Bligny Italian War Cemetery

This war cemetery contains 3453 Italian war graves from the First World War. The Italian General Ugo Bagnani (1917) is buried here.

In May 1918 the Germans planned a surprise advance over the River Ailette, retaking the Chemin de Dames and overpowering the British troops who had been sent to this ''quiet'' corner of the battle field for rest and recuperation. The British fought, often to the last man between the River Aisne and the Montagne de Reims. The retaking of the Montagne de Bligny was done by 200 men, 120 of whom survived winning a Croix de Guerre for the two regiments involved. The 8th Italian division was sent in to hold the hill. The Germans launched another attempt to reach Epernay and therefore Paris in the 15th July. Many Italians were killed.

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Source

• Text: Kaj Metz & Joy Brodier
• Photos: Wikimedia Commons