Austrian Soldiers Repeatedly Begged Italian Troops to Retreat Rather Than Be Massacred

What was said

"There are loads of stories about the Austrians saying to the Italians, 'Go back, we won't shoot at you. Stop, go back, we won't shoot anymore. Do you want everyone to die? Italians, go back, we don't want to massacre you. You're brave men, don't get yourselves killed like this.' And there's even a story from later in the year, the Austrians actually stopped firing during a battle and they said to the Italians, 'Go on, you know, enough. Get your dead and go back down.' And as the Italians were collecting all their dead, the Austrians came out from behind their machine guns to help them, to bring them stretchers and cigarettes."

In an unprecedented display of humanity during the Italian campaign on the Isonzo front, Austrian defenders repeatedly ceased fire and urged attacking Italian troops to retreat rather than continue futile assaults. Austrian soldiers even emerged from positions to help Italians collect their dead and wounded. This unusual battlefield compassion contrasted sharply with the senseless bloodshed ordered by Italian General Cadorna, who repeatedly sent waves of men against fortified mountain positions.