagain the however, In ourtime, laying outpathsandsetting uppositionsat2,000metres! went upthere too, the because Alpine troops andtheEngineers but thiswould alsohave beenvain, Croda pass, Castellone andthePiria toto theCrode climbhigher diSanPietro, would have preferred sandbags, enemy aeroplanes andsurrounded by ahostof the of inthesights amongsomuch dinandclamour, The goodSaintDionysius, theCadore-Maè scattered over fortifications theBoite valley. of tro-Hungarian ontheItalian raids aerodromes atTai installations andthevarious theever discouraging more harassing Aus- tempt to solve theawkward problem of inanat- and trenches inPieve, andalsoatelephone lineto theCalmibarracks amachine-gun a fewyards with away from thechurch theGreat during War, postwasplaced ananti-aircraft observation At tranquillity! spot, thisvery search of thatSaintDionysius hadcome here in however, It wasaparadoxical irony, di. Archdeacon Bernar- ready to beblessedandopenedforworship inthepresence of waslaidon18July thatyear andon31 August itwas which istheonewe seenow, thenewbuilding, Thefirststone of and rebuild it. todition thatitwasabsolutely pullitdown necessary thechurch wasinsuch apoorcon- however, In 1910, ers thathadbeenespeciallysetupforher. andflow- branches meal underamajesticpavilion of themountainto consume a to thetop of in alitter, theway onfootandtheotherpart of apart zale, on23 nitaries August 1882andclimbedfrom Poz- dig- from Villa inPerarolo Lazzaris ahostof with Shesetoff QueenMargherita’s excursion. a result of More recently well as known itbecamevery ments. docu- sixteenth century it ismentionedinvarious beamandthat asthisdate onaroof wasfoundcarved was firsterected in1508, we know thatthechurch from But thesepleasantlegends, apart and Val Longiarù. Val Costede Costa Nuda, thehaymaking ontheslopesof the noiseandbustleof below hehadsettledinthevalley butcould notstand from allhuman distractions; SaintDionysius camehere far lookingforahermitage According to tradition, allmountainhikers. of tures theheart SanDionisioiscompletely andcap- striking thelittleChurch of around it, visible round Mounts winding tracks Tranego andPradonego andCol Maò completely thePiave with ValleyIn itspositionopposite allthe below lying andwith Antelao, S A to getthetopofMountZucco,wherethereareexposedandfriablestretches. sons withpoormobility. Asurestep,however, isnecessaryifyoudecidewant None: asfartheentrancetofort,excursionisalsosuitableforper- DEGREE OFDIFFICULTY Zucco (1,197m),wherethereareremainsofanarmyshelter. Ciaupa. AdiversionofaboutanhourwillenableyoutoclimbthetopMount oughly youwishtoexaminethefortifiedperimeterandnearbypositionsat From threetofourhours.Thetimeyouspendintheareadependsonhowthor- DURATION About 150metres. DIFFERENCE INALTITUDE in frontoftheformerrailwaystation(839m). quite asecludedandsilentarea.Rendezvous:atTai diCadore,inthebigsquare along aroadthatisopentotraffic.Theroutealmostentirelyintheshade The fortcanbereachedeasilyafterapleasantwalkinthewoodsofTai diCadore, DESCRIPTION OFTHEROUTE 15.1 isio and the Antelao refuge; tourist pathfrom Mount Tranego to Pozzale. Tourist path asfarCostapiana; hiking routeasfar theChurchof San Dion- DEGREE OFDIFFICULY to Pozzale from6to6,30 hours. To Costapianafrom 2,30to3hours;theAntelao refugefrom4to4,30hours; DURATION Nearly 1,000metres. DIFFERENCE INALTITUDE Valle diCadore,localityofSanRocco(857m). reached bycaronthepartially tarmacvehicularroadfromValle. Rendezvous: 250, whichoffersclear, panoramicviews.TheCostapiana refugecanalsobe You cangoonasfarthecentreofPozzale (1,054m)afterwardsonroute m) onroute252. (1,697 m)fromwhichyoucanalsoheadforthetopofMount Tranego (1,849 refuge (1,796m)onthePradonegosaddle,orgothrough Antracisapass Mount SanDionisio(1,946m),fromwhichyoucangodirect totheAntelao (1,470 m)andtheCostapiana refuge(1,570 m).Goonbyroute251 towards Take theroadtowardsPravalanandLuoida;lookoutfor Naités haybarns DESCRIPTION OFTHEROUTE 15.2 I N T

D I MONTE TRANEGO FORTE COL VACCHER O N Y S I U S ’ S

C H U R C H

I N

W m 992) (m. A R

A N D

P The ChurchofSanDionisio. E A C E This wasconsidered aring roadwhose objective wasto protect theunderlying 8% to10%. with asolidsurface, from3to3.5metreswide andacontinuousgradientof from The section1.8kilometres longfromPozzale toPievediCadore wasvehicularagain, tain cartsandeven byfieldartilleryaftersome easyimprovisation. bridges. Therearenogradients ofmorethan15%,anditcouldbeusedbymoun- tween CostapianaandSanDionisio itcrossestwogulliesoversmallsafewooden Most oftherouteisverysteep, theslopeseitherverythinlywoodedorstony. Be- track onanaturalbutfirmsurface, 2.20to2.50metreswideincludingtheditch. The sectionfromCostapianato Pozzale, ontheotherhand,wasdesigned asamule sible forittobeusedbyfieldartillery. trees, andhasaminimumradiusof6metresonitscurves,which alsomadeitpos- tre,. Itrunswithnumerousbendsroundsteepslopesmostlythinly coveredwithfir two shortstretchesabout400metreslongataroundthethird andsixthkilome- originally 3metreswideexcludingtheditches,withamaximum gradientof15%on The sectionfromValle toCostapiana,7.2kilometreslong,with asolidsurface,was ian Engineersin1890. then toPozzale (1,054m)andPievediCadore(880m),wascompletedbytheItal- then continuingbytheAntracisapass(1,697m)andMountTranego (1,849m)and The militaryroadthatconnectsValle diCadore(840m)toCostapiana(1,560m), THE MOUNTTRANEGOMILITARY ROAD A rampledfromthenarrowinnercourtyardtoroof,whichoccu- the hollowtraversesandwalkwayconstructedbehindparapet. communicated witheachotherandthecasematesinfront,asalso passageway protectedbyaparapet.Alltheroomsinsidesandgorge in thegorge,whilefrontandonrightgarrisoncouldoperatea cial defences,butthefortcouldbedefendedonleftandfromcasemates tillery. Thetwosides werenotparalleltoeachother, withroofsthathadnospe- der wasequippedtobedefendedbyinfantryandallowedtheuseoffieldar- traverses, whilethepartbetweenlasttraversetorightandshoul- nas. Two medium-calibregunscouldbeplacedontheplatformsseparatedby into foursectionsbyfivehollowtraverses,itsmainaxisdirectedtowardsVe- It hadastraightfaçadewithterrepleinandan8-metrehighparapetdivided the Castellobattery. nineteenth century, withastructuresimilartothoseoftheMountRiccofortand It wasthebiggestofallworkscompletedinCadorebeforeend and controllingtheroadsleadingtocriticalTai junction. fortifications, itsgunfiretrainedonenemymovementsfromtheCortinabasin ence oftheBoiteandPiave,wassouthernextremityPievediCadore 992 metreshighonaribofMountZuccoabovetheTai saddleandtheconflu- The imposingconstructionbuiltbytheItalianEngineersbetween1883and1895, of thefort. emplacements wereenvisagedat1,000metres,andthentotheleft-handside 870 metresthatcanbetakenleadingtotheslopesofCiaupa,wheretwogun taken bythecarttrackiscentralone,butthereaforkatanaltitudeof north slopesofMountZucco,andhasanumbervariations.Theoriginalpath The finealmostentirelytarmacroadgoesthroughtheManzagowoodon THE FORTONCOLVACCHER camouflaged forsecurity. Guns onaplatformatColVaccher, thebackground

Teza Costapiana refuge,formerlyU.Ugolini. Musizza W. Antelao refugeatSellaPradònego. Cercenà. from Casera Mount Antelao South sideof the Crode diSanPietro(2,260 m)andthe areabetweenPian deiCavalli and Piandel- position atSanDionisio controlledthe southandwest slopesofMount Antelao, of SanDionisio, onMountColandneartheCostapiana andNantéshaybarns. The commanded by the gunsonMountRicco.There wereotherpositionsattheChurch and theslopesaround CalalzoandGrea,covered thespacesthatcouldnot be controlled thepointatwhich PiaveValley widenednearthemouthofVal d’Oten dominated thepositionsof troopsbelow. Specifically, thetwolowerpositions and twoonMountTranego. TheyallhadanextensiveviewoftheVal d’Otenand were intheareaofCimaCiaupa, atheightsofbetween1,354and1,577metres, at asuperficiallooktheroad: fouronthenorthandwestslope.Two could beplaced.Therewereeight mainartillerypositions,whicharerecognisableeven continual shortbranchesthatservedthevariousnaturalpositions inwhichagun cover andthatinthesectionbetweenMountTranego andSan Dionisiotherewere Important featuresallthewayalongroadwerethatitalways ascendedunder need. struction, whichwastoallowthecarriagewaybewidened promptlyincaseof number ofscarpsandcounterscarpsowingtotheveryconcept behinditscon- ration oftheAustrians,aboveallowingtoitssolidity, whichwasachievedbyalarge cially inthePozzale toMountTranego section,itearned theunconditionaladmi- field artillerytobequicklydeployedspecificallyprepared emplacements. Espe- Pieve diCadorefortificationsystem,providingseveralobservation postsandenabling ing northfromthetopofMountZucco(1,196m). Vissa withtheTai saddle,whiletheleft-handwallcoveredslopesdescend- wall coveredtheareasurroundingRioSeccoandslopesofNebbiù the RioVallesina andtheplainwithPianodiSottobarns.Theright-hand barns, whileontherightitcoveredrockyslopesoppositeconfluencewith left bankoftheBoiteitcoveredslopesandaccessroadstoCostapiana ing theBoitevalleyandroadfromValle totheLaPassage narrows.Onthe The fort’s characteristicwasthatitveryeffectivefromthefront,enfilad- the helpofmines. of thegorgecaponier, whichhadbeenexcavatedoutoftheliving rockwith cess tothecourtyardandmainammunitionstore,whichwasright openings inalldirections.Theditchwascrossedbyadrawbridgeprovidingac- the steeprockface,whilegorgewasdefendedbyatwo-storeycaponierwith At theshoulderdefendingrightwallwascornersemi-caponier, builton of thewall. six openingsintheformofmachicolationstohelpdefencebase the ditchinfrontandtoleftwasdefendedbyareverse-firecaponierwith wall andtherightofgorgewaspreventedbyamasonrycounterscarp,while as manymetresdeepwithamasonrycounterscarp.Accesstotheright-hand cluding thecoveredcaponier, therewasadefenceditchfivemetres wideand In frontoftheleft-handsidefort,asalsohalfwayalonggorge,in- its highestpoint. (45% gradient)walledintotheright-handpartandabout30metreshighat north inawallperpendicularlyabovesteephillside,withaninclinedscarp There wasaditchinfrontofthefort8to10 metreswide,whichendedtothe the fortorcrossanarmouredbridgethatwentpastcourtyardtoright. pants couldgettotheterrepleinandcrossroofofleft-handside

Musizza W. in front. tiny graveyard Damos witha Small churchof P

Istituto Geografico Militare - Aut. n. 6109 del 12.10.2005 who diedon Mount Pelmo in 1954. closed and unguarded)was dedicatedin 1974toTita Panciera, a mountainguide Near thepassa hutownedbythePievediCadore ItalianAlpineClub(which is steel pipeline. pass, betweenSan DionisioandMountTranego which heldwaterconveyedby a to buildalargecementtankwith acapacityof130cubicmetresattheAntracisa To obviatetheshortageofwater inthisarea,1911 theItalian Engineersbegan m) hadacapacityof35. in caseofneed,whileasmallarmy shelterinmasonryonMountTranego (1,849 with theCalvibarracksatTai di Cadore;thechurchcouldaccommodate12men There wasatelephonepostatthe littleChurchofSanDionisioincommunication ana and4to6onanaturalsurfaceattheNaitéshaybarns. pieces onanaturalsurfaceMountCol,4to6 surface atCostapi- to 16piecesoffieldartilleryonpartiallylevelledlandMount Tranego, 8to12 tillery positionsconsideredmostsuitable.TheAustriansplanned toputfrom12 event inaveryshorttime,andconstructsectionsofroad leadingtothear- sidering thatitwaseasytotowgunsthisroadovertheterrain quickly, orinany In theeventofwaradditionotherpositionstothesewas notruledout,con- (1 to 1,30hours). through thewood fromly paththatwinds theRualan under bridge Valle diCadore orgoupthelove- justbefore the thebigviaduct, to theright Alemagna off that turns towards godown Perarolo from Pieve diCadore andtake theroadTo getto Damos, lence andwonderful views. where there isnow onlysi- ion alsodescended forgoodover thisCadore belvedere, silence Then andobliv- in November 1917andthe Austrian rout year. thefollowing theItalian retreat bothintheconvulsive fighting stagesof of Damos wasattheheart war. onlyintheevent of to bearmouredbut wasdesigned andgarrisoned for6to 8fieldguns, positionwasbigenough The from the state highway. Alemagna off thatbranched a vehicular an8%gradient road with 1,250metres longand4metres wide It by wasserved Caralte. ontheriver’sand thesidevalleys leftbankandtheterrace of Piave the gorge theTai road, Mount Zucco, itcovered thesouthslopeof and 30wide, 80metres long Perarolo andCaralte: dominatingthewholearea of 801 metres high, positionwassetuphere, An artillery the pointatwhich theBoite flows into thePiave. thelargeopenspace thatov place becauseof thisrestful with to concern wasbeginning itself strategy military however, that time, At Queen Margherita’s walkswhenshewasonholiday inPerarolo in1881and1882. It wasrestored in1619andbecameafavourite spoton paintings. nineteenth century and andothereighteenth probably from theTolmezzo school, exquisitewith frescoes, Thepresent goesbackto structure andisdecorated thesixteenth century churches. oilto thisandto otherCadore a poundof to thelegacyof thatyear bearswitness ment of since adocu- cated to Saint Andrew in1348, Damos must already have hadachurch dedi- itsconvulsivewith hurly-burly. labour anddevotion thatisoutsidetheworld of aheritage a singularandtouching nucleus, theGreatdied during War) make upawhole, tower andthegraveyard itssoldierthat (with thebell Thechurch, caresupreme stilldevoted andtheevident to thetiny graveyard. thanksto stillliving thetidinessthatreigns welcomes andpride, usinallitsneatness it High uponahill, houses thatbelongedto acommunity thatdissolved lastcentury. ancient Sant’Andrea isleftto watch over thenumerous wallsof Only theChurch of When warbrokeout,itaccommodatedthe7 artillery, andwasthus mainlyusedasastorehouseandprisonduringthewar. tance andbecauseitsmasonryconstructionwasvulnerabletocontemporary low altitutude,becauseitsconspicuoustraverseswereveryvisiblefromadis- The fortwasalreadyobsoleteintheearlytwentiethcenturybecauseita tres. gunners andtherewasabigwaterreservoirwithcapacityof550cubicme- the garrisonconsistedhalfacompanyofFortressInfantryandfrom60to70 and from6to11 small-calibrepiecesflankingtheditch.Ineventofwar, The artilleryconsistedof8medium-and3small-calibrepiecesontheright space infrontoftheentranceuptoaheight800metres. road tothefortfromTai, whichcontinuedtoascendeastwardsfromtheopen inally, thegorgecoveredsameslopesandalso3-metrewide access D and theribdescendingfromCrodaCastellone(2,156m)toCol Maò(1,470 m). sive viewoverVal MaissimaandRioVallesina, dominatingtheslopesbeforethese la Regolettawiththeirnetworkoftracks.Theremainingpositions hadanexten- A the shouldertowersoversheerrockbeneath. diaeval hillcastle,especiallyatthepointwherecornersemi-caponier primacy overothercontemporarystructures,eventhrillingvisitorslikeame- trees, thestructurestillpreservesitstheatricalsizeintactandfullyshows earthwork ofthefaçadeandevenroofareobscuredbyadensecurtain with theremainsoftraversesandemplacements.Althoughmassive around theperimeternearwallsandstoptolookatgorgearea and almostburiedbyvegetation.Nevertheless,itisveryinterestingtowalk was usedforhomesandartworkshops,butnowitiscompletelyabandoned particularly thefront,byAustrianbombsinOctober1918. Formanyyearsit Abandoned bytheItaliansafterbeingonlypartiallyscuttled,itwasdamaged, nons andtwo1886Gardnermachine-guns. Company oftheVGroup9thFortressRegiment.Ithadfour149Gcan- bile Militia)VGroupHQandwasgarrisonedbyabout200menofthe13th M O S , T H E

V I L L A G E

T H A T

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N O rokdtebo ftherocky spurabove erlooked thebrow of

th M Fortress ArtilleryRegiment(Mo- O Interior ofthechurchwithfinemosaics. R E eyseiltae nteesosa euto theGreat War. inthesespotsasaresult specialtraces very of love butare ableto beauty themountainsfortheirnatural pe andenthusiasts visitors whonotonly We find alargenumber of will opportunity andcultural hopethatthisnewhistorical interest historical access to andnearness othersites of easeof such significance, ashistorical ing somebasicfeatures inmind, T reduced peoplewith mobility. considering theneedsof able fully have difficulty been lengthsanddegrees of various of Itineraries know andlearn. ing usto observe, teach- thelandscape, of timeenhance thefascinationandbeauty thathave thepassingof struggle survived less monthsof end- 29seemingly events involvedthe backdrop andtragic to theterrible of Thetraces intheGreat War ontheDolomite front. thisproject thesplendidandenchanting isto places acquaint with thatwere thenewgenerations The fundamentalintention of Entrance andgorgeoftheColVaccher fort. Gino Frontali, This isto remember thatthewarisnotsomethinghasbeenfo theopposingarmies. thesoldiersof metres of more than theexistence atanaltitudeof realising thedifficultiesof andexperience lifeonthefrontaries lineatfirsthand, theCommittee's laboursare theguidesandleafletsthatgive everyone thechance to tackleeasyitiner- Theresults of Park". theareas intheMemorial Preservation andpromotion of Belluno. reg III A project "Great called War sites intheProvince of theItaly-Austria Inter- thework doneby theTechnical andScientificCommittee of of thepurpose asitstillis, This hasbeen, peace. warforpathsof Memories of venture. ad- to know butextraordinary thementhatlived thistragic notto forget, recordA historical to re-discover theMountains, war..." theneedsof fire enemy upunder tomeet opened routes are even theyoungest but even bythemostexpert, featsperformed see but individuals, of notonlyonthepart “…the Alps prodigies, see

Musizza W. "...it is not a parenthesis that we can hasten to close to go back to what wewere before..." togobackwhat saying toclose "...it isnotaparenthesis thatwecanhasten Improvised anti- Improvised aircraft position with a 75 mm gun. recruits soon turn into accomplished climbers. Some new mountain Somenew intoaccomplishedclimbers. turn soon recruits cieterltosi ewe a n aue which hasleft rceive therelationship between manandnature, loo i arl,paon n hl opne.And notdowe companies. platoonsandwhole bigpatrols, of also gte n ht ntewrso Surgeon Second-Lieutenant inthewords of rgotten andthat, rpsdfrvstn hs ie,sm fthemfullyrealis- of some thesesites, proposed for visiting he itineraries thatare suggestedhe itineraries have beenselected bear- C A Berti). (A. o o r d i n a t O i o r n g

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f i o n m a n m c i i t n t g e eral M. N. di Robilant). So a steady trickle of requisitions began that ended by weak- eral M. N. di Robilant). So a steady trickle of requisitions began that of General G. Ven- ening the entire structure, which was first under the command well as of strategic turini, reducing it to a bad condition of material efficiency as and tactical readiness. Commanded in the frantic days after Caporetto by General A. Marocco, the fortified area was never given a clear and unequivocal function, and was abandoned prematurely with limited damage to its structures, without having the chance to engage in any worthwhile artillery action before or during the desperate and spasmodic defence put up by the Italian troops in central Cadore and the Boite valley.

