NOVPUBChapter 1321: Chapter 960: Italy Surrenders
Chapter 1321 -960: Italy Surrenders
For the Italian people, Italy had long since become unrecognizable.
The Mussolini government had plummeted into its final frenzy, suppressing various protests, arresting members of opposition parties, and declaring martial law in Rome at all costs.
Between May 22nd and May 25th, at least 2,000 people died under Italy’s armed repression, and over a hundred opponents of Mussolini were imprisoned and tortured.
Mussolini’s brutal actions provoked a huge outcry in Italy and led to waves of protests in the City of Rome.
However, at this point, it no longer mattered to Mussolini. If he could not repel the attack on Rome by the British-French-Australian forces, he himself might be the next to hang from the street lamps.
On May 15th, May 22nd, May 25th, and May 27th, the Brittan-France-Australia alliance organized a large-scale bombing of Rome, destroying many buildings and facilities within the city.
Although the casualties among Romans were unclear, the effects of bombing such a densely populated city were naturally significant.
To eliminate Italy more swiftly, the military forces of the three countries did not waste all their troops on Rome, but instead dispatched several small-scale troops to continue advancing into other regions of Italy.
France focused on attacking Sardinia, the British on Sicily, and Australasia moved from the north of Rome, from Ancona, around to cities such as Foggia and Naples in Southern Italy, attacking the entire southern region.
The Italian government was essentially powerless against such an offensive.
The inferiority in military strength ensured that Italy struggled to defend against the British-French-Australian forces, and with the Italian navy too scared to engage at sea, they could only watch as their territory was seized.
This was the sorrow of Italy as a Mediterranean nation, unable to withstand the mighty Royal Fleet. 𝚗o𝚟pub.𝚌𝚘𝚖
If the Italian navy had been even slightly effective, it might have at least safeguarded Sardinia and Sicily.
Spain, Italy’s other ally in the Mediterranean, was also in a dire situation.
Spain was definitely a Non-Great Power Country, significantly lagging behind the Powerful Nations in terms of population and military might.
Following the Brittan-France-Australia counteroffensive, Spain was suddenly taken aback. The Spanish government was shocked to find that their military was not on par with the British-French-Australian forces and was far smaller in size.
It was even more devastating that Spain, despite exerting all its national strength, failed to breach Gibraltar in a short time, allowing British reinforcements to arrive in a timely manner and repel the Spanish offense.
While the Pyrenees to the north might hold back the majority of the French Army from entering Spain, the Spanish navy was already incapable of preventing the enemy fleet from freely roaming the seas.
If it weren’t for the focus of the Brittan-France-Australia offensive on Italy, Spain might have been the first of the Allies to surrender.
Of course, Spain’s situation isn’t much better now.
Franco had only established Spain’s new regime a few years after the civil war, and his control over the country was not yet solid.
Besides facing the assaults of the British-French-Australian troops, the Spanish government also had to be vigilant of domestic opposition.
Otherwise, the external enemy might not have breached Spain’s capital Madrid before it was taken down from within.
However, for Italy and Spain, their fates would be somewhat better than Germany’s.
Being not as powerful, Italy and Spain were not seen as major threats in the eyes of Britain, France, and Australia.
For this reason, Italy and Spain could maintain most of their current territories, avoiding the risk of being partitioned into several countries or completely occupied.
Germany was different, however. The threat posed by Germany had already surpassed that of the Russia Nation, and it had been the instigator of two world wars.
For the Britain, France, and Australia, handling Germany required utmost caution, and even a degree of decisiveness.
After discussions among the three countries, they decided to fully occupy Germany, eradicated the German Chancellor and his ideas from the country, ensuring that Germany was unlikely to initiate another World War and thus maintaining world peace for a longer period.
As time entered June 1938, the very thing Italy feared most happened.
The French Army pushed forcefully into Sardinia, capturing the northern stronghold of Sassari and the southern city of Cagliari in roughly half a month’s time.
These two cities were the largest on Sardinia and hosted the island’s harbors and airports.
Once these two cities fell, the other small towns on Sardinia stood no chance against the French Army.
In other words, as France announced the capture of Sassari and Cagliari, Italy’s rule over Sardinia was essentially over in all but name.
But that was not the only bad news.
Never underestimate the British at this time. While the British army might not be the strongest, the combat capability of the Royal Fleet of Britain was indisputably top-notch.
