JE LI SE SOŠKU FRONTU MOGLO OBRANITI I UZ MANJE ŽRTAVA? RAZLIČITA MIŠLJENJA O BOROJEVIĆEVIM STRATEŠKIM OPCIJAMA NA JUGOZAPADNOJ FRONTI 1915.–1918.
COULD THE ISONZO FRONT HAVE BEEN DEFENDED WITH LESS CASUALTIES? DIFFERENT VIEWS OF BOROJEVIĆʼS STRATEGIC OPTIONS ON THE SOUTH-WEST FRONT, 1915-1918

Author(s): LOVRO GALIĆ
Subject(s): Military history, Military policy, Pre-WW I & WW I (1900 -1919), Peace and Conflict Studies
Published by: Hrvatski institut za povijest
Keywords: Svetozar Borojević; Soški Front; strategy;
Summary/Abstract: Already during the First World War, and then in the years up to the Second World War, different, and very critical, views were expressed about the methods that General (and from January 1918 Marshal) Borojević chose and obstinately implemented for two and a half years when repelling the increasingly fierce Italian assaults on the Isonzo front. The expertise of those who hold such views cannot be denied, and considerations of alternative strategic or at the very least, tactical options have made their way to very objective scholarly works, such as, for example, ÖULK. However, one of Borojevićʼs biographers (E. Glaise v. Horstenau) pointed out an irrefutable fact: the defence was successful, and in war the individual who achieves success is ultimately deemed to have been right! The purpose of this article is to demonstrate how much freedom to choose Borojević actually had, and which of the aforementioned objections had valid grounds. The proposed alternative options must be weighed not only in the light of possible reduction of own losses with equal (or even greater) effectiveness of defence, but also with regard for the influence of the military, moral and political situation experienced by the enemy of the time – Italy. This is why there is a brief illustration of the military/political situation of both opponents on the eve of the war, the defence measures taken (or not!), the Austro-Hungarian Monarchyʼs plans for a defensive war on the Italian front, and—because this was not psychologically insignificant—Borojevićʼs command style in operations on the north-eastern front (first as corps commander and then army commander). This critical examination is not intended to, nor can it, diminish the historical dimension of Marshal Borojević, who occupies one of the most honoured positions in the pantheon of major Croatian military leaders.

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