Key Facts
- Duration
- June 1915 – May 1917 (~2 years)
- Location
- Mount Prižnica (Poggio Montanari), near Plave
- River
- Soča (Isonzo)
- Concluded by
- Tenth Battle of the Isonzo (1917)
- Front
- Italian Front, World War I
Strategic Narrative Overview
For nearly two years, Italian and Austro-Hungarian forces fought repeatedly over the hill in a pattern typical of Isonzo front combat: costly infantry assaults, artillery exchanges, and temporary gains swiftly contested. Neither side could consolidate permanent control. The battle became one of many attritional engagements along the Isonzo that drained both armies without producing decisive operational results.
01 / The Origins
Following Italy's declaration of war against Austria-Hungary in May 1915, Italian forces sought to advance along the Isonzo River valley. Hill 383, later known as Mount Prižnica, sat across the Soča from the town of Plave and offered strategic elevation. Both Italian and Austro-Hungarian commanders recognised its tactical value, making it a focal point of early operations on this sector of the Italian Front.
03 / The Outcome
The prolonged contest ended in May 1917 when Italian forces finally secured Mount Prižnica during the Tenth Battle of the Isonzo. The capture gave Italy control of the high ground near Plave, though broader strategic gains on the Isonzo front remained elusive. The hill's fall represented a local Italian success within a broader campaign that continued until Austria-Hungary's eventual collapse in 1918.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.