As we commemorate the anniversary of Italy’s exit from the First World War, it’s impossible to ignore the deep and indelible scars this conflict left on the population. The devastation was brutal: an entire generation torn apart, unprecedented death and suffering that would haunt the country for decades. Entire families were destroyed, communities wiped out, and dreams and lives shattered in a conflict that left behind only silence and ruins. This is the weight of war. This is the impact of the Great War on the population.
The armistice was signed as Italian troops continued to advance
If you want to delve deeper into the history and Italy’s role in the First World War, click here: Life in Italy During World War I
The history of the First World War is a long chapter filled with old enmities, lost possessions and territories, broken agreements, and lakes of blood. Italy finally exited the war at noon on November 4, when General Armando Diaz sent the Victory Bulletin to a nation heavily scarred by destruction and loss.
On November 3, an armistice was signed the day before at Villa Giusti, near Padua. However, the agreement stipulated that hostilities would cease only at 3:00 p.m. on November 4, 1918. This is why, when those in military command transmitted the Victory Bulletin, many in Italy were already celebrating the end of the conflict, while Italian troops were still advancing northward.
More than 1 Million Italian deaths
It is practically impossible to quantify the true impact of the war on the population. The vast destructive force of the conflict claimed millions of lives, though estimates vary widely. The most accepted figures indicate a total, including military and civilian casualties, of between 1 million and 1.2 million. The global toll of the conflict, however, is estimated at more than 37 million, including over 16 million dead and more than 20 million wounded and maimed.
These are staggering numbers, especially considering that in the past 110 years, the Italian population has nearly doubled. In 1914, there were 35.6 million inhabitants, while today, that number is close to 60 million. The 1.2 million dead represent about 3.5% of the population lost in a bloody conflict that lasted from 1915 to 1918.
But the story does not end there. Looking closer, Italy deployed a significant armed force, approximately 5.6 million men, with total losses amounting to nearly 40% of the mobilized force. Of these, an estimated 600,000 were reported missing or taken as prisoners, almost 1 million were wounded, and over 600,000 soldiers lost their lives in the war.
Let’s remember: 40% of Italy’s armed forces deployed during WWI were lost. Around 3.4% of the entire Italian population perished in the conflict.
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