The first operations of the Great War on the Italian front between May-July 1915 had been the result of an offensive plan by the Italian General Staff which had Trieste and Ljubljana as its direct objectives; the Julian front had therefore assumed considerable importance from the beginning which had engulfed huge resources in terms of men and armaments.
Engaged in the fighting of the first months, in the Podgora sector, there was also a young captain from Ciociaria, Rodolfo Graziani, the future - and much discussed - Marshal of Italy. His deeds during the Great War tell the story of a "different" Graziani compared to that of the common vulgate which tends to always and only represent him as a war criminal and as a fascist; rather, they highlight the tactical brilliance and courage of a young career officer always at the head of his men in assaults.
The history of Rodolfo Graziani during the Great War is intertwined with that of the 131st infantry regiment Lazio - a unit composed mainly of soldiers and officers of the Ciociaria - and, in particular, with the most famous action carried out by the infantrymen with gold-purple insignia during the conflict: the coup d'état on Monte San Michele carried out on the night between 6 and on December 7, 1915.
After the bloody actions on the Podgora in the summer of 1915, the infantry brigade Lazio (131 ° and 132 ° regiments) had been sent to the San Michele sector, lined up along the road between Sagrado and Peteano. The order is to conquer 124 quota, a hill protected by several orders of trenches on which the Hungarians of the XNUMXst regiment are perched Honved.
At the end of October the 132nd managed to gain some territorial advantage by positioning himself close to the first line of enemy trenches, losing 14 officers and 485 troops in the clashes. 131 ° has its "baptism of fire" on San Michele in November, when the clash between the ridge of Cima 1 del San Michele and Quota 124 comes on again. With bayonet blows the infantrymen of the 132nd occupy the "red rocks" on November 21 while the 23 collapses Quote 124 by the work of the 131st. The losses of the 131st amount to 18 officers and 680 troops. The first battalion of the 131st in action loses its commander and all company commanders, except one, the captain Rodolfo Graziani.
Entrust the companies to the command of second lieutenants and lieutenants, Graziani - who had been the youngest of the Parisians - is appointed commander of the 1st battalion. From the top of Cima 197 the Italian occupation extends up to 129 altitude but between it and Peteano the enemy keeps possession of a powerful wedge from which he harasses our troops in transit to and from the advanced positions. Attempts to attack the 130th and XNUMXth regiments and the LIVth battalion failed Bersaglieri, the task of annihilating the Austro-Hungarian defenses is entrusted to the 131st.
The action should proceed as usual with an artillery bombing aimed at the destruction of the barbed wire preparatory to the jump of the infantry. The captain Graziani however, remembering the ineffectiveness of the bombings on Podgora, asks Colonel Carmelo Squillace to be able to implement a coup. Squillace gladly accepts; thus began the meticulous study of habits and schedules in the Austrian entrenchments. At noon the enemy's activity appears to have decreased and is therefore set as the time of the attack.
On December 6 at 12:00, favored by the fog, a daring patrol of three men leaves the walkway towards the Austrian trenches followed by an assault company led by Captain Graziani and second lieutenant Brizzi. The Austrians are taken by surprise, the conquered trench and the commander of the XNUMXst regiment Honved taken prisoner together with his General Staff. At that point, the entire 400st Battalion leaves the shelters and, having overcome the trench conquered by Graziani, breaks into the enemy positions located about 8 steps from the first line. 148 officers and XNUMX officers and soldiers fall into the hands of infantrymen with purple-gold badges.
In the afternoon and throughout the night, the Austro-Hungarians attempt to regain lost positions by alternating the infiltration of assault squads with artillery bombings. During the night the Italian defense seems to give in and the enemy manages to resume some trench and Quota 124 sections. The 131st battalion of the 124st with a circumventing action breaks into Quota XNUMX conquering the Austrian trench in front of the white weapon and crashing the offensive mechanism. enemy.
Following this action and the heroic behavior of the XNUMXst battalion, Graziani is promoted major by merit of war.
Photo: web
