Italy’s ‘betrayal’ in 1915

These sentiments are closely echoed by Ottokar Hanzel when describing Italy’s entry into the war in a letter to his wife dated 24 May 1915: ‘How much longer before the thunder of cannon echoes off the faces of the mountains. Italy has perpetrated an unparalleled breach of fidelity; may it be punished for this.’

For Ottokar Hanzel, who had been drafted into the reserve companies ‘Franzensfeste’ and ‘Riva’ until May 1915, the war became a direct threat that aroused concern and anxiety for his own wellbeing and that of his comrades in arms. His awareness that there was a very real possibility of his being wounded or killed caused Ottokar Hanzel to draw up his will in May 1915. The degree to which these daily threats occupied him can be seen from the following lines written to Mathilde Hanzel on 6 June 1915: ‘E. and I have agreed that if anything should happen to one of us, his wife will be notified by the other. Here is the address of E.’s wife [...]. Keep it somewhere safe.’

This is one of the rare passages where Ottokar Hanzel acknowledges directly to his wife that something might happen to him. It stands in direct contrast to most of his descriptions of everyday life at the front, which largely down-played the situation. Thus for example the following comment, from a letter dated 12 November 1915: ‘The firing from the Italians wasn’t bad and what is more was ineffective.’

His letters to Mathilde Hanzel seldom mentioned violence, battles or death. As in other correspondence from the front, particularly those written by officers, the constant danger and destruction were omitted from Ottokar Hanzel’s letters. When he did write about what he was doing at the front he tended to describe visiting other officers or superiors, or harmless leisure occupations such as swimming or reading; his military duties and activities remain vague and his letters give little insight into his actual routine or duties.

The evocation of ‘normality’ that can be seen in Ottokar Hanzel’s letters was intended to spare the feelings of the loved ones they were addressed to. In addition to this form of self-censorship the official censorship regulations also had a limiting effect on what he chose to relate.

Translation: Sophie Kidd