PASSO TONALE | ALPS

The Tonale Pass (1883 m./6178 ft. a.s.l.) is a high mountain pass in northern Italy across the Rhaetian Alps, between the Lombardy Region and Trentino Alto Adige Region. It connects Valcamonica and Val di Sole. It is delimited by the Ortler Alps to the north and the Adamello range to the south. The pass plays host to many hotels and shops for tourists in the winter, as the land around the pass is used for winter sports - mainly skiing and snowboarding.

Today Passo Tonale is known for its outdoors activities such as skiing, hiking, wildlife observation and mountaineering. Smooth highway links the cultures of northern Italy and the southern Tyrol, who have honored the fallen of this war with a chapel/ossuary on Tonale Pass itself, and a rock and iron cairn above the pass. At the notch called Passo Paradiso skiers and hikers can pause a moment to consider the "Monument to Brotherhood" and past sacrifices in such a beautiful setting.

WWI HISTORY OF PASSO TONALE

The strategic value of Passo Tonale is increased when the terrain on each side is considered, the highest peaks of the Great War's entire Alpine front. The mighty Ortler range to the north rises as high as 3905 meters (12,770 feet). To the south are the Adamello and Presanella ranges with similar peaks and vast glaciers. In 1915 the summer meadows of Passo Tonale became a no man's land. The surrounding ridges and summits would later be occupied, observation posts and defenses manned in all seasons.

Passo Tonale was well defended on both sides by fortresses, wire and trenches in-depth, mobile batteries and nearby garrisons. Along this frontier were mountain troops of both Austria and Italy, the Kaiserjager and Alpini, who were supplemented by Italian and Austrian reservists. The regulars would eventually be siphoned off to more critical battles and fronts, the burden of defense being held increasingly by "die alte Tiroler" or "la Terrible," army nicknames for the reservist. The most formidable defenses for either side were the natural obstacles of glacier, cliff and endless craggy peaks. 

During the Great War there would never be the manpower from either side to attempt break through this strategic pass, except once, in 1918. On the 13th of June, Austrian Archduke Peter would lead two divisions [including the 22nd Gebirgsbrigade, and local men in the 1st Landesschutzen Regiment, known since 1917 as Kaiserschutzen] in Operation Avalanche. This opportunistic diversion attempted to draw attention from two much larger Austrian offensives against the Piave River line and the Altipiano, centering on Monte Grappa. What would have happened if luck had been with the Austrians at Tonale is not known, as all effort, reserves and support were firmly focused to the east. Aktion Lawine failed miserably due to impossible terrain, undermanned units, meager supplies and determined Italian resistance. In hindsight, these two divisions might have made a critical difference in the Grappa or Asiago sectors, where similar Austrian offensives failed. The final action seen at Passo Tonale was the Italian pursuit of retreating Austrian forces, down the Val di Sole in November of 1918. Austrians from the Asiago/Val Sugana area and Trento were cut off and captured, along with great amounts of abandoned weapons and material.