The border region between Austria-Hungary and Italy was strengthened with the threat of Italy entering the war in 1915. Due to the urgent need for soldiers, voluntary units were set up which included the Austro-Hungarian Salzburg voluntary riflemen. Around 5,000 men volunteered to 28 January 1915. When Italy took up arms in May 1915 a new front between the Danube monarchy and Italy came into being – the Southwestern Front. On 20 September the battalion of the Austro-Hungarian Salzburg voluntary riflemen consisting of 1,200 men marched into Hermagor, Carinthia. In 1915 the voluntary riflemen fought on Nassfeld on Malurch and Prihat. Between May and June 1916 the battalion remained for recovery and training purposes in Ober- and Unter-Vellach (today known as Obere Fellach and Untere Fellach) as well as Arnoldstein, to then enter the region around Hochweißstein/Monte Peralba (2,694 m) The soldiers were relocated in autumn 1917 and advanced over Pieve di Cadore, Belluno and Feltre to Primolano. From there they moved to the Assa Gorge trenches, and from March 1918 to the Monte Cimone West sector where they remained until the end of July 1918. During this time the riflemen lost more soldiers than the previous 34 months in all the other sectors. The riflemen were then relocated to the Ortler region in August 1918 where they occupied the defences together with sections of the Austro-Hungarian “Erzherzog Rainer” infantry regiment on the Ortler (3,899 m). Decimated, injured and burnt out, the remaining soldiers of the Austro-Hungarian Salzburg voluntary riflemen returned over the Reschen to Salzburg after Armistice on 4 November 1918. The fallen soldiers are buried in the Pontebba local cemetery, on the Quellensattel, in St. Lorenzen in Gailtal, in Crosati near Campana and on the Prad cemetery.