e b 2,000 o d i e s . Cover: MountTranego withthepeaksonothersideofPiaveseenfromSanDionisio. oriain OUIËMNAAAODN - COMUNITËVia IVNovembre, 2-32021Agordo(BL)Italia MONTANA AGORDINA Coordination: 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 LIST OFITINERARIES 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Zona monumentale dellaMarmolada Malga Ciapèla-OmbrettadiMarmolada aSerauta -Marmolada Museo storico Col DaDaut- Toront Cima Lana-AgaiePalla Cima Lana-CostoneCastelloSellaSief Variante ColdelaRoda Ciadinéi -SellaSief Da CimaLanaaiCiadiniéi Cima Sief-ColdiLana Sella Sief-Cima -SelladelSief Posizione “Edelweiss” Valle delleBaracche diMisurina Cristallino BosieMontePiana A. Rif. -MontePiana Misurina Giro delColdiMezzo Croda dell’Arghena aiPianidiLavaredo Quota “2385” Forcella Lavaredo MARMOLADA 18 17 20 19 e.0039043762390-Fax [email protected]. Eingriffe der Wiederinstandsetzung und Valorisierung in den Gebieten des Erinnerungsparks des Gebieten den in Valorisierung und Wiederinstandsetzung der Eingriffe The fort after it The fort after by was regained the Italians in 1918. 14 9 12 10 15 I LUOGHIDELLAGRANDEGUERRAINPROVINCIA DIBELLUNO 13 Interventi direcuperoInterventi evalorizzazione neiterritoridelParco dellaMemoria DIE ORTE DES ERSTEN WELTKRIEGES IN DER PROVINZ BELLUNO PROVINZ DER IN WELTKRIEGES ERSTEN DES ORTE DIE 11 16 40 Von derE.U.UnterstützesProjektMittelsEuropäischerWärungsfondszurRegionalenEntwicklung Project co-financedbytheEuropeanUnionthroughFoundforRegionalDevelopmen Gemeinschaftsinitiative InterregIIIAItalien-Österreich2000-2006-Projekt(Cod.VEN222001) AGORDO Progetto cofinanziatodall’UnioneEuropeamedianteFondoEuropeodiSviluppoRegionale Iniziativa ComunitariaInterregIIIAItalia-Austria2000-2006-Progetto(Cod.VEN222001) 39 Community InitiativeInterregIIIAItalia-Austria2000-2006-Project(Cod.VEN222001) GREAT WAR SITES IN THE PROVINCE OF BELLUNO OF PROVINCE THE IN SITES WAR GREAT Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park Memorial the in areas the of promotion and Preservation CORTINA D’AMPEZZO 38 ZOLDO 37 36 34 8 33 7 PIEVE DICADORE 35 6 5 2 4 31 3 32 1 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 30 29 AURONZO DICADORE Batteria Listolade Batteria Tagliata diSanMartino Col deSaléra -MontePunta Spiz Zuel Col Pradamio Monte Rite Vodo -BeccodiCuzze (AccessoB) Vodo -BeccodiCuzze (AccessoA) Anna-LaGlories Col S. Piandell’Antro Forte Monte Tranego Col Forte Vaccher Castello Batteria MonteRicco Forte Anello deiColli Col Vidal P.so -ColAudoi Mauria Miaron P.so -M. Mauria Monte Tudaio Col Ciampon 27 28 25 26 22 21 23 24 direct the action of the guns of the fort at Mount Tudaio against forces coming from direct the action of the guns of the fort at Mount Tudaio Pradamio, chosen Carnia using the telephone and visual signalling, and one on Col The name adopt- for the construction of a position above the Longarone-Zoldo road. to indicate this defence system ed and usually employed throughout the First War Maè was the Cadore- and the direct control it exercised above all over Cadore and Val Maè fortifications. this defence system, with all its 73 officers, 4,000 When war broke out, however, troops and 92 guns and a substantial amount of reserves and munitions, proved useless and incapable of favourably affecting the operations conducted on the front line by the Italian IV Army (commanded first by General L. Nava and then by Gen- DISTRIBUTED FREE OF CHARGE 10

A. Fornari 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 GREAT WAR SITESIN THE PROVINCE OFBELLUNO Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park andpromotionoftheareasinMemorial Preservation The fort as it was The fort as it found by the Austrians in November 1917. History anddescriptionoftheGreatWar sites 15.2 15.1 SECONDA LINEAFORTI DELCENTRO CADORE MONTE TRANEGO FORTE COL VACCHER m 992) (m.

Musizza W. 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 of Engineers, but also of civilian contractors and labourers, the forts were designed of Engineers, but also of civilian contractors and labourers, the nickel steel cupo- to hold concrete batteries fitted with Armstrong model revolving and were virtual- las for 149 A guns, able to hit targets up to 14 kilometres away, ly resistant to any enemy attack. The garrisons of 300 to 500 men also had shelters, wells, equipment and provisions for months, so that they could operate even under completely adverse weather conditions. A complex and unusual system of fortifications thus came into being, including the old installations of Pieve, soon downgraded to serve as stores and prisons, and the new high-level forts, with two distant outposts: one was established on Mount Miaron, above the Mauria pass, where a sighting post was constructed that could cial resourcesthatwouldhavebeenneededtoupdateandrebuildthem. after the pletion coincidedwiththeprofoundmoralandeconomiccrisisthatafflictedItaly siege warfarethatweremadeinEuropeattheendofcentury, andtheircom- ended byverysoonbecomingobsoleteinthelightofsubstantialadvances cording toalmostmediaevalcriteria(ditch,drawbridge,machicolations,etc.),they out inthewoods,toprovideaproperprotectionforguns.Constructedac- ing heightsandunable,withtheirhollowtraversesthatcouldeasilybepicked The works,however, wereinordinarymasonry, easilydominatedfromthesurround- towards Verona. have beenfatallyexposedtoanoutflankingmanoeuvreafteranyAustrianadvance some impedimenttoanyItalianoffensiveinFriuliandontheIsonzo,whichwould cut offthewedgeofTrento territorythat,since1866,hadconstitutedatrouble- (Fortezza). Theideawastocarryoutarapidbreakthroughthewestinorder of Pieve,inwhichanarmycorpscouldeasilygetreadytoheadforFranzenfeste counter-offensive, asitwasdevotedtothesafeguardingofaprotectedarea,that The maintaskofthissystemwasnotsolelydefensive;italsointendedtobe gin whohadfledtoItalyfromPola in1882. Ivanoff (1851-1917), asingularfigure,patriotandanengineerofRussianori- valley. Thegreaterpart ofthissystemwascompletedunderthedirectionsG. vast andcomplex,turnedthemouthsofitsfourtoeightcannonstowardsBoite against DomeggeandthefurtherbankofPiave,fortonColVaccher, very the fortsofBatteriaCastelloandMountRiccopointedtheirmedium-calibreguns wards, servedbythefineVenas-Col Sant’Anna-Col Pecolines militaryroad.While Pecolines (1,449m)andColVidal(1,459m),wastheextremedefencelinewest- in thedirectionofLaPassage, whosemainsummitsareColMaò(1,470 m),Col The ribextendingfurthersouthfromthesouthernfoothillsofAntelaogroup wards towardstheMolinaandPiavesouthwardsBoite. San Dionisio(1,946m),whichenclosedalongsaddleslopingdownnorth-east- fortifications. Thisbastion’s culminatingpointsareMountTranego (1,849m)and of theeastslopesMountAntelao,laiddowntoassistinprotection ana-San DionisioandSant’Anna-Col Maò)infunctionofthestrategicimportance with awholeseriesofaccessandringroads(Pozzale-Mount Tranego, Costapi- ColVaccher nearPieveandTai diCadore, and forts ofBatteriaCastello,MountRicco system knownasthePievediCadorefortificationswascompleted,including through towardsLongaroneandBelluno.Between18821896,accordingly, the from thecentreofCadoreandVal Ansieibeforetheycouldeasilybreakthrough near PievediCadoreandTai diCadore,inordertocontainenemypenetrationsboth Afterwards, inaround1880,itwasdecidedtodesignthebarrierfurtherback, ments convergedfromVal AnsieiandComelico. to controlthecrucialjunctionofTreponti, onwhichallsupposedenemymove- emplacements wereconstructed,withanaccessroadtothefortgorge,trained Cadore (ColPiccolo,ColTagliardo, ColRiveandCiampon),wherefieldgun The firstareaselectedtohaltanenemyadvancewasthatofthehillsVigodi was borneoutbytheheroicstandorganisedP.F. Calviin1848. allowing centralCadoreanditsmaintown,Pieve,toresistanenemyoffensive.This ered theVenas andLozzopassagesastwodefencebulwarksthatwerecapableof tion, becauseinpreviouscenturiestheMostSereneRepublicofVenice consid- the Austrians.Thedefenceconceptwasessentiallybasedonamediaevaltradi- of GeneralsPianellandCosenz,intensiveworkstartedonfortifyingCadoreagainst After theannexationofVenice totheKingdomofItaly, mainly ontheinitiative THE PIEVEDICADOREFORTIFICATIONS GENERAL INFORMATION débacle Austrian the drawing of fort on Col from Vaccher the north. at Aduain1896;theinstallationsweredeprivedoffinan- (higher works) on Mount Tudaio, Col Vidal and (higher works) on Mount Tudaio, CONTINUE opere alte (lower works) on Col Piccolo near Vigo and on Pian dell’Antro opere basse It was not until 1904, when more funds arrived and new strategic studies flour- It was not until 1904, when more funds arrived and new strategic defence con- strategic ished, that Cadore again came to the foreground in Italy’s some posi- cept. After long technical diatribes among the top army commands, tions that were of particular importance for the control of the communications below them were selected. Some strong armoured forts were thus constructed, specifically two and three near Venas, Mount Rite. These constructions complied with the theory of armoured forts that then held sway in Europe, supported in Italy by General E. Rocchi; often served by boldly conceived and costly access roads, the fruit of the labours of thousands n aours repeated onthe21 ing manoeuvres, took Franchi hisCorpi volunteers and2cannonsto foilHablitschek’s outflank- Calvi F. whenP. bitter conflict on9and10May 1848, The passagewasthescene of any such constructions. butthere of isnotrace built onsteep crags, here, towers Ronzon were sure thatthere were anumber of A. Abbot Ciani andProf. March. Rusecco on2 them to bere-organised before andafter encounter thehistoric of but to have for madearrangements defence works there, reliance onthesystem of D’Alviano andBartolomeo isreported notonlyto have placed great Venice, lic of the Most Serene Repub- forthedefence of important nas becamefundamentally theChiusadi Ve- hadbeentaken after Cortina by Maximilian’s troops, In 1508, andmany fewarms rocks.with leaving theablemento resist thepassage, dren should retreat onthesafesideof theplanwasthatwomen andchil- asonmany othersbefore andafter, occasion, this On ing Cadore. invad- intention of co andhadthefirm gathered atBruni- vassals thathad German number of the threats from a ments to counter defence arrange- these of avail itself Council decidedto the Community and thatin1453 rooms were added, the contraption at Venas wasreplaced by a We passagebetween natural Venas alsoknow 1452 thatinJanuary andPeaio. wooden dominatingtheroad some defence nearthe shelter devices orshedwith a consisted of itoriginally Teck: underPatriarch Ludovic of wasin1414, ficially thefirsttimeitwasmentionedof- even if theHungar raids, atthetimeof tury, bow thekneeto aninvading enemy. never prepared meeklyto thisCadore, andabove of thesymbol all tradition, alongstrategic were continuation butthelogical of therefore, defences at Venas, A rudimentary military fortification probably already fortification existed here military inthe10 A rudimentary tradition. theircentury-old with Pieve anditsfortifications the town of ae the sage, thepas- prepared to thearea sacrifice ontheothersideof theenemy, advance of Cadore have always chosen to haltthe thisiswhere thepeopleof Zoldo fork: neartheCibiana and Pian dell’Antro state highway, Alemagna hug theglorious theBoite andtheprecipitous of heights There isapointatwhich of theravine T H An easytouristwalkasfarthefort. DEGREE OFDIFFICULTY 1,30 hoursfromVenas, includingaquickvisittotheruinsoffort. DURATION About 150metresasfarthefortand450toSant’Anna barracks. DIFFERENCE INALTITUDE houses atGiau(899m). terrace lookingtowardsMountsPelmo andAntelao.Rendezvous:Venas, nearthe It isaneasywalktotheruinsofarmouredfort,whichstandsonasplendid DESCRIPTION OFTHEROUTE 16.1 Ciadin andPiria passes and toCasone Antelao ischallenging. good mule trackasfar as PiandiSadorno andLaGlories. Thehikethrough the A simpleexcursion onavehicularroadasfar as ColSant’Anna andthenona DEGREE OFDIFFICULTY 1,30 hoursasfar asCollediSant’Anna, 3?to 4hoursasfarLaGlories. DURATION About 850metresasfarLa Glories. DIFFERENCE INALTITUDE so possibletogoColVidal(1,459 m)bycarandgoonfromtherefoot. the oldmilitaryroad.Rendezvous: Venas, atthehousesofGiau(899m).It isal- pass (2,100 metres)andthePiriapassthentoCasoneAntelaoalong go. Achallengingitinerary, onthe otherhand,isthecontinuationtoCiadin Castellon, whereonepossibilityistogodownroute230Greanes, northofVini- on byCostaDuogoasfarLaGlories(1,736m),awooded hillunderCroda military roadthatgoesupthevalleyofCaldierafrom Rivinianmill.Go the roadcrossesbothroute236comingupfromQuoilohay barnsandthe the Sant’Anna haybarns.At1,325metres,eastofthePiandiSadorno haybarns, Maò, alsocomingacrossseveralsubsidiarypositionsandthe big barracksnear get toColSant’Anna (maximumgradient14%),ColVidal, Pecolines andCol Continuing onthemilitaryroadfromVenas tothePiandell’Antro fort,youwill DESCRIPTION OFTHEROUTE 16.2 E

V E Passage N COL S.ANNA-LAGLORIES FORTE PIAN DELL’ANTRO A S

P oesr h aeyo h cptl fterltl tt,namely theirlittlestate, of the “capital” to of ensure thesafety , A S S A G E

I the AustriansinNovember1917. Rare photographoftheChiusadiVenas, theVenas passage,takenby N

T H st E and 28

M I D fortilicium demuro fortilicium th D ftesm ot.TheGreat War thesamemonth. of L E

A G E S

to which somesick th cen- THE FORTONPIANDELL’ANTRO tre section. The mule track wenton halfway up the hillside as far asCol Gloria di Sadorno (1,336m)the roadwassuspended onsolid treetrunksfor a50-me- between ColVidaland ColGloriabut verysteepsections elsewhere. AbovePian Gloria (1,551 m),afterwhich itshrankto80cminwidth, withslightinclines 2,100 metreshigh,butreduced toafirmnaturalsurface muletrackasfarCol From ColVidal it wentontoBaitaCiampestrin, neartheCiadinpassmore than of about900mitcrossedtwo gorgesonlow-spanbridges. of theroute.Longsectionswere flankedbycounterscarpwallsandataheight Sant’Anna (1,376m),thegradient varyingbetween8%and12%intheotherpart ous stagesfrom1882to1895 withamaximumgradientof14%justunderCol ed halfwayupasteepgrassyor thinlywoodedslope.Itwasconstructedinvari- (1,459 m)is7.5kilometreslong,onasolidsurface,3metres wide andconstruct- The militaryroadthatwegoupfromSuppiane(872m,near Venas) toColVidal Pelmo. scapes ofthisarea,whichliesontheslopesMountAntelao andoppositeMount strategic andtacticalpurposesoftheVenas passageandthebeautifulland- the finestexamplesofaringroadinCadore,allowingvisitor toappreciatethe and theothermilitaryroadfromGreanestoBoscoNuovoabove Borca,isoneof The militaryroad,connectedwiththeso-called“Engineers’ Road”aboveVinigo THE COLVIDALMILITARY ROAD that itisoneofthebestexamplesmilitaryarchitectureinCadore:made The perimeterofthebuildingstilllooksverywellfinishedtoday, somuch the barerock. munitions depotand13metresfurtherontofourcorditestores,alldugoutof der-magazine wereontheright,andanothertunnelledin20metresto from thestoresandexplosivesworkshoptobattery. Theentrances tothepow- connected ontherightbyacorridortolongtunnelwithrailtrackleading metres longand10 wide,withalargesquarebeforeit,hastwostoreysandis work oftunnels,posternsandcoveredwalkways.Thefrontthebarracks,60 and wasmadeupofacomplexsystemconstructionsinter-connectedbynet- It wasreachedbyaserviceroadofftheSuppiane-ColSant’Anna military road on theroadbelow. junction withthe“higherwork”onMountRiteand The fortwasthe“lowerwork”atVenas passage,conceivedtooperateincon- was quitesubstantialforthattime,700,000 Italianlire. and executivedesignwascompletedin1911, withanallocationoffundsthat design wasreadyin1909andthedetailed1910, whilethetechnical the enemycomingfromBoitevalleyandCibianapass.Thepreliminary 1914 ataheightof1,050metresnearSuppiane,Venas diCadore,tocounter This armouredconstructionwasbuiltbytheItalianEngineersbetween1911 and the window. detail oftheruins Sant’Anna barracks: *******AC IAINGLESE****************** DIDA **************MANCA

De Donà G. horseback. P. F. Calvion

De Donà G. tagliata (roadblock) built A big barracks was builton ColSant’Anna ataheight of 1,350 metres, ofwhich heights. fore too exposedtogunfire fromany enemyartillery placedonthe surrounding lo andColVaccher, whichwereconsidered toolowandvisible, andthere- Cadore fortifications beneath,basedontheforts onMountRicco,BatteriaCastel- The purposeof this ringroad,withallitspositions, wastoprotectthePieve di Alemagna roadeastofPeaio andthehillsofVinigo. tillery positionsonColSant’Anna, ColPecolines andColVidalcommanding the Immediately aftertheconstruction oftheroadanduntil1915 therewerefieldar- to haveacapacityof300men and20animals. commodation. Thehaybarnsat Ronco,madeofwoodandmasonry, werethought while thewoodenCasoneAntelao wasnotconsideredsuitableforsoldiers’ac- At PiandiSadornovariouscottagesandhaybarnscouldtake about150men, alluvial plainbeforeitssurfaceoncemorebecamestonyor earthy. hay barns(1,050m),theroadagainbecameagrassmuletrack asitcrossedalong by notexcessivelyloadedmuletrains.FromCasoneAntelao asfartheRonco that slopedsteeplyintotheAntelaovalley, butthatwasneverthelessnegotiable Baita CampestrinasfarCasoneAntelao(1,171 m)therewasonlyastonytrack a narrowdefilesubjecttofrequentlandslidesandthusoftennot practicable.From among grassyorthinlywoodedslopesbeforeitclimbedin tight curvesthrough tacks. walls, trenchesandcoveredwalkwayssecuredthefortfromsurpriseenemyat- A complexsystemofadditionaldefenceslaidoutaroundthefortinform surgery aswelltheobviousstoresandtoilets. mation cabin,anelectricalcontrolageneratorroom,infirmaryand The fortwasequippedwithshelllifts,anaqueduct,alaundryroom,transfor- trol theroadindirectionofCortina. block, werethethreecannonsofartillerypositionsetupincavernstocon- South ofthebattery, sheerabovetheBoitevalleyandright theroad- thick. 149 ApieceswereprotectedbyArmstrongnickelsteelrevolvingcupolas140mm mour-plated observationpost9metresunderthelevelofbattery. Thefour ly 17metreslongthatservedtheretractablemachine-gunpostandar- municating corridorpits.Thefirstentrancetotheleftledtunnelledstepsnear- and threeinthecentre,correspondingtostepsleadinginter-com- five entrancesfromthecourtyardtobattery, twointhelateralforeparts straight andpointingnorth-westtowardsMountsPelmo andBorca.Therewere side-down U,56metreslongandfrom15to20wide,itsmainsection The heartofthefort,however, wasthearmouredbattery, intheformofanup- doors andwindowswithcornicestomarkthedifferentstoreys. of stoneandmortar, withtheexternalstoneschiselledandmouldedround armoured fort. Corridor insidethe

