Isonzo News

Hello soldiers !

As you might know, the upcoming Piave map is releasing on February 28! This is the second map of the Caporetto expansion, meaning this will be another map for the Italians & Germans to fight on. Of course, this a free new map, alongside the new weapons and more custom match options you’ll be getting as well.



The battle for Piave is only a few days away, so what better way to prepare yourself is some in-depth information about the map and your objectives !

[h2] Remember, the 10th of November [/h2]

It’s November 10, 1917.

Only the Vidor bridge northwest of Montello still remains intact. All the previous bridges were destroyed a day prior. It was the Italians' strategic plan to maintain the bridgehead beyond the Piave river at Vidor and Valdobbiadene. Start a counter-offensive against the Austro-German forces at the right wing (and help out the deployment of the Allied forces at the Italian Front). In order to deal with the danger that was lurking, a bridgehead was ordered to be built on the left side of the Piave river at Vidor.
If you would like to read more about the Battles of the Piave, be sure to read our previous devblog.

https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1556790/view/3632752093411262805

[h2] P(i)ave the way [/h2]

As you might’ve seen from the screenshots that we teased, you’ll be fighting in some vineyard. This is where the battle will commence for the German assault. Destructed vehicles and ruins of buildings that made up the town mark the battlefield as you fight your way up the hill. A real highway to hell...



At the top of the hill you’ll find the ruins of a castle. A strong holding point for the Italians with the highground, but the surrounding vineyards might make it a bit harder to see the attackers coming. Combined with foxhole-style trenches, overtaking the castle were the first objectives for the Germans to take, and for the Italians to defend.



If the Germans are successful in their capture of the hilltop castle and clearing out the vineyard, they make their way to the town of Vidor. A distinct height difference will be visible between the town and the forest at the top of the hill. Perhaps using this to your advantage will help, or maybe it makes you extra wary of potential flanks of the enemy?

The next objective will be the town’s Abbey. To reach this, the Germans need to make their way through the town first, go down the slopes across the town’s mainstreet which has turned into No Man's Land due to the battle. Fighting again on a ground level, both parties need to stay aware of their visibility and long distance firing/bombing that potentially can happen.



If No Man’s Land is crossed, the new fighting ground will be the Abbey. A beautiful building that still stands strong in the midst of the battle, like the Italians' morale. The hallways, paths and inner sanctuary make for some close range combat, so be aware that a foe can be around every corner. Visually, it's a very mesmerizing place to fight the battles of war.





The final destination will be the Piave Bridgehead and its right bank. The bridge still stands but only partly, but can be fully destroyed if successful. Finding a different way to cross is of importance for the Germans. Luckily, a small bridge can be built on the right riverbank.



But remember, what can be built can also be destroyed. Be sure to not be distracted by this side of the river. Though a smaller bridge makes it easier for soldiers to cross, that doesn’t mean it’s the only way. Keep your eyes on the river, there seems to be more swimming in the water besides the fishes…



[h2] Piave from above [/h2]

To get you fully prepared for your new upcoming battle, we’ve a complete flyover of the map for you on our YouTube channel

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Remember that this update is completely for free, so be sure to update your game on February 28 to fight on this new battlefield!

[h2] More coming to Isonzo [/h2]

This is not the last map we will bring to Isonzo! We got a lot more coming for you… Up next is a well-known phenomenon, so we’ll be getting on that right away (along with the other future content).

[h3] See you at the Piave River next week! [/h3]

Hello soldiers !

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Experience the Western- and Eastern Front of the Great War in these previous two games.

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[h3]See you at the fronts soldiers[/h3]

Hello soldiers !

We’re excited to share with you all what the new upcoming map is going to be! Only a few of you have guessed it correctly; the new map is going to be Piave !



The release date for this map is February 28 and will release alongside more custom match options (more bot options, cooldown timers, ticket timers & more) and new weapons
For now, let’s talk about the Piave battles.



[h2] Battles of the Piave [/h2]

The two battles of the Piave river were fought between November 10-December 25, 1917 and June 15-23 1918. The Austro-Hungarians together with the Germans advanced together and aimed to bring down the Italian army once and for all.

After the Italian defeat at Caporetto (24 October 1917), they retreated to the Tagliamento line. At the same time, Boselli resigned as the prime minister of Italy and he was replaced by Vittorio Emanule Orlando. Together with King Victor Emmanuel III, he formed a new cabinet. They met with the British and French prime ministers (David Lloyd George & Paul Painlevé) to discuss the emergency facing the Italian army. One of the decisions that were made during this meeting was Cadorna’s replacement by Armando Diaz as the new Italian chief of staff. Additionally, the British and French prime ministers suggested that the Mincio river might be easier to defend, but the king supported his new chief to stand firm on the Piave river, to prevent Venice from falling into enemy hands.

