"Leader!" Upon hearing Mussolini's roll call, the sensible Graziani immediately stepped forward.
Obedient to please leader Mussolini, this is the biggest reason why he can now sit on the throne of Italian Marshal. You know, General Gambara, who was originally the most promising to take this position, was always questioning the leader.
, was sent to the logistics department by Mussolini and left idle.
In the Spanish Civil War, General Gambara led the Italian Expeditionary Force and achieved many major military exploits. Although it was inferior to that of the German young general Rommel, it was still a military exploit after all. In the end, it turned out that he and the leader
There was a verbal dispute and he was demoted on the grounds of "improper command leading to excessive casualties among the troops"!
There are no immortals in a war. Anyone with a sound mind can see the real reason why Gambara was demoted. On the contrary, that was also the reason why Graziani was promoted.
Graziani, who had a bitter face and a thin body, took off his flat military cap and respectfully waited for Mussolini's instructions.
Bah! This dog only knows how to flatter people. Many Italian generals present looked down upon Graziani with disdain.
"The German head of state suggested that we deploy troops in the Alps to threaten southern France. What do you think of this?" Mussolini walked up to Graziani and asked, holding a cigar in his hand.
"Everything is subject to the leader's arrangements!" Graziani, who had long made up his mind, was now focused on how to please Mussolini, and of course he said everything that sounded nice.
Mussolini nodded with satisfaction, and he was very pleased with Graziani's respectful attitude. In fact, what he was pursuing was exactly this feeling of being one person above ten thousand people, and a thousand words.
After his momentum was satisfied, Mussolini cast his admiring gaze on Graziani, smiled and said: "Don't be so serious, tell me what you think."
Of course he needs someone to share his humble opinions, so that he can lead to his smart and wise grand strategy.
Graziani, who understood what Mussolini was thinking, raised his eyebrows slightly, and deliberately pretended to be stupid and analyzed: "The German army is afraid of encountering a two-front battle, so it turns to us in Italy, hoping that we can arrange troops for them in France.
In the south, when France launches a large-scale attack on northern Germany in the future, it will have a knife that can stab the French army in the back."
What Graziani said were superficial things that even ordinary people who did not graduate from a military academy could imagine. He chose such simple and superficial things to satisfy Mussolini’s self-consciousness that he could see everything clearly.
, thus allowing the leader to express a more enlightened point of view.
However, his remarks have aroused serious dissatisfaction among a group of Italian generals. With his amateur analysis skills, he has simply ruined the position of Italian Marshal.
"What you said makes sense." Without noticing the dissatisfaction of the other generals, Mussolini said leisurely in what he thought was an enigmatic tone: "The Germans dared to launch this war, and their confidence was from the very beginning.
With such a powerful ally like our Kingdom of Italy by their side, let me tell you, the French have not dared to send troops to Germany. In the final analysis, they are not afraid that Italy will stand up for the Germans, or that Italy's million-strong army will attack them!"
"Yes, yes, leader, what you said makes so much sense, why didn't I think of this?" Graziani smiled admiringly, nodding his head repeatedly, pretending to be suddenly enlightened.
The bullshit suddenly dawned on me! Several Italian generals who wanted to show off their face could hardly resist the urge to beat him. Although their level was not high, they could clearly feel that Mussolini’s self-deceiving nonsense just now was
unrealistic.
When Germany asked Italy to send some troops to "hunt" Poland, the leader was not so confident and dared to speak loudly. Why did the Germans end up taking advantage of their Italian allies after they showed their courage?
For such arrogant words, an Italian prime minister and an Italian marshal actually nodded their heads? The self-aware general has begun to worry, how can Italy protect itself in this upcoming troubled world? In short
, it will definitely not work to rely on leaders and marshals!
Unaffected by the contemptuous looks of a group of generals, Graziani was still enthusiastically cooperating with Mussolini when he asked: "But leader, the question now is, should we follow the Germans' wishes and send troops?"
"
"Yes! Why don't we?" Mussolini laughed under the surprised eyes of everyone: "Isn't this a great opportunity for us in Italy to regain the glory of the Roman Empire?"
Then, Mussolini revealed his well-thought-out grand strategy to a group of people who had seen a ghost: "The French army is marching on the German Saarland border, which means that the French will attack the Germans soon."
It happened, and it was ruthless. I have to say that the French had a very good time, just when the main force of the German army was deep into Poland and was about to capture Warsaw, the capital of Poland."
Then Mussolini cleared his throat and said in a louder voice: "The Germans are definitely reluctant to give up the fat piece of war in Warsaw, so they will take Warsaw first and then turn around to take care of France. So, just rely on
The few people on Germany's western border, even if they have a 'Siegfeld Line', cannot stop the French attack."
Having said this, Mussolini paused deliberately. After Graziani took the lead in letting the generals applaud, he continued to emphasize with a fast speaking speed: "But! The French have forgotten that there are still people on the European continent.
There is a military power with millions of troops like them, and that is our Italy! When they break into Germany, an elite Italian force crosses the Alps and raids southern France, and they will face catastrophe.
!”
"Wonderful! You are worthy of being a leader. In this way, the Germans have invaded Poland's territory, the French have invaded Germany's territory, and we have invaded France's territory. In this way, the big countries on the European continent
Among them, only our Italian mainland has not been affected by the war." Graziani immediately seized the opportunity and sang along with Mussolini. Even he himself was surprised by his own reaction, with such a good talent.
, it would be a pity not to become an actor!
A lieutenant general couldn't stand the awkward relationship between Mussolini and Graziani, so he stepped forward and said in advance: "Since the leader is preparing to send troops, why didn't you tell him when the German head of state called him just now?
What? Wouldn’t this make our German allies feel more at ease?”
After hearing this, Mussolini stretched out his index finger and shook it, and said calmly: "Of course I have a further perspective than you on this point. The reason why I did not immediately agree to the Germans to mobilize troops is because I have decided on them.
Now we have something to ask for. Without the help of Italy, the Germans will definitely not be France's opponents on their own. So I won't agree to them now and wait until they come to me. In this way, I can take the opportunity to blackmail the Germans and get some benefits.
Yet?"
"Oh...but the German head of state seemed to have hung up the phone just now. He didn't look like he was asking for anything from us?"
The lieutenant general's words were like a fiery slap on the self-righteous Mussolini's face.