Chapter 32: Case Blue
1 April 1942
Finally it happened. For years the Italian intelligence picked up signs of "Case Blue", the German code for a massive offensive against Russia, but had idea of the hour or the day. On April Fool's Day, the Germans rushed into Soviet land.
Despite choosing to remain neutral during this conflict, Air Marshal Balbo agreed to dispatch Agent Faye back into action. She was to follow the progress of the war, and take notes of the German and Soviet morale.
The German advance was lightning fast. Despite being outnumbered, they quickly encircled and destroyed many Soviet defensive positions. The Soviets struggled to reorganise and make a concerted defence. Within days, the Germans captured Brest, Minsk and Riga and effectively destroyed the Soviet airforce guarding the Baltics.
This gave the Germans sole control of the air, and hindered Soviet agility to conduct aerial scouting missions. Agent Faye could barely keep up with the rapid capture of Soviet land.
Meanwhile the Italian military command was in three minds about Case Blue. On one hand, aligning themselves with the Germans was beneficial since they were ideological buddies. Yet German fascism was different from Italian fascism -- the Germans based a lot of policies on racial purity and German superiority, and the Italians were sought to restore Roman culture.
Another faction wanted to assist the Soviets to hinder German domination. This would mean aligning with Communists, which send shivers down an ordinary Italian's spine. Everyone remembered what the Communists did to their royals, priests and intellectuals in the guise of utopia.
Still, the main faction insisted on neutrality. The Italians were still new to their unstable global empire. Any false move might crash their new Roman Empire early. They had to play it safe.