December 26, 1939
Northern Italy, Venice, Veneto Province – stre From Italy's perspective, this war began with the expectation of helping the Nazis suppress the German rebel army in the civil war and easily acquiring Tyrol.
But Italy, which had rashly launched an offensive before properly finishing its war preparations, had to endure unnecessary losses due to unexpectedly stiff resistance from Austria.
Just when it seed they had co to their senses and were pushing into Tyrol with a thoroughly prepared offensive, they had to retreat after suffering unexpected damage from the Germans, who were enraged by the Prince's death, and the newly reinforced National Defense Force.
With the northern part of the Veneto province occupied and Venice on the verge of falling, Italy was now issuing a large-scale General Mobilization Order and clamoring for war.
In stre, where the Italian Army headquarters was currently located, Duce Mussolini had co to give a speech.
"I, Duce Mussolini, as a servant of the state for the Italian people, desire nothing for myself! I only sought the glory of Italy and helped our ally, and was promised Tyrol in return!"
Mussolini's deep voice and rugged features had a charismatic effect in themselves, and it was effective in calming the residents who were anxious about the losing war.
Even if, in reality, it was all just for show.
"But those German traitors, not content with committing treason against our faithful ally, are denying the just rights of Italy promised to us by that ally, invading our country and trampling our land! Is this just in any way!"
"No!"
When the shills started it, it only took a mont for the anxious crowd to shout as one, the wave of voices spreading.
Encouraged, Mussolini began to shout, gesturing dynamically with his hands.
"Those vile German invaders will surely pay the price! While the vicious army of those foolish ones attacks us, our powerful ally, Poland, is attacking their soft underbelly!"
Seeing the residents' faces fill with hope at his words, Mussolini shouted with even more confidence.
"Those vile invaders will soon collapse, and the world will once again see our latent power! Italy is more strongly united than ever and will reclaim the glory of the Roman Empire!"
The expressions of the military personnel watching Mussolini's speech were not very pleased, but the residents were fervent.
"The power of Italy, united under the strength of Fascism, the unity shown by the great descendants of ancient Ro, will lead us to victory! Glorious Italians, forward! (Avanti)"
"Avanti!"
As Mussolini gave the Fascist salute by raising his right arm, the residents saluted in unison like a wave and shouted.
Though it would beco known to posterity as the Nazi salute, this was, in fact, the original.
After finishing his speech, Mussolini waved satisfactorily while maintaining his characteristic solemn expression, and the Italians responded with fervor, repeatedly chanting 'Duce' and 'Avanti'.
As Mussolini stepped down from the podium, the military personnel followed behind him.
"It was a magnificent speech that stirred the hearts of the Italian people, Duce!"
"A deeply impressive speech!"
Mussolini scoffed as if it were only natural.
Hitler, now already dead, was famous for his great speeches, but Mussolini was inwardly convinced that he was a great orator, incomparable to the likes of Hitler.
No, comparing himself to the likes of Hitler? Did that even make sense?
That madman, lost in his galomania, ended up dying in vain, proving that he, Mussolini, was the true fascist leader.
Still, he had thought Hitler would last at least a year, but to end up in that state in just three months. Mussolini clicked his tongue at Hitler's incompetence and asked a blunt question.
"What is the war situation, Field Marshal Graziani?"
Graziani flinched slightly at Mussolini's blunt tone but quickly tried to humor him as he answered.
"Our losses are considerable, but their offensive has reached a standstill. It seems Poland's invasion of the north was effective."
In truth, it wasn't that the Italian Army had brought it to a standstill, but rather that the German Military had stopped its own offensive, but there was no need to report such a thing and lower his own evaluation.
Mussolini sneered inwardly at Graziani's words and said.
"Those idiots have thoroughly worn themselves down in the civil war, so the military force that attacked us must have been their full strength.
Their offensive capability has clearly reached its limit, so keep pushing and drive them out of Italian land as soon as possible!"
"Yes, sir!"
Despite Graziani's reply, Mussolini looked at him with displeasure.
He had trusted him after he had shown such excellent skill in Ethiopia, yet he allowed the invasion of the Italian mainland.
If not for the fierce offensive he showed in Tyrol, he would have been dismissed long ago, but since he wasn't without achievents, he would have to wait and see.
If only that damn Hitler hadn't been defeated so early, and if that German Prince, who ca from god-knows-where, hadn't died there…
As Mussolini clicked his tongue, Deputy Commander Giovanni sse spoke to him.
"With all due respect, Duce. The casualties in the battle against the German Military have already reached 40,000.
It would be better to wait for the reorganization and mobilization of our divisions rather than launching an offensive here…"
The Italian Army's 40 army corps (Italy calls its divisions 'army corps') looked like a large military force, but in reality, they had suffered enormous losses and had few reserves, leaving them in a poor state.
Normally, 40 divisions from other countries would constitute a large military force of 800,000.
But the Italian Army lacked substance due to a military formation that only increased the number of corps for the sake of bravado. Compounded by massive losses, the available forces actually deployed to the front were at most 600,000.
But at Deputy Commander Giovanni sse's remark, Mussolini's face contorted into a deep frown.
"That's not a problem! For the blood needed to strengthen Fascism, the ten thousand who died in Ethiopia were too few!"
As the military personnel stood flustered, Mussolini continued.
"The number of casualties, be it tens of thousands, is not important. What I need is the blood of the youth to strengthen Fascism and seat
at the peace negotiation table as a victor! If not now, while Poland is striking their mainland, when will another opportunity arise! Counterattack imdiately!"
