Some thoughts on the repatriation and demobilization of Italian-speaking Austro- Hungarian soldiers after World War I. During World War I, general mobilization and conscription forced thousands of Italian-speaking citizens of the Austro-Hungarian Empire to fight in the Eastern front. Those who were taken prisoners became the object of bilateral treaties between Russia and Italy. The others returned to civilian life in a different country, after Italy’s annexation of Trentino, South Tyrol and Venezia Giulia. This article outlines how the Italian government managed the repatriation of former Austrian prisoners and the way it treated veterans of the enemy army living within its new borders. Furthermore, the article considers the relationship and mutual interactions between the central government and the authorities of the newly acquired territories concerning the problems of demobilization and assistance to ex combatants. Finally, some remarks are dedicated to the Italian military operations in the Far East and the involvement in the Russian civil war.
