Italy, in the Venetian Palace in Rome, Mussolini, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Italy, held an important military meeting.
Five years ago, on the eve of Italy's attack on Ethiopia, Mussolini was induced by Reinhardt to sign a "German-Italian Treaty of Friendship and Alliance" in order to gain international support from Germany. At that time, the alliance treaty was written in black and white.
It was agreed that if one side is involved in a war, the other side will provide military assistance by sea, land and air.
However, when Reinhard secretly sent a notice that Germany was about to go to war with Poland, Mussolini became timid.
Mussolini, the Italian leader who claimed to be a contemporary Caesar, chose to explain his difficulties to Reinhardt in a "truthful" handwritten letter after careful consideration.
In the letter, Mussolini said that once Germany attacks Poland, Poland's allies Britain and France will declare war on Germany, but Italy, as a German ally, is not yet ready to go to war with Britain and France. So he hopes Reinhardt
Don't be too hasty, after all, Italy currently does not even have the necessary military supplies. If Reinhard insists on Italy participating in the war, Italy will abide by the treaty and send troops, but Germany must immediately provide Italy with all the military supplies needed for the expeditionary force.
In the second half of the letter, Mussolini actually made a long list of things - 500,000 tons of oil as motor vehicle supplies, 200,000 German nuuk as military expenses, and two more
One million rounds of ammunition, three thousand artillery pieces, and the entire ration burden for the Italian Expeditionary Force during its deployment.
After reading this list, Italy's own Foreign Minister Ciano admitted that this list "would make a cow angry to death, if it could read".
How could Reinhard agree to use so many German supplies for the Italian army? He immediately waved his hand and said that the Italian allies did not need to send troops. Germany could handle it on its own.
Later, Italy felt at ease and did not send out a single soldier!
However, Mussolini still left himself a leeway. He instructed Italian Foreign Minister Ciano to oppose Britain and France at the League of Nations meeting and support Germany. In this way, Italy has done its best.
The German-Italian Treaty of Friendship and Alliance stipulates that if the major interests of one of the contracting states are threatened, the other party will provide political and diplomatic support.
In this way, Italy did not become the opposite of Britain and France militarily, leaving room for future negotiations, and diplomatically sold a favor to Germany with just words. More importantly, the Kingdom of Italy agreed to send troops to help
Germany, it was the Germans who were reluctant to provide supplies that rejected the good intentions of their Italian allies.
Afterwards, Mussolini was proud more than once. He was a genius for being able to lead Italy to avoid risks in such troubled times!
To everyone's surprise, less than 10 days after the war between Germany and Poland began, the war situation became one-sided. The Polish army on the border collapsed at the first touch, and the German army was overwhelming. Air supremacy fell into the hands of the German Air Force at the beginning of the war.
, the border defense line that Poland had high hopes for collapsed in less than a week. How does this look like there is any risk?
Anyone with a discerning eye can see that the German army will soon reach Warsaw, the capital of Poland, and end the battle as fast as the wind sweeps down fallen leaves. By then, Italy, which has not sent out a single soldier, will not be able to reap any benefits!
Mussolini began to become jealous. He regretted why he had not sent a few symbolic divisions to follow the German army and enjoy such a glorious victory. The German-Italian forces defeated Poland, and the German army defeated the Polish army. Mussolini
There is a big difference in the eyes of this leader who loves vanity and covets fame!
Defeating a million Polish troops and defeating Poland, the fifth strongest country in Europe, is the honor he, the "rebuilder of the New Roman Empire," should deserve.
Unfortunately, it's too late to say anything now.
Italy has no border with Poland. To send troops to Poland, they must pass through German territory. Even if they want to take advantage of the situation, there is no chance. Just when Mussolini was worried about this, an important piece of intelligence was delivered.
On his hands.
"France is sending troops to the border of Germany's Saarland region, and the vanguard has appeared in the Saarland!"
Putting aside the information sent by Reinhardt and paid by Italian Deputy Prime Minister Ross through the Gestapo, Mussolini lingered in the hall of his Venetian palace for a long time, still unable to make up his mind.
Mussolini read this information very carefully, almost to the point of reading it word for word. For a moment, he suddenly felt that the grand strategy he had planned for a long time seemed to be getting an opportunity to be realized.
Ten minutes later, the German head of state Reinhard personally called and earnestly requested Mussolini to deploy troops in the Alps to contain the French army.
However, after Mussolini listened to the phone call, he did not give Reinhardt a definite answer. He responded to the seemingly eager Reinhardt with a few high-sounding clichés. He originally thought that the other party would pursue him and ask questions.
He came up with a reason, but what was unexpected was that Reinhardt on the other end of the phone didn't even hear him finish the rhetoric and hung up the phone with a snap!
You're being naughty! Mussolini was very surprised. At such a critical moment, as the head of a country, he dared to act casually and hang up the phone as soon as he said it. He was begging himself, why should he be so arrogant? Could it be that he
Are you not afraid that the French army will take this opportunity to launch a large-scale offensive?
It should be said that when the German head of state first came to power a few years ago, Mussolini still respected him. But as Germany has made a lot of money in recent years, it pays less and less attention to Mussolini.
This is an Italian senior.
On the surface, Mussolini and Reinhard praised each other as a great hero. Secretly, in front of their own generals, they often laughed at each other and called the other a greedy and stupid careerist.
When thinking of the German head of state who was nearly a generation younger than him, Mussolini could not help showing a look of contempt. After all, he was a young man who didn't know how to bend and retreat.
However... Mussolini lit a cigar, wandered two steps in front of the generals who had gathered, and then couldn't help but swallow his saliva... Let's put this guy aside for now.
Not to mention the brainless German head of state. If he wants to restore the glory of the Roman Empire, isn't now the best opportunity?!
With the strength shown by the German army in the Spanish battlefield and today's Polish battlefield, even if the French invade Germany, sooner or later they will have a bloody blow to the counterattacking German army. By that time, except for those far away on the other side of the English Channel,
The British Empire on the horizon, the most powerful one on the European continent, is no longer Italy, which has been standing still and watching the fight between tigers and tigers... No, it is the Roman Empire!
"Marshal Graziani, I have a task for you." Thinking of this, a conceited smile appeared on Mussolini's face, and he looked meaningfully at Graziani, an Italian native who was supported by himself.