Part 5/10:
Meanwhile, the Allies are faced with an increasingly dire situation—while Italy grapples with its own setbacks after the disastrous Caporetto defeat, the Germans and Austro-Hungarians face dwindling supplies and mounting internal dissent. The Austro-Hungarian Empire, in particular, is described as a "hollow shell," struggling with severe shortages—famine, freezing temperatures, and declining troop morale—after the devastating year of 1917.
Remarkably, despite these hardships, General Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf plans a new offensive along the Italian-Austrian border, sensing a potential opportunity amidst the chaos.