Historical Background

The First World War had vast impact on the Trentini people as a whole, as well as individual families. At the war's beginning, the Trentino territory had endured a century of domination and control by the Austrian Empire, but was also experiencing a resurgence of Irredentism, fueled by Italy's quest to emancipate the "unredeemed" territories.  These competing loyalties exacerbated the Trentini response to the war and pitted brother against brother in the call to war.

On July 31, 1914, many Trentini men heeded the order of the Austrian Emporer Franz Josef, which was appropriately signed "Francesco Giuseppe," and reported for duty in the Austrian

"Soldiers departing Trento on 15 AUG 1915"

Army. During the course of the war, approximately 60,000 Trentini men were mobilized and as the conflict wore on, the service age expanded to include all men aged 17 to 50. They were organized into 4 regiments, the Tiroler Kaiserjäger - T.K.J. - (Tirolesi Hunters of the Emperor), the Tiroler Landesschützen (provincial Bersaglieres), the Tiroler Standschützen (territorial Bersaglieres), and in smaller numbers to units of the common army and the Landerwehr. On August 7, 1914, the soldiers of the Tiroler Kaiserjäger regiment left from the Dante public square in the city of Trento, for Galicia (see the link above titled "Galicia" for further information), Bucovina, Serbia. They were greeted by political, military, and religious authorities. Upon departure, the soldiers were given a bottle of wine, labeled “health and best wishes,” as well as bread, beer, salami and cheese.

"On the Trentino cliffs we will plant the tri-color one (Italian Flag)"

At the same time, approximately 700 Trentini fled south, fueled by their quest for Italian reunification of the unredeemed lands (see the link above titled "Irredentismo" for further information), and enlisted in the Italian army. The personification of this movement was Cesare Battisti, among others. Battisti was ultimately captured by the Austrians forces and hung at the Castello di Buonconsiglio on July 12, 1916.

On May 26, 1915, the Italian Republic ended its neutrality and entered the war on the side of the English.  Their entry was secured, in part, by the Pact of London, in which the Italians were promised the former areas of Trento and the contiguous territory to the Brennero Pass; the cities of Gorizia, Trieste and Gradisca d' Isonzo; Istria and Dalmatia. 

With the opening of the Italian front in the Trentino territory, an evacuation  (see the link above titled "Evacuation" for further information) of more than 100,000 civilians was ordered to the north and south of the territory. Others were persecuted and interned, based on their perceived or resistant activities. Approximately 1,700 were exiled to the field of Katzenau, where they suffered for 3 years in poverty and away from family and home.

Members of our family experienced most of the aforementioned turmoil of the Great War described above. At this point, it is known that at least two family members directly served in the war (see the link above titled "Our Ancestors" for further information) .