The Rise of the Third Reich

Palazzo Venezia, Rome, Italy.

It is now 2 o'clock in the morning on June 1, 1942. Italy's great leader Mussolini does not sleep with his mistress Bettasi in his arms at night, and is still worrying about the future happy life of the Italian people!

The leader sitting at the head of a long conference table looked a little sad, pale and bloated. He had obviously not slept for several days - of course he couldn't! Not long ago, the war in Europe was still the outdated British Empire of Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Croatia-Hungary, Norway, Belgium, Denmark, Romania, Bulgaria... and a lot of other countries. No matter how you look at it, you will never lose, so during that time Mussolini was the happiest man in Italy, happily planning to establish a new Roman Empire every day.

He planned to let Vittorio Emanuele III be the Augustus and himself be the Caesar. Historically, the Roman Empire had two emperors, the chief emperor and the deputy emperor. The chief emperor was called Augustus and the deputy emperor was called Caesar. Mussolini felt that his contribution to the Roman Empire was too great. If he was not a "vice emperor", the Italian people would definitely not agree.

But who could have imagined that in the blink of an eye, the United States on the other side of the Atlantic and the Soviet Union, the powerful country in the east, would become enemies of Italy! Who did Italy provoke? Why is it so unlucky? Can't the Italians be allowed to quietly restore the Roman Empire?

But Mussolini also knew that he and Germany had been in the same boat for a long time. Without Germany, there would be no Roman Empire in Italy! And without the Roman Empire, he, the Italian leader, would be finished, and no one would support him anymore.

Moreover, betraying Germany means being punished by Germany! Although the Italian Army also had 7 armored divisions, Mussolini did not believe that they could resist Germany at all. So now Mussolini has only one way to go to the dark side!

Just when Mussolini was worried about his future, his son-in-law Count Ciano took a telegram from a senior secretary in the Venetian Palace, took a look at it, and then frowned and said: "Leader, I Admiral Nigo Compioni asked for permission to dispatch the fleet as planned?"

The home port of the Mediterranean Fleet commanded by Admiral Inigo Compioni is Taranto, the original home of the Italian Navy.

The fleet has three battleships including Caesar, Duilio and Doria, three heavy cruisers including Taranto, Pola and Gorizia, and five transport ships converted from Escort aircraft carrier (a real Diao Si aircraft carrier), in addition to an amphibious assault aircraft carrier Giuseppe Miraglia, which was transformed from a seaplane carrier, as well as 15 light cruisers and 35 destroyers (including torpedo ships) and some auxiliary ships such as transport ships, oil carriers, ammunition ships, and landing ships.

The current strength of the Mediterranean Fleet is not strong, not even comparable to the Indian Ocean Fleet commanded by the French. But the Mediterranean Fleet has no opponents. The Mediterranean is basically an inner lake between Germany, Italy and France, and its potential opponent is the Soviet Black Sea Fleet.

However, in early 1942, the Soviet Union transferred the main ships of the Black Sea Fleet, including the battleships October Revolution, Marat, and Paris Commune, to Vladivostok to join the Pacific Fleet. This is actually part of the Soviet Union's war preparations, and the purpose is to keep the Pacific route open - these three old battleships are certainly not going to fight against the Japanese combined fleet. Japan and the Soviet Union are in a "balance of terror" in the Far East, and Japan dares to blockade the sea , the Soviet Union will send troops to Manchuria on land, so the Japanese navy will not rob the capitalist ship flying the red flag.

But the sea route from Suez to Malacca was now passable to the Axis powers. Theoretically, the European Combined Fleet can send squadrons to fight in the Pacific. The ships of these European countries do not care how powerful the Soviet Union's land power in the Far East is.

In fact, the Italian Navy's colonial cruiser "Eritrea" and the auxiliary cruiser "Lamb II" are now in Kobe, Japan (they originally belonged to the Italian Red Sea Fleet and broke out to Japan after Italy entered the war).

Soviet Navy Commander Admiral Kuznetsov, who had long anticipated this risk, put forward the proposal to transfer the main force of the Black Sea Fleet to the Pacific, and received Stalin's approval.

Therefore, the only risk for the Mediterranean Fleet to enter the Black Sea is to put Italy and the Soviet Union into a state of war!

