MONUMENTO DEL CAMPIELLO DEL TRIVIO

WEAPONS

The First World War was an unprecedented armed conflict, characterised by the use of innovative and devastating weapons that caused millions of deaths and injuries. Weapons used in the First World War included rifles, machine guns, artillery, poison gas and bladed weapons such as bayonets and daggers.

Machine guns were another key weapon used in the First World War. Capable of firing hundreds of rounds per minute, machine guns were used to create walls of fire that prevented enemy soldiers from advancing. 

However, this advantage was offset by the presence of trenches, which slowed the movement of soldiers and reduced the effectiveness of covering fire.

Repeating rifles were also employed that could fire several consecutive shots without the need to manually reload each time, greatly improving the soldiers' ability to fire. 

Finally, artillery was another key weapon of the First World War. Howitzers, cannons and mortars were used to bombard enemy positions and destroy trenches. Explosives were also used to create craters in the ground, making it difficult for soldiers to advance over uneven terrain.

LOCAL HISTORY

The history of the Campana dei Caduti is closely linked to the local history of Rovereto during the First World War. The city was the scene of battles between the Italian and Austro-Hungarian armies, with the front line settling in the surrounding hills. In particular, Mount Zugna, located a few kilometres from Rovereto, was a key point of the war. Here, very violent clashes took place between the two sides and there were many casualties.

On 24 May 1915, Italy entered the war on the side of the Allies, declaring war on Austria-Hungary. Rovereto was immediately involved in the fighting as the Italian army tried to conquer the Vallagarina territory.

Despite numerous attempts, the Italian army did not succeed in conquering Rovereto until November 1918, when the war was nearing its end. During these years, the city suffered severe damage and the population was evacuated.

Following the end of the war, Rovereto became part of the Kingdom of Italy and the city slowly began to rebuild itself, trying to forget the difficult years of the First World War. Today, therefore, it is necessary to preserve the memory of these events for future generations.