Translation:Bollettino della Vittoria

Bollettino della Vittoria
by Armando Diaz, translated from Italian by Wikisource

The Bollettino della Vittoria is the final address to the Army and the Nation issued by the Chief of Staff, General Armando Diaz, at the conclusion of the Battle of Vittorio Veneto ending World War I in Italy.

The bulletin may have been written by General Siciliani the spokeperson of the General Staff.

414638Bollettino della VittoriaArmando Diaz

Italian edit

Comando Supremo, 4 Novembre 1918, ore 12

La guerra contro l'Austria-Ungheria che, sotto l'alta guida di S.M. il Re, duce supremo, l'Esercito Italiano, inferiore per numero e per mezzi, iniziò il 24 Maggio 1915 e con fede incrollabile e tenace valore condusse ininterrotta ed asprissima per 41 mesi è vinta.

La gigantesca battaglia ingaggiata il 24 dello scorso Ottobre ed alla quale prendevano parte cinquantuna divisioni italiane, tre britanniche, due francesi, una cecoslovacca ed un reggimento americano, contro settantatre divisioni austroungariche, è finita.

La fulminea e arditissima avanzata del XXIX corpo d'armata su Trento, sbarrando le vie della ritirata alle armate nemiche del Trentino, travolte ad occidente dalle truppe della VII armata e ad oriente da quelle della I, VI e IV, ha determinato ieri lo sfacelo totale della fronte avversaria. Dal Brenta al Torre l'irresistibile slancio della XII, dell'VIII, della X armata e delle divisioni di cavalleria, ricaccia sempre più indietro il nemico fuggente.

Nella pianura, S.A.R. il Duca d'Aosta avanza rapidamente alla testa della sua invitta III armata, anelante di ritornare sulle posizioni da essa già vittoriosamente conquistate, che mai aveva perdute.

L'Esercito Austro-Ungarico è annientato: esso ha subito perdite gravissime nell'accanita resistenza dei primi giorni e nell'inseguimento ha perdute quantità ingentissime di materiale di ogni sorta e pressoché per intero i suoi magazzini e i depositi. Ha lasciato finora nelle nostre mani circa trecento mila prigionieri con interi stati maggiori e non meno di cinque mila cannoni.

I resti di quello che fu uno dei più potenti eserciti del mondo risalgono in disordine e senza speranza le valli, che avevano disceso con orgogliosa sicurezza. Firmato Diaz

English edit

From the Supreme Headquarters 1200 hours, November 4th, 1918

The war against Austria-Hungary, which the Italian Army, inferior in number and equipment, began on 24 May 1915 under the leadership of his majesty and supreme leader the King and with a unwavering faith and tenacious bravery conducted without rest for 41 months is won.

The gigantic battle, which opened on the 24th of last October and in which 51 Italian divisions, 3 British, 2 French, 1 Czechoslovak and a US regiment participated against 73 Austrian divisions, is finished.

The very rapid advance of the XXIX Army Corps on Trento, blocking the withdrawal of the enemy armies from Trentino, that were also carried away from the west by the advancing of VII army and from the east by the I, VI, and the IV armies caused the collapse of the enemy's front. From Brenta to the Torre with a rush that was halted the XII, VIII, and the X armies, and the cavalry divisions are chasing the escaping enemy far.

In the plain His Royal Highness Duke of Aosta is advancing at the head of his never defeated III Army, hoping to come back as a winner to the positions that weren't lost by the Third Army.

The Austro-Hungarian Army is vanquished: it has suffered great losses in the hard resistance in the early days and during the pursuit, and it has lost a great quantity of materials of various types and whole stocks in warehouses. The Austro-Hungarian Army has left about 300,000 prisoners of war and also their entire staff and at least 5,000 pieces of artillery.

The remnants of what was one of the most powerful armies in the world are retreating to the valleys that they had gone down with proud self-assurance.

Diaz

Sources and Link edit

The whole Bulletin in the Italian version, with a brief explanation from Italian Army website

[1].

A video with the voice of Diaz reading the address.

[2]

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Original:

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