The First World War in the Alps

This war in the high mountains of the Alps was the conflict with a difference. Never before had men been expected to hold out for months, even years on end in the bitter cold and snow at altitudes of almost 12.000 feet above sea level. This was the feature which lent such historical significance to a relative sideshow of the Great War. It was an anachronistic struggle, man against man, for no armoured vehicles could ever reach these rock faces. Then impartial nature joined the fray as a third, most terrible adversary. Avalanches swept thousands to their deaths, the cold wore down and demoralised men, while thunderbolts subjugated the warriors.