Ride of The Innitzer - A Mad KR Italian Federation AAR

In the dark reality of post-Weltkrieg world, where one half of the globe is ruled by cruel and bloodthirsty Kaiserreich, and another one fell prey to demonic teachings of Marxism, an eternal peace for a mankind is impossible to achieve. Be it greedy Kaiser or band of cursed Communards, they will always find a way to show their force, exert pressure and enslave more abandoned and innocent souls, thus slowly - but steadily - carving a path towards a new Weltkrieg, a new catastrophe never known to a humanity before.

Ruthless demons of Marxism and Imperialism are clashing all over this troubled land, and whenever they will meet each other, seeds of a new disaster are being sown.

Year after year since the end of Belle Epoque more and more souls are being drawn away from the Way of Peace by these demons. Soon there will be no one remaining - as all the people, enslaved by one or another side, will face each other on the battlefield again, to decide which of the evil systems will reign over the world for a next thousands and thousands of years...

A war to end all wars could indeed remain as such, but greed of the victors enraged the losers, and they will do everything to take a revenge. A war to end all wars ended them for a mere decade.

Central Powers victory had costed them a lot, but they gained a mastery over all their enemies. Whoever tried to oppose their brute force sooner or later emerged as a Marxist Heretic, far away from the God. The only land to remain on the Way of Peace and preserve old ideals was that led by Bishop of Rome himself. He, like a shepherd of the faithful, teached his herd, he teached it to love - not hate - and instead of being hateful towards former enemies and disastrous outcome of war, live with it and accept it.

Pax Christi in regno Christi . The peace of Christ in the reign of Christ.

And so his herd followed. With faith in God and brighter, peaceful future.


Although new Italian state - Italian Federation was just a bunch of loosely connected Duchies and quasi-Republics united by authority of Pope, nominal head of Federation, and many of former enemies were now part of defeated Italy, the peace indeed reigned in Christ's domain. As North could rebuild and prosper again, South had fallen to a Marxist demons during revolution soon after Austrian victory.

Since then Italia remains divided, which is a great misfortune for a southern brethren, which - lured by a false promises of unity, freedom and equality - fell prey to Communism. Soon even more misfortunes followed - disastrous actions of collectivization and nationalization brought Italians to the gates of hell. Millions of exploited people, stripped from their properties and morality, forced to follow inhuman ways of new oppressors, were closed in invicible cells forged with a Marxist Steel...

Being oppressed for so long however, all those people forgot how is it to live in another system. By being told that good is bad and bad is good they became demons themselves, and brainwashed to no end, they seek the same their overlords do - blood, pain, suffering...

A Christian state of Northern Italy is not only bordering Marxists to the south, but also to the west. After Germans conquered mighty France and left it in ashes, French people were in despair. More than quarter of their nation perished, economy was in complete ruin, no one could be bothered with morality when all the authorities faded away...

A broken, demolished and exhausted to no end...perfect victim for a heretic teachings of Communism...what's even worse, soon Britain followed this scheme. Just when Germans thought that their enemies are eternally beaten, they came back under new, even more dangerous form...

On top of that, main oppressor of Italy - Austrian Kaiser, usually a lapdog of Hohenzollerns, who consider themselves as rulers of everything under the Sun. But it is not puppy from Vienna that concerns us, it is a terrifying Cerberus from Berlin, always hungry for more, and more, and more...


The peace of Christ in the reign of Christ. But for how long can we accept this reign of hell all around us? Accepting the sin is even worse than commiting one.

Italy under Pope Pius XI did everything to remain neutral and according to his life's motto it never considered even protesting when everyone around was harming desired peace more and more.

Passive. Passivity is one of the greatest sin known to a man, for who not attempts to change his life, will never reach the God.

Early 30s saw the change in Italian politics. More and more brave cardinals were voicing their concerns over external and internal politics of Italian Federation. Soon they started to grab more and more power, eventually making Papacy a true leader of centralized Italy. Now it was their time to prepare against the storm, an inevitable Marxist storm, barbarians gathering at gates of Rome.

