Chapter 671: Extortion
Just how many ships had escaped from the port of Alexandria? No one knew the answer to this question. In any case, when Akado learned that the Italian Navy, out of fear of losses and a lack of fuel, had ultimately failed to go to the outskirts of Alexandria as agreed to encircle and annihilate the ships laden with British soldiers, he angrily smashed the glass cup in his hand.
A full 20,000 British soldiers had managed to escape the huge encirclement of Alexandria by ship. And the Italian fleet, which was strong enough to crush the now-battleship-less British Mediterranean Fleet, had only dared to watch from its harbor as this British fleet, which had no courage to fight, sailed away. The fact that the British had been the masters of the seas for a hundred years had scared the Italian Navy so much that they didn’t even have the courage for a head-on confrontation. It sounded ridiculous, but it was the cruel truth.
Even the Germans had struggled for a long time to overcome their own “British fleet phobia.” If it hadn’t been for Lütjens’s flash of inspiration, if the German fleet hadn’t had that little bit of courage at the last moment, the German High Seas Fleet might still be getting beaten down by the British in the North Sea. How would they have the ability to rule the waves in the Atlantic?
But everyone knew that Italy had several new and old battleships, and with its cruisers, its numbers were almost five times that of the British Mediterranean Fleet. In the end, this huge gap had still not filled the fear in the Italians’ hearts, which was a bit too infuriating.
“Why! Why was I willing to throw Student’s paratroopers into that godforsaken shithole in Africa? Why was I willing to hold back some of my air support capability to let the paratroopers face Patton’s tanks alone in that damn place, Damanhur?” Akado roared at the Italian envoy in his office.
He stomped on the broken glass on the floor with his leather boots, making a crunching sound. “Everything, everything was so that the Italian Navy, under the cover of the German Air Force, could blockade the port of Alexandria, annihilate or capture the British Mediterranean Fleet! To completely trap the hundred thousand British defenders in Alexandria! This was what we agreed on! What we agreed on!”
He paced back and forth in a rage, completely ignoring the Italian special envoy, whose face had turned ashen. “My paratroopers lost almost 3,000 men in Damanhur! 3,000 men! And the Italian fleet? Was the only casualty someone who sprained his toe because the waves were too big?”
It was no wonder Akado was so furious. The entire African campaign had, in fact, begun with Italy’s solo invasion of Ethiopia in North Africa. The result was that 200,000 Italian troops had failed to complete their mission and were instead driven out of Ethiopia by the British army, routed all the way back to Tunis. If Rommel had not arrived at the last moment to save the Italian rout, all of North Africa would now belong to the British.
Logically speaking, the entire Afrika Korps was Germany helping Italy to stabilize its position. If it were just for advancing into the Middle East, it would have been more convenient for Germany to join forces with Turkey and strike directly there. This war in Africa seemed to be footing the bill for Italy’s strategy.
And in a war fought for Italian interests, the attack strategy agreed upon by both sides was absolutely foolproof: German paratroopers would launch a surprise attack on Damanhur, the Italian Navy would blockade Alexandria, and Rommel’s troops would smash the Allied defense line from the front. The final result would be the annihilation of all British forces in North Africa and the capture or destruction of the British Mediterranean Fleet. This was completely in line with the greatest interests of all parties. To ensure the safety of the Italian fleet, Germany had even held back a portion of its bombers and fighters, wanting to provide cross-sea cover for the Italian fleet at the critical moment.
But when it came time to execute the plan, the Italian fleet was nowhere to be seen. As a result, the British fleet calmly left the port of Alexandria, escaped easily through the Suez Canal, and even took 20,000 British soldiers with them.
The Italian fleet had not set sail, but an envoy had rushed to the Führer’s residence in Berlin, presenting a long list of reasons why the fleet could not set sail, using excuses like lack of fuel and incomplete preparations. He had even shamelessly hoped that the German high command could understand Italy’s difficulties.
“On this matter, Italy has indeed acted without due consideration. This is simply damaging the traditional friendship between our two countries,” Chancellor August, sitting to one side, said. His ancestor was the famous Iron Chancellor, and he would naturally not remain indifferent to such one-sided opportunism. He looked at the Italian envoy, who was about to be cursed to death by Akado, and slowly stated his thoughts: “Mr. Mussolini must give the Third Reich an explanation. If he doesn’t, we will go and take one ourselves!”
The Italian envoy, with a trembling hand, took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the sweat from his forehead. The bargaining chips Mussolini had given him were not many. He had been hesitant to present them because he had his own considerations. After all, Germany had been very easy to talk to on the issues of France, the Balkans, and North Africa. This had made Italy a bit arrogant, and there were even arguments that the Germans were idiots and Italy could just reap the benefits.