De Donà G. Pian dell’Antro. drawing of Austrian the worksatPiandell’Antro. Italian Engineersengagedon

been built. the Ruvinian, north-east ofVinigo,where nofewer thansixblockhouses had junction withthedefences positioned atPianPalù, Crepodi Pera and along an anti-aircraft role. Thesebatteries,directedeast, weretohaveoperatedincon- Col Vidalmade upofthreecompaniesandeight 75mmguns,whichalso had mm guns,while therewasaresistancegroup onColMaò,Pecolines and port postwassetuponColSant’Anna with aninfantrycompanyandfour75 During theFirstWar, intheframeworkofBoiteleftbanksub-sector, asup- the slopesofMountRite. the road,anelectricityinstallation inafixedpositionwassetuptoilluminate interesting ruinsremaintoday, whileintheBurto Fien locality, onabend along Istituto Geografico Militare - Aut. n. 6109 del 12.10.2005 an 9511”,Vrn,13,pages270-271). 1935, Verona, tains 1915-1917”), Boccardi, (from R. there’s onlyoneway!” go on, on, Go next crossroads tell themwhere will to go. thesectioncommanders atthe buttheothersdonotwant to: ask themto wait, They nobody knows anything here. donotknow, but they where are they going, thesoldiersleftonfootasktheircomrades overtake it; others come upbehindit, The “At Ponte nelle Alpi abroken-down ontheroad. down pinsatruck engine routed andtowns armies inchaos. andterrible: crazy kinds, all news of Aspate of cows confusion. andgoatsinindescribable herds of refugees, of soldiersandcolumns columns of by OspitaleandLongarone: further, “Down andthere isthePiave. here isCalalzo, here isPieve, “Here isTai, over.run jolted soldiersorpassers-by thathave almostbeen of oil fumesandtheoaths emittingpetrol and dusty, thevalley, race down Thedeafeningtrucks possible. to manthePiave asquickly above all, to escapebeingencircled and, sible, to getto theplainassoonpos- andnolongeronfootbutintrucks, again, have They to setoff Time presses onandtheenemy presses onstillfaster. it. but thesoldierscannot take advantage of isheartening, gesture istouching, This haversacks inpanniers. thesoldiers’ carrying fromfering theFatherland, like avotive of- girls, bless them! An of array here come, they “In themorning, eyes! frightening things, thematerialappearance of trate pene- they their eyes lookasif are they bewildered: than tired, andmore soldiers are tired, the stop at Venas forthenight: It hasto SanStefano. Candide, from –Borca, othervalleys fleeing meetingpeople goes on, misery “And theprocession of San Vito waitssadly. lights, is afar-away phosphorence of Cortina “Vervey isared blaze, masses dark kitbags, chests, food, looming upinthedark. sacksof shells, Heaps of destroyed wagons. overturned and almostintheCosteana valley, inthebackground, been torn up; therailway forCalalzo has track Along theroad, tificers ready to blow themup. watched over by ar- passminedareas, They troops. thecolumn of with mingling which swells continual refugees, of Somepeoplewee voice choked by emotion. “An oldwoman hergauntmother’s raises headandshouts “ linenandclothes. andpanniersfullof poorbelongings ladenwith carts with oldpeopleandwomen astillsaddercolumn of soldiers andalmostintheirmidst, Besidethe theretreat. of theanxiety intensifying ets flare inthesky, nervously search theheadlights “It isstilldark: theenemy could suddenlyemerge. as if firs, clumpof atevery theroad, of turn made themlookround thematevery driven that onby ananxiety ahalt, without song, without suppressed clamour, An immense, began. sacrifice “And themelancholy exodus of thevalley down timber andironsalvagebusinessinthefort. important andhazardousmaterials,someinhabitantsofVenas conductedasmall During thefirstpost-waryears,afterArmyEngineershadremovedmore the workofdestructioninOctober1918. las andblewuptheroadnearpassage,leavingAustrianstocomplete After CaporettotheretreatingItaliansoldiersonlypartiallydamagedcupo- supplies. subsidiary role,sothatitwasgraduallyimpoverishedofmen,equipmentand developed andthestabilisationoffrontlinerelegatedforttoapurely ments throughtheCibianaandChiandoladapasses,butwayfighting tifications notonlyfromthewestalongBoitebutalsoencirclingmove- of shellused,shouldhaveensuredtheimpregnabilityCadore-Maèfor- The rangeofitsguns,whichwasfrom12to14kilometresaccordingthetype Fortress ArtilleryRegiment,withabout250men. guns. ItaccommodatedtheHQand11 two 75Aguns,1886Gardnermachine-gunsandfour1906Perino machine- On theoutbreakofGreatWar thefortwasequippedwithfour149Aguns, tion atCrepodiPera andnofewerthansixblockhousesalongtheRuvinian. junction, withtwosupportpostsatVinigoandPianPalù, amachine-gunposi- ed tothefort,wellconnectedwitheachotherandoperatinginclosecon- A largenumberofpositionsandobservationpostsintheneighbourhoodreport- T H E

B L E S S E D

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V E N ya vr ru fhue assb,from housespassesby, group of ly asevery the mountainsinalldirections andtherock- A S th p! It isdifficultto prevent thecolumn Company oftheIGroup7 (“Men Moun- against Viva l’Italia ina ” th eyseiltae nteesosa euto theGreat War. inthesespotsasaresult specialtraces very of love butare ableto beauty themountainsfortheirnatural pe andenthusiasts visitors whonotonly We find alargenumber of will opportunity andcultural hopethatthisnewhistorical interest historical access to andnearness othersites of easeof such significance, ashistorical ing somebasicfeatures inmind, T reduced peoplewith mobility. considering theneedsof able fully have difficulty been lengthsanddegrees of various of Itineraries know andlearn. ing usto observe, teach- thelandscape, of timeenhance thefascinationandbeauty thathave thepassingof struggle survived less monthsof end- 29seemingly events involvedthe backdrop andtragic to theterrible of Thetraces intheGreat War ontheDolomite front. thisproject thesplendidandenchanting isto places acquaint with thatwere thenewgenerations The fundamentalintention of Remains ofthebatterytoday. Gino Frontali, This isto remember thatthewarisnotsomethinghasbeenfo theopposingarmies. thesoldiersof metres of more than theexistence atanaltitudeof realising thedifficultiesof andexperience lifeonthefrontaries lineatfirsthand, theCommittee's laboursare theguidesandleafletsthatgive everyone thechance to tackleeasyitiner- Theresults of Park". theareas intheMemorial Preservation andpromotion of Belluno. reg III A project "Great called War sites intheProvince of theItaly-Austria Inter- thework doneby theTechnical andScientificCommittee of of thepurpose asitstillis, This hasbeen, peace. warforpathsof Memories of venture. ad- to know butextraordinary thementhatlived thistragic notto forget, recordA historical to re-discover theMountains, war..." theneedsof fire enemy upunder tomeet opened routes are even theyoungest but even bythemostexpert, featsperformed see but individuals, of notonlyonthepart “…the Alps prodigies, see "...it is not a parenthesis that we can hasten to close to go back to what wewere before..." togobackwhat saying toclose "...it isnotaparenthesis thatwecanhasten Ruins of Sant’Anna barracks. recruits soon turn into accomplished climbers. Some new mountain Somenew intoaccomplishedclimbers. turn soon recruits cieterltosi ewe a n aue which hasleft rceive therelationship between manandnature, loo i arl,paon n hl opne.And notdowe companies. platoonsandwhole bigpatrols, of also gte n ht ntewrso Surgeon Second-Lieutenant inthewords of rgotten andthat, rpsdfrvstn hs ie,sm fthemfullyrealis- of some thesesites, proposed for visiting he itineraries thatare suggestedhe itineraries have beenselected bear- C A Berti). (A. o o r d i n a t O i o r n g

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s . Musizza W. Musizza Cover: Piandell’Antro today. oriain OUIËMNAAAODN - COMUNITËVia IVNovembre, 2-32021Agordo(BL)Italia MONTANA AGORDINA Coordination: 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 cannons, machine-guns, shells and various other materials to be diverted for the cannons, machine-guns, shells and various other materials to Giulia area. So a steady trick- needs of the front, above all the line in the Venezia structure and re- le of requisitions began that ended by weakening the entire as of strategic and ducing it to a bad condition of material efficiency as well tactical readiness. Commanded in the frantic days after Caporetto by General A. Marocco, the fortified area was never given a clear and unequivocal function and was abandoned prematurely with limited damage to its structures, without having the chance to engage in any worthwhile artillery action before or during the desperate and spasmodic defence put up by the Italian troops in central Cadore and the Boite valley. LIST OFITINERARIES 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Zona monumentale dellaMarmolada Malga Ciapèla-OmbrettadiMarmolada aSerauta -Marmolada Museo storico Col DaDaut- Toront Cima Lana-AgaiePalla Cima Lana-CostoneCastelloSellaSief Variante ColdelaRoda Ciadinéi -SellaSief Da CimaLanaaiCiadiniéi Cima Sief-ColdiLana Sella Sief-Cima -SelladelSief Posizione “Edelweiss” Valle delleBaracche diMisurina Cristallino BosieMontePiana A. Rif. -MontePiana Misurina Giro delColdiMezzo Croda dell’Arghena aiPianidiLavaredo Quota “2385” Forcella Lavaredo MARMOLADA 18 17 20 19 e.0039043762390-Fax [email protected]. Eingriffe der Wiederinstandsetzung und Valorisierung in den Gebieten des Erinnerungsparks des Gebieten den in Valorisierung und Wiederinstandsetzung der Eingriffe The entrance gate The entrance to the Pian fort dell’Antro above Venas, November 1917. 14 9 12 10 15 I LUOGHIDELLAGRANDEGUERRAINPROVINCIA DIBELLUNO episode 13 Interventi direcuperoInterventi evalorizzazione neiterritoridelParco dellaMemoria DIE ORTE DES ERSTEN WELTKRIEGES IN DER PROVINZ BELLUNO PROVINZ DER IN WELTKRIEGES ERSTEN DES ORTE DIE 11 16 40 Von derE.U.UnterstützesProjektMittelsEuropäischerWärungsfondszurRegionalenEntwicklung Project co-financedbytheEuropeanUnionthroughFoundforRegionalDevelopmen Gemeinschaftsinitiative InterregIIIAItalien-Österreich2000-2006-Projekt(Cod.VEN222001) AGORDO Progetto cofinanziatodall’UnioneEuropeamedianteFondoEuropeodiSviluppoRegionale Iniziativa ComunitariaInterregIIIAItalia-Austria2000-2006-Progetto(Cod.VEN222001) 39 Community InitiativeInterregIIIAItalia-Austria2000-2006-Project(Cod.VEN222001) GREAT WAR SITES IN THE PROVINCE OF BELLUNO OF PROVINCE THE IN SITES WAR GREAT Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park Memorial the in areas the of promotion and Preservation CORTINA D’AMPEZZO 38 ZOLDO Strafexpidition 37 36 34 8 33 7 PIEVE DICADORE 35 6 5 2 4 31 3 32 1 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 30 29 AURONZO DICADORE Batteria Listolade Batteria Tagliata diSanMartino Col deSaléra -MontePunta Spiz Zuel Col Pradamio Monte Rite Vodo -BeccodiCuzze (AccessoB) Vodo -BeccodiCuzze (AccessoA) Anna-LaGlories Col S. Piandell’Antro Forte Monte Tranego Col Forte Vaccher Castello Batteria MonteRicco Forte Anello deiColli Col Vidal P.so -ColAudoi Mauria Miaron P.so -M. Mauria Monte Tudaio Col Ciampon 27 28 25 26 22 21 23 24

DISTRIBUTED FREE OF CHARGE 10 were not operational yet because the graduated sights were missing, while many were not operational yet because the graduated sights were the left bank of the complementary works were still unfinished, above all those on and Sant’Anna. Boite, on Vinigo, Crepo di Pera with all its 73 offi- In any case, the entire Cadore-Maè system of fortifications, cers, 4,000 troops and 92 guns and a substantial amount of reserves and munitions, proved useless and incapable of favourably affecting the operations in progress on the front line, which was beyond the range of its gunfire. The Italian IV Army troops (commanded first by General L. Nava and then by General M. N. di Robilant) could only count on these forts as a defence asset in the event of an unexpected collapse of the front line (for example the in 1916) or, oftener and oftener as time passed, as a plentiful reserve of soldiers, or, in 1916)

A. Fornari 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 GREAT WAR SITESIN THE PROVINCE OFBELLUNO Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park andpromotionoftheareasinMemorial Preservation History anddescriptionoftheGreatWar sites 16.2 16.1 SECONDA LINEAMONTERITE-VALLE IMPERINA COL S.ANNA-LAGLORIES FORTE PIANDELL’ANTRO 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 Battery (with Mount Pelmo in the background) photographed by the Austrians in November 1917. Battery (with Mount Pelmo between Mounts Antelao and Pelmo naturally supported by the other fortifica- between Mounts Antelao and Pelmo system of de- tions in the area, ensuring the impregnability of the entire Italian as a hinge between fences. On the right bank of the Boite the system was to act Agordo area, in the the Cadore-Maè fortifications on one hand and those in the Maè valley and of the Cordevole barrier on the other hand, especially those on Spiz Zuèl and Col de Salèra, which were linked through the Chiandolada pass to di Cadore. the defences set up on the Crepe di Serla and Becco di Cuzze above Vodo while fort was ready in spring 1910, The preliminary design for the Pian dell’Antro even if the first works on the summit that on Mount Rite only in spring 1912, On the outbreak of war and on the Cibiana pass road had already begun in 1911. the system had not been entirely completed: the 149 A cannons on Mount Rite were thusconstructed,specificallytwo of thecommunicationsbelowthemwereselected.Somestrongarmouredforts cal diatribes,somepositionsthatwereofparticularimportanceforthecontrol came totheforegroundinItaly’s strategicdefenceconcept.Afterlongtechni- when morefundsarrivedandnewstrategicstudiesflourished,thatCadoreagain fare thatweremadeinEuropeattheendofcentury. Itwasnotuntil1904, soon becomingobsoleteinthelightofsubstantialadvancessiegewar- mediaeval criteria(ditch,drawbridge,machicolations,etc.);theyendedbyvery The works,however, wereinordinarymasonry, constructedaccordingtoalmost ter anyAustrianadvancetowardsVerona andLakeGarda. which wouldhavebeenfatallyexposedtoanobviousoutflankingmanoeuvreaf- a troublesomeimpedimenttoanyItalianoffensiveinFriuliandontheIsonzo, order tocutoffthewedgeofTrento territorythat,since1866,hadconstituted feste (Fortezza).Theideawastocarryoutarapidbreakthroughthewestin that ofPieve,inwhichanarmycorpscouldeasilygetreadytoheadforFranzen- be counter-offensive,asitwasdevotedtothesafeguardingofaprotectedarea, The maintaskofthissystemwasnotsolelydefensive;italsointendedto four toeightcannonstowardstheBoitevalley. Piave, thefortonColVaccher, veryvastandcomplex,turnedthemouthsofits pointed theirmedium-calibregunsagainstDomeggeandthefurtherbankof near theCaseraRazzo.WhilefortsofBatteriaCastelloandMountRicco Sant’Anna-Col Maò)andmountainrefugesonPiandeiBuoiinVal Inferna, of accessandringroads(Pozzale-Mount Tranego, Costapiana-SanDionisioand ColVaccher nearPieveandTai diCadore,withawholeseries and Mount Ricco di Cadorefortificationswascompleted,includingthefortsofBatteriaCastello, and Belluno.Between18821896,accordingly, thesystemknownasPieve from theBoitevalleybeforetheycouldeasilybreakthroughtowardsLongarone sive barriertocontainenemypenetrationsbothfromthecentreofCadoreand At theendofnineteenthcenturyItaliandefencestrategistsdesignedamas- THE GENERAL INFORMATION colo nearVigoandonPiandell’Antro nearVenas, andthree AND THEDEFENCESINVALLEYOFBOITE basin constitutedaparticulardangerbothbecausetheywerenotsufficiently ed byPietroFortunatoCalvi.Indeed,hereenemypenetrationsintotheCortina League ofCambraiin1508andthen1848withtheindependencerisingsguid- had alreadybeenthesceneofgreatstrugglesinpast,attime In thiscontext,specialcarewastakenwiththehistoricVenas passage,which so thattheycouldoperateevenundercompletelyadverseweatherconditions. of 300to500menalsohadshelters,wells,equipmentandprovisionsformonths, event ofthevalleysbelowbeingentirelyoccupiedbyenemy. Thegarrisons tification againstanyattack,keepingitoperationaltothebitterend,evenin al defences,mainlyincaverns,ofensuringtheimpregnabilityentirefor- successions ofdefensivecircuits,supplementaryobservationpostsandaddition- and workshopsexcavatedoutoftheunderlyingrock,withcapability, through my attack.Eacharmouredbatterywasalsoservedbyaseriesofbarracks,stores able tohittargetsup14kilometresawayandvirtuallyresistantanyene- teries fittedwithArmstrongmodelrevolvingnickelsteelcupolasfor149Aguns, of civiliancontractorsandlabourers,weredesignedtoholdconcretebat- costly accessroads,thefruitoflaboursthousandsEngineers,butalso ported inItalybyGeneralE.Rocchi,wereoftenservedboldlyconceivedand complied withthetheoryofarmouredfortsthatthenheldswayinEurope,sup- works) onMountTudaio, ColVidalandMountRite.Theseconstructions,which CADORE-MAE’

Front view of Pian dell’Antro barracks. Alfarè I. Alfarè FORTIFICATIONS opere basse (lower works)onColPic- CONTINUE opere alte (higher countered by the means at the disposal of the old Col Vaccher fort and the countered by the means at the disposal of the old Col Vaccher could relative- other emplacements on the surrounding hills, and because they the Cibiana and ly easily create a salient in the Zoldo and Agordo areas from Chiandolada passes. and Mount Rite, with all their accom- The purpose of the forts of Pian dell’Antro panying complementary works and ring roads, was to prevent the Italian defence So, especially during the years just system from being encircled in this way. and then during its progress, a substantial system of trench- before the Great War on Vinigo and Peaio es, positions and roads were set up in the areas of Vodo, both the left and the right banks of the Boite. These defences were part of the namely that of a furthermost line of resistance extending “yellow line” theory, 17.1 VODO - BECCO DI CUZZE (Accesso A) ACCESS A: THE CHIANDOLADA ROAD AND THE DEFENCES The route from Vodo to Forno di Zoldo by the Chiandolada saddle was thus divided The defences on Mount Cuzze were served by a military road that turned off the pres- ON MOUNT BECCO DI CUZZE into nine segments, analysed and classified according to their characteristics, width, ent vehicular road at 1,579 metres and climbed after one hairpin bend to 1,718 me- DESCRIPTION OF THE ROUTE After the bridge over the Boite (828 m), just under the dam on the artificial lake, length, gradient, condition and, above all the working days and equipment neces- tres, where there are four medium-calibre gun emplacements pointed towards San This visit provides a classic itinerary that circles the Italian defences from the follow the fine vehicular road (route 478) taking two left forks at 899 and 924 sary to adapt them to army convoys. These calculations proved that substantial works Vito di Cadore with underground ammunition stores and depots in tunnels dug out Venas passage towards Zoppè and Zoldo, in attractive scenery abounding in mead- metres. You will find yourself going south-westwards along the Pian del Cristo and had to be done, taking 12,070 man-days. The Austrians, however, reckoned that they of the rock. This artillery supported the defence line on the other side of the Cuzze ows and taulà, the typical Dolomite hay barns, majestically towered over by Pian de Coloi until you get to Taulàboni (1,280 m); the road goes on towards La Mac- could complete all the work in 16 days at the most, using about 1,000 labourers valley, whose trenches and machine-gun positions ran along the Crepe di Serla. Mount Pelmo. About 1.5 kilometres after the vehicular road (route 478) and eta in an area that is rich in watercourses and hay barns as far as Chiandolada (1,400 equipped with all the necessary tools. The Austrians could actually have done this The road continues along the spur as far as a point at 1,693 metres, near two the G.P. Talamini Refuge (1,582 m, route 456), a turning to the right leads to m), where there is another fork: path 478 to the left crosses the Ru da l’Oio and work in 1917, immediately after the breakthrough at Caporetto if the Italian Cadore- cavern depots, one of which is in the form of an inverted U. At the end of the the Cucei saddle at 1,693 metres, after which a path takes you along the ridge heads for the Val Inferna saddle and Mount Rite, while taking the right-hand fork Maè fortifications, and especially the Italian defences at the Venas passage, had held: peat field near the saddle another cavern position on the wall of Becco di Cuzze of Becco di Cuzze (1,750 m), where there are a number of emplacements, trench- (456) you reach the Chiandolada saddle either by the old vehicular road or the wide this would have forced the Austrians to consider the possibility of outflanking the can be visited, with a machine-gun embrasure and two entrances; the one fur- es and ammunition stores. Rendezvous: Piazza Santa Lucia in Vodo di Cadore bends of the new road that climb the southern slopes of Col Botei. The G.P. Ta- Italian positions by moving through the Zoldo area, but this was not necessary: in ther towards the north-east has steps that have been hewn with admirable skill (879 m), from which you can take a car to the fork for the Cucei saddle. lamini Refuge is in the centre of a pleasant clearing, 1,582 metres high. This was the event, the Austrian troops invading the Boite valley had little difficulty in push- out of the living rock. DIFFERENCE IN ALTITUDE formerly a hunting lodge, now transformed into a mountain refuge; some of the ing on to Vodo, Tai and Perarolo. A path excavated from the rock that goes round the southern edge of the sum- hay barns nearby are well kept, others have been reduced to ruins. Just after the Chiandolada saddle, you leave the vehicular road, which goes on to- mit leads to the top of Becco di Cuzze (1,744 m): at a certain point this path About 900 metres from the bridge over the Boite (about 160 metres from Access A). The road to the Chiandolada saddle was conceived as a road to link the Boite and wards Zoppé up and down slight inclines as far as Tabià di Fies through meadows turns into a walkway excavated out of the stone, which was roofed with tree-trunks DURATION Maè Valleys, that is to say Zoppè and Vodo, the villages on the slopes of Mount and scattered larch trees, and go up to the Cucei saddle at 1,693 metres. There during the war to allow the infantry to cross almost the entire plateau of Mount From Access A to the top of Becco di Cuzze and back by the circular route, 4 Pelmo that were the keenest to be connected with each other. The road, however, are various defence works in this area, forming a secondary line of defence in front Becco and get to the trenches on the northern side overlooking Borca and San hours, variable according to the time spent looking at the structures on the like the one from Venas to Fornesighe by the Cibiana saddle, fell far short of satis- of the yellow line linking the Mount Rite fort and Mount Punta. This line, from Vito. These trenches of various sizes were dug out halfway up the slope, all had ridge. fying war requirements, so much so that in 1895 the Austro-Hungarian General Staff the Landri rib (1,450 m) to Becco di Cuzze (1,744 m) was designed in November ammunition stores in caverns and were protected from the front by barbed wire. DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY was moved to do some thorough research into how to outflank the entrenchments 1916 and completed in 1917 by the young Belluno architect, Lieutenant Alberto Al- Work on many of the positions does not seem to have been completed; the final An easy walk along a vehicular road from the G.P. Talamini Refuge as far as at Pieve and the Venas passage by these routes. pago Novello. stages were probably in progress just before Caporetto. the fork for the Cucei saddle. A harder climb to the top of Becco di Cuzze (un- From the Becco di Cuzze ridge you can go down to Tabià Zangrando (1,470 m, with surfaced road, exposed paths). a small cavern facing Mount Antelao just off the path) and then to the vehicular THE TALAMINI REFUGE road near the Cuzze saddle at 1,265 metres. 1,582 metres high near the Chiandola De Donà G. THE VODO DISASTER IN NOVEMBER 1917 pass. It is about 2 hours from Vodo (route 478) and about 1 hour and 30 minutes View of the VICTORY ON BOARD AN ARMOURED CAR The withdrawal of the Italian troops through the Boite valley during the first ten from Zoppè (route 456), on a road that is village of Vodo partly tarmac and partly unsurfaced. It days of November 1917 was hectic and laborious, marked by the need to get to the in 1917. has a capacity of 20. Throughout the third of November and on the morning of the fourth, the Cav- plains immediately and at the same time to exploit the great potential of the Cadore- allera road between Perarolo and Tai di Cadore was blocked by an interminable Maè fortifications to the greatest possible extent. The people of San Vito, Vodo and line of Austro-Hungarian carts and soldiers struggling up towards Pieve and Venas thus realised, to their bitter astonishment, that the mouths of the very guns that then splitting into two separate streams, one along the Boite valley towards had been installed to make their valley impregnable against any enemy offensive were P Cortina and the other along the Piave and the Ansiei towards the Tre Croci pass. now, by an irony of fate, turned against their own homes. Even if many Austrians had already rid themselves of their personal weapons, At 1 o’clock in the afternoon on 6 November, the Austrian mountain troop vanguard the retreat was constantly interrupted by the perverse trickle of requisitions came into the main square of San Vito, and on the morning of 8 November the first by the Staff, while the Italian 2nd Assault Division under General De Marchi shots were heard from the Italian artillery at Sadorno, Pian dell’Antro and the Venas of the 8th Army Corps pushed towards Cadore by forced marches, with the 3rd passage, as well as from the 75s on the heights of Socchiuse and Sottiera, on the right B P Cycle Battalion in the vanguard. The Italians knew that the end of hostilities bank of the Boite, and, presumably, from Mount Rite too. By 1 o’clock the shelling had been fixed for 3 p.m. on 4 November, and during these last moments of of San Vito reached its greatest intensity, at 5 o’clock it seemed to be directed only war they were trying to gain as much booty as possible in the form of territo- against the village of Vodo and at 10 at night all was quiet again. The inhabitants of ry and prisoners. The old Dogana Vecchia border seemed far away, however, al- San Vito could see the entire valley of the Venas passage and the north side of Mount most Utopian, both because of the distance that still separated it from the Ital- Rite lit up by the flames that were devouring Vodo. De Donà G. ians and because of the thousands of enemy troops that were tired and demo- On 9 November the news came through to San Vito that resistance at the Venas pas- tivated but were still capable of putting up flickers and spurts of resistance. sage had completely petered out. The bridge over the Rudan near Peaio and the one over the Boite along the Venas-Cibiana road had been blown up and the village had to provide accommodation for the enemy troops, most of whom came from Galicia. So Vodo found that it paid the highest price for the last throes of the Italian defence effort: when the people were all able to return to their village, forty-three families A found that their homes had burnt down and that all their belongings had vanished. The parts most hit and damaged by fire were Chiarediego, which was totally destroyed, GREANES and a large part of Rezzuò. Not a single house, however, was left with a window in- P A large number of blockhouses and ammunition stores were also built on the left bank of the tact, and even the Church of Santa Lucia was practically destroyed; the only parts Boite, above all on the hills above Vinigo. A that were saved were the bell tower and the treasures and rich adornments that the military road, known as the Engineers’ Road, parish priest had managed to drag out by rushing through the flames. The Cesare branched off from the Alemagna near the bend at Ruvinian and went up to Greanes, a sunny Vecellio altarpiece with its triptych of Our Lady between Saints Lucia and Gothard and pleasant clearing, before starting to climb was burnt, and also lost were priceless vestments and sacred ornaments including a the slopes of Mount Antelao as far as the little magnificent olive-tree cross that had decorated the second side altar to the right. Railway stock P Bosconuovo forts above Borca. The fire naturally did not even spare the Mount Rite cableway, all the machinery of overturned by the retreating Italian troops Indeed, the Austrians destroyed the bridges as they passed, for example the which was damaged and completely unserviceable, or the railway engines that over- along the Ruvinian Molina bridge between Calalzo and Domegge and the covered bridge at Valle- turned and crashed into the valley of the Ruvinian. valley between Venas

