ERNEST HEMINGWAY AND THE FIRST WORLD WAR PATH

Salgareda is located in an area that was, at the end of the first world war, the first combat line along the Piave river and was consequently totally destroyed. During the period from autumn 1917 to November 1918, the town was the headquarter for the Austro-Hungarian 7th divion “Honved”, under the command of General Georg Freiherr Schariczer von Reny whose aim was the penetration and destruction of the Italian Army. During the previous Italian withdrawal and before the occupation by the Austrian forces, the Italian Army destroyed all bell towers in order to deny the enemy any observation post of military value.
The beautiful Basilica that was only 400 meters from our Relais , with some frescoes of the Titian school,was first looted and then taken down by the continuing bombardments. Today only few marble fragments remain on the site where the beautiful Basilica once stood.
Following the river towards S. Donà the remarkable Villa da Mula at Romanziol stands on the left bank: the entire place was frescoed with Veronese paintings . The Villa was also destroyed during the first world war and only few marble fragments have been salvaged and saved at the Museum at Treviso.
On arriving at Noventa di Piave , near the pontoon bridge, one can see a stele marking the place where Ernest Hemingway was wounded while serving as a volunteer with the Red Cross.
After crossing the bridge the road to Zenson di Piave is retaken: the river bend is the site where one of the bloodiest battle was fought. In the vicinity of S. Andrea di Barbarana on the opposite river bank and in front of our Relais , traces of the Italian Army trenches can still be seen.
The itinerary ends at Fagarè della Battaglia with a visit to the War Cemetery where the rests of 10.000 Italian soldiers are honoured. Among them, the only American soldier, lieutenant Edward Mc Kay, Ernest Hemingway’s brother in arms and friend.

More notices on:

www.grandeguerra.org

www.grandeguerra.com

www.ernest.hemingway.com

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General Schariczer von Reny, Commanding the 7th Division Honved