Alpine Warfare in WWI

The most intense alpine fighting in the First World War took place in the Italian Alps. It was hard going for both the Italians and the Austro-Hungarians. Frostbite affected everybody for it was below freezing for four straight months out of the year, and the snow could be eight to ten meters deep. Artillery was extremely hard to get in place, and most of the time it had to be brought up by pulleys. The impact of artillery shells frequently caused rock and snow slides. The Italians used mules and cable cars to transport the wounded back down to the base of the mountain for treatment. Digging trenches was not always possible, so both sides built forts and shelters on the sides of the mountains. Sometimes the incline of the slope would be more than 80 degrees. Temporary trenches were built in the snow when they could not be dug in the ground. The Italian Alps campaign was won by the Italians. In 1918 they were able to break through the Austro-Hungarian line near Sacile, a town in northeast Italy. The Austro-Hungarians surrendered soon after.