I was excited to find the book Battle of the Piave: Death of the Austro-Hungarian Army, 1918 by David Raab, published by Dorrance Publishing, because my grandfather was from Friuli, Italy and had told my mother how the Piave River had run red with blood during World War I. In fact, although my grandfather was Italian and born of Italian parents, he was actually born in Germany in 1903 where his father had been working. Because of this the Germans during World War I went looking for him to draft him into the German army. His grandmother, who threatened the Germans with a pitchfork and had a few choice words for them, hid my grandfather under the stairs of her house. He escaped and eventually emigrated to America.
The author David Raab's grandfather was actually in the Austro-Hungarian army and fought in the Battle of the Piave. This fact led him to write this excellent and interesting historical account. Although the book is slight compared to some military histories, it is packed full of historical information.
The book gives a brief account of the outbreak of the European war and what led up to the brutal warfare around the Piave. I found it fascinating and it is well illustrated with rare photographs of soldiers from both sides of the fight. The story is sad and exciting altogether.
It was about time that someone examined this oft forgotten bloody battle and wrote an interested and detailed acccount of this important event.
I recommend this unique book to anyone interested in military history, World War I and people whose ancestry come from the area of the Piava or took part in that battle. I further commend David Raab for his important work.
I received a free copy of this book for review from Dorrance Publishing.
I received a complimentary copy of Battle of the Piave: Death of the Austro-Hungarian Army, 1918 as a member of the Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit dorrancebookstore.com to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team.
