Chapter 1002: The Last Chance

In the Leader’s office in Italy, Mussolini sat face-to-face with several men in suits, apparently in the middle of a discussion. Beside him sat his trusted aide and his personal secretary, who was responsible for taking the minutes. Of course, there was also a translator, as there seemed to be a significant communication barrier between the two sides.

The men present were spies from the United States. The translator was also a member of this secret spy delegation. They had been in Italy for several months, responsible for maintaining a unilateral line of contact with Mussolini, in an attempt to get Italy to defect to the American side in this war.

They had taken a risk by contacting the Italian government directly, and the result had been very satisfactory—the Italians had not handed these spies over to their German allies. They had even treated these spies from the hostile United States to a sumptuous Italian feast.

Then, they had been granted a very easy meeting with Mussolini, and had even been quartered in a separate villa, deliberately protected by the Italians, where they had set up a radio station with a direct line to the United States. In terms of function, this place was in no way inferior to the original embassy; it could be considered a small-scale American embassy in Italy.

Of course, the main purpose for Mussolini to support these American spies, or rather, these American diplomats, was to be able to rake in greater benefits for Italy at a critical moment.

The cooperation with Germany, for various reasons, had not brought Italy the benefits it had originally expected, and Mussolini had blamed all of this on the German Führer Akado’s sinister, treacherous, and two-faced nature.

In the matter of French interests, Italy had acted too late and had not received any benefits. On the Balkan issue, they had acted too rashly and had suffered a disastrous defeat. In the distant North Africa, the Italian troops had been completely reduced to a German vassal, to the point that after the capture of Cairo, Italy was too embarrassed to even approach Germany to discuss the issue of Egypt’s ownership.

Thus, Italy’s expansion in Europe was very limited, and they had even had to compromise with Turkey on the Balkan issue. And its expansion in North Africa, due to the question of how much effort had been put in, had had a piece of its pie taken by the Germans. The result was that Italy’s current degree of expansion was a far cry from the “New Roman Empire” that the leader Mussolini had proclaimed.

On the other hand, Mussolini also looked down on the German army’s rigorous and cold style. He felt that for Germany to rely on its own powerful military force to win the war through sacrifice was an extremely foolish thing. He felt that Italy should have more options than Germany.

The wisdom-loving Italian leader, Mussolini, was more inclined to rely on diplomatic maneuvering to fight for Italy’s own interests… or, to put it another way, he had already lost hope in his own country’s army. In any case, whatever the reason, Mussolini was now more willing to trust the politicians under him than those generals who had lost every battle.

But to make Mussolini submit to the United States with all his heart was also not an easy matter. After all, the Third Reich was now at the zenith of its power. To dare to announce a change of flags, with their borders touching, still required great courage.

The bait that the Americans had dangled was very tempting for Mussolini. Once the two sides had signed an agreement, the United States would guarantee the stability of Italy’s current acquired borders and would also recognize Italy’s “leading position” in the Balkans and North Africa.

“You must know! This is already the most sincere compromise from the United States, Mr. Mussolini… I am sure you also know that to make such a huge concession is not easy,” a diplomat representing the United States said, sitting on a sofa, sipping his red wine as he spoke to Mussolini.

When he said this, this diplomat clearly had the confidence and capital to do so. The United States had offered many benefits that Akado had not given to Italy, including the entire Balkan region, as well as the German-occupied Egypt and other places. Leaving aside the rest, just the interests of the Suez Canal alone were enough to make Italy drool.

This was also the final profit-sharing plan that the American side had proposed after repeated negotiations. Italy, Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union would carve up Germany after the war. Italy would get actual control of the Mediterranean, Britain would get the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, and the Soviet Union would get all of Eastern Europe…

Look at how efficient the Americans were. The war was still in a state of continuous retreat, and they were already pulling in their allies and potential allies to start carving up the delicious cake of post-war victory. The brilliant part was that this cake was drawn to be so huge and so delicious that one glance was enough to make one feel an uncontrollable impulse.

“Mr. Jennifer, you must know, no matter how good the money is, you have to be alive to spend it,” the trusted aide sitting next to Mussolini said, starting to bargain. “The conditions you have promised us are all after Germany’s defeat. But right now, we can’t see any sign of Germany being defeated at all. To betray them at a time like this is not in Italy’s best interests.”