Although this argument did not have many supporters, Mussolini had indeed somewhat forgotten that the terrifying national strength of the Third Reich was also a steel sword hanging over Italy’s head. The Balkan Peninsula, which the entire nation of Italy could not handle, had been easily pacified by 200,000 German troops. This meant that without even having to transfer troops from the front, just with the permanent garrison forces in Germany, it would not be a difficult matter to flatten Italy.
So this poor envoy now did not dare to state Mussolini’s almost provocative conditions. He was truly afraid that the man before him, the actual ruler of seventy percent of Europe’s territory, the Führer of the Third Reich, Akado, would really order an attack on Italy. Then Italy could very well become history.
Since the Italian Navy could be scared by the paper tiger Britain, which had dominated the world for a hundred years, then its army could absolutely regard the German army, which had swept across Europe undefeated, as a god. If the British Navy was terrifying, then the German Army was invincible in the eyes of the Italians. To ask the Italian garrison to fight against the invincible German army, these men would either immediately revolt or surrender on the spot.
“My Führer, as an Italian diplomat, I hope I can return to my country immediately to personally explain the danger of this matter to the Duce…” the Italian envoy said, his voice trembling after wiping the sweat from his forehead. “If necessary, we can arrest several of the naval generals and let your country deal with them!”
In fact, letting the Mediterranean Fleet go, or letting 20,000 British soldiers escape, these were not the reasons that made Akado so angry. The main thing was that this great retreat reminded him of the Dunkirk evacuation that he had personally prevented. He did not know what kind of hidden dangers this small mistake would bring him in the end. It was because of the unknown that he was afraid, and because he could not estimate or predict, that he was so tense he was hysterical.
“This is not a problem a small diplomat can solve,” Akado said, waving his hand and rejecting the Italian envoy’s request. He thought for a moment and then continued in a cold voice, “Put the matter of the Italian Navy aside for now. Have Mussolini come to Berlin to see me in person. The most significant test for the Axis powers is coming. At a time like this, I do not want any unforeseeable problems to arise, such as this unilateral breach of agreement.”
He walked up to the envoy, his eyes, slightly bloodshot from lack of rest, staring at the other like a hawk. “Have Mussolini come to me in person, understand? Adjust your wording, use the most beautiful diplomatic language. If you can’t do it, I’ll have General Hoth invite him!”
General Hoth was the commander of the German J Army Group. His troops were stationed in the Balkan Peninsula and Crete, and were the closest fully formed German army group to Italy. Akado’s words were a very clear threat.
“I, I understand! My Führer! I will set off for Italy at once and convey your invitation to the Duce…” The Italian envoy now felt he was extremely unlucky. When others came to Germany, they were treated with good wine and good food. Even if they made some excessive demands, the relevant German authorities would do their best to agree. Why was it that after he came to Germany, everything was so difficult?
As the Italian envoy fled the Führer’s residence, Akado had already issued mobilization orders for the J and A Army Groups. The German army was now prepared to make the worst-case plans for Italy at any time.
August, due to his age and his recent tireless work on Germany’s domestic and economic affairs, did not look well, and seemed somewhat senile. He glanced at Akado, whose anger was gradually subsiding, and asked, “If Italy really doesn’t give us Egypt, and doesn’t let our military police and instructors train the Italian troops, do you really intend to send troops to Italy?”
“That is inevitable,” Akado snorted coldly, looking at the theater map in front of him. “We must have the Suez Canal in Egypt in our hands. Since Italy has given us this opportunity, we must seize it. Also, if we do not comprehensively strengthen the combat effectiveness of the Italian troops, will we dare to use these idiots who will drag us down at critical moments on the Eastern Front?”
August nodded and then asked another question he was concerned about: “If we take Italy, we will have to tie down some of our troops, and we will also be short of the expected hundreds of thousands of Italian allied troops. This matter doesn’t seem to be very favorable to us?”
“A country that is afraid of a British Mediterranean Fleet that doesn’t even have any battleships—do you still expect them to dare to defy the will of the Third Reich?” Akado laughed heartily. “Prepare to welcome Mussolini. We’ll just have to extort a hefty sum from him.”
August laughed along with him and slowly walked out.
Published: 2025-09-17T08:40:59.000+00:00
Last Edited: 2026-02-16T17:52:19.000+00:00
URL: https://www.patreon.com/caleredhair/posts/mtr-c671-139089860
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