and Peaio. De Donà G. sella, so that the pursuit and the race against time became even more difficult. At about 2.30 in the afternoon on 4 November, however, the 15th machine-gun (Accesso B) armoured cars of the 5th Section of the 1st Division reached Tai from Castel- 17.2 VODO - BECCO DI CUZZE franco on seven Lancias: their task was to cut off the retreat of the Austrian DESCRIPTION OF THE ROUTE THE CERCENà DAIRY FARM divisions coming up the Cadore valleys. The squadron immediately split into This excursion gives the opportunity of visiting some interesting defence works The Casera Cercenà is 1,532 metres up in a lovely sunny clearing with a stupendous view of Antelao two, to follow the enemy along the Boite and Piave valleys, but only the three and Sorapis. There is a little cowherds’ cottage built of stone and wood with a spring nearby. Next De Donà G. cars that headed for Cortina were able to dash to the old frontier, because the in secluded and attractive surroundings, with excellent views of Mounts Pel- to the wood on the left-hand side the stables once had room for 120 head of cattle; a part of the mo and Antelao. Cross the bridge over the Boite (828 m) under Vodo di Cadore, stables has now been altered to serve as a picnic shelter for tourists and trippers. other four immediately ran into great difficulties near the Molinà bridge. Remains of the military aqueduct on the slopes In a few minutes of fast driving, at a headlong pace for those times (70 km go up the vehicular road to the Cuzze saddle and go on until you get to the of Crepe di Serla. per hour), horns blaring, the Italian vehicles, with 18 men on board, managed

beginning of Italian Alpine Club route 493 and the Access B car park. Contin- Istituto Geografico Militare - Aut. n. 6109 del 12.10.2005 ue along route 493 on foot towards Serla, following the signs, to four artillery to engage the Austrian rearguard before Cancia, and although the enemy de- emplacements at the Cucei saddle. An alternative to the Access B car park is ACCESS B: CUZZE VALLEY – MOUNT BECCO DI CUZZE Take the military path, which has been repaired by the Vodo Alpine Regi- ployed themselves in defensive positions along the road, none had the presence to go on as far as the Cercenà dairy farm and then take the path to Crepe di The first part of this itinerary is the same as the one that has been de- ment unit. of mind or the spirit to throw a grenade, which would have put an end to the Serla, from which you will find the Access B path to the four gun emplace- scribed to reach Access A, starting from the bridge over the Boite (828 At various points you will see wooden bridges that have been restored enterprise. The lightning speed of the action and the determination shown by ments. m) under Vodo, going through a magnificently wooded area with shady according to the techniques formerly adopted in this area. the Italians succeeded in frightening the Austrians, who gave way and allowed the vehicles to knife through the three-kilometre-long column of troops. Af- DIFFERENCE IN ALTITUDE slopes covered with fir trees and a few small grassy clearings. The route climbs the narrow valley at the foot of the Serla rib, serving both The road, route 477 for Rives, crosses a cart track from Praciastel and Can- the Cuzze rib, where the military works completed by architect Lieutenant ter passing the bulk of the retreating troops and the Italian vanguard itself, About 900 metres from the bridge over the Boite (about 470 metres from the the three racers came to a halt near the Grand Hotel Dolomites, on the bound- Access B car park). cia (hamlets belonging to Borca di Cadore), where there was once a wind- Alberto Alpago Novello have been restored, and the Crepe di Serla rib. mill. A large number of defence works have come to light all along the ridges ary between Borca and San Vito, where the road went up a slight incline be- DURATION At the fork at 924 metres, leave the road to Ciandolada to your left and in both these areas in recent years: walkways, entrenched paths, caverns fore gently falling again. It had just gone 3 o’clock in the afternoon and from From the Access B car park to the top of Becco di Cuzze and back by the path take the right-hand road to the plateau (1,265 m), where you will see a and positions with more than one entrance. All that can be done at pres- that vantage point it was an easy matter to command the road and take the going round the summit, 5 to 6 hours. building that used to be the Cuzze saddle refuge. ent is to mention the existence of these relics of the war, as they have oncoming enemy troops prisoners; they were handed over to the Italian DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY The route continues through the wood, climbing slightly through broad- not yet been either signposted or cleared of vegetation. Bersaglieri cycle units that arrived the day after. A challenging walk to the top of Becco di Cuzze, including the section along leaf trees and conifers to the Saudame stream, near which there is a sign Follow the marked route to Serla and then continue south-east through This was how the Great War in Cadore finished, with an episode that took no the summit ridge. A sure step is necessary for the stretches at a high altitude and project information and also some room for a small number of cars clearings and fir and larch woods until you get to the ditch near the po- victims but was successful in raising the morale of the people of the area, who and on wet grass. here. sitions on the Cucei saddle. saw that they had been liberated by their own Italian soldiers. Great War andthenduringitsprogress, asubstantialsystemoftrenches,posi- aimed atZoldoandtheMaèvalley. So,especiallyduringtheyearsjustbefore might attemptattheVenas passagethroughtheCibianaorChiandoladapasses Italian defencesfromanyoutflankingmovementsenemycolumnsCortina porting worksandringroads,hadthepurpose,amongothers,ofprotecting In theBoitevalley, thefortsofPiandell’Antro andMountRite,withalltheirsup- they couldoperateevenundercompletelyadverseweatherconditions. 500 menalsohadshelters,wells,equipmentandprovisionsformonths,sothat of thevalleysbelowbeingentirelyoccupiedbyenemy. Thegarrisonof300to tion againstanyattack,keepingitoperationaltothebitterend,eveninevent fences, mainlyincaverns,ofensuringtheimpregnabilityentirefortifica- cessions ofdefensivecircuits,supplementaryobservationpostsandadditionalde- opere alte (lower works) CONTINUE opere basse FORTIFICATIONS at Adua in 1896; the installations were deprived of the finan- at Adua in 1896; the installations were deprived

Alpago Novello Grande, 1916. Pelmo fromCol View ofMount débacle CADORE-MAE’ AND THE DEFENCE OF THE BOITE VALLEY OF THE THE DEFENCE AND strategic main Italian the Italy, of to the Kingdom of Venice the annexation After An- the confluence of the strait at Ponti the Tre this area was to control concern in and stop draw up defences it the ideal place to Piave, considering siei and the on- afterwards, from 1880 and the east, but from the north enemy movements and near Pieve di Cadore the barrier further back, decided to design wards, it was Cadore from the centre of enemy penetrations both in order to contain di Cadore, Tai towards Longarone easily break through before they could Ansiei and from Val as the Pieve the system known 1882 and 1896, accordingly, and Belluno. Between Batteria Castello, was completed, including the forts of di Cadore fortifications Mount Ricco and di Cadore, with a whole series of near Pieve and Tai Col Vaccher San- Costapiana-San Dionisio and Tranego, (Pozzale-Mount access and ring roads Inferna, near Val the mountain refuges on Pian dei Buoi and Maò) and t’Anna-Col and Mount Ric- farm. While the forts of Batteria Castello the Casera Razzo dairy the further bank of guns against Domegge and co pointed their medium-calibre turned the mouths of very vast and complex, Col Vaccher, the Piave, the fort on towards the Boite valley. its four to eight cannons also intended to be system was not solely defensive; it was The main task of this area, that it was devoted to the safeguarding of a protected counter-offensive, as for Franzenfeste army corps could easily get ready to head of Pieve, in which an breakthrough to the west in order to (Fortezza). The idea was to carry out a rapid territory that, since 1866, had constituted a trouble- cut off the wedge of Trento in Friuli and on the Isonzo, which would some impediment to any Italian offensive manoeuvre after any Austri- have been fatally exposed to an obvious outflanking and Lake Garda. an advance towards Verona easily dominated from the surround- were in ordinary masonry, The works, however, traverses that could easily be picked ing heights and unable, with their hollow for the guns. Constructed ac- out in the woods, to provide a proper protection drawbridge, machicolations, etc.), they cording to almost mediaeval criteria (ditch, the light of the substantial advances in ended by very soon becoming obsolete in and their com- the end of the century, siege warfare that were made in Europe at and economic crisis that afflicted Italy pletion coincided with the profound moral after the to update and rebuild them. cial resources that would have been needed arrived and new strategic studies flour- It was not until 1904, when more funds strategic defence con- in Italy’s ished, that Cadore again came to the foreground H.R.H. the Duke of Aosta, Minister of cept. After long technical diatribes among and the Artillery the Eastern Military Theatre Spingardi, Chief of Staff Pollio, War that were of particular importance and Engineering Inspectorates, some positions them were selected. Some strong for the control of the communications below specifically two armoured positions were thus constructed, on Col Piccolo near Vigo and on Pian dell’Antro near Venas, and three near Venas, on Col Piccolo near Vigo and on Pian dell’Antro Col Vidal and Mount Rite. These constructions (higher works) on Mount Tudaio, that then held sway in Europe, sup- complied with the theory of armoured forts ported in Italy by General E. Rocchi; often served by boldly conceived and costly access roads, the fruit of the labours of thousands of Engineers, but also of civilian contractors and labourers, they were designed to hold concrete batteries fitted with Armstrong model revolving nickel steel cupolas for 149 A guns, able to hit targets up to 14 kilometres away and were virtually resistant to any enemy attack. Each armoured battery was also served by a series of barracks, stores and through suc- workshops excavated out of the underlying rock, with the capability, GENERAL INFORMATION GENERAL THE lessa, 2,033m)andColdeSalèra(1,629m),whichwerelinkedthroughtheChian- Tudaio withthoseoftheCordevolebarrier, especiallythoseonSpizZuèl(orAgne- ed tolinkthefortificationsonMountRite,ColVidal,Piandell’Antro andMount The positions,servedbyroads,observationpostsandshelters,weremainlyintend- on onehandandthoseintheAgordoarea,Maèvalley, ontheotherhand. tions intheZoldoarea,actingasapivotbetweenCadore-Maèfortifications On therightbankofBoitesystemwastoserveasalinkwithinstalla- ing theimpregnabilityofentireItaliansystemdefences. telao andPelmo, naturallysupportedbytheotherfortificationsinarea,ensur- ory, namely thatofafurthermostlineresistanceextendingbetweenMountsAn- and therightbanksofBoite.Thesedefenceswerepart“yellowline”the- tions androadsweresetupintheareasofVodo, VinigoandPeaio onboththeleft

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 De Donà G. G. Donà De (Accesso A) (Accesso B) VODO - BECCO DI CUZZE - BECCO DI VODO CUZZE - BECCO DI VODO SECONDA LINEA MONTE RITE-VALLE IMPERINA LINEA MONTE RITE-VALLE SECONDA 17.1 17.2 History and description of the Great War sites War History and description of the Great valley. Boite andZoldo system inthe communications plan oftheroad Austro-Hungarian Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park

GREAT WAR SITES IN THE PROVINCE OF BELLUNO OF THE PROVINCE SITES IN WAR GREAT A. Fornari A. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 DISTRIBUTED FREE OF CHARGE OF FREE DISTRIBUTED from CollediSantaLucia(1270 m)toTabià diLavinà (1100 m).Thiswasallmade secondary linesfromCostonedeiLandri(1450m)toBeccodiCuze(1744and soni (1462m),MalgaBocchiadan(1429m)andColBotei(1611 m),supportedbytwo the “yellowline”onbothbanksofBoitefromSottiera(820m)toPiandeiCa- The mostinterestingpartofthefortheritageVodo, then,istobefoundalong for communications,withmachine-gunandfieldartilleryemplacements. the Boite:theseconsistedofacomplexsystemtrenches,positionsandmuletracks fences tobebuiltonthenearbysummits,bothrightandleftbankof m), completedin1915, however, madeitnecessaryforothercomplementaryde- The constructionofthemassivearmouredfortificationonCibianapass(2,183 of MountSerlaandonBeccodiCuzze(1,744m)aboveVodo diCadore. dolada passtothedefencessetuponslopesofMountPenna, ontherockyspurs 24 23 21 22 26 25 28 27 Col Ciampon Monte Tudaio Mauria - M.P.so Miaron Mauria - Col Audoi P.so Col Vidal Anello dei Colli Forte Monte Ricco Batteria Castello Vaccher Forte Col Monte Tranego Forte Pian dell’Antro Col S. Anna - La Glories (Accesso A) - Becco di Cuzze Vodo (Accesso B) - Becco di Cuzze Vodo Monte Rite Col Pradamio Spiz Zuel - Monte Punta Col de Saléra di San Martino Tagliata Batteria Listolade AURONZO DI CADORE AURONZO 29 30 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 1 32 3 31 4 2 5 6 35 PIEVE DI CADORE 7 33 8 34 36 37 ZOLDO 38

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO CORTINA Musizza W. Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park GREATWAR SITES INTHE PROVINCE OF BELLUNO Community Initiative Interreg IIIA Italia-Austria 2000-2006 - Project (Cod. VEN 222001) 39 Iniziativa Comunitaria Interreg IIIA Italia-Austria 2000-2006 - Progetto (Cod. VEN 222001) Progetto cofinanziato dall’Unione Europea mediante Fondo Europeo di Sviluppo Regionale AGORDO Gemeinschaftsinitiative Interreg IIIA Italien-Österreich 2000-2006 - Projekt (Cod. VEN 222001) Project co-financed by the European Union through European Found for Regional Developmen Von der E.U. Unterstützes Projekt Mittels Europäischer Wärungsfonds zur Regionalen Entwicklung 40 16 11 DIE ORTE DES ERSTENWELTKRIEGES IN DER PROVINZ BELLUNO Interventi di recupero e valorizzazione nei territori del Parco della Memoria nei territori del Parco e valorizzazione Interventi di recupero 13 I LUOGHI DELLA GRANDE GUERRA IN PROVINCIA DI BELLUNO I LUOGHI DELLA GRANDE GUERRA IN PROVINCIA 15 10 12 9 14 line. di Serladefence rock mass,Crepe into anisolated Embrasure cut Eingriffe derWiederinstandsetzung undValorisierung in den Gebieten des Erinnerungsparks Tel. 0039 0437 62043 - Email [email protected] 0039 0437 62390 - Fax 19 20 17 18 MARMOLADA Forcella Lavaredo Forcella “2385”Quota ai Piani di Lavaredo Croda dell’Arghena Giro del Col di Mezzo Misurina - Monte Piana Rif. A. Bosi e Monte Piana Cristallino di Misurina delle Baracche Valle “Edelweiss” Posizione - Sella del Sief Sella Sief - Cima Sief Cima Sief - Col di Lana Da Cima Lana ai Ciadiniéi Ciadinéi - Sella Sief Col de la Roda Variante Cima Lana - Costone Castello - Sella Sief Cima Lana - Agai e Palla Toront Col Da Daut - Col Museo storico - Marmolada a Serauta Malga Ciapèla - Ombretta di Marmolada della MarmoladaZona monumentale 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 LIST OF ITINERARIES OF LIST 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Coordination: AGORDINA MONTANA 2 - 32021 Agordo (BL) - Italia Via IV Novembre, COMUNITË - Cover: view of Mount Antelao from the Cercenà plains. ALfarè I. . ss ee ii dd oo 2,000 bb ee

of mostthevillageVodo on8November1917. fight theyputupattheVenas passageandonMountRiteledtothedestruction spasmodic resistanceofferedbytheItaliantroopsinBoitevalley, where the prematurely withouthavingthechancetogivepropersupportdesperateand fortified areawasnevergivenaclearandunequivocalfunctionabandoned Commanded inthefranticdaysafterCaporettobyGeneralA.Marocco,entire in handatthefirstsignsofyieldingItalianfrontonIsonzo. this linewasfarfromcompletion,asshownbythefrenziedworksthatwereput ian defencesinthePievediCadoreentrenchments.InOctober1917, however, the warbegan,becausetheyprovidedanopportunityeasilytooutflankItal- Chiandolada pass,thoroughlyinvestigatedbyAustrianintelligencewellbefore more importantstrategicallybythevalueofmilitaryroadfromVodo tothe ee gg tt nn tt ii ii cc mm nn aa mm nn oo ii ff

