Excerpt from ATTACKS
By Field Marshal Erwin Rommel

Lieutenant Schoffel was captured in the attempt to stop the Italians south of Rivalta. At first he was beaten by the Italians.

Upon his complaint, he was brought before a company commander, who did not even apologize for the bad treatment, but wanted to have a personal "souvenir" from the German officer. Then Schoffel had to march along in the front line to Fae. When fighting broke out here, Schoffel lay at the edge of the road close beside an Italian officer who balked all attempts at escape. Schoffel found German fire especially unpleasant. When the Italians disengaged themselves at Fae around midnight, Schoffel was taken back to Longarone, where he encountered the other captured mountain and Styrian troops. Toward morning the captives had to march again toward the south under heavy guard. But they soon halted because, once again, the Italians failed to break through. The prisoners were then led back to Longarone. In the course of the morning, the Italian offficers became very friendly toward Schoffel, who made exaggerated statements as to our strength. Finally he was sent toward us with the written message containing the capitulation of the Italian troops in Longarone.

Toward noon on November 10, Longarone was full of German and Austrian troops and sentries with fixed bayonets were required to retain possession of the quarters we had occupied on arrival. Most of my soldiers took off their wet clothes and devoted themselves to well-earned rest in the good and comfortable quarters. In the evening the mountain troops insisted on forming a torchlight procession for their leader.