PIAVE 17' - A WW1 Short Film

Added: 2026-05-29

[00:00:05]Caporetto, October 1917.

[00:00:09]The Austro-Hungarian Empire's last chance to win the war.

[00:00:15]On the morning of the 24th, heavily armed storm troopers slink out of their trenches to inflict massive casualties on the Italians, who are unprepared and poorly led.

[00:00:27]Some 275,000 Italians are captured while the Austro-Hungarians push on, forcing the Italians back 150 km from the Isonzo River to the Piave.

[00:00:39]Some Austrians say they can see Venice, but they're tired, undersupplied, and undermanned.

[00:00:48]By November 19th, scattered Austrian units make it to the Piave River and begin to dig in, waiting for the supply [music] routes to catch up.

[00:00:58]The Italians make their move, determined to unwedge the attackers before they can be properly supplied.

[00:01:05]Across the front, probing attacks from the river poke and prod at Austrian-Hungarian lines.

[00:01:12]In one sector, Austrian-Hungarian pioneers are clearing an important road adjacent to the river, hoping to move German artillery into a good line of fire.

[00:01:23]Unbeknownst to them, the Italians have already crossed the river and are mere minutes away.

[00:02:12]>> You're going to have to go back and get the saw.

[00:02:18]Maybe not.

[00:02:25]Hey.

[00:02:26]Do you have a saw on you by any chance?

[00:02:30]Sir.

[00:02:31]Sorry, no saw, but I We were tasked to clear the road to bring the guns up.

[00:02:36]But we didn't bring the saw.

[00:02:38]Yeah, we only brought wire cutters.

[00:02:41]I don't know why you only brought [ __ ] wire cutters.

[00:02:45]Yeah, I could give you guys a hand.

[00:02:47]Do you know where the steering HQ is?

[00:02:48]I'm just Get off the [screaming] road!

[00:03:11]Hold position!

[00:03:24]Have a contact!

[00:03:30]All right.

[00:03:32]We're going to move up those stairs and get up into the cliffs.

[00:03:35]Right, sir.

[00:03:37]On me!

[00:03:55]>> HOLD! WE'RE GERMAN. WE'RE GERMAN.

[00:03:57]PLEASE, he's injured.

[00:04:08]Sir, artillery hit us further up the road. The Italians are right behind us.

[00:04:12]Pull back with us.

[00:05:38]Right.

[00:05:39]You, see what you can do for him.

[00:05:41]You, tell me what we're dealing with.

[00:05:44]And the rest of you, search for any spare ammunition or equipment you can find and put someone on watch.

[00:06:13]Right behind us. I don't think they Sir!

[00:06:25]Sir, the position's abandoned. It used to be one of ours. They must have only pulled out a few minutes ago.

[00:06:30]Must have pulled back when they heard the artillery.

[00:06:35]The Italians are too close.

[00:06:37]We can't pull back now.

[00:06:39]We'll have to hold the position.

[00:06:42]Did you find anything?

[00:06:43]Just this, sir.

[00:06:58]I want you to take a position in those sandbags by the trees.

[00:07:19]How's he doing?

[00:07:21]Arm seems shattered and he hit his head pretty bad when he fell off his horse.

[00:07:26]Can he fight?

[00:07:27]Yeah, he can fight.

[00:07:29]We've been through worse, hey?

[00:07:33]I'm sorry, son.

[00:07:35]No rest yet.

[00:09:49]>> CALL OUT WHAT YOU SEE.

[00:09:51]NOTHING SEEN. [ __ ] INFANTRY.

[00:10:00]SIR, they're attacking from the right flank.

[00:10:13]Sir, they're coming up the ramp.

[00:10:30]>> [groaning and screaming] >> Sir, peace.

[00:11:00]Go and help your mate.

[00:12:29]>> Is there anybody wounded?

[00:12:31]No one injured. [ __ ] Gas, gas, gas.

[00:12:34]Gas, gas. Gas, gas.

[00:12:53]Gas, gas. Where's your gas mask?

[00:12:55]Take a left there.

[00:13:01]Bomb!

[00:14:37]>> As the bodies grew pale and cold and the rain gently nestles on eyes that have dulled no friend, no further, no duty or rank.

[00:15:00]As the rain drops [music] like feathers down the river bank.

[00:15:09]About three years ago I picked [music] up the torch and marched with my rifle and pack.

[00:15:24]Like my [music] father before he watched from the porch [music] but unlike him I'd never come back.

[00:15:37]>> [music] >> In the mountains of snow we all froze, in the hot summer days we all sweated >> [music] >> and when we were cut down the crows circling above [music] I regret to leave my father alone [music] but what choice do I have [singing] at all?

[00:16:02]For now no more shall [music] I roam on the Merrimack river I fall.

[00:16:24]I can't help but look on from my mountainous gray and watch as the summer lands blew [music] and I wonder myself with all that I gave if my father still thinks of me, too.

[00:16:54]In the mountains of [music] snow we all froze, in the hot summer days we all sweated and [music] when we were cut down the crows circling above I regret to leave [music and singing] my father alone but what choice do I have at all?

[00:17:17]For now [music] no more shall I roam on the Bear River I fall. [music] >> [music] >> One [music] day, I am sure, they'll forget my face and then forget my name, [singing] too.

[00:17:54]But, eternally so, nestled in this warm place in the flowers [music] morning dew.

[00:18:28]>> [music] >> In the mountains [music] and snow, we all froze. In the hot summer days, we all [music] sweated.

[00:18:47]And when we were cut down, the crows circling above [music] I regret to leave my father alone.

[00:18:58]But, what choice do [music] I have at all?

[00:19:02]For now, no more shall I roam on the Bear River I fall.

[00:19:16]On the other river side, >> [music] >> fall.