This incredible footage provides intriguing insights into the tactics and preparations undertaken by Austro-Hungarian Stormtroopers prior to the Caporetto offensive. The Caporetto offensive, employing groundbreaking German-designed tactics, shattered the Italian lines and enabled the Central Powers to advance 150 kilometers toward Venice. The incredible success of the Caporetto Offensive, foreshadowed the success of the spring offensives in 1918 on the Western Front and the end of trench warfare in the Great War. This footage surely gives an idea of what the attacks would have looked like, just in a much, much smaller form.
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Foul weather and unprepared Austro-Hungarian divisions initially delayed the attack on October 24th. At 02:00 on October 24th, 894 metal tubes, similar to Livens Projectors, discharged canisters of poison gas, causing significant casualties among Italian defenders. By 06:00, Italian defenses were bombarded with mortars, followed by a barrage from 2,200 guns at 06:41. Two massive underground mines were detonated, and the infantry breached Italian fortifications. Specially-trained and highly weaponized Stormtrooper units led attacks on strategic positions, supported by various weaponry including the German model 08/15 Maxim light machine gun, highly maneuverable trench mortars, mountain guns, flamethrowers, hand grenades, special melee weapons. Despite initial resistance, the attackers advanced nearly unopposed, and soon breaking the entire Italian line taking hundreds of thousands of prisoners in the first few days.
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"To Hell and Back" is an ambitious film project that aims to provide a cinematic and immersive portrayal of World War I from the German perspective. It uses never-seen-before footage sourced from extensive research efforts spanning numerous archives across Europe. This groundbreaking film seeks to reconstruct and restore historical footage, bringing it to life with meticulous attention to detail.
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From World War 1 In Color's Instagram: reelC5jiBA...