One of the lesser known aspects of life inside trenches and behind the frontline concerned punishment and disciplinary procedures for soldiers. This was a widespread occurrence that indiscriminately involved hundreds (and perhaps thousands) of men. At the onset of war in fact Luigi Cadorna ordered the utmost severity in order to maintain discipline and respect for authority. Throughout the conflict this attitude became harsher and more often than not it was sheer ruthless cruelty. For example, soldiers who refused to leave their trenches during an assault could be hit from behind by squads of police while censorship in the trenches became daily more oppressive. Any letter written by soldiers could not contain any information other than that published in Italian newspapers and had to convey a sense of enthusiasm for the war. Whoever failed to abide by these instructions risked facing punishment in a military prison.
However, the most cruel and tragic aspect consisted in death sentences against soldiers. It has been estimated that between October 1915 and October 1917 some 140 executions were carried out for many different reasons. At first this measure was only taken in extremely serious cases (such as, for instance, desertion or espionage) but later it was also extended to cases that were apparently less serious. A soldier could be shot for returning late from leave or for having been found by surprise to report or to write abusive words against his superior. The same fate would befall all those officers who, even for a single moment, expressed any doubts about tactics imposed by the Supreme Command.
As the Great War progressed, episodes of cruelty increased. Whenever there were riots, small protests or episodes of intolerance towards decisions taken by superiors, death sentences were applied. In the case of an offense committed by a group of soldiers (such as a brigade), the road that was chosen was one that would lead to decimation.
One of the most famous cases was that of the Catanzaro Brigade which took place in Santa Maria la Longa in July 1917. The soldiers, after having fought on the battlefields on the Isonzo Karst, on the Asiago plateau and then in the area of Mount Ermada, were taken behind the lines to have their rest. The men were exhausted; for a long time their leave had been suspended and the difficult conditions in the trenches had tired them considerably. After a few days, instead of being moved to a quieter area, they were ordered to resume the road that led to the terrible Mount Armada. At this stage an uprising broke out: nine soldiers and two officers were shot to death and it was only the intervention by armoured vehicles and light artillery that stopped the wrath of the Catanzaro Brigade. Once calm was restored, the military commanders decided to give a message that would serve as an example: 12 soldiers, chosen at random, were executed and 123 soldiers were court-martialed before the Military Tribunal.