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gg nn rr oo ii OO tt aa nn ii dd rr oo oo (A. Berti). CC he itineraries that are suggested have been selected bear- been selected have he itineraries suggested that are proposed for visitingproposed these sites, some ofrealis- them fully rgotten and that,rgotten of in the words Second-Lieutenant Surgeon also of big patrols, platoons and whole companies. not do we And rceive the relationship between man and nature, between the relationship rceive has left which

recruits soon turn into accomplished climbers. Some new mountain

Musizza W. Musizza

Cuzze rib. tunnel alongthe Ruins ofa "...it is not a parenthesis that we can hasten"...it is not a parenthesis to close saying to go back to what before..." we were

aries and experience life on the front line at first hand, line at first aries life on the front and experience the difficulties of realising at an altitude of the existence than more Park". of The results tackle easy itiner- to the chance everyone the guides and leaflets that give labours are the Committee's reg III A project called "Great War sites in the Province of in the Province sites War called "Great A project III reg Belluno. of and promotion Preservation in the Memorial the areas This has been, as it still is, the purpose of of and Scientific Committee the Technical done by the work Inter- the Italy-Austria venture. of Memories war for paths of peace. the war is not something that has been fo that remember This is to “…the Alps see prodigies,Alps “…the part not only on the of individuals, but see feats performed by the most expert,even but the youngest even are routes opened to meetup under enemy fire of the needs war..." the Mountains, re-discover to A historical record forget, not to this tragic the men that lived but extraordinary know to ad- ofmetres the soldiers of the opposing armies. Gino Frontali, The Greanes–Bosconuovo military road on the slopes of Mount Antelao. The Greanes–Bosconuovo military road on the slopes of Mount love the mountains for their natural beauty but are able to pe the mountains for their natural beauty able to but are love We hope that this new historical and cultural opportunity will of find a large number We who not only visitors and enthusiasts ofvery traces special in these spots as a result War. the Great able fully the needs of considering mobility. people with reduced T in mind,ing some basic features as historical significance, such ease of of other sites and nearness to access historical interest

Itineraries of various of lengths and degrees been difficulty have ing us to observe,ing us to and learn. know less months of survived struggle the passing of that have the fascination and the beauty time enhance of the landscape, teach- the backdrop to the terrible and tragic events involved in the Great War on the Dolomite front. the Dolomite on War Great in the The traces of the terrible to and tragicthe backdrop involved events 29 seemingly end- The fundamental intention ofThe fundamental intention new generations the that were with acquaint places is to the splendid and enchanting this project 18.1 MONTE RITE THE FORT ON MOUNT RITE of road led from the barrack square to the entrances to the powder-magazine and 2,013 metres, two hundred metres under the Deona pass, a big two-storey bar- This structure, built 2,183 metres high from 1911 to 1915, is the last and most the explosives workshops. The cordite and ammunition depot, consisting of a large racks was prepared to receive soldiers and gendarmerie and as an infirmary, DESCRIPTION OF THE ROUTE recent in the Cadore-Maè fortifications. room about 120 square metres in area, was reached through a crooked tunnel dug while north-west of Mount Rite, 1,793 high under the Cross of Mount Rite, This is a visit to the last and most recent construction in the Cadore-Maè forti- There were extenuating discussions concerning the route to be taken by the ac- out of the rock 35 metres long. another barracks, also intended to have two storeys, was started but never fin- fications, most of which is recognisable even if it is seen in the context of a com- cess road to the top of the mountain, at the end of which the Municipality of Cib- The battery consisted in an upside down U-shaped concrete block 81 metres ished. prehensive reconstruction to create a mountain museum and the Hotel Dolomites. iana ceded all the council land necessary for the construction of the entire road long, 20 metres wide at the ends and 15 at the centre, with bush-hammered stone A tunnel 3 metres wide and more than 50 long was excavated, but remained un- From the Cibiana pass, take the good military road (route 479) that climbs the and the fort gratis by virtue of an agreement entered into with the Army on 15 perimeter walls and internal walls in stone. Four gunpits had been made in this completed, at Col del Turno at an altitude of 2,013 metres, which could be reached slopes of Mount Rite at a constant gradient (the maximum is 11% one kilome- December 1911 and it was decided that the road should start from Venas and structure, with access ramps connected with each other by a communicating cor- by a vehicular road from the pass 1,983 metres high. This tunnel went from tre from the top), passing the Deona pass (2,053 m) before the last section reach- not from Valle. ridor 78 metres long and 3 wide, with a smooth cement floor. As many as 14 rooms one side of the mountain to the other, coming out with an emplacement for guns es the fort. From the La Costa hay barns at about 1,600 metres you can take an The works on the summit, mostly awarded to contractors Rebonato & Toffanin, were constructed off this corridor and between the gunpits for use as munitions trained in the direction of the Boite valley from Borca to Cortina: it was in- attractive path through the woods to the left, coming out onto the road further underwent substantial delays that entailed the whole complex being unprepared stores and a large room for the accommodation of the gun crews, under which tended to take 149 G pieces on carriages. All trace has been lost of another sim- above near the Deona pass, thus avoiding the inconvenience of the shuttle bus- when war broke out. The Cozzene barracks were also unfinished, as also numer- big water tanks were constructed. ilar tunnel in the immediate neighbourhood. es passing. Rendezvous: Albergo Remauro at the Cibiana pass, from which the as- ous mule tracks and secondary positions. In the gunpits were four 149 A cannons under armoured Armstrong cupolas con- On the outbreak of the Great War, Rite was garrisoned by the 10th Company of cent to the summit (2,183 m) may be made either on foot or by shuttle service. The first section of the road was of considerable benefit to the civilian popula- structed from three nickel steel plates 140 mm thick. The guns, on the basis of a the 1st Group of the 7th Fortress Artillery Regiment (regular army) and the 62nd DIFFERENCE IN ALTITUDE tion, because it was the first real access route to the key-making village. It led range of about 14 kilometres, which was possible with a monobloc shell, con- Company of the X Presidario Battalion, a total of 300 men. It had four 70 M can- to the Cibiana pass and then to the top of the mountain, as far as the square in trolled the main directions an enemy advance could take from Cortina to the nons, four 75 A and four 149 G, while 149 A pieces in turrets were in the process About 650 metres. front of the great barracks. Zoldo area and also from the Marmarole to Cridola. About 50 metres from the of being installed. DURATION The barrack building was more than sixty metres long and seven metres high, two- left-hand side of the battery, four emplacements were created for 149 cannons Austrian reconnaissance surveys on 4 November 1917 show that, after Caporet- About 2 hours on foot. storeyed and with 18 rooms in all. From the right-hand side a tunnel more than on carriages and, about 200 metres away between the Deona pass and the fort, to, the fort was still functioning perfectly, but was already being abandoned by DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY 20 metres long led to another square further east where there was another one- a series of buildings were constructed as officers’ quarters, canteens, storehous- its garrison. An easy walk on a vehicular road up to the top, with the possibility of short cuts storey building composed of two units used as storehouses. To the right was the es, a bakery, depots, kitchens, shelters and so on. After taking a substantial amount of munitions from the fort, the Austrians dam- off the road. Any diversions on the top of the mountain looking for secondary mule track leading to battery height, continuing towards the artillery observa- An organic system of barbed wire entanglements surrounded the line outside aged it disastrously in October 1918, leaving salvagers the job of taking mate- positions, for example to the Cross of Mount Rite, require a sure step on a path tion post and the Cross of Mount Rite. A tunnel excavated out of the rock more the fort so that the defence troops could throw back any surprise attacks the rials left behind, both large and small, down to the valley. that is exposed at times. The shuttle service to the top may be used on payment. than 50 metres long allowed covered access to the battery, and a further stretch enemy might make, perhaps with the help of darkness and fog. At a height of THE “DISCOURAGER” AND THE APRIL FOOL THE “MUSEUM IN THE CLOUDS” The Italian fortifications did not have ef- The fort was used as a base by the Cadore partisans of the Calvi Brigade in 1944 fective anti-aircraft guns to counter the ac- and was then completely abandoned, but irresistibly returned to the limelight in Present tivities of the enemy reconnaissance planes 1998, when Reinhold Messner involved the Veneto Region, the Province of Bel- roof of the that took off from the airfields of Dobbia- luno and the Municipalities of Cibiana and Valle in a bold project to transform armoured co, Bressanone and Brunico (the 15th and the fort into a mountain museum. This was how, in June 2002, the new “Museo fort on 45th FLIK), and relied on 75 mm pieces on nelle nuvole” (“Museum in the Clouds”) was inaugurated inside a former armoured Mount

Rite. Istituto Geografico Militare - Aut. n. 6109 del 12.10.2005 ordinary trails with the rear buried in a cir- battery reconstructed to a design of the Venice University Institute of Architec- cular pit and the wheels anchored to a stake ture – IUAV – while the nearby barracks became a hotel, the Hotel Dolomites. in front. The gutted gunpits of the former battery have been covered with metal and high- The crew were instructed to aim their gun ly transparent glass features, whose intention is to reproduce the crystal of the about 10 aircraft lengths (about 120 me- Dolomites, with the edges turned towards the various surrounding mountain Square in front of the tres) in front of their target, but the results peaks. The various buildings are connected with each other also by means of the Mount Rite barracks. were poor and the shots were often to the pre-existing tunnels, which were an integral part of the fortifications and have Observer and anti-aircraft position. Drawing guns up the Mount Rite road. detriment of persons and things below. been made usable again. There is a multimedia room, formerly the powder-mag- Nevertheless, many men and a lot of equip- azine, near the Museum, and tourist services in the former barracks, with a restau- ment were used in the operation of sighting and deterrence, which the ordi- rant and other facilities and a youth hostel in a former smaller barrack building. nary population jokingly called “the discourager”,because it dissuaded the Aus- This structure cost 4 million euro, partly covered by contributions from the Eu- trian pilots from coming too low over the Italian installations, contenting them- ropean Union. Messner, the famous climber, whose grandfather was from Colle selves with merely photographing them from a height. Santa Lucia in the province of Belluno, has provided his collection to describe Aeroplanes were in fact rarely shot down, even if many in the Boite valley and all the fascination of the mountains: paintings, drawings and photographs and al- the Zoldo area remembered that the fort on Mount Rite, known locally as Rit, so minerals and objects representing the history of mountain climbing. often fired at the black-crossed aeroplanes, dotting the sky with little clouds and The Museum is open from 10.00 to 18.00 from 1 June until the first snows in cleaving the valley with its searchlights at night. October. P R. Fioretti (Tra le Dolomiti Zoldane, Udine, 1956, page 182 ff.) recounts the April Fool played in 1916 or 1917 by some people of Zoldo who cleverly spread the View from the top of Mount Rite. THE RITE CABLEWAY news that the guns of Rite had hit an Austrian draken balloon, shooting bas- The cableway serving the fort, the pride of a company called Grandi Tele- ket and crew down in the Pontaut locality. A big crowd went to look around on feriche Spadaccini, was in fact an admirable engineering work. It started from the site of the presumed hit, without considering its improbability and, above the bottom station at Perarolo (542 all, not remembering that it was 1 April. m) and had various angle and driving stations (Caralte, Suppiane and THE PLAQUE AT MEZZOCANALE Le Nove) and grandiose towers, Detail of the some of them even 44 metres high; military road to Col Pradamio On 26 May 1881, just after the Maè road had Monument to it stopped first at Ruvinian (877 from the Casoni been improved, a fine plaque with a sculpture the fallen in locality. m), then Peaio (886 m) and went was unveiled on the façade of the building 1848 at on to the terminus and driving sta- known as the Ospizio to commemorate the Mezzocanale, tion at the fort on Mount Rite Pradamio, the Piangrande cheese cottage, 1,271 m. heroic resistance in 1848. on the road (2,183 m). Intermediate station on the Mount Rite cableway. to the Zoldo At this point in the valley, the Zoldo volunteers valley. that had responded to the appeal by P. F. Calvi THE POSITION ON COL PRADAMIO Castellin or Col Baion, or perhaps on Col Pradamio. A board was appointed to car- denied the Austrians access to Longarone for 40 This position was designed by the Italian Engineers in 1908 on the hill of the same ry out a strategy study of the Longarone area, including the defences of the days; on one particular occasion, on 26 May 18.2 COL PRADAMIO name, 1,113 metres high, south-east of Forno di Zoldo as a part of the Val Maè Maé valley; some considered these defences already sufficient without any need 1848, they threw back a strong attack after five barrier, below the hollow in which all movements from the valleys of the Boite, for further works, as they were supported by the guns on Mount Rite and those hours of hard fighting. DESCRIPTION OF THE ROUTE the Fiorentina and the Cordevole joined together, controlling the road along the on the Col dei Ciot saddle, which the Maè valley had in common with the Agor- This is an excursion in a lonely, haunted landscape, marked not only by war mem- valley bed. It was also to be used to control the mule track from Casoni itself to do valley. ories but by the melancholy remains of a pastoral civilisation that now belongs the Moschesin pass, where a guardhouse was envisaged to watch the entrances In the years that followed, Col Baion, Spiz Zuèl and Col de Salèra were also for- At the fork for the battery and the Casera dei Corvi at 1,050 metres, you will to the past. Take the military road just south of Casoni, on SS 251 from Lon- from the Agordo area. tified, and this, together with the extension of the range of the cannons in the make out a platform 5 metres by 7 on which there used to be a hut, with the garone to Forno di Zoldo (route 487), and a few bends take you to the ruins of This defence work, however, was subjected to various cuts in order to make it armoured fort on Mount Rite, ended by relegating Col Pradamio to a complete- remains of another structure of the same kind nearby. Beside the short branch Casera Pradamio (975 m). Continue on a good mule track as far as Col Pradamio cheaper to complete, which gave rise to discussion concerning its actual utility, ly secondary role. On the other hand, the completion of the fortification there led road leading to the battery, where there are three 75 A cannon emplacements, (1,113 m), with the ruins of the position, and, if you wish, as far as Casera Pi- also in the light of the intended defence work on Col della Sparlonga, south of to the discarding of all the hypotheses previously advanced regarding the inter- a wide open space is visible with the ruins of the troops’ quarters. The posi- ant Grant (1,271 m), always following the route to Bivacco Tovanella (1,688 m) Longarone, whose 149 A guns would easily have countered an enemy thrust in- ruption of the Val Maè road at Bas di Caora near Mezzocanale, at Soffranco or tion was set up on three shelves about 8 metres by 8 with cement walkways, south of Cima della Serra. Rendezvous: Casoni (723 m) on the right of the state to the Maé valley. In 1910 funds were obtained for a shelter and a guard post at Pontesei south of Forno di Zoldo, and everyone concentrated their attention two underground munitions stores 2 metres by 2 and four arched niches. A walk- road from Longarone to Zoldo. at the Moschesin pass, 1,961 metres high south of Mount Castellin (2,499 m), on Ponte della Serra, which was within range of Col Pradamio and was soon mined. way with stone steps turned off from the left-hand side leading to the lower DIFFERENCE IN ALTITUDE which gave access from the Agordo valley to the Maè valley; immediately af- The original design, which envisaged an access road and an emplacement for 149 storey about 12 metres below where there are still two large munitions de- About 400 metres. terwards, after a certain number of changes, the design was approved for a field G guns, was afterwards reduced to an emplacement for small-calibre artillery, pots. artillery battery on Col Pradamio, suitable for 75 A guns if possible. and the site is still easily recognisable in spite of the ravages of time and the In May 1915, Col Pradamio was garrisoned by half of the 29th Company of the DURATION In 1912, however, the concept continued to be repeated that defences had to overgrowth that has risen since it was set up. This defence work was served by 9th Fortress Regiment, with about 120 men, and had four 75 A cannons. The fort 1,30 to 2 hours. be strengthened in view of the construction of the new Staulanza pass road, which the road that we go up now, climbing from Casoni and reaching a large open had no strategic or tactical role during the war and was not used during the DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY would allow the Austrians to get into the Zoldo valley easily, so that all the op- space with a trench at a height of 790 metres, intended to accommodate a ma- dramatic hours of the Italian retreat from the Maè valley from 8 to 10 No- An easy walk, sometimes a little challenging on the steep sections. tions that had been considered before remained open: strong barriers on Col chine-gun to cover the road to the Zoldo area below. vember 1917. LIST OF ITINERARIES 1 11 GENERAL INFORMATION

THE CADORE-MAE’ FORTIFICATIONS 2 12 In order to contain enemy penetrations both from the centre of Cadore and from the 3 2 6 1 Boite valley before they could easily break through through towards Longarone and Bel- 7 4 8 5 luno, between 1882 and 1896, the system known as the Pieve di Cadore fortifications

AURONZO DI CADORE 3 13 was completed, including the forts of Batteria Castello, Mount Ricco and Col Vaccher near CORTINA D’AMPEZZO Pieve and Tai di Cadore, with a whole series of access and ring roads and secondary po- 21 26 22 25 sitions. While the forts of Batteria Castello and Mount Ricco pointed their medium-cal- 4 14 ibre guns against Domegge and the further bank of the Piave, the fort on Col Vaccher, 9 10 11 24 very vast and complex, turned the mouths of its four to eight cannons towards the 12 13 23 14 15 16 Boite valley. 17 29 5 15 18 19 32 30 The main task of this system was not solely defensive; it was also intended to be count- 20 27 28 31 MARMOLADA 34 er-offensive, as it was devoted to the safeguarding of a protected area, that of Pieve, 33 PIEVE DI CADORE 35 in which an army corps could easily get ready to head for Franzenfeste (Fortezza). The 37 6 16 ZOLDO idea was to carry out a rapid breakthrough to the west in order to cut off the wedge 38 36 of Trento territory that, since 1866, had constituted a troublesome impediment to any 7 17 Italian offensive in Friuli and on the Isonzo, which would have been fatally exposed to 40 an obvious outflanking manoeuvre after any Austrian advance towards Verona and

AGORDO Lake Garda.

39 The works, however, were in ordinary masonry, constructed according to almost medi- 8 18 aeval criteria (ditch, drawbridge, machicolations, etc.) and they ended by very soon be- 1 Forcella Lavaredo 21 Col Ciampon coming obsolete in the light of the substantial advances in siege warfare that were made 2 Quota “2385” ai Piani di Lavaredo 22 Monte Tudaio in Europe at the end of the century. 3 Croda dell’Arghena 23 P.so Mauria - M. Miaron 9 19 It was not until 1904, when more funds arrived and new strategic studies flourished, that 4 Giro del Col di Mezzo 24 P.so Mauria - Col Audoi Cadore again came to the foreground in Italy’s strategic defence concept. After long 5 Misurina - Monte Piana 25 Col Vidal technical diatribes, some strong armoured positions were constructed that were con- 6 Rif. A. Bosi e Monte Piana 26 Anello dei Colli 10 20 sidered of particular value in controlling the roads beneath, and some powerful armoured 7 Cristallino di Misurina 27 Forte Monte Ricco forts were constructed, specifically two opere basse (lower works) on Col Piccolo near Vi- 8 Valle delle Baracche 28 Batteria Castello GREAT WAR SITES IN THE PROVINCE OF BELLUNO go and on Pian dell’Antro near Venas, and three opere alte (higher works) on Mount Tu- 9 Posizione “Edelweiss” - Sella del Sief 29 Forte Col Vaccher Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park daio, Col Vidal and Mount Rite. These constructions complied with the theory of armoured 10 Sella Sief - Cima Sief 30 Monte Tranego forts that then held sway in Europe, supported in Italy by General E. Rocchi; often served 11 Cima Sief - Col di Lana 31 Forte Pian dell’Antro SECONDA LINEA MONTE RITE-VALLE IMPERINA by boldly conceived and costly access roads, the fruit of the labours of thousands of 12 Da Cima Lana ai Ciadiniéi 32 Col S. Anna - La Glories Engineers, but also of civilian contractors and labourers, they were designed to hold con- 13 Ciadinéi - Sella Sief 33 Vodo - Becco di Cuzze (Accesso A) crete batteries fitted with Armstrong model revolving nickel steel cupolas for 149 A guns, The barracks at 2,013 m, at present being reconstructed. 14 Variante Col de la Roda 34 Vodo - Becco di Cuzze (Accesso B) 18.1 MONTE RITE able to hit targets up to 14 kilometres away and were virtually resistant to any enemy 15 Cima Lana - Costone Castello - Sella Sief 35 Monte Rite 18.2 COL PRADAMIO attack. Each armoured battery was also served by a series of barracks, stores and work- The fundamental intention of this project is to acquaint the new generations with the splendid and enchanting places that were 16 Cima Lana - Agai e Palla 36 Col Pradamio shops excavated out of the underlying rock, with the capability, through successions of the backdrop to the terrible and tragic events involved in the Great War on the Dolomite front. The traces of 29 seemingly end- less months of struggle that have survived the passing of time enhance the fascination and the beauty of the landscape, teach- 17 Col Da Daut - Col Toront 37 Spiz Zuel defensive circuits, supplementary observation posts and additional defences, mainly in ing us to observe, know and learn. 18 Museo storico a Serauta - Marmolada 38 Col de Saléra - Monte Punta History and description of the Great War sites caverns, of ensuring the impregnability of the entire fortification against any attack, keep- Itineraries of various lengths and degrees of difficulty have been proposed for visiting these sites, some of them fully realis- able fully considering the needs of people with reduced mobility. The itineraries that are suggested have been selected bear- 19 Malga Ciapèla - Ombretta di Marmolada 39 Tagliata di San Martino ing it operational to the bitter end, even in the event of the valleys below being entire- ing some basic features in mind, such as historical significance, ease of access and nearness to other sites of historical interest. 20 Zona monumentale della Marmolada 40 Batteria Listolade ly occupied by the enemy. The garrison of 300 to 500 men also had shelters, wells, equip- We hope that this new historical and cultural opportunity will find a large number of visitors and enthusiasts who not only ment and provisions for months, so that they could operate even under completely ad- love the mountains for their natural beauty but are able to perceive the relationship between man and nature, which has left Cover: the present crystal cupolas of the armoured fort on Mount Rite. A. Fornari very special traces in these spots as a result of the Great War. verse weather conditions. Organising authorities and financing bodies Coordination: COMUNITË MONTANA AGORDINA - Via IV Novembre, 2 - 32021 Agordo (BL) - Italia The forts of Pian dell’Antro and Mount Rite, with all their complementary works and

