Chapter 81: Battle of Venice
Indeed, war is fueled by financial and logistical resources, and the Kingdom of Sardinia’s limited resources made it difficult for them to sustain the conflict in the long term. Securing further loans, especially from the cautious John Bull (UK’s Uncle Sam basically), proved nearly impossible given the current state of the Kingdom of Sardinia.
Furthermore, the Hungarian Republic was on the verge of collapse, and if they waited for the end of the internal conflict in Austria while the Battle of Venice remained unresolved, the consequences would undoubtedly be dire.
……
At the frontline in Venice, at the headquarters of the Sardinian Kingdom’s army, Badoglio is confidently leading the army, or rather commanding it.
TN: I mistranslated Badoglio as Badoer in previous chapters. Do take note of this change in name.
For now, leaving aside the combat capabilities of both sides, at least in terms of army numbers, the Kingdom of Sardinia holds an absolute advantage.
The total Austrian forces that were deployed to the Venice battlefield was less than 100,000, while Badoglio commanded an army of 200,000. Even with some of the forces being tied up due to the Lombard rebellion, there were still 160,000 troops at his disposal.
“Marshal, there is news from our homeland. The Austrian government has dispatched 50,000 reinforcements to the Venice region and ordered us to capture Venice before the enemy reinforcements arrive!”
Upon hearing this, Badoglio was startled and anxiously asked, “When will the enemy reinforcements arrive in Venice?”
“The Austrian government has mobilized 50,000 troops from the Austrian corps, and they are currently rushing from Klagenfurt. At the latest, they will arrive within half a month, but it could be as soon as ten days.”
Upon hearing this news, Badoglio directed his gaze towards the map, carefully examining it.
Launching an offensive in Venice was originally intended to put pressure on the Austrian forces, forcing them to divert their troops and relieve some pressure for the Hungarian Republic.
This plan assumes the Kingdom of Sardinia has already captured Venice, but since the battle is still ongoing, Austria adding 50,000 troops wouldn’t make much difference.
If it can help save the Hungarian Republic, then the Venice battlefield was insignificant, and strategically, it was feasible.
Badoglio, however, didn’t have much confidence in the Hungarian Republic. Even if Austria were to lose 50,000 troops, it wouldn’t change the outcome of the war.
Without hesitation, Badoglio decisively gave the order, “We don’t have much time left. Command the troops to prepare. We will launch our attack tomorrow morning at 9:30 sharp!
General Messer, you will lead the Second and Eighth Divisions. It is imperative that you capture Trento within three days and then flank the enemy, cutting off their retreat.
General Fouqué…”
The Austrian military headquarters, under Marshal Radetzky, also received news of reinforcements earlier than the Italians.
The advance on the Hungarian battlefield went too smoothly, with the Bohemian army crossing the Danube River and encircling Budapest, while the Croatian army was less than a hundred kilometers away from the city.
At this point, the importance of the Austrian army had diminished, as they no longer required as many troops. Therefore, Franz naturally chose to reinforce the Venetian war theater.
Marshal Radetzky’s anxious heart finally settled down. Without reinforcements, even if he could win battles relying solely on the troops under his command, he would be unable to expand his achievements.
“Marshal, should we consider changing our military deployment and wait for the reinforcements before engaging the enemy in a decisive battle?” suggested General Viktor.
Marshal Radetzky shook his head and said, “No, it's too late to change the military deployment now. Our frontline forces are likely already engaged in combat. I have already ordered the reinforcements to abandon their supply logistics and expedite their march. Under normal circumstances, they should be able to join this war in time.”
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There was no doubt that the Kingdom of Sardinia had miscalculated. They did not anticipate that the Austrian reinforcements would march lightly equipped.
This is the advantage of conducting operations on home soil. In crucial moments, troops can march light equipment, relying on local governments for provisions and replenishing ammunition in Venice.
The turning point of the Austro-Sardinian War has arrived, and it all boils down to timing.
If Badoglio can defeat the Austrian forces before the Austrian reinforcements arrive, the Kingdom of Sardinia would temporarily gain a military advantage, offering the possibility of a good outcome to this war.
On the contrary, if Marshal Radetzky and the Austrian forces emerge victorious, the Kingdom of Sardinia must prepare for a defensive battle on their own soil.
On May 9, 1848, the Battle of Venice broke out, and the Tuscan troops were the first unfortunate ones to bear the brunt.
Well, Grand Duke Leopold II of Tuscany was supported by Austria and had no real intention to engage them in warfare. It was only under public pressure that he sent troops to the front.
Leopold II exhibited a certain level of political astuteness, particularly in his ability to manipulate the nationalist factions. He cleverly enticed them into joining the expeditionary force, exploiting their aspirations for political gain.
However, not everyone possessed self-awareness, as demonstrated by Mr. Macheld, the Tuscan nationalist leader. He mistakenly believed himself to be a military genius and arrogantly assumed the position of commander-in-chief, hoping to capitalize on the war for his own political agenda.
“Division Commander, the enemy has been quickly caught in our trap. Do you think there will be any issues?" Chief of Staff Feslav asked with uncertainty.
“Any issues? According to the intelligence, this enemy force is operating independently, and the nearest reinforcements are also thirty kilometers away from them.
By the time their reinforcements arrive, the battle will already be over. Can this small force of five thousand enemies possibly hold off our Sixth Division for even a day?” analyzed General Morques, the commander of the Sixth Division.
“But isn’t the enemy's behavior too foolish? They dare to venture deep into our territory with such a small force. Do they think they’re Napoleon?” Chief of Staff Feslav furrowed his brows as he spoke.
“Why bother with all that? Our mission is simply to eliminate this insurgent force. Regardless of the enemy’s intentions, we'll deal with the bait first before worrying about anything else. This enemy is composed of soldiers from four different states, and they have their own internal conflicts. It’s possible that this Tuscan army has been betrayed,” speculated General Morques.
After thinking for a moment, Feslav didn’t find any problems and said, “Alright, let's attack first and then see. But let’s send out more scouts to be cautious of enemy reinforcements!”
As time passed, with the command of Morques, the sound of guns and cannons resounded, signaling the start of the Battle of Venice.
The sudden enemy attack caught the Tuscan army off guard while they were in marching formation.
Macheld was an excellent speaker and possibly a great writer, but he was definitely not a military strategist.
Macheld held a disdainful view of the decadent Tuscan aristocratic officers in the expeditionary force. He personally appointed most of the officers, the majority being patriotic young individuals.
The troops were full of vigor and dissatisfied with the sluggish marching pace of their comrades. They decided to run a little faster and inadvertently found themselves at the forefront.
Due to extensive propaganda, they held a belief that the Austrian Empire was in decline and its army was weak. The swift occupation of Lombardy by the Kingdom of Sardinia further reinforced this conviction.
Thus, when confronted with the enemy, their initial response was not panic but rather delight. Without hesitation, they issued orders to counterattack, with the young officers leading the charge at the very front.
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