This was also the main point of contention in the negotiations between the two sides. After all, Germany had been advancing triumphantly since the beginning of the war, defeating countless countries. The number of great powers that had fallen under the tracks of the Third Reich’s tanks was innumerable. Even if Mussolini was conceited, his head was not so muddled as to believe that his own army could stop Germany from sweeping over a rebellious Italy.

The great leader Mussolini and all his aides knew that the Italian army could not possibly defeat the German army. They couldn’t even beat the German second-line troops. So he and his aides had adopted a delaying tactic, hoping to wait until the victor was clear before having Italy place its bet.

Unfortunately, the war situation was deteriorating rapidly, and the Americans simply could not wait any longer. The ultimate goal of the United States in giving up countless interests was to have Italy tie down a portion of Germany’s forces, to save the collapsing German-Soviet front. If it was just to let Italy make a judgment based on the results, then what was the point of all this effort?

Time was not on the Allies’ side either. Once the German-Soviet front collapsed, then Italy on its side would become an expendable, dead-end pawn. The outcome would no longer be important. Therefore, the United States had to incite Italy to withdraw from the war as soon as possible, and it would be best if it could thus fall out with Germany.

The best result would be that the frontline Italian troops would start a firefight with the German army. The Soviet army would take the opportunity to consolidate its positions and finally turn the tables. Then the United States would seize Gibraltar, land in Italy with ease, bypass the solid Atlantic Wall, and open up a second front against Germany.

“Unfortunately, the war situation cannot wait, great leader Mr. Mussolini,” the American diplomat said, waving his hand with regret and being frank with Mussolini. “We don’t need to repeat those interests and results. The problem now is, if the Germans win the German-Soviet war, then Italy will have no chance to change sides!”

“…” This was also the most depressing thing for Mussolini. Although he had received a lot of benefits by following Germany all the way, he had always been in the position of a little brother within the Axis, which made Mussolini, who was accustomed to dictatorial rule, very dissatisfied.

“But, you know, in the north and west of Italy, a huge German Balkan combat group is deployed. This group is commanded by General Hoth, and its combat effectiveness is very high,” Mussolini said, bringing out his only bit of strategic talent and beginning to state his difficulties. “The Italian troops cannot confront this German force on their own.”

As he spoke, he pointed at the map that was spread out on the coffee table and, with resignation, admitted that Italy’s actual combat effectiveness was indeed not as good as Germany’s (of course, for the whole world to know it and for him to admit it were two different things). “At most a week, within a week at most, Rome will be occupied by the German army. At that time, everything will be over, and Italy will also disappear from this world… I dare not take this risk.”

“The United States does not hope that Italy will become an ally and resist the German aggression,” the American diplomat said after a moment’s thought. “We have a plan, which is to use the bombing of Iceland to cover our true intentions. To attack Norway in the north, but for the main force to go south and to force a landing in Italy. At that time, you will have the support of 100,000 American troops, and there will be more reinforcements to follow. I am sure the German army will not have the ability to deploy another army group in Italy, right?”

Mussolini was no fool. He still waved his hand, rejecting the American diplomat’s enticement. “During the North African war, didn’t Rommel’s 50,000 men still chase your 100,000-plus American soldiers? Now the German side has a whole army group of hundreds of thousands. How can 100,000 American soldiers be enough…”

“Isn’t this the worst-case scenario… Most of our plans are, in fact, based on the premise that when Italy announces its withdrawal from the war, its withdrawal from the Axis, the German army will use force. But the assessment report shows that the probability of the German army using force is at most only 30%, which is not a cause for concern,” the American diplomat quickly added.

After speaking, he added his own thoughts. “Leader, sir, you must seize this last moment. This is your last chance! Once you lose this opportunity, then at that time, the Germans will still send their troops south to annex Italy, and the United States will no longer have the strength to help you and your country!”

Recently, some of the pro-German Italian parties, as well as a portion of the civilian population, had often spouted the terrible theory of a “Greater European unification.” This was another reason why Mussolini was in such a hurry to consult frequently with the American diplomats. He was afraid of losing the power in his hands, and even more afraid that the Germans would eventually swallow Italy whole.

But considering the German J Army Group in the Italian border region, which had beaten the partisans on the Balkan Peninsula so badly that they dared not show their faces, Mussolini felt a cold wind on his back. He considered it for a long time and finally stood up and gave the order to see his guests out. “Let me think about it again! After all, this is a matter that we all need to be cautious about. Please see the special envoys out for me…”

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