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Italy Joins the Allies
Prior to the summer of 1914, Italy had been an ally of Germany and Austria-Hungary as a member of the so-called Triple Alliance. When war broke out, however, Italy declared itself neutral and remained strictly so until the spring of 1915.
In April 1915, Italy approached Austria-Hungary and offered its alliance to the Central Powers in exchange for a list of a half-dozen territories under Austrian control. When Austria refused a few days later, Italy turned to the Allied Powers with an even longer list of demands. Negotiations began immediately, and a few weeks later, on April 26, a secret agreement was signed that came to be known as the London Pact. The pact granted Italy claims to territories in Austria-Hungary, as well as in Albania, Turkey, and North Africa. Thus, on May 23, 1915, Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary.
South Tyrol and the Battle of Caporetto
Italian forces promptly advanced into the mountainous border regions of South Tyrol and to the Isonzo River. They made good progress at first, but within weeks, the front bogged down in the treacherous terrain, while the Austro-Hungarian forces pulled off a very effective defense. As a result, one more entrenched front line was added to the war.
The Italians and Austrians fought battle after battle along the Isonzo River, and though losses were huge, progress by either side was negligible. The situation continued largely unchanged until the Italians were defeated in the disastrous Battle of Caporetto in October 1917 and forced to retreat from the area. A combined total of 750,000 casualties were lost on both sides during two and a half years of fighting in which nothing substantial was accomplished.
Developments in Eastern Europe
While stalemates persisted in France and South Tyrol, the situation changed in eastern Europe, where several other nations joined the war. First was Romania, which had remained neutral for the first two years of the war but on August 18, 1916, signed a secret pact with the Allied Powers granting it the right to seize the territories of Transylvania, Bukovina, and Banat in exchange for entering the war on the Allied side. Shortly thereafter, on August 27, Romania declared war on Austria-Hungary and quickly moved forces across the border into Transylvania (then a part of Austria-Hungary).
The situation soon became more complicated when Bulgaria declared war on Romania on September 1. Bulgaria promptly followed up on its declaration: on September 5, Bulgarian forces, reinforced by German and Austrian troops, attacked the Romanians at the fortress of Turtucaia and succeeded in capturing 25,000 prisoners of war. The struggle continued for several months, but on December 6, 1916, German troops captured Bucharest.
Several months later, on June 27, 1917, Greece entered the war on the side of the Allied Powers, following the abdication of Greece’s pro-German king, Constantine I. Though Greece had been neutral through most of the war, it was surrounded by conflicts on all sides. While the king supported Germany, the government and a large portion of the population were sympathetic to the Allied Powers.
Events Timeline
April 26, 1915
Italy signs secret “London Pact”
May 23
Italy declares war on Austria-Hungary
August 18
Romania signs treaty with Allied Powers
August 27
Romania declares war on Austria-Hungary, invades Transylvania
September 1
Bulgaria declares war on Romania
September 5
Bulgarian invasion of Romania reaches Danube just south of Bucharest
July 2
Greece declares war on Central Powers
