The Sixth Battle of the Isonzo, better known as the Battle of Gorizia, was the most successful Italian offensive along the Soča (Isonzo) River during World War I. Background Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf had reduced the Austro-Hungarian forces along the Soča (Isonzo) front to reinforce his Trentino Offensive and also to assist with the defense of the Russian Brusilov Offensive then taking place on the eastern front. Italian Chief-of-Staff Luigi Cadorna turned his attention (along with that of Prince Emanuele Filiberto, Duke of Aosta – Commander of the Italian Third Army) to the Isonzo front and particularly, the city of Gorizia. They planned a heavy bombardment in a very restricted zone between Monte Calvario and Monte San Michele – two heights overlooking the city. The bombardment would be followed by ground action to obtain control of the left bank of the Isonzo. Moreover, this battle would start with an advantage because the Italians had already succeeded in advancing towards the top of Monte Sabotino another height (which overlooks the Isonzo valley and is key to the control of the city) above Gorizia and Italian sappers had built several tunnels behind the emplacements of the Austro-Hungarian troops there. Cadorna also made good use of railroads to quickly shift troops from Trentino back to the Isonzo line for this offensive against the weakened Austro-Hungarian defenses. Battle On 6 August the offensive was launched against Gorizia. The offensive was concentrated in two zones: the hilly area west of the Soča (Isonzo) river near Gorizia and the westernmost edge of the Karst Plateau near Doberdò del Lago. In the Battle of Doberdò, the Italians, after bloody hand-to-hand combat, managed to conquer the main transport road leading from the coast town of Duino to Gorizia, thus securing their advance to Gorizia from the south. The Austro-Hungarian forces had to retreat on the line east of Gorizia (Mount Škabrijel), leaving the heavily damaged town to the Italians. The bombardment at Gorizia was extremely heavy and effective. Borojevic asked for reinforcements but was denied. In the afternoon Cadorna ordered the 45th division to attack Monte Sabotino. In under one hour, supported by heavy artillery, the Italian infantry reached the peak. Simultaneously the attack on Monte San Michele also commenced. The Italian Infantry succeeded quickly to reach the summit while the Austro-Hungarian soldiers retreated waiting for a later counterattack. In the absence of reserve forces (which had been