The Hippo of Cresta Croce
The Italian Cannone da 149/23 was a heavy siege gun, hence its nickname: The hippopotamus! With WWI raging and Italy wanting a slice of Austria, the Italians decided to fortify the Alps. The Italians built a defensive position along the Adamello-Presanella mountain range and decided to install a gun on the Cresta Croce ridge, standing at an altitude of 3,600m. As you can imagine, hauling a 6-ton gun up there wasn’t easy for the crew and several men lost their lives doing so. Still, once up there, the 150mm gun with a range of 9km came in handy!
The World War I Context
The Italians and Austrians fought in the Alps between 1916 and 1918 with very little to show for in terms of territorial gains. Still, the “White War” claimed 150,000 KIAs. Only a third of them being battle casualties: The bitter cold (-30°C), heavy snowfalls, avalanches, and exposure were a constant threat.
At the end of the war, the hippo of Cresta Croce was left behind. It is still standing guard as we speak.
Legacy of the Hippo
The remnants of the formidable hippo serve as a historical reminder of the harsh conditions soldiers faced during the “White War.” The surviving relic has attracted history buffs and is a poignant landmark in the Adamello-Presanella mountain range.
– RBM
