03 April 1918 16:00 – Rome, Italy
After Action Report
Theater: Italian
Sector: Third Army
Location: Venice Lagoon
Event: Loss of Murano, Verona, and threats to the Po Valley
Completed By: War Ministry
Date Report Completed: 03 April 1918 (15:00)
Summation of Events: In a triad of unexpected moves the Austro-Hungarian army has moved under Field Marshal Boroevic to capture key locations along the Lagoon in Venice with a second prong attack under Field Marshal Josef August to take key areas near Lake Garda. Our intelligence indicated an initial thrust planned for the Tonale Pass which was quickly repulsed, but unfortunately it blinded us to the movement of soldiers down the Adige River and resulted in the capture of Verona at 22:00 yesterday evening. This caused additional concern as the importance of K.u.K. troop movements into the Lagoon of Venice was initially underestimated in importance and more worringly size. With British and French removal of three divisions over the last seven days to shore up their defenses in France we are worringly vulnerable in this sector already. Due to the closure of Gibraltar yesterday following its seizure by the Spanish garrison nearby the situation becomes even more desperate.
Boroevic moved almost 5000 troops into the Lagoon and captured first Passarella and Cortazello in quick succession on 31 March, then Jesolo and Millepertiche along with Croce and Toti on 01 April, then Porte Grande, Musestre, and Sant’Elena early on 02 April. Simultaneously in a gamble highly unusual for Boroevic he ordered almost 5000 troops into the Lagoon after Cavallino fell that same morning. Reinforcement of the defenses for Punta Sabbioni included heavy artillery, but the appearance of the Austro-Hungarian Navy made our defenses unsustainable. Their simultaneous landings of marine infantry on 01 April at Ancona, Pescona, Porto Corsini, and Rimini were unexpected but also not known for almost six hours due to targeted destruction of telegraphy lines. By early April 02 these beachheads were starting to expand and consolidate, taking Ravenna almost totally unawares and threatening much of our Adriatic coast. Continued landings of K.u.K. troops in the aforementioned beachheads allowed over 15,000 troops to land in 48 hours at these locations. From the limited information currently available, this was planned ad-hoc in less than 48 hours to coincide with the fall of Venice and represents almost all of the defensive garrisons beyond minimal base security available to the Austrian defenses along a significant portion of the northern Croatian coast - a true gamble by a man not known to do so - indicating their confidence of the current situation. Their soldiers landing on our Adriatic coast have only what ammunition they can carry it seems but the latest landings are bringing much more ammunition with them along with heavier weapons though these men are resourceful and 'requisitioning' whatever they can.
Ultimately the fall of Torcello, Mazzorbo, and Burano on 02 April indicated the threat to Venice herself, the fall of Sant’Erasmo that evening with ‘requisitioned’ craft made it clear that Venice would likely fall or become the site of a major battle. With two dreadnaughts in position to destroy the city itself, the fall of Venice and surrender of its small garrison was noted at 19:45 on 02 April. Mop-up operations began in earnest but the rapid movement of troops by Boroevic created a ‘hole in the dike’ as it were that our troops are yet to plug effectively. Combined with the surprise loss of Verona, the lone notable railway bridge into our troops at the front became the target of relentless bombing efforts which finally succeeded in destroying the structure early on the morning of 03 April. By noon of that day reports came in of Treviso, Bassano, Thiene, and even Soave to the enemy in the north. An orderly withdrawal to the Po River is apparently underway as the K.u.K. forces in Rimini and Ravenna made contact and continued to spread ever wider. Unfortunately I must also report that the loss of Cesena is imminent and Forli is already in danger while the loss of Ancona and Venice places the northern Adriatic under firm Austrian control. Our blockade is focused at the mouth of the Adriatic, without significant reinforcement the Regina Marina is not expected to dominate especially if coastal artillery tells for the enemy. Their time to station is expected to be a few hours but the commanders are hesitant to move without full commitment of the entire navy, and coastal artillery for those areas may be compromised or worse seized by hostile forces.
