ABSTRACT
Any study of the reasons why the Central Powers planned and implemented the Caporetto offensive in the second half of 1 9 1 7 should pay particular attention to the following two factors. First, the possibility of safely switching troops from the Russian to the Italian front now existed, as a result of the continuous political and military upheaval in Russia. Second, and most important, the threat to the Austro-Hungarian lower Isonzo and Kustenland defence lines was growing more and more serious, owing to the continued pressure of the Italian 2nd and 3 rd Armies .