Was this the sa man who had once solved the livelihood problems of the people of Italy and claid that Arican-style mass production system factories made humans miserable?
When Giovanni sse was too shocked to speak, Mussolini, seeing his expression, added in a slightly softer tone.
"Don't worry too much, Deputy Commander. Hungary will soon enter the war, and there will be a positive response from within Germany. Then, no matter how much those wretches hold out, they'll have no choice but to surrender soon."
"From within Germany, you say?"
Mussolini laughed, amused.
"That's right. Fascism is a powerful weapon born from the people's aspirations.
Though the Nazis may be a crude imitation of Fascism, it is Fascism nonetheless. How could it possibly die down so easily?"
-
December 29, 1939
Northern Italy, Veneto~Südtirol (Trentino-Alto Adige) Region, German-Italian Front Early in the morning, the Italian Army was preparing an offensive to drive the German Military out of the mainland.
"We have bet everything on this general offensive. At last, the Fiat company's new dium tank, the M11/39, will be committed to actual combat."
Germany was already fielding the Panzer III and Panzer IV, both dium tanks, as its main force, but Italy's developnt was delayed, forcing it to make enormous sacrifices fighting them with light tanks.
But this ti, fifty dium tanks were finally deployed to the field, raising great expectations within the Italian military.
"Alright, then, according to the offensive plan…"
As Field Marshal Graziani was about to give orders to the generals, the telephone rang.
"Deputy Commander sse."
As Graziani and the military generals watched sse take the call, sse narrowed his eyes, then turned his head to face Graziani and the generals and spoke.
"The German Military has begun its withdrawal. They say the very front line is already empty!"
"Ooooh…!"
"Ha! It seems they couldn't withstand Poland's attack after all!"
The Italian generals started to cheer.
How severely had they been beaten by the Germans, whom they had underestimated, trusting only the unseemly behavior the German Military had shown during the Anschluss and the fact that it was in a civil war.
They were greatly encouraged by the montum of victory that had finally turned in their favor, falling into the optimistic belief that they could achieve military rit.
"Good, very good! We'll pursue at once!"
"But Commander. We were on the defensive and about to transition to an offensive, so the units are not yet properly deployed."
"Even if only a portion of the enemy units retreat, we have superiority in military force! Everyone knows that an army is most vulnerable when retreating! Comnce the attack!"
Rodolfo Graziani had confidently begun his offensive by unleashing a fierce bombing on Tyrol, only to be rcilessly pushed back, allowing the invasion of the mainland, and he was feeling impatient with the situation.
The image of Italo Balbo, a Field Marshal, retreating with his shoulders slumped pathetically would not leave his mind.
"We can't miss this opportunity when the enemy is fleeing with their tails between their legs!"
In Ethiopia too, he had sent many of his subordinates to their deaths, but in the end, he had achieved rit and beco a Field Marshal.
A soldier just needs to achieve military gains and win. He absolutely did not want to end up in the sa condition as Balbo.
-
"Those terrifying bastards just ran away this easily?"
The Italians muttered dejectedly as they advanced along the now-empty positions where the German Military had been entrenched.
It had been fine when they pushed into Tyrol, but they had to suffer serious losses as they were fiercely attacked by enraged Germans and Austrians and fled hastily over the Alps.
"Those guys from Naples always led the retreat."
"And they're the ones who call us Sicilian country bumpkins."
The Italians who had engaged the German Military felt a kind of fear towards an enemy that, united as one, pushed them back, burning with a will to fight even greater than their own, who espoused totalitarianism.
Sure, Duce Mussolini gets cheers from the public by talking about a united Italy, but that's only because the people in the areas where he gives his speeches are all from the sa region.
Italians are fundantally people with a stronger love for one's hotown than patriotism, and while individual soldiers could be brave, their organic cooperation was a ss.
"Maybe Poland is putting up a better fight than we thought?"
"I hope so. Ah, I want to go back to my warm hotown soon."
"Just imagining it is nice.
Ah, I hope I can be ho next spring."
Regardless, the Italian soldiers from Sicily, who got along well with others from their region, kept advancing, chattering away ceaselessly.
But their hopeful conversation did not last long.
The Italian soldiers, who flinched in surprise at the sight of the lead L3 Tankette suddenly bursting into flas from an explosion on the ground, could not hide their horror.
"Uh, uh, a landmine-"
A soldier who unwittingly hesitated and backed away unluckily stepped on a landmine, was thrown into the sky with the explosion, and upon landing, began to scream while clutching what used to be his leg.
"Gasp!"
"I-It's a minefield! Fall back!"
"What, they said it was a hasty retreat! Why is there a minefield!"
The Italian Army only detected the German Military's retreat on the 29th, but the Germans had actually begun preparing and comncing their withdrawal operation on the 25th, Christmas Day.
While the Italian Army's guard was temporarily lowered for Christmas, a bait unit pretended to remain garrisoned, and the ticulously executed withdrawal each night made it seem to the Italians as if it had just begun.
The German Military had long since placed all sorts of landmines and booby traps throughout the Veneto province to buy ti as they withdrew, and the Italian Army, having rashly initiated a pursuit without even fully deploying their units according to their own offensive plan, was forced to suffer considerable damage and morale loss.
But unfortunately for the Italian Army, the losses they incurred while pursuing the German Military, which had long since vanished from the entire Veneto region, were rely at an 'annoying' level.
In the entire Südtirol (Trentino-Alto Adige) region, they were facing a defensive battle the likes of which they had never seen before.
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