King Victor Emmanuel III and Kaiser Wilhelm II. Source

Allied forces made their way down to the Italian front and realised there that their current situation was a serious matter, but there was no desperation (yet). Though the pride of the Italian soldiers was scarred, they were determined to redeem themselves.

[h2] The Arresto [/h2]

On 9 November 1917, all the bridges of the Piave river were blown up with the exception of the Vidor bridge. This was to allow the Italian rearguard troops to get to the right bank of the Piave river. These troops arrived later as they preceded invaders and troops who came down from the Dolomite front. This gave the Italians a chance to buy some time, as they didn’t have the means or numbers to create a well-structured defense line with sufficient forces in the field.



On November 10th, the German troops of the 12th Silesian division of the Stein group attempted to cross the Vidor bridge. However the Italian army repelled the attacks, despite the various losses they suffered beforehand. This was the start of the First Battle of the Piave (Battaglia d’Arresto) , which was split up into two phases; 10-26 November 1917 and 4-25 December 1917.



The goal of the Austo-Hungarians, under the lead of general Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf, was to take Monte Grappa and break through the Piave line of the Italians, which was reinforced by the Allied units. However, Grappa is in a strong defensive position with his natural elements. This helped the Italians to hold their positions in the freezing cold winds and dry snow.

Italian soldiers firing MG’s at the Piave river. Source

A few days later on November 22nd, German Sturmtruppen were able to take Monte Tomba and on December 4th, they overran the Melette. However they were unable to advance any further. During the remaining month of December, the Austro-Hungarians made another attempt to break through the Italian defense line, but due to heavy artillery lagging behind and the overall exhaustion of the men, this was unsuccessful. Following German advice, further operations by the Austro-Hungarians were suspended.

[h2]More next time! [/h2]

So what do you think? We’ll go more in depth about the Piave map in the game and your objectives in the next blog!



[h3]P(i)ave the way on February 28! [/h3]

Hello soldiers !

The dev team is working hard on the upcoming map that was teased in the last devblog!



We can’t reveal yet what the map is going to, but some of you have guessed correctly. Do with that information what you want ;) Once we get more information for you to share, we’ll be sure to post a devblog about it as well. For now, we want to dive into some of the items that are included in the Royal Units DLC, which is the cosmetic pack for the German Empire.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2197970/Isonzo__Royal_Units_Pack/



[h2] An interesting headpiece [/h2]

One of the headgears that you’re able to equip is the Tschako Württemberg.
A Tschako (shako) is a tall, cylindrical military cap, usually with a visor, and sometimes tapered at the top. Adorned usually with an ornamental plate/badge on the front, metallic and at the top (at the front), there’s often feather, plume or pom pom attached to the Tschako.

Its origin lies in the Hungarian name ‘csákó ’meaning peak. Around 1790, the Austro-Hungarian border soldiers (Grenz-Infanterie) added the Tschako to their equipment. Originally these hats were part of the clothing commonly worn by shepherds, before being added to the uniform of the hussar in the early 18th century.

For the German Empire, the Tschako was the most commonly worn helmet before the introduction of the Pickelhaube in 1842. Even during the Napoleonic wars until well into the 1800s. With the introduction of the Pickelhaube, the Tschako got a more refined shape and was eventually worn by the Jäger Schützen, Telegraph, Train (Supply) and several other (small) units.

As previously mentioned, the Tschako was often a feather or plume at the top of the helmet. In German, this was called a ‘Feldzeichen’ (field sign). They came in different colours and variations. Here’s an overview of the most commonly used ones.

Source

1. Braunschweig, Husaren and Jäger.
   
2. Bayern (Bavaria), Aviation Troops, Jäger, Telegraphen (Telegraph), and Ulanen.
   
3. Sachsen (Saxon) Train (up to 1903).
   
4. Sachsen (Saxon), Aviation Troops, Husaren, Maschinengewehr (Machine Gun), and Ulanen.
   
5. Preußen, Aviation Troops, Husaren, Jäger, Maschinengewehr (Machine Gun), Telegraphen (Telegraph), Train (up to 1903), and Ulanen.
   
6. Württemberg Telegraphen (Telegraph), Train (up to 1903), and Ulanen.
   

The emblem that was attached on the front came with different variations. During the 1800s, most of them portrayed an eagle, which had different styles and variations over the years.

Source

In 1860, a new Garde star was introduced to the Tschako with the text ‘Mitt Gott für König und Vaterland (With God for the King and Fatherland), combined with the adoption of the Bandeau with the same text.
In the game you can find the Württemberg Tschako, which is a very rare item for the elite unit in the Württemberg army, also known as the Mountain Troops. The text reads ‘Furchtlos und Treu" which means fearless and loyal.



Other examples of Tschako plate emblems include the coat of arms of many of Germany’s city states.

