The Great War |
From Baselga di Pine` to the United States |
Trentino and the Great War
Our Ancestors
The First World War
had vast impact on the Trentini people as a whole, as well as individual
families. At the war's beginning, the Trentino territory had endured
a century of domination and control by the Austrian Empire, but was
also experiencing a surgence of Irredentism, fueled by Italy's quest to
regain the territory. These competing loyalties exacerbated the Trentini response to war and pitted
brother against brother in the call to war.
On July 31,
1914, the vast majority of Trentini men heeded the order of the Austrian
Emporer Franz Josef, which ordered the enlistment of 60,000 Trentini men into the Austrian Army, for mobilization to the Russian
front. They were organized into 4 regiments, the Tiroler
Kaiserjäger - T.K.J. - (Tirolesi Hunters of the Emperor), the Tiroler
Landesschützen (provincial Bersaglieres), the Tiroler Standschützen
(territorial Bersaglieres), and in smaller numbers to units of
the common army and the Landerwehr. On August 7, 1914, the soldiers
of the Tiroler Kaiserjäger regiment left from the Dante
public square in the city of Trento, for Galizia-Bucovina-Serbia destination. They were greeted
by political, military, and religious authorities. Upon departure, the soldiers were given a bottle
of wine, labeled “health and auguries”, as well as bread, beer, salami
and cheese.
At the same time, approximately 700 Trentini fled south, fueled by
their quest for Italian reunification, and enlisted into the
Italian army. The personification of this movement was Cesare Battisti, among others. Battisti was ultimately
captured by the Austrians forces and hung at the Castle of the Buonconsiglio on July
12, 1916.
On May 26, 1915, the Italian Republic ended
its neutrality and entered the war on the side of the English. Their entry
was secured, in part, by the Pact of London, in which the Italians were promised
the former areas of Trento and the contiguous territory to the
Brennero Pass; the cities of Gorizia, Trieste and Gradisca d' Isonzo; Istria and
Dalmatia.
With the opening of the Italian front in the
Trentino territory, evacuation of more than 100,000
civilians were ordered to the north and south of the territory.
Others were persecuted and interned, based on their perceived or resistant
activities. Approximately 1,700 were exiled to
the field of Katzenau, where they suffered for 3 years in poverty and away from
family and home.
As Trentini
natives, our ancestors likely faced the same dilemmas and trials as those
described above. At this time, the only known participant is
Giovanbattista Mattivi. He was ordered to report to the Austrian Army and
was subsequently killed on the Russian front, in 1916. Whether he served out
of will or fear is unknown. A family anecdote, told by James "Bud"
Mattivi, provides that one cause of Ben's immigration to the United
States was to avoid the possibility of fighting against his
brothers.