Holy Roman Empire - Chapter 95

Chapter 95: Chapter 95, Defeat is Like a Collapsing Mountain

Translator: 549690339

Vicenza, Marshal Radetzky had personally come to the front; during the initiation of the battle of Trento, fifty thousand Austrian reinforcements had already secretly arrived here.

“Marshal, the troops are ready and can attack the enemy at any time!” Edmund said confidently.

“Any movement on the enemy’s side?” Marshal Radetzky asked with concern.

War is never one-sided; the outcome of a battle is often the result of the combined forces of both sides.

A clever commander must always be aware of the opponent’s movements and take timely countermeasures.

“Since yesterday afternoon, the enemy has ceased their advance and has started fortifying their positions; initial judgments suggest that the enemy has changed their offensive strategy to a defensive one!” General Edmund replied.

“Proceed with the original plan!” Marshal Radetzky said with a smile.

This is the main direction of the Austrian army’s attack; the initiation of the battle of Trento is but a step in the grand scheme, designed to divert the enemy’s attention.

Marshal Radetzky hadn’t anticipated that the battle of Trento would be won so cleanly. However, this was even better; the Sardinian Army’s higher-ups had indeed been misled.

General Messe was Godsent in his attacks; his battle reports perfectly concealed the secret arrival of the Austrian reinforcements in Vicenza. The balance of power between the two sides here had been reversed.

Radetzky was still unaware that Badoglio had committed his mobile forces to Ara, guarding against the main Austrian forces coming from Trento.

Otherwise, he could have been opening champagne to celebrate now.

The Kingdom of Sardinia had deployed a total force of 170,000 to the Venice battlefield, directly losing three divisions in Trento, and now having moved another three divisions there, the battle of Vicenza was already without suspense.

Artillery filled the sky; the Sardinian Army, which had been on the offensive, suddenly faced a counterattack from the Austrian army and was quickly baffled.

With a “boom,” a shell landed thirty meters from Major Otsus’ command post, directly claiming the lives of three Sardinian soldiers and wounding two more.

“What’s happening? Why has the enemy launched an attack?” Major Otsus asked in confusion.

No one could answer his question; the Austrian army’s sudden attack had not been preceded by any signs.

As the absolute main force of the Sardinian Army, the First Division was an elite unit; even if its combat effectiveness had declined after the expansion, it was still much stronger than other units.

After being attacked, it only took a few minutes of hesitation before Otsus took action.

“Order the artillery to counterattack and report our situation to the headquarters. Send out scouts to conduct reconnaissance and figure out the enemy’s intentions as quickly as possible!”

Otsus’ measures were not wrong, but unfortunately, the difference in strength is not so easily overcome; winning with a weaker force is predicated on the opponent making mistakes.

Now the Austrian army was employing a direct frontal assault; both sides were contesting strength, and no amount of scheming or trickery would matter here.

“General, the enemy’s firepower is too fierce; our artillery has suffered heavy losses!” a young officer said in panic.

Otsus’ expression darkened; artillery is the god of war, its importance is self-evident. Here, in Austria’s home ground, it’s not surprising that Austria, with its national strength, could bring more artillery to the battlefield.

But this was a tragedy for the First Division of Sardinia; it meant that they were to be passively pounded.

“Order all troops to immediately reinforce their positions. After the artillery battle is over, the enemy will launch an attack!”

Major Otsus made the most accurate judgment. Since the outbreak of the war, they had been on the offensive, fighting all the way to Vicenza.

It wasn’t until yesterday afternoon that they received the headquarters’ order to stop the attack and build defensive structures. There simply wasn’t enough time.

At this point, Major Otsus no longer had the luxury of time for extensive planning—any rudimentary defense was better than none. Even a barrier of sandbags and dirt could stop bullets.

Despite being an era of musketry, Major Otsus was very clear that since the enemy had initiated a counterattack, they must have been fairly confident.

At this time, to rashly engage the enemy in battle would be unwise. Utilizing the defensive structures to delay their advance and waiting for reinforcements was the correct choice.

Major Otsus was a smart man, and the first division of the Kingdom of Sardinia could be considered quite elite. They adopted the best measures, but the neighboring thirteenth division of Sardinia thought differently.

Major Kobert seemed to possess a strong spirit to charge forward. After the Austrian army began their assault, they resolutely deployed their musketry tactics, engaging in a “friendly match” with the Austrian army outside Vicenza City.

“Ready, fire!”

“Ready, fire!”

Fortune favors the brave in a narrow pass, but Major Kobert overestimated the courage of his men. Engaging in a firefight from over a hundred meters away, the pressure was too much for these new recruits.

Watching one comrade after another fall at their side, the nerves of many Sardinian soldiers had already collapsed.

Suddenly, a soldier unable to bear the pressure threw down his rifle and turned to run; instantly, fear spread throughout the entire army—the thirteenth division was defeated.

A telegraph operator urgently shouted, “General, bad news! Our right flank, the thirteenth division, is broken, and the enemy is taking their positions!”

Major Otsus felt a sinking in his head, his cup dropped to the ground—the worst had happened. With the thirteenth division’s collapse, the first division’s flank was now exposed to the enemy. With their makeshift defenses, they definitely could not hold.

“Order the third battalion to cover our retreat, the entire army is to withdraw!” Major Otsus ordered, trembling.

This was defying military orders, but no one present objected—it was now or never to get out.

A general has some leeway over orders when in the field; this adage is common in many places. The thirteenth division foolishly charged into battle with the enemy; they would not make the same mistake.

With the first division in retreat, the Sardinian defensive line at Vicenza completely fell apart. Seizing the opportunity, the Austrian army pounced, dealing a crushing blow to their scattered foe.

In the chase that ensued, the battlefield situation underwent a drastic change.

On May 22nd, the Austrian army recaptured Padua, and three Sardinian infantry divisions fortifying the Ara region were encircled by the Austrian forces.

On May 24th, the Austrian army launched an attack on Bergamo. Major General Messe, stationed there with troops that had withdrawn from Trento, fled without a fight.

On May 25th, the Austrian army initiated the Brescia Campaign. Marshal Badoglio had gathered the remaining main forces of the Sardinian Army in an attempt to stop the Austrian onslaught but was forced to retreat towards Milan, unsuccessful.

On May 27th, the attempt by the Sardinian army in Ara to break out failed, and the following day, they surrendered to the Austrian army.

Thus, the Kingdom of Sardinia’s Venice campaign, which lasted less than a month, ended in complete failure.