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Battle of San Matteo

Battle of San Matteo
Part of the Italian Front
(World War I)
Battle.of.San.Matteo.memorial.JPG
Italian monument dedicated to the victims of the battle, on the way to the Gavia Pass
Date 13 August – 3 September 1918
Location Punta San Matteo
Result Austro-Hungarian victory
Belligerents
 Kingdom of Italy  Austria-Hungary
Commanders and leaders
Kingdom of Italy Arnaldo Berni   Austria-Hungary Unknown
Strength
1 company of Alpini (307th Company, Ortles Battalion) 150 Kaiserschützen (3rd KuK Kaiserjäger Regiment)
Casualties and losses
10 killed 17 killed

Coordinates: 46°22′44″N 10°34′0″E / 46.37889°N 10.56667°E / 46.37889; 10.56667

The Battle of San Matteo took place in the late summer of 1918 on the Punta San Matteo (3678 m) during World War I. It was regarded as the highest battle in history until it was surpassed in 1999 by the Kargil Conflict at 5600m.

At the beginning of 1918 Austro-Hungarian troops set up a fortified position with small artillery pieces on the top of the San Matteo Peak. The base of the peak lies at 2800m altitude and it takes a four-hour ice climb up a glacier to reach the top. From this position, they were able to shell the road to the Gavia Pass and thus harass the Italian supply convoys to the front line.

On August 13, 1918, a small group of Italian Alpini (307th Company, Ortles Battalion) conducted a surprise attack on the peak, successfully taking the fortified position. Half of the Austro-Hungarian soldiers were taken prisoner; the other half fled to lower positions.

The loss of the San Matteo Peak constituted a loss of face to imperial Austria, and reinforcements were immediately sent to the region while the Italians were still organizing their defence on the top of the peak.

On September 3, 1918 the Austro-Hungarian forces launched operation "Gemse", an attack aimed to retake the mountain. A large scale artillery bombardment, followed by the assault of at least 150 Kaiserschützen of the 3rd KuK Kaiserjäger Regiment stationed in Dimaro, was eventually successful and the lost position was retaken. The Italians, who already considered the mountain lost, began a counter-bombardment of the fortified positions, causing many victims among both the defending Italian and the Austro-Hungarian troops.


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