My Italy

As the largest port city in Albania, Durrës was also the only decent seaport of the Ottoman Empire on the Adriatic Sea. The Ottoman Empire stationed a regiment of troops here. However, as relations with Italy deteriorated, the Ottoman Empire sent The 21st Army Division was stationed there.

The main soldiers of this division come from the Levant region, and its officers and soldiers are all staunch YSL believers. In addition, the people in this region are very loyal to the empire. Therefore, although they are not as good as the troops composed of native officers and soldiers from the Asia Minor Peninsula, they are still in the Ottoman Empire. The army can also be called the backbone.

Therefore, placing it in Durrës also serves as a first-line defensive force. After all, it is just across a strait from mainland Italy, which is a bit too dangerous.

Of course, it is impossible to defend the entire Albanian region with the 21st Division alone. There are reinforcements behind it. The Second Macedonian Army, which has arrived in Albania for three days, is its strong backing. In addition to the 21st Division, the group army also has the 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 31st Divisions, with a total strength of 81,000. In addition, there are two garrison divisions in Albania.

With nearly 100,000 troops, I hope it will make Italy give up its attempt on Albania.

This is an idea within the Ottoman Empire, but no one knows whether it will work.

Of course, in addition to the Second Macedonian Army, the First and Third Macedonian Armies are also stepping up preparations for war. Not only to prevent the Albanian region from being invaded by Italy, but also to look in other directions. The surrounding small Balkan countries are not peaceful either.

But these are all far away. For Major General Atatürk, the commander of the 21st Division of the Ottoman Army, who is currently the defense officer of Durrës, these have little to do with him. The most important thing is to strengthen the defense of Durrës. strength.

But speaking of defense power, this made him feel a little annoyed, because he didn't know until he arrived in Durrës that there was a lack of sufficient coastal defense artillery. Of course, if you count the coastal defense artillery that is older than Atatürk, and the fort officers and soldiers who are more like coolies than soldiers, then Durrës is not lacking in coastal defense power.

But whether this thing is reliable or not, God bless it, it doesn’t matter.

Therefore, on the first day after taking over Durrës, Major General Atatürk asked for advanced coastal defense artillery from the rear, at least to be able to deter the enemy when he came.

It was a pity that Major General Ataturk could not wait for the arrival of the coastal defense artillery, and he was notified of the declaration of war between the two countries as soon as possible.

This made Major General Atatürk extremely angry, because it meant that the port defense of Durrës could not be strengthened. Of course, if Italy does not come to Albania for two or three months, then its plan can still be implemented.

But just think about it, there is no possibility of implementing it.

Haven't you seen that Italy wants the empire's territories in North Africa and Albania? This is enough to illustrate the problem.

But being upset doesn't solve the problem, so he has to do the same thing as setting up defenses. Of course, this doesn't trouble him. Among them, the fort on the north shore of the most important port had already been taken over by his own artillery troops. He wouldn't be at ease with the trash from the original fort.

On the fourth day after the two countries declared war, Major General Ataturk just walked out of his headquarters and planned to go to the city to check how the army fortifications were being built.

But before he could get on his horse, he suddenly heard an emergency bell ringing. This made him realize immediately that this was the siren sound of an enemy attack. This was the bell he set himself to remind the soldiers and civilians to pay attention.

After hearing the ringing of the bell, he immediately returned to the headquarters without caring about other things and climbed to the observation deck on the third floor of the headquarters. His headquarters was set up on a hill to the north of Durrës, which was a good location to observe the movements of the sea.

The weather was good today, so he took a telescope to observe the specific situation.

In the southwest where the sea and the sky meet, dozens of ships appear in his lens.

The appearance of its ship is that of a warship, and it is heading straight towards the port of Durrës. At first glance, it seems that the person coming is evil.

"Order to go down immediately and prepare the forts. We are facing the enemy's warships."

When he said this, Major General Atatürk frowned because he found that his coastal batteries might be a little weak against the incoming fleet.

His worries were justified, because the incoming fleet was a battleship formation led by Lieutenant General Yagir. Eight battleships of more than 10,000 tons, protected by nearly ten other warships, rushed towards Durrës with great momentum. .

On his flagship Turin, after seeing the port of Durrës appearing in front of him, he turned around to convey the order to the orderlies. "Send a semaphore to Major General Hilma of the First Battleship Group and ask him to lead the First Battleship Group to launch an artillery attack on the Dilacco Fort on the south coast. I will personally lead the Second Group to destroy the enemy's North Shore Fort."

In Vice Admiral Yagier's fleet, three Turin-class ships were organized into the second battleship formation, while the two Durio-class ships and three improved-class ships were unified into the first battleship formation.

"Yes, Lieutenant General."

As the messenger left, the young captain of the Turin, Lieutenant Colonel Leifer, standing behind the lieutenant general, showed an expression that he was hesitant to speak.

"Captain, do you have something to say to me?"

As if he saw Leifer's actions behind him, Lieutenant General Yagir asked casually.

"Yes, Commander."

Faced with Leifer's words, Lieutenant General Yagil turned his head and looked at him. "Then ask."

"Is it too hasty for us to rush to bombard Durrës in such a hurry? Why don't we test the enemy's firepower first and check whether the enemy has laid mines?"

Regarding Leifer's slightly cautious words, Lieutenant General Yagir looked at him with interest. "Lieutenant Colonel Leifer, why do I feel like you are older than me?"

"Ah, ah?"

Faced with the lieutenant general's unexpected words, Leifer's surprise was completely written on his face.

"Ah, what? Are you not as young and energetic as an old man like me?"

Leifer, who was aroused for a while, looked a little better.

Seeing Leifer's performance, Lieutenant General Yagir looked at him. "Do you think that the order I gave was a joke on the safety of the fleet, or that I, the commander, am incompetent?"

Faced with Lieutenant General Yagir's words, although Leifer didn't know what made the commander angry, he was about to apologize when he stopped him. After stopping him, Lieutenant General Yagir looked at him and shook his head.

"It seems that you have been worried about gains and losses in the past few years since you left your front-line position in the Navy. This is not acceptable. How can a commander worry about gains and losses on the battlefield?"

Leifer finally reacted to Lieutenant General Yagir's words. He quickly bowed deeply to the Lieutenant General to express his gratitude. "I'm sorry, I haven't been on the ship in the past few years, and I didn't even notice that I had this problem."

The two of them were not playing riddles, but Agil, as a lieutenant general, was teaching Leifer, a junior.

Leifer, who had just been awakened, felt much better now.

Then he said to Lieutenant General Yagir, "Your Excellency, I am much better."

"That's good, I'm very optimistic about your future."

Only then did Lieutenant General Yagir smile.

While the two were talking, the fleet split into two. A formation of three Turin-class ships pounced on the north shore fort in Durres Port, while five Durio-class ships pounced on the south fort.

As the enemy fleet got closer and closer, the Ottoman commander defending the fort gave loud orders. "Now, fire on the enemy fleet."

"Boom, boom, boom~"

The artillery battle in Durrës begins.