The II Italian Corps Deployment on the Western Front during the First World War (April 1918-May 1919)

This thesis is a case study about little known instance of coalition warfare during the First World War. Specifically, it analyzes the deployment of Italy's II Italian Corps to the Western Front during the final months of the First World War. The II Corps' deployment to the Western Front was needed to demonstrate Italy's commitment to the Allied Forces coalition. After Italy's defeat at the Battle of Caporetto, II Corps' deployment outside of Italy's national borders came at a crucible moment in the country's military history. Italy had to man, sustain, and employ forces on both the Western and Italian Fronts. A component of the Italian general reserve, II Corps was chosen partly because of its availability, but also because of both its prior achievements and its commander, Major General Alberico Albricci. General Albricci's ability to balance national guidance versus tactical concerns ensured that II Corps fully supported Allied objectives. This thesis analyzes the success of II Corps deployment and it highlights how the understanding of the different national goals inside a coalition is still relevant today. It also demonstrates the fundamental requirement for providing the necessary resources for a small force deployed in a multi-national coalition. ; The original document contains color images.