After Action Report
Theater: Italian
Sector: Third Army
Location: Venice Lagoon
Event: Loss of Murano, Verona, and threats to the Po Valley
Completed By: War Ministry
Date Report Completed: 03 April 1918 (15:00)
Summation of Events: In a triad of unexpected moves the Austro-Hungarian army has moved under Field Marshal Boroevic to capture key locations along the Lagoon in Venice with a second prong attack under Field Marshal Josef August to take key areas near Lake Garda. Our intelligence indicated an initial thrust planned for the Tonale Pass which was quickly repulsed, but unfortunately it blinded us to the movement of soldiers down the Adige River and resulted in the capture of Verona at 22:00 yesterday evening. This caused additional concern as the importance of K.u.K. troop movements into the Lagoon of Venice was initially underestimated in importance and more worringly size. With British and French removal of three divisions over the last seven days to shore up their defenses in France we are worringly vulnerable in this sector already. Due to the closure of Gibraltar yesterday following its seizure by the Spanish garrison nearby the situation becomes even more desperate.
Boroevic moved almost 5000 troops into the Lagoon and captured first Passarella and Cortazello in quick succession on 31 March, then Jesolo and Millepertiche along with Croce and Toti on 01 April, then Porte Grande, Musestre, and Sant’Elena early on 02 April. Simultaneously in a gamble highly unusual for Boroevic he ordered almost 5000 troops into the Lagoon after Cavallino fell that same morning. Reinforcement of the defenses for Punta Sabbioni included heavy artillery, but the appearance of the Austro-Hungarian Navy made our defenses unsustainable. Their simultaneous landings of marine infantry on 01 April at Ancona, Pescona, Porto Corsini, and Rimini were unexpected but also not known for almost six hours due to targeted destruction of telegraphy lines. By early April 02 these beachheads were starting to expand and consolidate, taking Ravenna almost totally unawares and threatening much of our Adriatic coast. Continued landings of K.u.K. troops in the aforementioned beachheads allowed over 15,000 troops to land in 48 hours at these locations. From the limited information currently available, this was planned ad-hoc in less than 48 hours to coincide with the fall of Venice and represents almost all of the defensive garrisons beyond minimal base security available to the Austrian defenses along a significant portion of the northern Croatian coast - a true gamble by a man not known to do so - indicating their confidence of the current situation. Their soldiers landing on our Adriatic coast have only what ammunition they can carry it seems but the latest landings are bringing much more ammunition with them along with heavier weapons though these men are resourceful and 'requisitioning' whatever they can.
Ultimately the fall of Torcello, Mazzorbo, and Burano on 02 April indicated the threat to Venice herself, the fall of Sant’Erasmo that evening with ‘requisitioned’ craft made it clear that Venice would likely fall or become the site of a major battle. With two dreadnaughts in position to destroy the city itself, the fall of Venice and surrender of its small garrison was noted at 19:45 on 02 April. Mop-up operations began in earnest but the rapid movement of troops by Boroevic created a ‘hole in the dike’ as it were that our troops are yet to plug effectively. Combined with the surprise loss of Verona, the lone notable railway bridge into our troops at the front became the target of relentless bombing efforts which finally succeeded in destroying the structure early on the morning of 03 April. By noon of that day reports came in of Treviso, Bassano, Thiene, and even Soave to the enemy in the north. An orderly withdrawal to the Po River is apparently underway as the K.u.K. forces in Rimini and Ravenna made contact and continued to spread ever wider. Unfortunately I must also report that the loss of Cesena is imminent and Forli is already in danger while the loss of Ancona and Venice places the northern Adriatic under firm Austrian control. Our blockade is focused at the mouth of the Adriatic, without significant reinforcement the Regina Marina is not expected to dominate especially if coastal artillery tells for the enemy. Their time to station is expected to be a few hours but the commanders are hesitant to move without full commitment of the entire navy, and coastal artillery for those areas may be compromised or worse seized by hostile forces.