The 200-kilometer-long front in the Alps was filled with smoke. Five divisions of the French army, with Berante's troops as the vanguard, mixed with 32 divisions of the Italian army and fought with each other. The Italian army formed a five-line straight line.
The attack formation penetrated deeply into the French defensive position and continuously broke through in depth.
On the surface, they attack the French defense line in groups. Every time they take a step forward, the French position will be cut open like a knife. They are encroaching on the French position step by step, trying to use every step.
The method of cannibalization slowly wears away the effective strength of the French army, and uses the advantage of military strength to cannibalize the French army.
The Italian commander was General Gambara, who held a 32 to 5 strength advantage, and he did not think much about tactics.
The Italian "famous general" who won the Spanish intervention war said to the soldiers: "I have never fought a rich battle like 32 to 5 in my life. You can go ahead and fight it. Each division and each regiment should be the main attacker.
If you lose, it’s my responsibility!”
With these words from the general, the soldiers were all happy and rushed to the French positions one by one.
However, misfortune was still to come. With the attack of the whole army, the entire rear of the Italian army had no defense at all. If the enemy penetrated, the consequences would be disastrous.
The loser who happened to be left behind was the 21st Army of the Italian Army, which was the weakest unit in the Italian army. In fact, the entire Italian army had little combat effectiveness under Mussolini's leadership, and the combat effectiveness of this division was only
It can only be said to be rubbish among rubbish.
"General!" came the guard's report from behind. Gambara looked back and saw that the French army had come from nowhere behind the Italian army and cut off their retreat.
.........
"In the last world war, we mistakenly joined the camp of the British and French. But in the end, the shameless betrayal of the British and French caused heavy losses to the powerful Italian army."
Italy, Rome, on the balcony of the Palazzo Venezia. Italian Prime Minister Mussolini began his carefully prepared victory speech.
"In that war, great Italy sacrificed a lot, but gained too little." Mussolini was a little funny, but he thought he was domineering, pouting his lips and raising his arms and shouting.
"But! Under the leadership of this leader, all walks of life in Italy have worked hard and the national strength is booming. Finally, our national strength has been restored and has become stronger than before!"
"Now, the moment of reckoning has come, as the great Italian army fights against the evil French barbarians, once again embarking on Caesar's great conquest of Gaul!"
"We will advance together with the German and Germanic peoples and their invincible and victorious armies."
This gave Mussolini a bit of leverage. Although he didn't like to praise Germany, in order to boost morale at this moment, he had to say that the German army was invincible, even though this was indeed the case.
However, if the allies win, Italy in the same camp will also be considered a winner.
After Mussolini came to power, the proverb said, "Reinhardt's victory is our victory."
Finally, Mussolini shouted excitedly: "Victory belongs to great Italy and the equally great Italian people!"
"Victory! Victory! Victory..." Mussolini walked off the balcony of the Venice Palace amid countless echoes.
As he walked back, he joked to Ciano who stepped forward to greet him: "You see, with my encouragement, the Italian people finally began to have courage. In order to create great people, even if they kick their butts
To send them to the battlefield, isn’t this what I should do?”
"Yes, that's right!" Ciano agreed with a knowing smile: "Under the supervision of the leader, our army finally launched a large-scale general offensive this morning. It is estimated that the results will be achieved by now."
"Haha," Mussolini, who was already intoxicated in his dream, nodded and said with a smile: "It seems that I will soon be like the Italian hero Napoleon and unify France."
"Ahem." A naval vice-admiral who was relatively close to Mussolini couldn't bear to listen anymore, so he coughed twice to cover up his speechlessness.
After much thought, the lieutenant general decided to remind the Prime Minister: "But the leader... Napoleon is French."
Even though he was a close confidant, and even though the other party reminded him well, Mussolini still felt that he had lost face, and said unhappily: "Corsica will soon belong to Italy, and of course Napoleon also belongs to Italy!" (Napoleon was born)
in Corsica, France)
Immediately afterwards, Mussolini wanted to say something, but a secretary who stumbled over interrupted him: "Leader, the battle report is here!"
When he heard the news from the front, Mussolini looked at his secretary and said with a cheerful smile: "Tell me slowly, tell me slowly, are all those French guys dead or have they all surrendered?"
"Report, our army's 4-way offensive failed, more than half of the Black Shirt Army's First Division was lost, and there were 7 other army divisions that suffered heavy casualties and lost their combat capabilities..." The secretary did not dare to neglect and reported quickly.
After hearing this, Mussolini laughed loudly without reacting: "I just said, the great Italian army must...wait! What did you just say?!"
Then, Mussolini rushed to the secretary at a speed that did not match his stature and grabbed the telegram.
This time, Mussolini saw it clearly. To sum it up in one word, it was a huge defeat!
The 32 Italian main divisions were pushed forward by the 5 French divisions, and they lost their armor and armor. More than a thousand of them surrendered to the French army!
The air suddenly solidified...
.......
"Are you sure that Marshal Pétain has announced that he will surrender to Germany?!"
Lieutenant General Berante, who had just defeated the Italian army with a small victory and a perfect counterattack, was clearing the battlefield and counting the prisoners. He was obviously incredulous that his teacher had made this decision.
"It's impossible for the marshal not to know how much damage he will suffer to his reputation by doing this!" Berlant frowned at the staff officer who reported the news to him, and said in disbelief: "He doesn't have to do this!
"
"But Marshal Pétain has decided this way." At this time, Berante's adjutant came forward and comforted the military commander: "For France, the Marshal's choice is not wrong."
"But what about my teacher himself?!" Berante, who had always been strong, now said in a hoarse voice, "This is unfair to him!"
A national hero has to lead the country to surrender. What could be more painful than this?
In a daze, Berante seemed to see the teacher who had just been promoted to Marshal of France 20 years ago and was giving a promotion speech in high spirits.
"...I, Henri-Philippe Pétain, will dedicate my life, my soul, my all to France. I will serve the French military with all my enthusiasm."
He was smiling amidst the cheers that echoed through the sky.