 Eventually, in October 1918, the Italians launched a massive offensive, culminating in the victory of Vittorio Veneto.The Italian victory marked the end of the war on the Italian Front, secured the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and was chiefly instrumental in ending the First World War less than two weeks later.During the war, more than 650,000 Italian soldiers and as many civilians died and the kingdom went to the brink of bankruptcy.