The Austro-Hungarians too suffered countless losses and casualties on the
Julian Alps throughout the war. Small temporary cemeteries sprang up as early as
summer of 1915 to host the remains of fallen soldiers. In 1916, the military commands decided to move all remains to one cemetery, built in the proximity of the second defensive line (at the beginning of the
Saisera Valley) and called
"Cemetery of Heroes" (Heldenfriedhof in German).
This cemetery includes a
beautiful wooden chapel designed by Austrian lieutenant Grosschedel and built by the 59th Alpine Brigade, which houses a
fresco representing a dying Christ. The whole is accompanied by a significant quote: "Here they lie, like seeds killed by the cold, before they could experience the comfort of spring. Thou who reap in the golden light, fulfilled by the summer happiness, shall not forget them!"
The actual cemetery consists of some
large steps containing a number of concrete tombstones, while the original arrangement was actually much simpler, featuring just some wooden crosses. This is also the resting place of 500 soldiers who blocked an Italian assault against
Mt. Piccolo Miezegnot in July 1916 as well as of Russian prisoners who were recruited to work in the back lines.
Restored by the Austrian Association of the Black Cross in 2002, the cemetery is managed by the Alpine Corps National Association of Malborghetto, which organises a ceremony to commemorate all soldiers fallen during the Great War on November 02nd each year.