But initiative of the Cardinals, it was merely a step towards a new beginning. The Pope Pius who allowed them to rise and effectively rule the Italy already knew that he was aging and nothing can stop the passing time. Although his formal rule over Italy has been confirmed in 1934, it was only to establish a path for his successor. It didn't take long enough to convince Pope Pius to change his political course. Although he was old and not able to stop cardinals, he could at least support them and accept their course. Italy started to change, in all aspects. One could feel that the war is inevitable and Pius's successor will have to prepare Italian Federation to whitstand Communist storm...

To understand how influential German position was let's just take a look at Berlin Stock Exchange crash from February of 1936, known as Black Monday. Its effects were so powerful that even Italy suffered from it. Luckily, it was not enough to stop cardinals from pursuing secret militarization and modernization of army...



Perhaps that was enough for Pope Pius - on 5th August of 1936 he passed away, in a respectable age of 79. Soon after that Conclave gathered to choose 260th Pope. Austrians tried to press it and impose their rule over Italy - they would rather see their kinsman, Duke of Tuscany as new ruler. Well, maybe they will succeed one day, but it is not this day. Their demands have been outright dismissed.

That was a day of change. A Day of Decision.

A white smoke appeared...

In this dark reality of post-Weltkrieg world, in the reality where you can choose to be lowly servant of Kaiser of First Secretary, there is no place for Christianity. A true, real, and one God has been replaced by kings, kaisers, first secretaries and comrades, who all see themselves fit to be designed to rule the world.

The time has come to bring all the impostors down, one after another, and restore the rule of God in realm of God.

If it is meant to be achieved by force - so be it! If we will have to follow inhuman path of our enemies - so be it!

If that's the stage on which we are meant to liberate the world from Sins of Marxism, be it! Death in Holy War is just a quicker way to reach Heaven!

If that's the stage on which we are meant to liberate the world from German Imperialism, be it! It is better to be a servant of God rather than Kaiser!

During this struggle we will have to undergo a numerous trials to prove that our intentions are true and souls free from sins of our enemies - although again, numerous times we will have to follow their methods, but it is not a method, but goal that makes us liberators and them oppressors!

We will commit plenty mistakes...but even if we will, it is still we that will win this struggle, "for the Lord knoweth we that are His..."


Julius IV, 260th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church,
Theodor Innitzer, President of the Italian Federation.

Fin.

________
So, here we go again. I kinda bursted through Pius's period - just started production line you can see and discovered some technologies. From now on it'll go chronologically, since this AAR is all about Innitzer and his mad world domination plan.

Three hoorays for mad world domination

Innitzer firmly assumed position of Pope after being elected by Conclave. Although neutral and isolationist policy was supported by majority of cardinals, all hope to avoid cataclism vanished. Fierce rivalry between Internationale and Mitteleuropa, economical crisis, first symptoms of potential hostilities in Austria-Hungary, hell, even decline of mighty United States led to a conclusion that a true Apocalypse is coming. Innitzer, who was holding important post of Prefect of the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office and Minister of Interior under Pius XI managed to launch a massive propaganda action to support case of militarization and extend hatred of Italians towards Syndycalism. Combined with influential position of Pope in Federation, Innitzer rapidly gained strong position and vast array of supporters.

There could be no other winner than him during Conclave.

He was destined to save Christianity during Clash of Demons.


European powder keg - rivalry between Germany and France - was expected to explode any moment. During Internationale Congress in May both French and English syndycalists were actively promoting totalitarian and jingoist slogans targetted against all non-Communist states - mainly Germany, Russia and Italian Federation. Just a week after Congress has ended, Bolshevism had awaken and returned from the afterlife, plunging Russia - a broken giant - into second civil war. A date of uprising was not a surprise at all - it was French and English comrades who financed rise of Nikolai Bukharin and his cronies in Sankt Petersburg.

Innitzer knew that one day they all will arrive at the gates of Rome, to destroy Christianity once and for all.

