Chapter 446: Harm others and end up asking for a monthly ticket
Rossi, the deputy leader of Italy, may have average other abilities, but his ability to organize gifts is very good.
Although in theory, Rossi had the power to direct temporary army deployments on behalf of Mussolini, in fact, this power was no different from a false position.
Yes, you, Rossi, can act as leader. But once you speak, the officers and soldiers under your command may not listen.
After all, Rossi was not a full-time Prime Minister. His power often depended only on Mussolini's whims.
However, Rossi finally mobilized the Italian fleet and almost the entire Italian navy.
There are two battleships used by the Italian Navy as the main force: the Veneto battleship and the Littorio battleship.
There are also two dreadnoughts built by Italy in the arms race before World War I. They are the battleship Count Cavour and the battleship Giulio Caesar, which have just been modernized not long ago.
Of course, three heavy cruisers of the "Zara" class, four light cruisers of the "Giusanno" class, and 12 destroyers of various types were also mobilized by Rossi.
It can be said that this was the main force that even Mussolini himself did not dare to mobilize easily, but it was mobilized by Rossi.
The reason why Rossi was able to do this is very simple, because almost all naval generals at all levels accepted huge bribes from him, and under Rossi's cover, they unscrupulously used their authority to conduct various prohibited transactions.
This is power trading. On weekdays, everyone gets the benefits of Rossi, and the benefits are quite abundant, which makes everyone want to keep taking them.
It wasn't because of Rossi's high prestige that he could mobilize the navy generals. It was because of the benefits he could provide that these greedy Italian navy commanders were reluctant to let him fall easily.
Thus, there was this drama of an acting leader mobilizing the main force of the navy.
"I suddenly regretted it... I don't know why the generals in the country were so tough today and were ready to fight the British to the death." Sitting in the submarine of the Balila, Fred wanted to cry.
Picked up the domestic reply telegram.
In fact, it is not easy to contact a submarine. The submarine needs to use an antenna such as a buoy antenna or a buoyant antenna to establish contact with the country.
However, just after Fred contacted the country for a while, the order ordering them to stay put was sent.
Obviously, the commanders in Italy did not seem to be as weak as Fred had guessed.
After receiving Fred's report about the appearance of the British fleet, the Italian navy's top brass did not seem to be panicked. Instead, they immediately showed their courage and vowed to fight to the death with the British fleet.
Major Fred was a little annoyed. Why did he tell the story about the discovery of the British fleet? Isn't it better to pretend that he didn't see it?
Now that they are fine, the country will not let them leave. The Italian Navy's fleet commander personally ordered Major Fred to lead a submarine to intercept the British fleet's attack route, waiting for an opportunity to make a sneak attack and bite the returning British fleet.
"I didn't expect that the British fleet we encountered this time actually included the main force of Fleet H deployed in Gibraltar." Fred turned his head helplessly and mentioned to his adjutant with a wry smile.
From the telegram, Fred learned that the reason why the Italian Navy wanted to participate in this interception battle was, on the one hand, to deliver a final blow to the British fleet that had been severely damaged by the French fleet, and to demonstrate that the Italian Royal Navy
of strength.
Didn't the Germans defeat the British Navy in the North Sea?
Well, our Italians also defeated the British Navy near the Bay of Oran. Let the world know that what the German Navy can do, the Italian Navy can also do.
At the same time, you can also publicize it and let the world know that the Italian Royal Navy is no worse than the British Royal Navy, and can even be said to be stronger!
Of course, on the other hand, it is also Italy's national interest to severely damage Britain's Mediterranean Fleet H.
As long as this part of the British task force, which is part of Fleet H, is not released, it will be much easier for Italy to compete for sea power advantages in the Mediterranean in the future.
"Yes, the superiors are so determined this time, which means there is indeed a reason worthy of our action." Fred's adjutant sat next to him, turned on the kettle, took a sip of the boiled water with a strange taste, and said.
In fact, what Fred and the others didn't know was that no matter whether they found traces of the British fleet or not, the country would launch an interception war against the British fleet.
Because Reinhard would not let the British fleet, which had already left the British Isles, return to the homeland and become a major obstacle to Germany's future landing in the UK.
As the German head of state determined to destroy the British fleet, Reinhard would not miss any opportunity to weaken the British.
Aren't you, the British, afraid that the German army will annex the French fleet, become stronger, and threaten sea control in the English Channel?
Well, the considerate Germany will not use this method to become stronger for the time being, but will achieve the purpose of weakening the British Royal Navy by provoking the British Navy and the French Navy, and the Italian Navy and the British Navy to fight each other.
Anyway, the effect is the same. If you want to win the landing battle, you don't have to be strong. Being able to weaken your opponent is also a skill!
In this battle, the Italian fleet belonging to the Allies will come to the rescue. In this way, the French's favorability towards the Allies will definitely rise sharply.
Even if the Italians did not completely wipe out the British fleet, this favor was actually given.
What's more, although the French fleet was severely weakened by the British, it should still cause a big blow to the British fleet, right?
Darlan was also regarded as a famous French naval war general who was deeply supported by his subordinates. How could he not come back with even 800 enemy kills after he had suffered a thousand losses?
Facing the damaged and exhausted British fleet, the new Italian navy, which has just joined the battlefield, should win!
At the same time, on the one hand, there is the treacherous and duplicitous Axis camp formed by Churchill. On the other hand, there is the Reinhardt Allied camp, which came all the way to the rescue and has always had a good reputation.
Which one is better and which one is worse? I believe the French people can easily judge which side to join.
After this battle, the French Vichy government will surely move further towards the Allied camp.
And de Gaulle's free French government will also fall into a trough and never recover!
Churchill would not have thought that his carefully planned attack on the French fleet would be a trap for Reinhardt to kill two birds with one stone and further damage the British navy.
If you harm others, you will ultimately harm yourself!
