POTOPITEV AVSTRO-OGRSKE ADMIRALSKE LADJE VIRIBUS UNITIS SKOZI ITALIJANSKO ARHIVSKO VOJAŠKO DOKUMENTACIJO
Authors: BIZJAK MATJAŽ 
Published: February 2021

Prispevek analizira potopitev avstro-ogrske admiralske ladje Viribus Unitis 1. novembra 1918 v Pulju. Za raziskavo je bila uporabljena italijanska arhivska vojaška dokumentacija iz Rima. V članku je opisan proces nastajanja ideje o diverzantskem napadu na vojaško pristanišče v Pulju, ki je bila na začetku bolj domena posameznikov kot pa italijanskega vojaškega sistema. Idejo je najprej razvijal poročnik Raffaele Paolucci, hkrati pa je major Raffaele Rossetti pripravljal posebno tehnično napravo, poimenovano Mignatta, ki je omogočala prevoz eksploziva in tudi obeh diverzantov. Julija 1918 je bila mignatta operativna in oba diverzanta sta se intenzivno urila v postopkih vdora v pristanišče. Ukaz za akcijo je bil izdan 30. oktobra 1918, določal je potek akcije, ni pa predvidel njenega natančnega datuma. Akcija se je začela 31.oktobra 1918 in že v začetku ni potekala skladno z načrtom. Diverzantoma se je z velikimi težavami uspelo prebiti v pristanišče. Ko sta postavila eksplozivno polnjenje pod trup Viribus Unitis, so ju odkrili. Pripeljali so ju k novemu poveljniku mornarice Države SHS kontraadmiralu Janku Vukoviću - Podkapelskemu, ki sta ga opozorila o nevarnosti. Poveljnik je ukazal evakuacijo posadke in dovolil obema diverzantoma umik na varno. Ladja se je po italijanskih informacijah potopila v 20 minutah. Diverzanta sta bila po petih dneh osvobojena in v Italiji sprejeta kot heroja. Za potopitev Viribus Unitis sta sprejela veliko denarno nagrado, ki pa so jima jo mnogi oporekali. Paolucci je po vojni postal znan kirurg in podpornik fašizma, Rossetti pa je bil aktiven protifašist.

The article provides an analysis of the foundering of the Austro-Hungarian flagship Viribus Unitis on 1 November in Pula. The study was based on the Italian military archival documents from Rome. The article describes the process of creating the idea of a commando attack on a military port in Pula, which was in the first place more a matter of individuals rather than the Italian military system. The idea was first developed by Lieutenant Raffaele Paolucci, while Major Raffaele Rossetti prepared a special technical device called Mignatta, which enabled the transportation of explosives and both commandos. In July 1918, Mignatta was operational and both commandos were intensively trained in the procedures of port invasion. The mission order was issued on 30 October 1918 and determined the course of the campaign; however it did not provide its precise date. The campaign was launched on 31 October 1918 and failed to adhere to the plan from the very beginning. The two commandos managed to enter the port following some major difficulties. They were discovered once they planted a bursting charge under the hull of Viribus Unitis and were brought to the new Commander of the Navy of the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs, Admiral Janko Vuković – Podkapelski. They warned him of danger and the commander ordered the evacuation of the crew and let the two commandos retreat to safety. According to Italian information, the ship was sunk within 20 minutes. Both commandos were freed after 5 days and were considered heroes in Italy. They received a substantial amount of prize money for the foundering of Viribus Unitis, but many objected to this. After the war, Paolucci became a renowned surgeon and supporter of fascism, while Rossetti was an active anti-fascist.