The Beginning of Futility

About the Book

Since Pickett’s failed charge at Gettysburg, the frontal infantry assault had been known as obsolete. Nevertheless fifty years later, Allied military leaders in the Great War persisted in using it as a military tactic. Italian military leaders were no exception not even accepting the deadly effect of machine guns or quick-firing artillery. The Battles of the Isonzo on the Austro-Italian Front have now been classified with Verdun as to intensity and casualty lists. Mountain warfare on the Isonzo River Valley resulted in almost two million casualties from avalanches, frostbite, malaria, cholera, as well as prisoner-of-war starvation. Using the attacco frontale the blood of the illiterate fanti was used as coin to purchase terrain pushing the enemy back leading to Vienna's request to Berlin for help, leading to Caporetto.

About the Author

Since early childhood in family gatherings the author has been exposed to discussions on warfare on the Austro-Italian Front. Subsequently he attended and graduated from Fordham University College of Pharmacy and medical school in Bologna , Italy , followed by Post-Graduate training ending at the Lahey Clinic in Boston. After almost a half-century of practice he embarked on writing this work by visiting archives in Vienna, London and Rome. He has lectured in major American universities, museums as well as abroad and is recognized as an authority on warfare on the Austro-Italian Front in the Great War.HE IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON A TV DOCUMENTARY ON THE BATTLE OF CAPORETTO.