NOVPUB
Chapter 80: Mediterranean Theater (2)
The direct confrontation between Italy and Britain escalated into an unexpected situation.
“We have Germany behind us. If the British bastards keep advancing towards Turkey, ram them with our bodies!”
The Italian navy mobilized warships to collide with and heavily damaged merchant ships from the side.
Of course, the mighty British Empire did not just take it lying down.
“Pay them back the same way!”
On the same day, a British cruiser rammed into an Italian military supply ship that had come to support the deployed Italian navy, causing an incident.
This time, it was a sinking.
“D-Did you say there were 100 casualties?”
The Italian government was horrified.
They couldn’t understand why these bastards were being so hard-line.
Weren’t they the ones who avoided the war out of fear of Germany?
If so, they had no choice but to show them.
The fact that messing with Italy would inevitably lead to another fight with Germany.
“Request support from Germany!”
Duce thought that now all that remained was for Britain to submit.
However...
“What nonsense is this? I told you to handle your own problems, didn’t I?”
Berlin sent a reply that Rome’s problems should be solved by Italy itself.
“This is betrayal!”
Duce couldn’t hide his agitation at Hitler’s brazen backtracking.
Now that Britain was acting a bit tough, the Fuhrer must be trying to back down.
Then what about me?
At the point where Britain had already caused casualties, it wasn’t easy for Mussolini to back down.
If he doesn’t respond strongly, his prestige will plummet.
“Stop the British bastards by any means necessary!”
Duce once again gave orders to physically block the British fleet.
And another ‘collision accident’ occurred.
This time, a British destroyer trying to protect a merchant ship was rammed and sunk instead.
The death toll reached 150.
The repeated maritime accidents were enough to agitate the British government.
“Look at this! If we go soft on Germany, even the likes of Italy will look down on us!”
“Are we just going to let go of Turkey like this? Is this the ‘peace of our time’ that the Prime Minister speaks of? What’s the difference between Chamberlain and Your Excellency?”
“The Prime Minister must take responsibility for this situation. Admit it. The fact that the Geneva Peace Treaty has failed!”
British Prime Minister Halifax couldn’t withstand the barrage of attacks from the hardliners.
“I will take responsibility for this situation and resign.”
Finally, Halifax stepped down from the prime ministership.
The retreat of Halifax, the leader of the pro-German appeasement faction, signified the rise of the anti-German hardliners.
And Anthony Eden, representing the anti-German hardliners, became Prime Minister.
As soon as he became Prime Minister, Eden appointed Churchill as Foreign Secretary.
The changes in the British cabinet also prompted America to start moving.
There was nothing holding back Roosevelt, who had crushed the isolationists and pro-Nazi groups.
Roosevelt explained the rationale for the Anglo-American alliance to senior Democratic Party members.
“If we continue to stay out of this war, Europe could be completely taken over by the Communists. Or alternatively, it could become a world forever dominated by Hitler. Either way, it’s clear that Europe will no longer be our market. Does that align with our national interests?”
“Of course not. But are you sure the British are truly prepared to confront Hitler? They are the ones who meekly surrendered even when they could have fought more.”
“The British ambassador has confirmed it. The Honorable Eden is not someone who will compromise with Hitler like Halifax.”
The congressmen were skeptical but nodded at the name of Foreign Secretary Churchill.
If Churchill was included in the cabinet, it was persuasive.
Washington’s intentions were swiftly conveyed back to London.
Anthony Eden was secretly pleased with the Atlantic Air Transport Alliance proposal put forward by the U.S.
If the conflict with Italy escalated into a dangerous phase, U.S. assistance was indispensable.
Churchill also couldn’t hide his joy like Eden.
“I hear the voice of freedom from across the Atlantic.”
If America helped, the victory of the liberal nations was certain.
If the U.S. showed its intention to act, there was no reason to go soft on Italy.
A hard-line response was essential, even for their own political standing.
“Continue Operation Freedom of Navigation.”
No matter how the Axis Powers act out, the British Empire will not stop.
As Britain took a consistently hard line, Mussolini also began to get scared.
Unless Hitler had his back, it was burdensome to keep confronting Britain.
“For now, refrain from clashes.”
Mussolini chose to back down for the time being before the conflict reached its peak.
But he couldn’t withdraw from Turkey.
If he did that, Mussolini’s political life would be in danger.
The Italian army, while struggling in Yugoslavia, had to fight a bloody war in Anatolia against the Turkish army supported by the Soviet Union and Britain.
It was only a month.
The casualties in that one month were 80,000.
Compared to the German-Soviet war, where tens of thousands died or were injured every day, it might not seem significant, but for Italy, it was a shocking figure.
“Your Excellency. This won’t do. We should withdraw from Anatolia...”
Even Ciano, Mussolini’s son-in-law, advised retreat.
But it was too late to back down now, with too many chips thrown on the table.
Whether he went back or became penniless.
Duce’s options were set.
All-In!
Duce ordered the 4 divisions assembled to be sent to Yugoslavia and 8 divisions from the Yugoslav front to be transferred to Anatolia.
Marshal Pietro Badoglio, Commander-in-Chief and Chief of Staff of the Italian Army, strongly objected to this.
“Your Excellency. Absolutely not. If we reduce our forces on the Yugoslav front, the guerrillas will go berserk.”
“Absolutely not, you say?”
“Yes.”
