Could an intelligent Italy have made a difference in WW1?

[TheButterflyComposer]

I think the general point has been made.

A smart Italy would have stayed natural until 1918 at earliest, and then joined the winning side for whatever bribe (however small) they would get for joining.

A less smart but at least competent Italy would join the allies after the stalemate in 1916, seeing Austria bloodied and burnt up by Russian and Serbian armies...and taken a massive allied bribe to sit their army at the Austrian border in well prepared trenches for the whole war. Then, when their army was genuinely ready (probably 1918), smash through the by then dying Austrian empire and claim a vital role in ensuring Germany surrenders quickly rather than facing yet another front in the south.

 

[Ruwaard]

I think the general point has been made.

A smart Italy would have stayed natural until 1918 at earliest, and then joined the winning side for whatever bribe (however small) they would get for joining.

A less smart but at least competent Italy would join the allies after the stalemate in 1916, seeing Austria bloodied and burnt up by Russian and Serbian armies...and taken a massive allied bribe to sit their army at the Austrian border in well prepared trenches for the whole war. Then, when their army was genuinely ready (probably 1918), smash through the by then dying Austrian empire and claim a vital role in ensuring Germany surrenders quickly rather than facing yet another front in the south.

Unless Austria-Hungary just surrenders it won't be easy. Every been to those those Alpine passes? I spend plenty family holidays all across the Alps. For once the Austro-Hungarian army was not incompetent as shown against Russia and could give Italy a hard time.

And what did Italy gain in the a small part of Austria-Hungary, parts of these, if Woodrow Wilson would have been consequent might have gone to Yugoslavia or Austria instead....

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

Unless Austria-Hungary just surrenders it won't be easy. Every been to those those Alpine passes? I spend plenty family holidays all across the Alps. For once the Austro-Hungarian army was not incompetent as shown against Russia and could give Italy a hard time.

And what did Italy gain in the a small part of Austria-Hungary, parts of these, if Woodrow Wilson would have been consequent might have gone to Yugoslavia or Austria instead....

That's why I say most intelligent versions of Italy just don't bother with the war. The only front they could be guaranteed to fight on would be unsuitable for Trench warfare, so they would have had to build purpose built fortifications (which aren't as good with WW1 tech) and were probably never going to get much in the Balkans unless Austria literally just collapses and Italy annexes what they want immediately.

But for what they want, for the price they have to give, it is not worth it.