Discovering The Isonzo Front | The Great War
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- Опубликовано: 28 янв 2023
- Disclaimer: Live ordinance in this video was reported to respective authorities. Be aware of laws, restrictions and dangerous regarding metal detecting and trespassing.
The Great War. We all know about it, or at least something about it. Most of us sadly only know a very small fraction of what happened during this time and why! We immediately think of the Germans and the French on the western front. This is a very well documented theater of the conflict and we have grown up learning about it; there are countless movies and books. Why then, when asked what we know about the Italian front, or the eastern front, do most of us not have a clue? The answer is twisted and full of loss hastily buried in the depths of history... and earth. After spending small portions of a total of four years exploring the Italian front, I chose the Isonzo front to document for this project. It is a stunningly beautiful area with its rocky slopes, thick vegetation and blue waters. Weekend after weekend of trying to understand the history of the time, and the thoughts of the people living in it, I began discovering the very items that were with them in the trenches 100 years ago. On the Carso Plateau, in the mountains above Caporetto, and along the banks of the Isonzo, I hiked and searched for the past. In this particular adventure, I traveled to a once very sad region of the Isonzo front. Here, in the course of two days and one night, I discover incredible items. A hungarian 1916 stamped Ligetfalv cup, live 75mm shrapnel shells, the sole of a boot, barbed wire everywhere and much more. Overall this was the most strenuous and tiring endeavour I had done to that date in November 2022. Not because of the hiking, but because of the excessive amount of gear with me, and the thick vegetation I had to trudge through in order to get the the trenches. Two backpacks, camera with extra lens, tripod, metal detector, pick axe, tent, camping equipment, food, water, ect. The thorn bushes were extremely difficult to get through, and at some points completely impassible. I spent much of my time on the steep slopes searching for a way out of a jail of thorns, crawling under and around them, and forcing myself through them, rip after rip. I felt so compelled to at least unveil pieces of this much forgotten history. It NEEDS to be remembered. In Italy there are a plethra of WW1 museums dedicated to the mountain warfare and tragedy of that time in Italy and Austro-Hungary. It is important to know how these things happen and to see how humanity suffers in result. Digging deeper into the history of Italy's leadership at the time, you will see that what is going on in Russia in particular is not something new at all. We must give an effort to remember and to prevent such pain for our families and humanity to come.
Join me in discovering a forgotten front. THE ISONZO FRONT.
Items found in order shown in video:
DAY 1
Italian 6.5mm full clip
Italian glass fiasco for wine
75mm artillery shell fired (likely italian)
75mm shrapnel shell not fired (confirmed Austrian)
75mm shrapnel shell not fired (confirmed Austrian)
Hungarian "Ligetfalv 1916" canteen cup
Italian 6.5mm cartridges
Large artillery shell (yet to confirm size and origin)
DAY 2
Italian 6.5mm full clip (bullets broken off from cartridge)
Fired but not exploded 75mm artillery shell (origin unconfirmed)
Italian 6.5mm full clip pristine.
Sole of boot with nails still present (likely Austrian)
Blast cap/fuse from smaller artillery shell (origin and size unconfirmed)
IN CAVE
Live 75mm shell (likely italian)
Pickaxe head (likely Austrian)
8mm Austrian cartridge with empty clip 
Кино
That's sick dude
Bellissimo video... Complimenti ❤️
Awesome video. I think that the western front would be a place that you might like to explore (I you have not already). Is the part of this battlefield that is more southern (closer to Monfalcone) as littered with shells and bullets as near Caporetto? I would like to explore the part that is closer to the sea this summer.
Hey thank you!! I have been to a small section of the Somme on the western front, but I absolutely want to explore more over there!
The Italian front is especially interesting to me. The Carso region that you are referring to is completely full of trenches and hiking trails all throughout them. It’s a super rocky limestone landscape where there are also several caves that were used for cover. Monfalcone actually has a really large trench system that is restored as well as a cave there. When I was exploring the trenches just off of the trail I found an Austrian cartridge on the rocks without even searching. The war is everywhere there from Monfalcone to Bovec. If I still lived in that area I would offer to take you around the battlefields. Unfortunately I had to move but let me know if you have any questions I’m happy to help someone who is interested in this place! It’s a forgotten history to everyone who doesn’t live in Italy or Austria
This is incredible. I'll be honeymooning with my wife next January for two weeks all over Italy, but we are taking at least 4 days to explore Northern Italy(I'd like to do Monte Sabotino which appears to be the Ridgeline in that drone shot at the beginning, as well as the train station in Gorizia.) We'll also be in Cortina D'Ampezzo for two nights and plan to do some hiking to the many White War locations in the area like the Tre Cime, Mt Piana, Lagazuoi, and where ever else these otherworldly mountainous trenches happen to be. Is there anything you could recommend this American to see regarding this tragic chapter of Italian history? Its mind boggling and the stuff of legend seeing these battlefields up on mountain tops and with incredible vistas, its really just hard to even imagine and deeply moving.
Thanks
Thank you so much for watching and for reaching out! I am very passionate about this chapter in Italian history and am always researching it even though I don't live in Italy either. I would absolutely recommend Monte Sabotino. There is a trail that you can do there that is incredible with a little museum and cafe at the top. I would suggest following the Isonzo river up from Monfalcone. For example, you could visit the 1938 built WW1 memorial at Redipuglia, hike at Monte dei sei busi, visit Monte Sabotino and Sveta Gora, visit monte Kolovrat, visit Caporetto and the museum and ossuary there. If you are interested in a tough hike, Monte Nero is near Caporetto and offers amazing views of trenches and mountain warfare conditions as well as relics laying everywhere. These activities could not be done all in one day but are very worth it. Additionally, I made another video where I hiked Pal Piccolo with my family. If you want to see the most well preserved history of the first world war, I would recommend hiking the loop that covers Pal Piccolo and Freikofel. These positions were right on the Austro-Italian border. This is in the Carnic alps. If you find yourself in Veneto, go to Monte Grappa or go to Monte Pasubio! It is also little known that American Ernest Hemingway served as an ambulance driver in Italy during the war. His small home there can also be visited as well as several battle sites along the Piave river. I am pleased to offer you any information you want or need! The Isonzo front is my personal favorite to explore, but the Piave front is also fascinating. Please let me know if there is anything else I can help you with on your trip! Enjoy your honeymoon!
-Thomas
@@TLundy98 Reading "A Farewell to Arms" a couple years ago was what initially sent me down the rabbit hole of the Isonzo Front and its history during the Great War. Thank you for the recommendations, friend.
That was an amazing documentary you put together, absolutely fantastic!! Well done sir! You have a talent for this 👍🏻
Amazing, where exactly is this??
Hi man, thank you! I can’t disclose the exact location, but I can tell you that it is along the Italian front of World War One. I did loads of research to find these places and they are incredible.