"Leader, the Soviet government has not submitted an ultimatum to us...that is to say, we can continue to maintain peaceful relations with the Soviet Union." Italian Minister of Justice and one of the "core" leaders of the National Fascist Party, Di No. Grandi. He was a veteran of Mussolini's rise to power, but now he has some differences with Mussolini. When Mussolini decided to follow Germany in declaring war on the United States, he expressed his opposition.

"But... what should Germany explain?" Mussolini looked at his former right-hand man, "We are allies with Germany."

"What help can we do even if we declare war?" the Italian Minister of Justice shrugged. "If the Germans want to bombard Batum, they can dispatch their own fleet. They have many large battleships in Gibraltar. If the Germans want armor, division, we can hand over all 7 armored divisions to the Germans, which are considered Italian volunteers. As for the Italian Air Force, most of them are used to fight the British and defend the United States, and there are not many aircraft available for use on the Eastern Front. "

Count Ciano also agreed with Dino Grandi's opinion. He frowned and said: "Leader, we have no claim on the territory and resources of the Soviet Union. If we do not declare war on the Soviet Union, there will be a gap between the Soviet Union and Germany. A bridge for peace talks. I think the Germans have no intention of destroying the Soviet Union, and peace negotiations are entirely possible. Moreover... our Roman Empire is not an EC country after all, and there is no need to follow the German baton."

Although Italy has now become Germany's little brother, it is an ideal little brother and has not joined the European Community dominated by Germany. Therefore, there is no obligation to be completely consistent with Germany in diplomacy.

"That's fine!" Mussolini, who originally didn't want to get involved in the Soviet-German war, was persuaded by his son-in-law. He nodded, "We will not declare war on the Soviet Union, but we can send volunteers to participate in the war. Seven armored divisions have It can be handed over to Germany... In addition, call back to Admiral Compioni, and the fleet will not be dispatched for the time being. "

…

"Make arrangements for me, I want to visit Rome..."

"Wait a minute, leader, we have enough strength and we don't need Italy to join the war."

There is a hotline between the Palazzo Venezia and the German Chancellery, and the Italian leader's decision was immediately transmitted to Berlin through the hotline. However, Hitler was not in the Chancellery at the time, but his secretary Martin Bormann answered the phone. Then Bormann immediately called the headquarters conference room and reported the news of the Italians' dove release to Hitler.

As soon as Hitler heard the news, he immediately wanted to leave for Rome to find his good friend Mussolini, but Hessmann quickly stopped Hitler - it was a good thing that Mussolini didn't want to send troops to fight the Soviet Union. If he He was very enthusiastic and sent many noodle soldiers to the Eastern Front. Hessmann also had to ask Guderian to send German troops to protect the Italians. Moreover, too many Italians came, and Germany's logistical pressure would increase.

"But if the Italians don't follow us," Hitler shook his head and said, "What will countries like France, Spain, Romania, and Bulgaria think? Can European unity be guaranteed?"

Hersman said: "Romania has the Bessarabia issue and will definitely participate. Spain is not an EC country, so there is no need for them to participate. As for Bulgaria and France... they are EC countries and must follow us. Because this war with the Soviet Union is our European Community’s war, and we must face it together.”

Hersman thought for a while and then said: "Leader, the key to uniting the European Community lies in France... If you want to visit, you should also go to Paris."

"France?"

"Yes," Herschmann nodded. "The core of the European Community now is actually France and Germany."

Since Italy does not participate, France is the only one in the European Community that can compete with Germany. If France supported Germany in declaring war on the Soviet Union, the European Community would act in unison.

"What conditions can attract France?" Hitler asked.

"North Africa!" Hessmann said, "We support French rule in French North Africa and recognize that French North Africa is France and part of Europe!"

French North Africa now includes French Algeria and French Morocco, both territories operated by the French for many years. Moreover, the population structure there is different from that of later generations. French and Catholics account for a considerable proportion (more than 30% in Algeria) and are still rising.

Moreover, the French have long regarded French Algeria as their homeland, and their long-term goal is to turn Algeria into a part of France. If this plan is realized, France will become a "forever" great power.

"There are at least 2.7 million square kilometers and millions of people there!" Hitler knew the French people's thoughts very well. "Once it becomes the French mainland, France will become the country with the largest territory in the European Community and its population will exceed 50 million. "

Hersman nodded and said: "So Pétain and Darlan will not refuse. They now know very well that without our support, France is now unable to assimilate French North Africa. Once French North Africa is Frenched, Pétain will When compared with Darlan, he can be compared with the greatest figures in French history."