Structure of Italian Army was always a mess. It was not until 1925 when unified Italian force emerged - until then every Duchy and Republic held their own, miniscule armies. But even after formation of Italian Army and expanding it to considerable size, there was no chance for this force to be effective one. With every single Duke and commander demanding large degree of autonomy, even a general command over all army, there was no way for Federation to stop French.

A reform initiated by Pietro Badoglio was to finally turn this mess into a formidable army. Federation has been split into ten military areas - each area was to create and upkeep one Legione consisting of forty thousands soldiers at max. Legione from I to X were "regional" legions. Except of these, Badoglio advised formation of special legions - usually composed of motorized or elite units - maintained by Papacy itself. For now there was no time to form special legions - first part of militarization included formation of regional legions. On 29th August Pietro Badoglio assumed control over new, seventh legion of Liguria.

A secret part of Badoglio's reform included numbers of legions from Italian territories held by Austria and Syndicalists.


It was mentioned that hostilities could outbreak all over Europe any time now. Sadly, Italy was not any different.

During its first days Italian Socialist Republic was fully guaranteeing religious freedom of its citizens. Since Italians from South are known from their devoted faith it was a welcomed fact, as they could embrace Socialism and still follow God.

But Marxists are like the ghosts, they have thousand of faces.

Just after situation calmed down and South preserved its independence, Communist striked Church full-force, confiscating most of its property and persecuting Christians. A pure Hell had ascended upon Earth. Every year thousands of believers who wanted to remain close to God were fleeing to North. For a decade now Anzio remained their main route of escape - and soon, after Catholics opposition and enemies of state followed, seeking to save their lives.

Southern Central Comitee knew this. And decided to make its move.

Communists assaulted Anzio on 21st November. Innitzer was mad - he was ready to bring all Legions down South and eradicate Socialism once and for all. Considering superior advantage in numbers and equipment it wouldn't be a problem to smash invaders.

Only one problem remained: France.

It would not be very wise to oppose will of the working class, would it? - telegram from Paris arrived a few hours later, when Legion of Lazio was ready to strike enemies hard.

You won, bastards. But only this one time!

Federation had to comply and soon First Legione returned to Rome in infamy. Losing Anzio was a major setback for Papal case - in the end Pope was not strong enough to stop Communism at Anzio.

Will he be able to stop Communism near Rome?

Loss of Anzio harmed unity of Federation severly, but in the end it was the best thing Innitzer could do. Had he opposed Communists from Napoli, ones from Paris would cross western border and soon both Communist armies would greet each other.

At the outskirts of Rome.

Federation has to prevail no matter what, unless the time will be right.

Until then, let us not be afraid of losses we can replenish. It is slow but steady that will win this game. There is no need to go rampant over every single provocation - that's what Germans or French will do sooner or later, plunging each other into neverending madness.

To be patient is to achieve victory in this troubled land.



And patience is a virtue.

Fin.

__________
Okay, let's keep it going! Innitzer the Demon Kiiiiinggg!

@Gukpa

There is no other way to play as Innitzer than world conquest, at any cost.

@NikephorosSonar

Crazy does not mean ruthless; Innitzer, A Vile Genius, will play them all during The Great Game for he is GOD DAMNED INNITZER DAMN!

@nachopontmercy

Tanks

@tooichan

Well, quite recently I won totaler victory as National France, first liberating south, then smashing France and Germany two years later. Although it might happened because of bugged warfare, I believe I can succeed with Italy even quicker It's all down to how long will French-German war last.

@Milites

Yup, I wonder why more people don't use it. I also have DarkArk's SKIFFs and DH Full graphics. Just can't stand vanilla ones ;x

@Davis

A yuu liberacci, you never follow, you just show off to look like you're cool! Liberacci!
Also, I'm beating your friends here so hopefully you will not enjoy it, Marxisti

First six months of Innitzer's reign passed in atmosphere of Apocalypse hiding behind the corner and preparing to ascend the Earth again. More and more crises all around the world were leading to hostilities and even open wars. Civil war in Russia continued, with both sides not being able to gain edge and claim victory.

