Barenthal Military Cemetery, Italy

Barenthal Military Cemetery

Italy

Picture courtesy of Valentine Ghi

Visiting Information: The cemetery is permanently open, though from November to May it is rarely accessible due to deep snow falls.

Location Information: One of 5 cemeteries situated on the Asiago plateau in the province of Vicenza, this cemetery lies 5 kilometres south of the town of Asiago on a minor, narrow road that loops round from the village of Cesuna to Asiago.

The Italians entered the war on the Allied side, declaring war on Austria, in May 1915. Commonwealth forces were at the Italian front between November 1917 and November 1918. In March 1918, XIV Corps (the 7th, 23rd and 48th Divisions) relieved Italian troops on the front line between Asiago and Canove, the front being held by two divisions with one division in reserve on the plain. The French held the line to the left, with the Italians to the right. The front was comparatively quiet until the Austrians attacked in force from Grappa to Canove in the Battle of Asiago (15-16 June 1918). The Allied line was penetrated to a depth of about 1,000 metres on 15 June but the lost ground was retaken the next day and the line re-established. Between June and September, frequent successful raids were made on the Austrian trenches. In October, the 7th and 23rd Divisions were sent to the Treviso area of the River Piave front. The 48th Division, which remained in the mountains as part of the Italian Sixth Army, played an important part in the Battle of Vittorio Veneto (24 October-4 November 1918) in which the Austrians were finally defeated. Barenthal Military Cemetery is one of five Commonwealth cemeteries on the Asiago Plateau containing burials relating to this period. It contains 125 First World War burials, nine of them unidentified.

Cemetery designed by Robert Lorimer

Number of Identified Casualties: 116