The Tschako continued to evolve and was present during World War Two for Germany, portraying the swastika. Nowadays, several countries use their own Tschako mostly for ceremonial purposes.

[h2] Piping hot item [/h2]

One of the visually outstanding items in this pack are the Cavalier Pipe and especially the Epic Cavalier Pipe. Smoking during WW1 was a common practice amongst the soldiers. Soldiers were often sent tobacco and cigarettes from home or even by their country’s leader during Christmas as a present.
A cavalier pipe is a special kind of pipe. It’s based on the older Tyrolean pipes that originate from Germany. The cavalier pipe is more of an unusual pipe because of its airhole system. The airhole of the pipe in the shank goes all the way past the bowl ,where the tobacco is inserted, and is capped. This way the smoke can travel from the bowl through a hole that joins the airhole. This design allowed for more moisture to be collected in the airhole, adding more flavor and an overall better experience.



The Epic Cavalier Pipe is more decorated. Often there were small drawings of high military figures on them, which could differ from the regiment. Soldiers usually got these made after their service, becoming a memorial keepsake.



A unit of men stayed together from their training all the way to their discharge as a unit. This sense of togetherness fostered the custom of buying souvenirs with the unit name, insignias and decorations as a keepsake of military service. Rosters of names from your unit, or regiment, could be added to the steins and these became known to collectors as ‘regimental steins’.



[h2] Erwin Rommel [/h2]

Most of you noticed the face named ‘Erwin’ and the moustache ‘Rommel’, which of course refers to Erwin Rommel.

Johannes Erwin Eugen Rommel was born on November 15, 1891. He served in the Reichswehr during WW1 and later Wehrmacht during WW2. He received the ‘Pour le Mérite’ which is an order of merit, established by King Frederick II of Prussia. He received this for his actions on the Italian Front, which he later wrote a book about; Infantry Attacks.

Prior to his deployment to the Italian Front, Rommel had fought in France and Romania.
His first combat experience was on 22 August 1914 as a platoon commander near Verdun. He caught a French garrison unprepared, which led Rommel and three other men to open fire on them without ordering the rest of his platoon forward. The armies continued to skirmish in open engagements throughout September, as trench warfare, which WW1 is known for, was yet to fully establish.

In August 1917, Rommel and his unit was involved in the battle for Mount Cosna, a heavily fortified objective on the border between Austria-Hungary and Romania, which took over two weeks of difficult uphill fighting. Being a Mountain Battalion, their next assignment was the mountainous area of the Isonzo Front. Taking part in the Battle of Caporetto on October 24, 1917, Rommel’s battalion contained three rifle companies and a machine gun unit. Their objective was to (try) take the enemy positions on Kolovrat, Matajur and Stol. In two and a half days after the start, Rommel and his 150 men captured 81 guns and 9,000 men (including 150 officers), at a loss of six dead and 30 wounded. Rommel achieved this remarkable success by taking advantage of the terrain to outflank the Italian forces, attacking from unexpected directions or behind enemy lines, and taking the initiative to attack when he had orders to the contrary.



Rommel helped with the introduction of infiltration tactics, which were at the time a new form of maneuver warfare, freshly adopted by the German armies. Seeing the success of these new tactics, these were quickly adopted by foreign armies. Rommel’s tactics were often described by Blitzkrieg without tanks.

On the 9th of November, Rommel and his unit acted as an advance guard to capture Longarone. He decided again to attack with a small force, since it has been proven to be a successful tactic. The 1st Italian Infantry Division, consisting of 10.000 men, thought they were surrounded and surrendered to Rommel.

In January 1918, Rommel was promoted to Hauptmann (captain) and assigned to a staff position in the 64th Army Corps, where he served for the remainder of the war.
He died on October 14, 1944 by commiting (forced) suicide as being involved (allegedly) with the military resistance against Hitler.

[h2] Another teaser [/h2]

As said before, we’re working hard on bringing you a new map to fight on ! Here’s another sneak peek image for you all. Can you make a better guess now?

We released a small update for Isonzo today. It contains small fixes while we're working on the next big update.

The patch weighs in at 2.3 GB. It updates the network version, so make sure to update before playing online.

[h2]Changes[/h2]

Improvements:

• Adjusted Madsen recoil pattern
  
• Adjusted drowning VFX
  
• Improvements to the G98 reload animation
  
• Improvements to mortar VFX
  
• Officer aura is now also presented with a perk icon so the player knows how they are affected

Bug fixes:

• Fixed first person asphyxiation animation
  
• Bridge explosions no longer play for any joining player
  
• Fixed not being able to resupply players with the Ammo box in some cases
  
• Fixed being able to resupply players that already had full ammo
  
• Fixed clicking on social buttons forcing the game into windowed mode
  
• Various memory usage improvements and fixes