<P> Italy had been allied with the German and Austro - Hungarian Empires since 1882 as part of the Triple Alliance . However, the nation had its own designs on Austrian territory in Trentino, the Austrian Littoral, Fiume (Rijeka) and Dalmatia . Rome had a secret 1902 pact with France, effectively nullifying its part in the Triple Alliance . At the start of hostilities, Italy refused to commit troops, arguing that the Triple Alliance was defensive and that Austria - Hungary was an aggressor . The Austro - Hungarian government began negotiations to secure Italian neutrality, offering the French colony of Tunisia in return . The Allies made a counter-offer in which Italy would receive the Southern Tyrol, Austrian Littoral and territory on the Dalmatian coast after the defeat of Austria - Hungary . This was formalised by the Treaty of London . Further encouraged by the Allied invasion of Turkey in April 1915, Italy joined the Triple Entente and declared war on Austria - Hungary on 23 May . Fifteen months later, Italy declared war on Germany . </P> <P> The Italians had numerical superiority but this advantage was lost, not only because of the difficult terrain in which the fighting took place, but also because of the strategies and tactics employed . Field Marshal Luigi Cadorna, a staunch proponent of the frontal assault, had dreams of breaking into the Slovenian plateau, taking Ljubljana and threatening Vienna . </P> <P> On the Trentino front, the Austro - Hungarians took advantage of the mountainous terrain, which favoured the defender . After an initial strategic retreat, the front remained largely unchanged, while Austrian Kaiserschützen and Standschützen engaged Italian Alpini in bitter hand - to - hand combat throughout the summer . The Austro - Hungarians counterattacked in the Altopiano of Asiago, towards Verona and Padua, in the spring of 1916 (Strafexpedition), but made little progress . </P> <P> Beginning in 1915, the Italians under Cadorna mounted eleven offensives on the Isonzo front along the Isonzo (Soča) River, northeast of Trieste . All eleven offensives were repelled by the Austro - Hungarians, who held the higher ground . In the summer of 1916, after the Battle of Doberdò, the Italians captured the town of Gorizia . After this minor victory, the front remained static for over a year, despite several Italian offensives, centred on the Banjšice and Karst Plateau east of Gorizia . </P>

Who did we fight in world war 1 and world war 2