Tel. 0039 0437 62390 - Fax 0039 0437 62043 - Email [email protected] FREE OF CHARGE DISTRIBUTED “…the Alps see prodigies, not only on the part of individuals, but also of big patrols, platoons and whole companies. And not do we ring roads also had the purpose of protecting the Italian defences from encirclement see feats performed by the most expert, but even the youngest recruits soon turn into accomplished climbers. Some new mountain I LUOGHI DELLA GRANDE GUERRA IN PROVINCIA DI BELLUNO Interventi di recupero e valorizzazione nei territori del Parco della Memoria through the Cibiana and Chiandolada passes and the Boite valley in the direction of the routes are even opened up under enemy fire to meet the needs of war..." (A. Berti). Progetto cofinanziato dall’Unione Europea mediante Fondo Europeo di Sviluppo Regionale A historical record to re-discover the Mountains, not to forget, to know the men that lived this tragic but extraordinary ad- Iniziativa Comunitaria Interreg IIIA Italia-Austria 2000-2006 - Progetto (Cod. VEN 222001) Zoldo area. This is why, especially during the years just before the Great War and then DIE ORTE DES ERSTEN WELTKRIEGES IN DER PROVINZ BELLUNO venture. Memories of war for paths of peace. Eingriffe der Wiederinstandsetzung und Valorisierung in den Gebieten des Erinnerungsparks during its progress, a substantial system of trenches, positions and roads were set up in This has been, as it still is, the purpose of the work done by the Technical and Scientific Committee of the Italy-Austria Inter- Von der E.U. Unterstützes Projekt Mittels Europäischer Wärungsfonds zur Regionalen Entwicklung Gemeinschaftsinitiative Interreg IIIA Italien-Österreich 2000-2006 - Projekt (Cod. VEN 222001) the areas of Vodo, Vinigo and Peaio on both the left and the right banks of the Boite. reg III A project called "Great War sites in the Province of Belluno. Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial GREAT WAR SITES IN THE PROVINCE OF BELLUNO Park". The results of the Committee's labours are the guides and leaflets that give everyone the chance to tackle easy itiner- Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park These defences were part of the “yellow line” theory, namely that of a furthermost line Project co-financed by the European Union through European Found for Regional Developmen aries and experience life on the front line at first hand, realising the difficulties of the existence at an altitude of more than 2,000 Community Initiative Interreg IIIA Italia-Austria 2000-2006 - Project (Cod. VEN 222001) of resistance extending between Mounts Antelao and Pelmo naturally supported by the metres of the soldiers of the opposing armies. This is to remember that the war is not something that has been forgotten and that, in the words of Surgeon Second-Lieutenant other fortifications in the area, ensuring the impregnability of the entire Italian system Gino Frontali, "...it is not a parenthesis that we can hasten to close to go back to what we were saying before...". of defences.

Coordination and Scientific and Technical Committee CONTINUE

up by the Italian troops in central Cadore and the Boite valley. Boite the and Cadore central in troops Italian the by up and oftener as time passed, as a plentiful reserve of soldiers, cannons, machine-guns, shells machine-guns, cannons, soldiers, of reserve plentiful a as passed, time as oftener and Zuèl and Col de Salèra further north. All this relegated Col Pradamio to the position of a of position the to Pradamio Col relegated this All north. further Salèra de Col and Zuèl Army gave permission for the opening of the new Staulenza pass road, whose right whose road, pass Staulenza new the of opening the for permission gave Army

worthwhile artillery action before or during the desperate and spasmodic defence put defence spasmodic and desperate the during or before action artillery worthwhile episode in 1916) or, oftener or, 1916) in episode Strafexpidition the example (for line front the of collapse that was under construction, but also as a result of the decision to fortify Col Baion, Spiz Baion, Col fortify to decision the of result a as also but construction, under was that had also been given to barring the Maè valley, above all after 1906, when the Italian the when 1906, after all above valley, Maè the barring to given been also had

ly with limited damage to its structures, without having the chance to engage in any in engage to chance the having without structures, its to damage limited with ly lant) could only count on these forts as a defence asset in the event of an unexpected an of event the in asset defence a as forts these on count only could lant) a 75 mm gun battery, considering the additions to the objectives of the fort on Mount Rite Mount on fort the of objectives the to additions the considering battery, gun mm 75 a In the previous years, when the two forts were only in the design stage, consideration stage, design the in only were forts two the when years, previous the In

area was never given a clear and unequivocal function and was abandoned premature- abandoned was and function unequivocal and clear a given never was area IV Army troops (commanded first by General L. Nava and then by General M. N. di Robi- di N. M. General by then and Nava L. General by first (commanded troops Army IV and the Zoldo valley. The defence works at Col Pradamio, however, were then reduced to reduced then were however, Pradamio, Col at works defence The valley. Zoldo the and still unfinished, above all those on the left bank of the Boite. the of bank left the on those all above unfinished, still

Commanded in the frantic days after Caporetto by General A. Marocco, the fortified the Marocco, A. General by Caporetto after days frantic the in Commanded tions in progress on the front line, which was beyond the range of its gunfire. The Italian The gunfire. its of range the beyond was which line, front the on progress in tions another shelter at the Moschesin pass to cover communications between the Agordo basin Agordo the between communications cover to pass Moschesin the at shelter another yet because the graduated sights were missing, while many complementary works were works complementary many while missing, were sights graduated the because yet

well as of strategic and tactical readiness. readiness. tactical and strategic of as well reserves and munitions, proved useless and incapable of favourably affecting the opera- the affecting favourably of incapable and useless proved munitions, and reserves and a guard post at Casoni with a small shelter. At the same time it was decided to build to decided was it time same the At shelter. small a with Casoni at post guard a and not been entirely completed: the 149 A cannons on Mount Rite were not operational not were Rite Mount on cannons A 149 the completed: entirely been not

ening the entire structure and reducing it to a bad condition of material efficiency as efficiency material of condition bad a to it reducing and structure entire the ening tifications, with all its 73 officers, 4,000 troops and 92 guns and a substantial amount of amount substantial a and guns 92 and troops 4,000 officers, 73 its all with tifications, di Zoldo and Mezzocanale, with the construction of an artillery position for 149 G cannons G 149 for position artillery an of construction the with Mezzocanale, and Zoldo di Cibiana pass road had already begun in 1911. On the outbreak of war the system had system the war of outbreak the On 1911. in begun already had road pass Cibiana

in the Venezia Giulia area. So a steady trickle of requisitions began that ended by weak- by ended that began requisitions of trickle steady a So area. Giulia Venezia the in In spite of the laborious Italian defence preparations, the entire Cadore-Maè system of for- of system Cadore-Maè entire the preparations, defence Italian laborious the of spite In The initial plan, therefore, envisaged a vehicular road to Col Pradamio between Ospitale between Pradamio Col to road vehicular a envisaged therefore, plan, initial The on Mount Rite only in spring 1912, even if the first works on the summit and on the on and summit the on works first the if even 1912, spring in only Rite Mount on

and various other materials to be diverted for the needs of the front, above all the line the all above front, the of needs the for diverted be to materials other various and feature in the fortifications of the Boite on Vinigo, Crepo di Pera and Colle di Sant’Anna. di Colle and Pera di Crepo Vinigo, on Boite the of fortifications the in feature flank offered the enemy another dangerous opportunity in the direction of Longarone. of direction the in opportunity dangerous another enemy the offered flank The preliminary design for the Pian dell’Antro fort was ready in spring 1910, while that while 1910, spring in ready was fort dell’Antro Pian the for design preliminary The

magazine.

to the powder- the to mount Rite. mount

stone entrance stone the summit of summit the barracks. Mount Rite. Mount

Detail of the of Detail workers dig dig workers the square in front of the Mount Rite Mount the of front in square the armoured fort on fort armoured

Colpradamio - Colpradamio Summer 1915: Summer Access road to the armoured fort from fort armoured the to road Access Cupolas of the of Cupolas mule trackwith steep sections. Aminimum degree of physical fitness isrequired. The section inthewood iseasy, firstalonga road,thenfrom Lariet(1,300m) upa Torrani refuge (2,984m)onMount Civetta. from which you canwalk to the (1,784m), sadora heading towards SpizZuel butalsoforCol dellaBe- you are It isanideal place from to notonlyif start a narrow butexcellent through thewoods. track cart It isaccessible by carfrom Chiesaalong cellent cheese. foritsex- inthesummerandisknown iday services cottage hol- (1,627m)offersfarm This beautifuldairy the1900s. of thegreatest warphotographers ered oneof hecanbeconsid- war, of works andhuman butalsothecivilian aspects gineering which herecorded theenthusiasm andskillwith en- notonlymilitary of By virtue studies. andurban archaeology works onhistory, portant andmonuments over buildings all Italy andwrote im- churches, he alsodesigned Piacenza andTripoli), Belluno, town plans(Pisa, upanumberBesides drawing of architects. Milan urban an associationof isti Milanesi, Urban- foundedtheClubdegli and fined asNeo-Classical Lombardy architecture, takinghisplace inaschool de- ing onmany Ottavio Cabiati, hisfriend projects with work- thegreatest Italian architects, hemadehisnameasoneof Discharged in1919, on the atNervesa.Villa bridge Berti moted to Captainin1918andworked onMontello and hewaspro- After theretreat thatfollowed Caporetto, lao-Forcella Grande-Forcella Piccola front line. the Ante- theCuzze-Cancia-Falde sectionof of ration fice atSan Vito role intheprepa- andhadanimportant works of- to theengineering In 1917hewastransferred Mount Punta. SpizZuel and road andonthecavern emplacements of on theForno diZoldo- Cibiana pass Col Baionroad, on theForno diZoldo- vehicularChiesa Duran road, He worked ontheDont- Cadore-Maè fortifications. the May HQof 1916andwasposted to theEngineering hewasappointed Lieutenant in typhoid, an attackof Afterfrom recovering to Mount Digonera Toppa. from theroad working ontheconstruction of HQ, Engineers From the9th with Army 1916heserved January Corps roads in military Val Boite and Val Maè. anumber of of fice atBell responsible forfortifications ond Lieutenant intheItalian inMarch Engineers to theof- 1915andwasassigned He wasappointed Sec- and received adiplomafrom the Accademia diBrera in1913. theMilan Polytechnic graduated in1912 1889, classof Alberto Alpago Novello, C A L A when visitingthetunnelsandsearchingfortrenchesobservationposts. The walkalongthemilitarytrackuptotopiseasy. Somecare is required DEGREE OFDIFFICULTY the tunnelsattop. 5-6 hours,dependingonhowlongyouwishtospendvisitingtheblockhouseand DURATION About 400metres DIFFERENCE INHEIGHT cially ofMountsPelmo andCivetta.Rendezvous:CaseradellaGrava(1,627m). positions onthelongridge.TheviewofDolomitesistrulyspectacular, espe- to ColdellaBissa(1,897m),thenSpizZuel(2,033m)withthetunnelsand tinue onfootalongthemilitarycarttrackmarkedroute584,whichfirstgoesup do area.FromChiesayoucangettotheGravadairycottagebycar;thencon- defence thatconnectedthemilitaryinstallationsinCadorewiththoseAgor- This itinerarywillletyouseeaninterestingsectionoftheItalian“yellowline” DESCRIPTION OFTHEROUTE 19.1 DEGREE OFDIFFICULTY 3-4 hourstoM.Punta dependinghowmuchtimeyou wanttodevotevisitingthesites. DURATION About 600metrestoColdeSalera, about900mtoM.Punta. DIFFERENCE INHEIGHT (1,464 m).Rendezvous:Casal(1,026 m)orColdiAstragal(1,069m). sadaz. FromColdeSalèrayoucan alsodescendtoCostadirectlyviaMasdiSabe m), fromwhereyoucangodown toLaForzèla(1,723m)andalsoCostaBru- m). Fromhereyoucanproceedalonganeasypath(route499)toMount Punta(1,952 same numberontheeasternsideofVal Visia,untilyougettoColdeSalera(1,629 along theroadthatmeetsroute492,whichrisesfromColandcontinues withthe di SerlaintheBoitevalley. FromCasal (1,050m)youcarryontowardsthewest er bankoftheMaè,connectedSpizZueltodefencesBeccodi CuzzeandCrepe do valleythat,togetherwithColBaion,situatedmoretowardsthe southontheoth- This visitgivesyoutheopportunityofseeingonefortified worksoftheZol- DESCRIPTION OFTHEROUTE 19.2 P S A E G R O A

COL DESALéRA-MONTEPUNTA SPIZ ZUEL D N E O L V L E A L

G L O R A V A n,where heworked ontheconstruction uno, in Cancia,September1917. Lieutenant AlpagoNovello THE SPIZZUELDEFENCES Tight bends ataconstant gradient takeyou upalong the ridge ofColde Salera marked the roadverge. Amid the treerootsyou willbeableto makeoutthe patternofthe blocksthat itary road.Half-hidden intheundergrowth are skilfullybuiltdry-stonewalls. Club route492) thatentersthewood,occupying anarrowstripoftheold mil- Before reaching thetopofhill,road becomes afootpath(ItalianAlpine surface youwillseeareasof pavingstonesthatwerethemilitaryroad-bed. Val deVisiatoclimbtowardsColLariet(1,304m),and ifyoulookattheroad Outside thehamletofCasal pathreachesawhiteroadthatpassesthrough tation. supporting stonework,andbeeches liningthewayinterspersedwithlushvege- The path,whichisbroadandfollowsthebankofElGaf stream,hasmuch village ofCasal. to connectthehamletsofCalcheraandCella,youreach the outskirtsof itaniato, whichistodaytheCiòdomuseum.Following oldroadthatused Col deSalerastartsinthecentreofFornodiZoldonear old Palazzo del Cap- The routeleadinguptothepeakofMountPuntaalong ridgeofLariétand COL DESALERAANDMOUNTPUNTA natural completionofthemilitaryroad.Itwastoservepositionsin the southernslope,whichisreverseoffortifiedposition,constituting wards towardsFusine.Acommunicationmuletrackgoesalongtheridgeon shown tohaveaheightof1,984onsomemapsandisslightlyfurthereast- 2,038 m)andconstitutetheSpizdel’Agnelessa proper, whereasSpizZuelis larches. Two humpsbreaktheuniformityoftop(altitudes2,035mand at rightanglestothevalleybelow, andiscoveredbySwissmountain pinesand The summitofthemountainconsistsaridgeabout500metreslong,almost basin, cattleusethefountainregularlyasatrough. the largefountainataltitudeof1,930metresisstillinplace.Asithasa gradient of10%. Theentireroadisperfectlypavedwithcobblestonesandeven of LieutenantAlbertoAlpagoNovellowithawidth2metresandanaverage cal originalcharacteristicsofamilitaryroad,builtin1916 underthesupervision The roadleadingtotheCaseradellaGravaatpeakhaspreservedtypi- Nord diSanSebastianoandSpizMezzodìtothesouth. panoramic viewextendingtoCivettaandPelmo tothenorthandtowardsCima docile herdsofcowsandhorses.Withitsheight2,033metresitoffersa right oftheMaè,tonorthwestFornodiZoldo.Today itisstillhometo Spiz Zuel(orColdel’Agnelessa) isasingularandisolatedhillthatrisestothe on theroadtoSpizZuel,1916. Workers andbearersattheGravegrazinghut 29 November1916. tunnel onSpizZuel, Entrance tothefirst Spiz Zuel,thefirsthairpinbendsonmilitaryroad. what works toconstruct. Accordingly, inJuly 1916 aplan (onwhich Lieutenant ered, together withpanoramic views, sothatadecision couldbe takenasto After the firstinspections in1915, allthephotographs ofthe siteweregath- Italian “yellow line” betweenthefortifications inCadoreandtheAgordo area. albeit belatedly, whentherewere concerns aboutthelackofcontinuity inthe the Staulanzapassandindeed itwastheobjectofItalianstrategicinterest, the timebecausefromhereCol diLanaandMontePore couldbeseen through Mount Punta(1,629m),located betweenDontandZoppé,wasimportantat among thepeaksofVal di Zoldopeaks. and anobservationpostthat affordsstunningviewsfromacentralposition the peakofMountPunta,where therearestillfurrowsfromvarioustrenches while thevegetationbeginstothinout(route499).Nowyou willsoongetto After thetunnelentranceascenttowardsbecomessteeper andmoreexposed ing theGreatWar. trance totheColdeSaleratunnel,whichwasduginto stonehillsidedur- posts. Andinfactontheleftafewmetresafteronesuch clearingistheen- level clearingsonthesidesofpath,whichwereonce used asobservation (1,629 m)amidfirsandlarches.Thickervegetationoccasionally thinsinto 30-metre excavation. and 1,970 metres.Abouthalfwayalong,thetwotunnelswereconnectedbya 35 metrestowardsthewestandthenbenteasttotwoothercavernsat1,976 1,979 metresabovesealevel.Thesecondtunnel,whichcurvesmore,headed es thatledtoemplacementsformedium-calibrecannonsat1,983metresand east forabout60metres,bendingleftandseparatingintotwodifferentbranch- The firsttunnel(tothewest)wentstraightintorockandheadednorth- nizable. construction designedtohousethegeneratorusedfordrillsarestillrecog- titude of1,981 metresandtheotherat1,977metres.Thefoundationsof ly reachedfromthemuletrackthathasalreadybeenmentioned,oneatanal- the ridgewithanoveralllengthof340metres,whosetwoentrancesareeasi- Lieutenant AlpagoNovellodesignedandbuiltacomplexsystemoftunnelson di SopraandSottobelow. embarks onthedescenttoColCampioi(1,804m)andchaletsofCanazze termination oftheterracebeforepath,nearremainsablockhouse, looking moreancientandbearingadramaticallysufferingChrist,areperfect cifixes atheightof1,984m,notveryfarfromeachother, the westernone counterscarp wallsthatwerejuststartedornotevenbuilt.Two beautifulcru- tunnel butappearsonlytohavebeenroughlyoutlined,withmanyscarpand Salera toMountPunta. the roadfromColde Foundation wallfor background. massif inthe with theCivetta Towards Punta of MountPunta. from thesummit Col DuroandRite Small blockhouse,SpizZuel1916. in acavernonthetopofmountain. Alberto AlpagoNovelloworked)waspreparedtosetupan artilleryposition Istituto Geografico Militare - Aut. n. 6109 del 12.10.2005 back downthe way youcame by route 492. Mas di Sabe, withits typicalZoldo valley barn;from ColdeSalera yougo an unsurfaced track, partly alongroute 492,passes throughthe hamletof following aloop thattakesyoubacktoCol de Salera:thisroute,partlyalong Zoldo Alto; ing north-easttoreachZoppè diCadoreorwesttothehamletofCosta carrying onalongthecrestof PuntatoLaForzèla(1,723m),andthenhead- retracing yoursteps; There arevariousoptionsfor the returnjourneytovalleyfloor: altitude was1,592m. The emplacementswereintended tobe4.5mbyand3.5high,the The ColdeSaleratunnelswereabout170 mlong,3-3.5wideand3high. and west-north-west,namelydirectedagainstmovementsfrom Staulanza.. dimensions, thesecavernsprobablyhoused149mmcannons trained north-west sections eachabout70 m long leadingtothetwoemplacements.Giventheir There isoneentrancetothetunnel,which,afterabout30m, branchesintotwo roads forFornesighe andtheCibiana pass. Forno diZoldo andthecross- thecentre of also controlled thePasso road, Duran Thethree 149 A cannons 1915. placements ontheothersideinautumnof thearmoured tunnelthatwent through to thegunem- there atallof isnosign but thehillcanbarely bemadeout, Now positionsontop thethree of original Col Cerver. used by populationof thesmall which is now road wasalsobuiltto thebattery, serve Amilitary Staulanza pass. thesedefences wasto counter enemy movements from the The objective of which wasintended to operate incombinatio Forno diZoldo) to thenorth, Col (ahamletof Cerver mands thesettlementof positionwassetuponthelow hill(1,358m)thatcom- A medium-calibre artillery beautifulhay thatseemto barns befrozen intime. and above a group of all family,almost patrician an the ancientresidence of and boastsasmallchurch, however, itsown, of charm It hasa sparsely inhabited. andisvery Forno diZoldo, south-west of Pralongo, metres isaccessible from 1,221 lage atanaltitudeof This picturesque littlevil- the smallerblockhouse. the road,secondisabout50metreswestoffountain,overlookedby workers andmaterials.Thefirstisabout100 metresbeforethefountainabove Also stillvisibletodayaretwoclearingswheretherewerehutsforsoldiers, sea level. fence trenchesonthesummitridgebetween1,990and1,984metresabove and counterscarpwallsservedemplacementsformedium-calibregunsde- way, severalmetresofwhichcanstillbeexplored.Various pathswithdryscarp was builtfromlargeassembledtree-trunks,therearservedbyacoveredwalk- 1,985 metres,risesapinnacleofrockonwhichanother, smallerblockhouse walls) ofablockhouse/observationpost.Notveryfaraway, atanaltitudeof la BissaanddominatingtheentireZoldovalley, thereremaintraces(dried At analtitudeofabout1,980metres,onanaturalledgeoverlookingColde come upagainstablockagecausedbyfallenrocks. collapse oftheroof,about25metressecondcanbeexploredbeforeyou While onlythefirstfewmetresoftunnelareaccessibleowingto movements fromCadorethroughPiandiRitornoandtheChiandoladapass. the roadfromStaulanzapasstoPecol diZoldo.Thefourthcommanded on theColdaiandAlleghepasses,whilesecondthirdpointedtowards The firstcavernemplacementwasdesignedforamedium-calibrecannontrained C C O O L L