Each war started in one corner of the Earth was pushing party in another to follow their example and attack their enemies too. There was no escape from this spiral of Death.

One life, one kill.

Innitzer and Holy See were cautiously observing and analyzing every information about wars, rebellions and ideological clashes. There were no doubts in Vatican that upcoming year 1937 will be crucial for the world's future. There were too many potential flashpoints, which could plunge whole regions into endless conflicts. Starting from Arab and Kurdish unrest in Ottoman Empire, through unstable states torn apart by ideology like Spain or United States, to the grim visions of potential total wars launched only to eradicate other nations - Mad Baron was said to gather million horsemen already and station them next to Qing Empire's border...

There is no escape from raging Hell.

America was first to taste its Wrath.


Holy See found itself in a very hard position. Although most Cardinals prefered to stay neutral as long as possible, Innitzer pressed hard for supporting potential Papal allies and hence he called for "American Crusade against unholy Marxism and Capitalism". Volunteers were enlisting to fight in America en masse, and thus Italy has aided Huey Long's American Union State which had his powerbase in conservative South. Innitzer believed that one day Long will be able to sponsor his efforts in restoring rule of God...

Maybe he would think twice before sending his young precious boys to America if he knew hell would break loose in Austria-Hungary.

On 21st February both parties started usual Ausgleich negotiations to decide future of Austria-Hungary. A new Habsburg Kaiser, Otto, has been pressing Magyars to accept his plans to centralize Empire. However, Hungarians, tired of centuries under German dominance defied their demands and left Vienna, effectively leading to crisis and break-up of Austria-Hungary.

Ten years ago Austrians could not oppose Hungarians. But since the contest of blood has already started in Russia and America, why should not Habsburg domain join the party too?

But of course Spiral of Death never stops. Kaiser's ruthlessness brought The Sin to Hungarians, Czechs, Croats, Poles...

As long as one will demand the blood, there will be no end to war...


And so, mere ten days after collapse of United States, Austria-Hungary found itself into state of civil war too.

Again, most of Cardinals proposed to remain neutral, or use force to persuade Austrians to negotiate.

Is not this our greatest ability and gift to troubled people? - one Cardinal asked - Is not teaching the Way of Peace and speading Word of God our greatest task and goal, to save Humanity?

For the Power and Influence of Holy See is able to solve all isues, convert the heathens, end all wars, change people's minds...

"No!" - protested Innitzer - "The time has come...to cleanse Habsburg Monarchy from sins of its past! In the grim days of Apocalypse neither excuses nor sins can be accepted...it is our task to save all the fragile souls from the Reign of Demons and return them to God...

Wrong were Cardinals who believed Satan would be bothered with Rome.

"For to defeat the Sinful Demons we must become Demons ourselves to overcome their sorcery...it is nor our task to survive the cataclysm and live on, it is to cleanse the heresy and sin by any means possible...

...with blood, if necessary..."


A pale horse arrived at the gates of Rome.

Its rider was named Death...

Fin.

___________

Kinda short since...well, it technically covers 10 days of gameplay. But a lot of things happened, right?

@Enclave:
Ah, I recall Father Andersen from Youtube. Was Norio Wakamoto a voice actor for him? He was also voicing Oda Nobunaga in Sengoku Basara.

Oh damn Oda Nobunaga in Basara is so badass.

AMEEEEN!

@Davis:
U wot m8, probably yo jelly coz dem communist are hitting on me all the time rather than on you sire!
DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUM

@Razgiz:
Well, who knows the real identity of Innitzer?

@Mkoll13:
That's more or less my goal To liberate the world!

@Nein:
Yup, there are things that never get outta fashion And also I wonder why there were no Italian Federation AARs, I mean I don't recall any. And since Innitzer is soo good for that...

@nachopontmercy:
Who knows Innitzer's plans, maybe he will recall his friends from the past?

This time however pillows will be made outta uranium, to make sure their punishing properties will be effective.



Until next time