“Then go home and look after your grandchildren.”
Mussolini was already thinking of cutting Badoglio, who was doing poorly in Yugoslavia.
After firing Badoglio, he appointed the obedient Marshal Ugo Cavallero as Army Commander-in-Chief.
He wanted to concurrently serve as Army Commander-in-Chief like Hitler but gave up due to the substantial opposition from the Italian military.
In fact, Mussolini was interfering with the military without achieving as much as Hitler, so the uniformed professionals couldn’t just say “yes” and agree.
Anyway, the new Commander-in-Chief, Marshal Cavallero, faithfully carried out Duce’s orders.
“Duce has commanded. Immediately move the units ordered to be transferred to Anatolia.”
The Italian military was seething at this situation.
“That idiot Duce. He’s so eager to ruin the country.”
They began deliberately slacking off and obstructing troop movements.
As a result, both the Yugoslav and Anatolian fronts were mired.
In Yugoslavia, where Italian military pressure decreased, guerrillas were rampant.
“These Ravioli bastards! Instead of getting your asses kicked here, go back to Rome and lick Duce’s ass!”
In Turkey, where troop reinforcements weren’t going as planned, they struggled against the Turkish army supported by the Great Powers.
“Those fuckers, are they really Great Powers?”
The Italian army was also ridiculed by the Axis allies who were watching the war from the side.
Italy’s prestige was hitting rock bottom.
The Italian Fascist Grand Council also viewed this situation seriously.
“Just this year, there have already been 150 Communist riots domestically. In some areas, they are creating ‘liberated zones’ and operating. It’s time to reduce military spending and somehow start economic reconstruction, but another war...”
“Who can persuade Duce’s stubbornness.”
“His Majesty is also uncomfortable with the current situation.”
Even among the Fascists who had been supporting Mussolini until Germany had Europe in its grasp, voices of discontent began to circulate openly.
It’s not that Mussolini was unaware of this situation.
“Turkey is a small nation. Why are we, with modern tanks, aircraft, and warships, struggling so much?”
“Well, the enemies are no pushovers.”
Turkey, with the support of Britain and the Soviet Union on its back, was by no means an easy opponent.
The Turkish National Army had already mobilized over 1 million troops, numerically overwhelming the invaders.
“Then use poison gas.”
Gas had always saved Italy in unfavorable situations.
In Ethiopia, before the Yugoslav invasion, gas had rescued the Italian army from crisis.
This time was no different.
“What? But it’s not just Turkey on the other side. Behind them are the Soviet Union and Britain.”
“Are we supposed to be mindful of them now!?”
Mussolini thought it wouldn’t be a problem if those meddling fools got a little gassed.
“It’s Duce’s order. Begin the poison gas dispersal.”
Marshal Rodolfo Graziani, commander of the Italian Expeditionary Force, actively issued orders to use poison gas.
“Spray it!”
They dispersed poison gas with aircraft,
Hiss-.
Poured it from cylinders,
“Fire.”
And launched it with shells.
The Italian army’s reckless chemical warfare shocked the Turkish army.
“Those bastards, they really have no shame.”
Italy temporarily enjoyed success with the surprise use of gas.
But they were forgetting one fact.
“We will provide gas masks and gas.”
Behind Turkey was Britain,
“Using gas on Turkey openly?”
And the Soviet Union, the world’s 2nd or 3rd largest industrial power could spray more poison gas than Italy. 𝖓𝔬𝔳𝖕𝖚𝖇.𝖈𝔬𝔪
Before long, the Italian army began to be doused with poison gas in return.
“Ugh.”
They had gas masks, but the poison gas itself made people tired.
“Uh, let’s be gentlemanly and skip the poison gas?”
Only then did Italy propose a gentleman’s agreement,
“Yeah, eat a lot.”
But Turkey didn’t even pretend to listen.
The surge in casualties from the muddy war was an added bonus.
Duce now had no idea how to handle the situation.
In the end, the only thing he could trust, live or die, was Germany.
After much deliberation, Duce made a decision and called for Count Ciano.
“Son-in-law. This won’t do.”
“I see, have you decided to withdraw from Anatolia?”
Of course, if that were the case, he wouldn’t be Duce.
“We need to declare a war zone in the Eastern Mediterranean.”
At least blocking the British lend-lease could improve the war situation in Anatolia.
Duce thought that if he could just block that, there was still a chance of winning the Turkish conquest war.
Ciano was shocked to hear that.
It was tantamount to declaring war on Britain.
“Duce! If we do that, the British won’t sit still.”
“But Germany won’t just watch us being pushed back either.”
Duce decided to make a final bluff, trusting in Germany.
What if things go wrong, wouldn’t he feel sorry for Germany?
Ah, it’s the fault of the one who guaranteed the Steel Alliance, not the one who begged for the guarantee.
Duce lit the fuse on the powder keg.
Footnotes
1. Robert Anthony Eden, 1st Earl of Avon, KG, MC, PC was a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1955 until his resignation in 19572. Ugo Cavallero (20 September 1880 – 13 September 1943) was an Italian military commander before and during World War II. He was the first Chief of the Comando Supremo (Italian Supreme Command) on June 1941. He was dismissed from his command due to his lacklustre performance, and was arrested upon the fall of Benito Mussolini's regime. Cavallero was later freed by the Germans, but refused to collaborate and was found dead the following day.
