Austro-Hungarian soldier standing before an executed soldier, September 1917
Austro-Hungarian soldier standing before an executed soldier, September 1917.
Note: I found this photograph some 4 years ago, and the caption stated that the executed soldier was Italian, executed for desertion. However, the same caption also stated the observing soldier was Italian, which his Austro-Hungarian M1895 Steyr-Mannlicher rifle indicates he's not. I'm therefore inclined to believe the executed soldier was also Austro-Hungarian.
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On September 28, 1915 Italian Chief-of-Staff Luigi Cadorna issued the following statement: "Discipline is the spiritual flame of victory; the most disciplined troops, not the best trained, win. The commanding officer has the sacred duty to immediately execute the recalcitrant and the cowards".
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During the First World War over 170,000 Italian soldiers were convicted for military offences such as desertion, cowardice, disobedience, self-wounding, insubordinate language towards a superior officer, or sleeping on sentry duty. Over 100,000 for these were charged with desertion.
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Of the 170,000 convictions, 15,345 were given life sentences prison and 4,028 were sentenced to death. 750 of these executions were carried out; 391 for desertion, 164 for surrendering or disbanding, 154 for indiscipline, 21 for espionage or treason, 12 for violence, 5 for self-wounding, 2 for greed and 1 for sexual offences.
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This puts Italy at the second highest number of executions of the warring nations in the First World War, with Austria-Hungary on the top with 1,148 executions.
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Note: I found this photograph some 4 years ago, and the caption stated that the executed soldier was Italian, executed for desertion. However, the same caption also stated the observing soldier was Italian, which his Austro-Hungarian M1895 Steyr-Mannlicher rifle indicates he's not. I'm therefore inclined to believe the executed soldier was also Austro-Hungarian.
.
On September 28, 1915 Italian Chief-of-Staff Luigi Cadorna issued the following statement: "Discipline is the spiritual flame of victory; the most disciplined troops, not the best trained, win. The commanding officer has the sacred duty to immediately execute the recalcitrant and the cowards".
.
During the First World War over 170,000 Italian soldiers were convicted for military offences such as desertion, cowardice, disobedience, self-wounding, insubordinate language towards a superior officer, or sleeping on sentry duty. Over 100,000 for these were charged with desertion.
.
Of the 170,000 convictions, 15,345 were given life sentences prison and 4,028 were sentenced to death. 750 of these executions were carried out; 391 for desertion, 164 for surrendering or disbanding, 154 for indiscipline, 21 for espionage or treason, 12 for violence, 5 for self-wounding, 2 for greed and 1 for sexual offences.
.
This puts Italy at the second highest number of executions of the warring nations in the First World War, with Austria-Hungary on the top with 1,148 executions.
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