B C A E R I O V N E R Alberto AlpagoNovello. Spiz Zueltunnelmapdrawnbyarchitect n with the positionsonCol deSalèra. n with eyseiltae nteesosa euto theGreat War. inthesespotsasaresult specialtraces very of love butare ableto beauty themountainsfortheirnatural pe andenthusiasts visitors whonotonly We find alargenumber of will opportunity andcultural hopethatthisnewhistorical interest historical access to andnearness othersites of easeof such significance, ashistorical ing somebasicfeatures inmind, T reduced peoplewith mobility. considering theneedsof able fully have difficulty been lengthsanddegrees of various of Itineraries know andlearn. ing usto observe, teach- thelandscape, of timeenhance thefascinationandbeauty thathave thepassingof struggle survived less monthsof end- 29seemingly events involvedthe backdrop andtragic to theterrible of Thetraces intheGreat War ontheDolomite front. thisproject thesplendidandenchanting isto places acquaint with thatwere thenewgenerations The fundamentalintention of Fountain builtbysoldiersin1917 alongtheroadtoSpizZuel. Gino Frontali, This isto remember thatthewarisnotsomethinghasbeenfo theopposingarmies. thesoldiersof metres of more than theexistence atanaltitudeof realising thedifficultiesof andexperience lifeonthefrontaries lineatfirsthand, theCommittee's laboursare theguidesandleafletsthatgive everyone thechance to tackleeasyitiner- Theresults of Park". theareas intheMemorial Preservation andpromotion of Belluno. reg III A project "Great called War sites intheProvince of theItaly-Austria Inter- thework doneby theTechnical andScientificCommittee of of thepurpose asitstillis, This hasbeen, peace. warforpathsof Memories of venture. ad- to know butextraordinary thementhatlived thistragic notto forget, recordA historical to re-discover theMountains, war..." theneedsof fire enemy upunder tomeet opened routes are even theyoungest but even bythemostexpert, featsperformed see but individuals, of notonlyonthepart “…the Alps prodigies, see

De Donà G. "...it is not a parenthesis that we can hasten to close to go back to what wewere before..." togobackwhat saying toclose "...it isnotaparenthesis thatwecanhasten recruits soon turn into accomplished climbers. Some new mountain Somenew intoaccomplishedclimbers. turn soon recruits cieterltosi ewe a n aue which hasleft rceive therelationship between manandnature, loo i arl,paon n hl opne.And notdowe companies. platoonsandwhole bigpatrols, of also gte n ht ntewrso Surgeon Second-Lieutenant inthewords of rgotten andthat, rpsdfrvstn hs ie,sm fthemfullyrealis- of some thesesites, proposed for visiting he itineraries thatare suggestedhe itineraries have beenselected bear- C A Berti). (A. o o r d i n a t O i o r n g

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f i o n m a n m c i i t n t pass road, which had in fact been postponed for many years for strategic reasons, pass road, which had in fact been postponed for many years for authorities. but was finally approved in 1906 at the insistence of the civilian g e Women bearers on the Spiz Zuel road, 18 April 1917. Women as was borne out by the The line was still far from completed by October 1917, frantic works that were in full progress on Spiz Zuel and Col Baion when the first signs appeared that the Italian front on the Isonzo was giving way. In any event, the whole system of the Cadore-Maè fortifications and the Cordevole barrier was never given a clear and unequivocal function, and was prematurely abandoned without being able to provide adequate support to the frantic defensive efforts made by the Italian troops retreating along the Boite, Cordevole and Maè.

e b 2,000 o d i e s . Cover: Pelmo fromMonte Punta. oriain OUIËMNAAAODN - COMUNITËVia IVNovembre, 2-32021Agordo(BL)Italia MONTANA AGORDINA Coordination: 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 LIST OFITINERARIES 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Zona monumentale dellaMarmolada Malga Ciapèla-OmbrettadiMarmolada aSerauta -Marmolada Museo storico Col DaDaut- Toront Cima Lana-AgaiePalla Cima Lana-CostoneCastelloSellaSief Variante ColdelaRoda Ciadinéi -SellaSief Da CimaLanaaiCiadiniéi Cima Sief-ColdiLana Sella Sief-Cima -SelladelSief Posizione “Edelweiss” Valle delleBaracche diMisurina Cristallino BosieMontePiana A. Rif. -MontePiana Misurina Giro delColdiMezzo Croda dell’Arghena aiPianidiLavaredo Quota “2385” Forcella Lavaredo MARMOLADA 18 17 20 19 e.0039043762390-Fax [email protected]. Eingriffe der Wiederinstandsetzung und Valorisierung in den Gebieten des Erinnerungsparks des Gebieten den in Valorisierung und Wiederinstandsetzung der Eingriffe Entrance to the Entrance to Col de Salera tunnel on the road for Mount Punta. 14 9 12 10 15 I LUOGHIDELLAGRANDEGUERRAINPROVINCIA DIBELLUNO 13 Interventi direcuperoInterventi evalorizzazione neiterritoridelParco dellaMemoria DIE ORTE DES ERSTEN WELTKRIEGES IN DER PROVINZ BELLUNO PROVINZ DER IN WELTKRIEGES ERSTEN DES ORTE DIE 11 16 40 Von derE.U.UnterstützesProjektMittelsEuropäischerWärungsfondszurRegionalenEntwicklung Project co-financedbytheEuropeanUnionthroughFoundforRegionalDevelopmen Gemeinschaftsinitiative InterregIIIAItalien-Österreich2000-2006-Projekt(Cod.VEN222001) AGORDO Progetto cofinanziatodall’UnioneEuropeamedianteFondoEuropeodiSviluppoRegionale Iniziativa ComunitariaInterregIIIAItalia-Austria2000-2006-Progetto(Cod.VEN222001) 39 Community InitiativeInterregIIIAItalia-Austria2000-2006-Project(Cod.VEN222001) GREAT WAR SITES IN THE PROVINCE OF BELLUNO OF PROVINCE THE IN SITES WAR GREAT Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park Memorial the in areas the of promotion and Preservation

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO Alfarè I. Alfarè 38 ZOLDO 37 36 34 8 33 7 PIEVE DICADORE 35 6 5 2 4 31 3 32 1 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 30 29 AURONZO DICADORE Batteria Listolade Batteria Tagliata diSanMartino Col deSaléra -MontePunta Spiz Zuel Col Pradamio Monte Rite Vodo -BeccodiCuzze (AccessoB) Vodo -BeccodiCuzze (AccessoA) Anna-LaGlories Col S. Piandell’Antro Forte Monte Tranego Col Forte Vaccher Castello Batteria MonteRicco Forte Anello deiColli Col Vidal P.so -ColAudoi Mauria Miaron P.so -M. Mauria Monte Tudaio Col Ciampon 27 28 25 26 22 21 23 24 firmation of the great importance of the Cadore and Zoldo roads, which passed firmation of the great importance of the Cadore and Zoldo in fact, were thor- through the Cibiana and Chiandolada passes. These two routes, oughly investigated by Austrian intelligence well before the war began, because they provided an opportunity easily to outflank the Italian defences in the Pieve di Cadore entrenchments in preparation for an attack against Zoldo. Hence the decision to fortify Spiz Zuel, Col di Salèra and Col Baion, with positions and blockhouses conceived to act in combination above all with the fort on Mount Rite, cutting off any outflanking movements that the enemy might consider and to some extent reducing the uncertainty caused by the opening of the new Staulanza DISTRIBUTED FREE OF CHARGE 10

A. Fornari 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 GREAT WAR SITESIN THE PROVINCE OFBELLUNO Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park andpromotionoftheareasinMemorial Preservation Fork for the first Fork for the and second cavern, first tunnel. 28 March 1917, labourers at work. History anddescriptionoftheGreatWar sites

19.2 19.1 SECONDA LINEAMONTERITE-VALLE IMPERINA Alpago Novello Alpago COL DESALéRA-MONTEPUNTA SPIZ ZUEL 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 Early on and until about 1910, acting on the assumption that the positions at the Early on and until about 1910, (3,168 Mount Pelmo head of the valley between the Coldai massif (2,396 m) and m) had been cho- Col Pradamo (1,117 m) did not constitute a very effective barrier, because it commanded the vehicular road be- sen as the site of a strong battery, low and it was considered that guns placed here could close off the Forno di Zoldo basin from below: it was here that all movements from the Boite, Fiorentina and Cordevole valleys converged. The construction of the massive armoured fortifica- made it necessary however, tion on the Cibiana pass (2,183 m), completed in 1915, for other complementary defences to be built on the nearby summits: this was con- up to14kilometresawayandwerevirtuallyresistantanyenemyattack. Armstrong modelrevolvingnickelsteelcupolasfor149Aguns,abletohittargets tractors andlabourers,theyweredesignedtoholdconcretebatteriesfittedwith roads, thefruitoflaboursthousandsEngineers,butalsociviliancon- in ItalybyGeneralE.Rocchi;oftenservedboldlyconceivedandcostlyaccess plied withthetheoryofarmouredfortsthatthenheldswayinEurope,supported (higher works)onMountTudaio, ColVidalandMountRite.Theseconstructionscom- on ColPiccolonearVigoandPiandell’Antro nearVenas, andthree Cuzze, aboveVodo diCadore,supportedbyroads,observationpostsandshelters, On theeasternbankofBoite,positionsCrepediSerlaandBecco was tohaveensuredthattheentireItaliandefencestructureimpregnable. mo, andnaturallysupportedbyotherworksinthesefortifications,thissystem namely thelineoflastresistance.StretchingfromMountAntelaotoPel- es, positionsandroadswasconstructed,onthebasisof“yellowline”theory, or tothewar, andthenwhileitwasbeingwaged,animposingsystemoftrench- aimed atZoldoandtheMaèvalley. Particularly duringtheyearsimmediatelypri- might attemptattheVenas passagethroughtheCibianaorChiandoladapasses Italian defencesfromanyoutflankingmovementsenemycolumnsCortina porting worksandringroads,hadthepurpose,amongothers,ofprotecting In theBoitevalley, thefortsofPiandell’Antro andMountRite,withalltheirsup- moured positionswerethusconstructed,specificallytwo for thecontrolofcommunicationsbelowthemwereselected.Somestrongar- and EngineeringInspectorates,somepositionsthatwereofparticularimportance War Spingardi,ChiefofStaffPollio, theEasternMilitaryTheatreand theArtillery cept. AfterlongtechnicaldiatribesamongH.R.H.theDukeofAosta,Minister ished, thatCadoreagaincametotheforegroundinItaly’s strategicdefencecon- It wasnotuntil1904,whenmorefundsarrivedandnewstrategicstudiesflour- ing heights,theysoonbecameobsolete. (moats, drawbridges,machicolations,etc.)and,beingoverlookedfromthesurround- The works,however, wereinordinarymasonry, builtalmosttomediaevalstandards an advancetowardsVerona andLakeGarda. have beenfatallyexposedtoanobviousoutflankingmanoeuvreafteranyAustri- some impedimenttoanyItalianoffensiveinFriuliandontheIsonzo,whichwould cut offthewedgeofTrento territorythat,since1866,hadconstitutedatrouble- (Fortezza). Theideawastocarryoutarapidbreakthroughthewestinorder of Pieve,inwhichanarmycorpscouldeasilygetreadytoheadforFranzenfeste counter-offensive, asitwasdevotedtothesafeguardingofaprotectedarea,that The maintaskofthissystemwasnotsolelydefensive;italsointendedtobe cannons towardstheBoitevalley. on ColVaccher, veryvastandcomplex,turnedthemouthsofitsfourtoeight medium-calibre gunsagainstDomeggeandthefurtherbankofPiave,fort zo dairyfarm.WhilethefortsofBatteriaCastelloandMountRiccopointedtheir and themountainrefugesonPiandeiBuoiVal Inferna,neartheCaseraRaz- roads (Pozzale-Mount Tranego, Costapiana-SanDionisioandSant’Anna-Col Maò) Col Vaccher nearPieveandTai diCadore,withawholeseriesofaccessandring and tifications wascompleted,includingthefortsofBatteriaCastello,MountRicco Between 1882and1896,accordingly, thesystemknownasPievediCadorefor- easily breakthroughtowardsLongaroneandBelluno. etrations bothfromcentralCadoreandtheBoiteValley beforetheycould fence strategistsconceivedamightysystemoffortificationstocounterenemypen- At theendofnineteenthcentury, nearPieveandTai diCadore,Italiande- THE GENERAL INFORMATION CADORE-MAÈ Crucifix at the small blockhouse with in the Pelmo background. FORTIFICATIONS ANDTHEZOLDOAREA opere basse CONTINUE (lower works)

opere alte De Donà G. Donà De were mainly intended to connect the fortifications on Mount Rite, Col Vidal, Pi- were mainly intended to connect the fortifications on Mount particularly Spiz Zuel with those in the Zoldo area, and Mount Tudaio an dell’Antro (or Agnelessa, 2,033 m), Col de Salèra (1,629 m) and Col Baion (1,358 m). With further works on the Col dei Ciot saddle, the Moschesin pass, the Folega pass, Mount Celo and Col Pradamo, the Italians tried to create a kind of defensive ax- is between the Boite valley and Zoldo to connect the military installations in Cadore with those in the Agordo area (the San Martino roadblock and the Listolade battery in the Cordevole valley and the Col Piagher battery north-east of the Cere- da pass). Bronze Medal). and 18 theretreating IV Army (the17 On 10November 1917, called Tajada deSanMartin called Thepassage, bulwark invasions against centuries anatural from thenorth. asCastel known Agordino until wasfor Veneto wasannexedThis place, to Italy, supervised by awatchman. supervised inpeacetime while itwas danger, guards intimeof eight loopholesthatwasdefended by acaptainand tion with thecastlewasabigbattlemented construc- At itsacme, Germany. thewarwith in 1487during andagain Milan, during Venice’s waragainsttheDuke of Emperor”. Agordo in1438 important Castlewasalsovery tant to protect thetown from attacksby theHungars into the Italy pouring with measure a impor- thatwasvery soldiersandmanyeign othersfrom thetown, 1431 Miaro“Bartolomeo wassentto command Agordo somefor- Castlewith in theBellunohistorian, in Gavazzo According Rocca”. ealla Piloni, to Giorgio inCelentino, otherBellunocastlessuch as with “Castione, in1224, pointment Turin after hisap- tle wasbuiltinaround 550andwasrestored by Bishop Otto of thiscas- According here”. asshown Miari, to Florio but have to dismount, back, you can’t stay onhorse- SanMartino; andalsoaChurch of called Castelo Gordino, where there isadifficultpass miles alongthere isacastleinpoorcondition, “Four wrote, the describing Agordo Castle, In 1483Marin Sanudo the Younger, the scenery. to thebenefitof have transit reduced, beensomewhat obligatory associated with theprerogatives which by-passes theCordevole gorge, theCastèitunnel, tion of With theconstruc- which wasflanked by the Agordo Railway from 1922to 1955. timechanged from arough pathto andfinallyto amule avehicular track road, of which inthecourse theroad, one after theotherinrelation to theevolution of fthe5 of road before goingaway (hisnamewas Adriano Malgaro theiron andasectionof bridge upthework, blowing fusesconnected explosive with charges, a number of the roadblock managedto andasabotageartificer setoff T T H H slopes coveredwithdampgrass.Atorchisneededtoseethevarioustunnels. An easywalkonthemuletrackthroughwood,withdiversionsuneven DEGREE OFDIFFICULTY 2,30 hoursfortheclimbandtoseeblockhouse;3asfarPianaz. DURATION and about500toPianaz. About 100 metresuptotheblockhouse,about300SassodiSanMartino DIFFERENCE INALTITUDE nel neartheCaseGiovanelliandwalktoformerroadman’s house. car ontheabandonedstateroadnearnorthernentrancetoCastèitun- continues asfarthePianazpositionat1,050metres.Rendezvous:leaveyour goes uptothreetunnelsthatcutthroughaprojectionfromColPizzonand the right-handforkleadstoguardhouseonasmallsaddleandother climbs uptheconeofanancientlandslideinthreebendsandleadstoafork: the formerroadman’s houseonthesiteofroadblock.Anarmycarttrack attractive enrironment.CrosstheCastèibridgeandyouwillimmediatelygetto up bytheItalianArmyonrightbankofCordevoleinasecludedand This visitwillgiveyoutheopportunitytoseesomeinterestingdefenceworksput DESCRIPTION OFTHEROUTE 20.1 so look out for the latest signs on the road. tolot may notbeaccessible owingto the dangeroflandslides along theway, This isaneasywalk onamilitaryroad.Thesection fromtheforttoCostaBor- DEGREE OFDIFFICULTY 1,30 hoursforthe climbandthevisittoruinedfort, 2hourstotheCostaBortolotarea. DURATION About 100 metrestothefortand350higherpositions. DIFFERENCE INALTITUDE tolot positionsat1,033metres ifpossible. vehicular roadasfartheruins ofthefortat778metres,andtoCostaBor- Rendezvous: leaveyourcaratCasoidiPéden(680m)andwalk upanexcellent Today, however, thisroadmaywellbeclosedbecauseofthreerecentlandslides. to aheightof1,033metres,wherethepositionsCostaBortolot weresetup. a fork:theroadonleft-handsidecontinuestoclimbround threebendsup after 1,200metres,butabout300metresfromthebeginning you willcometo den, ahamletbelongingtoTaibon Agordino.Theremainsof the batterycome The Listoladebatterycanbereachedbyagoodmilitaryroad fromCoidiPé- DESCRIPTION OFTHEROUTE 20.2 E E

A D I Castèi th G E iiin ftheIX Army camethrough Corps) of Divisions th O S eieto nier,andhereceived a Engineers, Regiment of BATTERIA LISTOLADE TAGLIATA DISANMARTINO T R R D – the Castles – because of the large number of fortifications built fortifications thelargenumber of – theCastlesbecauseof U O C

T R I O O h tMri odlc,b h oa ouain isalso by thelocalpopulation, roadblock, theStMartin , A N D

