The Italian attack of 52 Italian divisions, aided by a 3 British 2 French and 1 American division, 65,000 total, and Czechoslovaks, was started on 24 October from Vittorio Veneto. The Austro-Hungarians fought tenaciously for four days, but then the Italians managed to cross the Piave and establish a bridgehead, the Austro-Hungarians began to retreat and then to disintegrate after the troops heard of revolutions and independence proclamations in the lands of the Dual Monarchy. Austria-Hungary asked for an armistice on 29 October. The armistice was signed on 3 November at Villa Giusti, near Padua.