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A G E S bridge overtheditchwasretractableandcouldbelaidintunnel.The three sidesandwasprecededbyalargeopenspaceinfrontofthefaçade.The A ditchfourmetreswideanddeepwithastonecounterscarpsurroundedthe of roof. with hollowbricksrestingontherockwhoseconformationthusconstitutedakind for infantryfire.Ordinarymasonryonlyhadbeenusedtoconstructtheroadblock, The gorge,whichfacedsouth-west,containedtheentranceandonlyhadloopholes nons andtwoloopholesontheupperstoreyforriflefirelowerstorey. storey andfouronthelowerstorey. Thesouth-eastwallhadanembrasureforcan- east wallhadtwoembrasuresforrapidfirecannons,threeloopholesontheupper 1887 andconsistedofthreecasematesenclosingaright-angledcourtyard.Thenorth- The armouredroadblock,atanaltitudeof480metres,wasbuiltbetween1883and block and20to30fortheblockhouse. six mountaingunsforthesummit.Theyestimatedfrom100 to150menfortheroad- machine-guns fortheroadblock,fourblockhouseandto In 1911 theAustriansplannedtopositionone120mmpiece,fourlightcannonsor artillery positiononthesummit. four distinctfeatures:theroadblock,casematesabove,blockhouseand river throughanarrowdefile.Thedefencesystemwasconceivedonthebasisof the Cordevole,wheretwosidesofvalleyclosetogetherandsqueeze do onarocky, isolatedbuttressofthemountainthatnameonrightbank The SassodiSanMartinoroadblockwasconceivedandconstructedsouthofAgor- THE ROADBLOCKAT THESANMARTINODEFILE pieces thatcould bring enfilade fire tobear onthe Listolade defile for750 metres The armament intended intheeventof warconsisted offourrecoiling 12-15cm were not,however, protectedbyditches. Flights ofsteps led fromtheendofthiscorridor tothetwogunplatforms,which allel totheline of thefaçade. ing bymeansofacorridorthat wasalsovaultedandranundertheterrepleinpar- areas hadundergroundaccommodation withvaultedceilings,inter-communicat- on theright-handsidewasintended tobedefendedbyinfantry, whilethetraverse mountainside andonawing wall totheeast.Apartoffaçadeand plein, servedbystepsanddefended bytwotraverses,restingtothewestonrocky Col diPéden,atanaltitudeof 778metres.Ithadastraightfaçadewithterre- The workoriginallyconsistedofafieldbatteryonterrace-shaped openspacecalled tery, nowovergrownbysmalltrees. covered withanarch.Afterabout1,200metresyoucometothe remainsofthebat- to thewood,aprotectedspacesuitableforuseasanammunition storeoriginally chards andabouthalfwayupthecounterscarpwalldrawsback formingawedgein- of theroadthatgoesupfromCasoidiPédenwindsamongsome houseswithor- designed onakindofterracetheslopesMountSanLucano. Thefirstsection The Listoladebattery, alsoknownasthePédenfort,south-eastofListolade,was tolot. file roadblockwereabovealltheListoladebatteryandpositions atCostaBor- The fortificationsintendedtooperateincloseconjunctionwith theSanMartinode- BATTERIES ANDARTILLERYPOSITIONSAT THELISTOLADE DEFILE fired fromaplatform. loopholes forriflemen,who Blockhouse casematewith sources. intelligence Hungarian Austro- from roadblock of the 1895 plan in 1917. The roadblockafteritsdestruction toilets. the blockhouse Remains of below theSassodiSanMartinobattery. Window ofthecasematesituatedimmediately military roadtoPianaz. kettle holesalongthe One ofthecharacteristic and Val Corpassa. room for fourmountain gunsthatcovered thevalley from Mezzocanale toGhirlo name overlooking theCordevolevalley;ground wasartificiallylevelledto make the CostaBortolot positionsweresetup.They wereontherockyspurof same ues toclimbup toaheightof1,033metresround threebendstotheplacewhere The left-handforkfromthejunction about300metresbeforethebatterycontin- only madeofdrystoneassembled withoutverymuchcare. The casemateceilingswerevaulted incement,whilethewallsshowthattheywere to getthebatteryroofquickly, buttheonlytracesoftheseareholesinground. three entrancestothegorge.There werestepsfromthiscorridorfortheinfantry the façadeisnowopentosky andpartiallyburiedasifitwereatrench.Ithad The vaultedcorridor, originallytwometreshigh,thatranundertheterrepleinof to bebetterconserved. in severalpoints,whiletheoneonleft,morearchedand notsosteep,seems guns totheirpositions:theright-handone,whichhasaparapet, hascrumbledaway You canalsomakeouttherampstogorge,necessarydrawsmall-calibre if athickmantleofgrasshasnowcompletelyovergrownthem. two wideflightsofstepsforinfantrytoreachthebatteryarealso recognisable,even This constructioninearthandrubbleisstillrecognisable partly accessible.The central traverse,partiallysparingtheoneonleftasyoulook towardsthegorge. Unfortunately, seriouslandslideshavecauseddamageabovealltotheareaof trance fromVal Corpassa. south ofMezzocanale,dominatingtheentirewidestretch valleyanditsen- to thisloweroutpostroundthreebendsflankedbydrystonewalls.Inkindof destination ofthecoveredpassageandalsopathwhichledfromgorge The blockhouse,at601 metres,wasdesignedonakindofrockypeakthatthe timber store. a finestonearch,whichwastheentrancetoroadblockbutisnowusedas open butinvadedbyvegetation.Ofthegorgeinsouth-westernpartthereremains in, whileadoorleadingtothelowerstoreyindefencesectionofditch,is tres intherubblewall.Thedoorsandwindowsservinginnercorridorarewalled looking ontothecourtyardhastwosquaredstonearcheswitharadiusof2.50me- with therifleloopholesandcannonembrasuresvisibleinlowerpart.Thepart road stillremain,buttheditchcanbemadeout,evenifitispartlyfilledin, Only theruinsofnorth-easternsectionthreeoriginalcasemateson the roadtowardsMudawithenfiladefiretoadistanceofabout2.8kilometres. about 250metrestowardsthenorth-west.Theside,onotherhand,couldcover Bridge andfiringlowovertheroadonleftofCordevolefrombridgefor ments fromtheAgordohollowtowardsBellunorear, coveringtheCastei The workofobstructionconceivedandarmouredinthiswaycounteredenemymove- had beenhewnoutoftherockSassodiSanMartino. fire cannons.Acoveredpassagewayalsoservedtwocasematesforcannonsthat were tworapid-firecannons,onthesidea12cmrecoilingcannonandrapid- fended fromatunnelinthecounterscarp.Thearmamentsenvisagedonfaçade of therock,whichhadtwoloopholesoneachstorey, whilethesideditchwasde- front ofthefaçadeandgorgewasdefendedbyriflemeninatunnelexcavatedout the frontofListoladebattery. its protectiveroof,thatranalong Remains ofthecorridor, without Remains ofabatterytraverse.

Istituto Geografico Militare - Aut. n. 6109 del 12.10.2005 abbandonate From theforkat632metres(oneofroutesbeingsignposted“ tery. far asPianaz(1,050m),wheretherewereartilleryshedsanddeploymentareas. “to thehospices”)mainmilitaryroadcontinuesthroughthreemoretunnelsas ber of passengers led to its closure after 30 years of meritorious service. meritorious passengers ledto its closure after 30 years of ber of theminesin Val andthegreat fall inthenum- Imperina when the exhaustion of until 24November 1955, stilllastedNevertheless alongtimemore, theservice the 1930sfigures were forpassengersandfreight already inconstant decline. and by inthe moment thatextraction Agordo mineswas enteringafatalcrisis, ithad openedatthevery however, Unfortunately, freight. kindsof various tons of more than65,000passengersandabout61,000 in1928itcarried operation: of Fortune itsfirstyears seemedto smileonthenewlineduring butsmaller. Railway, like thoseusedby theItalian State The locomotives were green, andcarriages dark authorities. ian andmilitary civil- Bishop Cattarossi andlarge numbers of abandandtheattendancewith of therailway’s onSunday inauguration 1925, 11January mosphere ontheday of Naturally at- there wasaeuphoric the StPeter’s Day fête washeldat Agordo. when above allonfeast days such as29June, cal populationto move around, andalsomadeiteasierforthelo- fresh holidaymakers to the Agordo area, host of a itattracted gavestimulus thatthetrain to shouldnotbeoverlooked: tourism the from Apart thefinancialangle, 50,000lire ayear. public fundsto thetune of from support but themostfavourable aspectwasthattheState hadassured itof therailway wasten millionItalian lire, Montecatini finallyfoundthat thecost of emancipation. social andcultural wasapowerful meansof service thatindeedfoundtheir newtrain villages all La Muda andLe Miniere, LaStanga, Peron, Mas, Alte, Roe constructed atSedico, andthesewere and Agordo, to thetermini atBribano inaddition along theroute, smallstations number of Naturally there hadto bea at 2,000volts. locomotives electricity with the supplied which Roe Alte, near Sospirolo, of nicipality intheMu- up atSassMuss, power stationhadto beset As tunnels andbridges. cially challenging had to construct someespe- company, engineering aBellunocivil where SBCC, from difficult pointssuch asthefinalsection LaMudaparticularly to Agordo, passingover theCordevole, nected with Agordo Bribano thecourse following of railway con- sectionof this and onlytook three years to beconsidered completed: Work in1922 started andobtainedaconcession in1921. SAIF, itscompanies, of Montecatini projectAfter againthrough took one theGreat uptheoriginal War, extracted from timberandtheminerals the transporting Val mines. Imperina railway gaugeelectric onthis a normal andin1907aproject wasprepared for thenineteenth century, do attheendof buildinganarrow gaugerailway from to Bribano Agor- People thinkingof started F R things toseeisthearmsof7 pleted thefortifiedperimeterofthislittleAgordofortress.Oneinteresting were oncecovered,defensivewallsandvarioustunnelswithartillerypiecescom- tions obtainedinthiswaywereprotectedbyaforwardearthwork.Trenches that tion butonecanseethatitwasdividedbyabigtraverseandthetwoposi- The batteryontopofthemountain,facingnorth-west,isovergrownwithvegeta- position, rectangular(about8metresby5)andoriginallyhadaslopingroof. barrack buildingundercover. Thisconstructionisabout10 metres lowerthanthe vated outoftherock,withroomsandwindows,whichenableyoutoreachsmall The roadnowadaysiseasilynegotiable,characterisedbyaseriesoftunnelsexca- the Noachplateauandhigherpartsofsidevalleys. the Ponte diCristo-Christ’s Bridge-2kilometrestothenorth,alsocontrolling The fourtosixgunsthatwereplannedcoveredtheroadbelowasfarbeyond laid outbylevellingthegroundandremovingachapelthathadbeenerectedthere. The cannonemplacementonthetopofSassodiSanMartino,790metreshigh,was tillery emplacementinacavernwithanadjacentammunitionstore. as youstandwithyourbacktotheloopholes,dugoutofrock,leadsanar- From thefrontcourtyard,about30metreslongby25wide,atunnelonright depot andatunnelcomingoutonravineoverthewaterfallfromVal Carbonere. is split-levelanddugoutoftherock,actsasacaponierleadstomunitions municating andareallfittedwithloopholesforrifles,whilethefifthroom,which south-west sidethatalsoleadstotherearcourtyard.Theroomsareinter-com- long by7wide,isdividedintofiverooms,withaccessfromamaindooronthe ern andatunnelwithroomsinnersteps.Theblockhouse,about30metres metres beyondtheformerroadman’s house,afterpassingasmallspringincav- Today youcangettotheblockhousefollowingmilitaryroadthatbeginsafew del Cristo–Christ’s Bridge–withenfiladefire. The gunscontrolledmovementsforabout900metresalongtheroadtowardsPonte ground, withthebushyvegetationinthisarea,madeartillerypiecesinvisible. sit withcasematesequippedfordefensivefirefrominfantry. Thestony, uneven protected fromshellsandconsidered“unassailable”bytheAustrians,shutofftran- natural bay, thisfortification, whosesidesrestedonthebarestonemountainside, O M

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Musizza W. "...it is not a parenthesis that we can hasten to close to go back to what wewere before..." togobackwhat saying toclose "...it isnotaparenthesis thatwecanhasten 1895 plan of the 1895 plan of Listolade battery from Austro- Hungarian intelligence sources. recruits soon turn into accomplished climbers. Some new mountain Somenew intoaccomplishedclimbers. turn soon recruits cieterltosi ewe a n aue which hasleft rceive therelationship between manandnature, loo i arl,paon n hl opne.And notdowe companies. platoonsandwhole bigpatrols, of also gte n ht ntewrso Surgeon Second-Lieutenant inthewords of rgotten andthat, rpsdfrvstn hs ie,sm fthemfullyrealis- of some thesesites, proposed for visiting he itineraries thatare suggestedhe itineraries have beenselected bear- C A Berti). (A. o o r d i n a t O i o r n g

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e b 2,000 o d by which the frontier could be crossed. Cadore particularly was conceived as by which the frontier could be crossed. Cadore particularly advance in all an impregnable redoubt that was capable of countering an enemy conceived to pro- circumstances, while a kind of strategic pincer system was tect the Friuli plain, resting on one side on the two fortified bridgeheads at Codroipo and Latisana and on the other side on some forts on the hills of San Daniele. There were four sectors with permanent Italian military works along the Cadore, Carnia and the Eastern Front. Trentino, frontier with Austria in May 1915: The Cadore sector was based on the Cadore-Maè fortifications and also on the Cordevole and Brenta-Cismon barriers, equipped with twelve 120 mm cannons, M. seventy-nine 75 mm, forty 149 A, thirty 149 G and eight 70 i e s . Cover: loopholesforriflemenonthefaçadeoffort. oriain OUIËMNAAAODN - COMUNITËVia IVNovembre, 2-32021Agordo(BL)Italia MONTANA AGORDINA Coordination: 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 LIST OFITINERARIES 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Zona monumentale dellaMarmolada Malga Ciapèla-OmbrettadiMarmolada aSerauta -Marmolada Museo storico Col DaDaut- Toront Cima Lana-AgaiePalla Cima Lana-CostoneCastelloSellaSief Variante ColdelaRoda Ciadinéi -SellaSief Da CimaLanaaiCiadiniéi Cima Sief-ColdiLana Sella Sief-Cima -SelladelSief Posizione “Edelweiss” Valle delleBaracche diMisurina Cristallino BosieMontePiana A. Rif. -MontePiana Misurina Giro delColdiMezzo Croda dell’Arghena aiPianidiLavaredo Quota “2385” Forcella Lavaredo MARMOLADA 18 17 20 19 e.0039043762390-Fax [email protected]. Eingriffe der Wiederinstandsetzung und Valorisierung in den Gebieten des Erinnerungsparks des Gebieten den in Valorisierung und Wiederinstandsetzung der Eingriffe Remains of the Remains of roadblock from the north-east. Dressed stone arches inserted into the rubble wall. 14 9 12 10 15 I LUOGHIDELLAGRANDEGUERRAINPROVINCIA DIBELLUNO 13 Interventi direcuperoInterventi evalorizzazione neiterritoridelParco dellaMemoria DIE ORTE DES ERSTEN WELTKRIEGES IN DER PROVINZ BELLUNO PROVINZ DER IN WELTKRIEGES ERSTEN DES ORTE DIE 11 16 40 Von derE.U.UnterstützesProjektMittelsEuropäischerWärungsfondszurRegionalenEntwicklung Project co-financedbytheEuropeanUnionthroughFoundforRegionalDevelopmen Gemeinschaftsinitiative InterregIIIAItalien-Österreich2000-2006-Projekt(Cod.VEN222001) AGORDO Progetto cofinanziatodall’UnioneEuropeamedianteFondoEuropeodiSviluppoRegionale Iniziativa ComunitariaInterregIIIAItalia-Austria2000-2006-Progetto(Cod.VEN222001) 39 Community InitiativeInterregIIIAItalia-Austria2000-2006-Project(Cod.VEN222001) GREAT WAR SITES IN THE PROVINCE OF BELLUNO OF PROVINCE THE IN SITES WAR GREAT Preservation and promotion of the areas in the Memorial Park Memorial the in areas the of promotion and Preservation CORTINA D’AMPEZZO 38 ZOLDO 37 36 34 8 33 7 PIEVE DICADORE 35 6 5 2 4 31 3 32 1 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 30 29 AURONZO DICADORE Batteria Listolade Batteria Tagliata diSanMartino Col deSaléra -MontePunta Spiz Zuel Col Pradamio Monte Rite Vodo -BeccodiCuzze (AccessoB) Vodo -BeccodiCuzze (AccessoA) Anna-LaGlories Col S. Piandell’Antro Forte Monte Tranego Col Forte Vaccher Castello Batteria MonteRicco Forte Anello deiColli Col Vidal P.so -ColAudoi Mauria Miaron P.so -M. Mauria Monte Tudaio Col Ciampon 27 28 25 26 22 21 23 24

Also from 1904 onwards, a significant improvement in the Italian economy made Also from 1904 onwards, a significant improvement in the Italian important forti- it possible both to expand the railway network and resume some high altitudes like fication works, mainly consisting of modern armoured forts at and Mount Rite. The those built in Cadore on Col Piccolo, Col Vidal, Mount Tudaio Agordo works were to have acted in close conjunction particularly with the Mount Rite fort, which was only completed when Italy and Austria were already at war, and also with the extreme outposts of the Cadore-Maè fortifications, extending namely Col Pradamio and other minor works. south-westwards in the Maè valley, it can be said that most of the big fortifications designed for the north- By 1912 eastern front were completed with a series of barrier forts on the main routes Musizza W. W. Musizza DISTRIBUTED FREE OF CHARGE 10

BATTERIA LISTOLADE TAGLIATA DISANMARTINO Musizza W. W. Musizza 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 tainly not a stronghold equipped with artillery like the forts in the Feltre area tainly not a stronghold equipped with artillery like the forts and in Cadore. Staff, a good Saletta, the Chief of the General In 1904, mainly thanks to Tancredi plan was prepared to man the eastern frontier within a period of 26 days, in response to the need to deploy greater forces to protect it and to improve the struc- fronts. All the de- and Veneto ture and efficiency of the defence of the Trentino fences in Cadore and the neighbouring areas were thus reorganised and two dis- tinct sectors were established, called Cordevole-Maè and Ridotto Cadorino (Cadore Feltre and Belluno and the II corps between Redoubt), with one of the I Army’s and IV on the Piave. Cismon, CordevoleandCadore-Maèsystemswereinter-connectedbyrecourse the variousstrongholdsandsoconstitutingadefenceline.InthiswayBrenta- fence evensetuponvariouslinesalongthesamevalley, thatistosayunifying tem bothintermsofsizeandaltitude,creatingtheconceptabarrierde- In theearlytwentiethcenturyneedwasfelttoexpandthisdefensivesys- Martino. Sasso diSanMartinocasematesandthepositionsontopof the positionsatCostaBortolotandTagliata delSassodiSanMartino,the south. ThemainfortificationsweretheColPiagherandListoladebatteries, along theCordevole:oneatListoladetonorthandAgordo do basinbytheCereda-ForcellaAurinepasstowestandtwodefiles fore, wereconfinedtotheclosingofthreemainaccessroutesAgor- Ricco, theCastellobatteryfortandonColVaccher. The fortificationplansadoptedattheendofnineteenthcentury, there- by Cadore,particularlythePievediCadorefortifications–fortonMount this entailedvariousanalogieswiththeworksconceivedandcompletedinnear- tive supporttooperations,includingcounter-offensives,inthesevalleys.All however, madeita safe areafortheconcentrationoftroopstoprovideeffec- and alsofromCortinaovertheFalzaregopass.ThepositionofAgordobasin, cess routestotheAgordobasinfromvalleysofFassa,GardenaandBadia degree ofstructuralefficiencyandwhoseobjectivewastoshutoffthemainac- constructed intheCordevolevalley, whichby1896hadattainedareasonable After Veneto wasannexedtoItalyin1866,somedefensivefortificationswere strategic significance. from aboundaryareaithadbecomethecentreofEmpireandnogreat do Veneto, therewasnoreasonfortheoccupationforcestofortifyarea,as Subsequently, during theperiodofAustro-HungariansovereigntyoverLombar- sisting ofawallwithgatetowhichguardhousewasaddedinabout1717. two, onebeingAgordoCastleandanotherashortwaytowardsBellunocon- road, orratherthemuletrack,fromBellunotoAgordo;inabout1640therewere ity knownas of theCordevoleandMaévalleys.AtAgordoCastelAgordino,inlocal- Serene RepublicofVenice, therehadnotbeenbarriersofanysizeinthearea Until 1800,beforeandduringtheperiodofarea’s dominationbytheMost della Madonna. between thecourseofMisandrockyridgesMountAgnerPala the basinisinterruptedtonorth-westbyCereda-ForcellaAurinepass west andtheeast,employingrelativelysmallforces.Thebulwarkofrockaround and surveillablesaddlesmadeaccesstoAgordopracticallyimpossiblefromthe For thisreason,carefuloccupationofthepassagesacrosseasilydefendable often cabled. through highpassesservedbydifficulttracks,thehighersectionsofwhichare and thepeaksofSanSebastianoTamer. Thesepeakscanonlybecrossed east oftheriverrisebuttressesMountsAltodiPelsa, Moiazza,Framont of theCordevole,namelythosePizzon,AgnerandSanLucano,whileto basin isthereforeclosedoffbyhighmountainridgestothewestofcourse of LaMuda,withthemarkedcharacteristicsamountaingorge.TheAgordo and iscalledtheCanaled’Agordo, forminganotherdefileeastofFucineandwest shape totheAgordohollowafterTaibon. Furtheron,thevalleynarrows again a defilecalledtheStrettodiListolade,southofwhichvalleywidenstogive In thestretchfromMezzocanaletoListolade,valleyofCordevoleforms THE AGORDOFORTIFICATIONS GENERAL INFORMATION The iron bridge and the roadblock in an Austro- Hungarian intelligence drawing of 1895. i Castéi in thelocaldialect,consistedabarrierfiltering CONTINUE to cavern fortresses equipped with cannons, howitzer emplacements, army bar- to cavern fortresses equipped with cannons, howitzer emplacements, racks and roads to link all these features to each other. di San Martino roadblock The Agordo area, where only the armoured Tagliata one of the sources of worry to Gen- had been erected was, with the Zoldo valley, eral Cadorna, because it was almost entirely devoid of large-scale fortification works, so much so that the Chief of the General Staff himself said in the spring that the Cordevole and Maè valleys were completely exposed, a weak- of 1915 ness that gave the enemy freedom to come down from Livinallongo towards Bel- di San Martino was only luno along these two penetration routes: the Tagliata a road block (and was even potentially liable to be outflanked) and was cer-