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The Revenge of the Bear
Chapter 37: Italy on the Crossroads
The position of Italy in the balance of powers on the European continent could not be underestimated. Whilst Italy did not have the most powerful army in Europe and had an extremely weak navy, she had the industrial capacity to begin stamping regiments upon battleships at any moment, should the often deadlocked Parliament finally pull its act together and take concrete initiatives. Should Italy begin building up her naval capacities quickly enough, she could very well seal the Mediterannean to her ennemies, or at least make their naval deployments problematic at best.
Germany's interest in keeping Italy within her power block was, thus, extremely clear. A powerful Italy could cause extreme headache to the Russians in the Mediterranean and prevent the strengthening of the Russian naval battlegroups in the Baltic Sea. Unfortunately for Germany, her alliance with Italy was extremely fragilised by her alliance with Austria-Hungary. Indeed, Italy and Austria made lousy allies at best, with mutual rivalry and animosity dating back decades.
Italian participation in the alliance with Germany was fragile and could...
blow up at any moment
In fact, Italy was at a crossroads of sorts. The unification of the peninsula having been accomplished, the country saw itself left behind in the colonial race. A unified Italy was bound to burst out of her borders sooner or later. And in this, the Kingdom overall had three major vectors it could explore:
Vector A: French territories. The "reclamation" of Savoy and Nice was a goal expressed by some in the political leadership. However, it was not deemed a realistic goal. Instead, French North Africa was seen as a possibility of colonial expansionism, that would fit Italian interests entirely.
Vector B: Austro-Hungarian territories, which included such administrative divisions as the Kingdom of Venetia, the Kustenland, Istria, Fiume and Dalmatia. These lands, inhabited by Italians, were seen as essential to complete the "Risorgimento", which would see the reunification of all Italian lands into one state.
Vector C: Ottoman territories, and most notably Lybia. From an Italian perspective, a "two in one" package of both Ottoman and French North Africas would have been the best option. However, as the Ottomans and the French were in different power blocks, one had to choose wisely.
Vector D: Egypt. Gaining full and complete domination over Egypt was also considered a possibility. As Egypt was allied with the Ottoman Empire, the package could very well include Libya.
Vector B: Austro-Hungarian territories, which included such administrative divisions as the Kingdom of Venetia, the Kustenland, Istria, Fiume and Dalmatia. These lands, inhabited by Italians, were seen as essential to complete the "Risorgimento", which would see the reunification of all Italian lands into one state.
Vector C: Ottoman territories, and most notably Lybia. From an Italian perspective, a "two in one" package of both Ottoman and French North Africas would have been the best option. However, as the Ottomans and the French were in different power blocks, one had to choose wisely.
Vector D: Egypt. Gaining full and complete domination over Egypt was also considered a possibility. As Egypt was allied with the Ottoman Empire, the package could very well include Libya.
To B or not to B? Various combinations of AC/DC were also on the agenda.
The final position of Italy in the conflict of interests between the various Great Powers was, thus, far from being decided. The Kingdom had interests in all of the Entente, Mitteleuropa and the Eastern Alliance. However, as the Eastern Alliance and Mitteleuropa moved closer and closer together, it appeared that Italy had the most to gain in case of an alignment with the Entente. On condition, of course, that in any hypothetical war between the Entente and the Mitteleuropa, the former won.
And the Entente victory was far from guaranteed. It was true that Russia had the most powerful standing army in the world, and the fourth most powerful navy in the world. France herself also had an impressive and powerful military, with the world's third most powerful navy. However, when combined together, the Entente powers and Russia's Balkan allies were at equal odds with the combined Mitteleropa-Eastern Alliance block. Should the British Empire tilt the balance in favour of the Germans, and the outcome of any confrontation between the Great Powers could very well not at all go Russia's way.
On the other hand, luring Italy away from the Germans and gaining her as an ally could tilt the balance Russia's way and, at least on land, balance out the powers should Britain opt to side with Germany. Thus, it was an open secret that Italy was energetically courted by Russian diplomacy to at least guarantee Italian neutrality in case of conflict between Germany and Russia. This in turn could guarantee that Greek soldiers would be able to be used against the Turkish armies, and the Austrians would not receive any reinforcements on the Adriatic front.
Together with Britain, Italy was a valuable merchandise on the European diplomatic market. And whoever could pay the highest price would surely win them over, if not collectively then at least individually.
RGB: A game of mutual increase in distraction can be expected. But one must make sure not to get too distracted, lest pesky Germans sneak behind one's back!
demokratickid: A naval invasion of South Africa? A possibility, should Russia and Britain go to war
Raden Shaka: The main objective of the native hordes is to serve as front line material in case of war against the British in India and the Chinese in, euh, China. Shipping them to Europe would mean recognising one's weakness in Europe.
Tommy4ever: Not sure Russia would get involved into a war with Britain over the Boers. But it is true that the less problems for the British, the more chances they reinforce their positions against the Russians.
asd21593 & salidas16: Thank you!
demokratickid: A naval invasion of South Africa? A possibility, should Russia and Britain go to war
Raden Shaka: The main objective of the native hordes is to serve as front line material in case of war against the British in India and the Chinese in, euh, China. Shipping them to Europe would mean recognising one's weakness in Europe.
Tommy4ever: Not sure Russia would get involved into a war with Britain over the Boers. But it is true that the less problems for the British, the more chances they reinforce their positions against the Russians.
asd21593 & salidas16: Thank you!
1. to B or not to B...haha! On a serious note, that depends on whither Britain.
2. Hetalia...oh my. Poor Italy is napping in a box and Germany is about to find him!
3. How much is a reasonable offer for an Italy?
2. Hetalia...oh my. Poor Italy is napping in a box and Germany is about to find him!
3. How much is a reasonable offer for an Italy?
Hetalia... I saw what you did there.
Love the update but lets hope that if you do get the Italians on your side they prove more helpful to the Entente then they were in real life.
Love the update but lets hope that if you do get the Italians on your side they prove more helpful to the Entente then they were in real life.
Unfortunately, the Master's Degree proved to be times harder than the Bachelor's Degree. So I simply don't have the time required to do nice pictures for post updates and write those updates, since I am ears deep in books and other papers.
It seems all the ideas I have had shall remain simply that: ideas. Or maybe closer to summer I'll do a huge summary, like how the Great War unfolded and the results and how history progressed until 1936. But then again, I unfortunately simply don't have the time to mod HoI3 to reflect the new scenario. Life bites
So I simply don't have the time required to do nice pictures for post updates and write those updates, since I am ears deep in books and other papers.It seems all the ideas I have had shall remain simply that: ideas. Or maybe closer to summer I'll do a huge summary, like how the Great War unfolded and the results and how history progressed until 1936. But then again, I unfortunately simply don't have the time to mod HoI3 to reflect the new scenario. Life bites
Dang, this was the first AAR I really got into. But oh well. It was a blast to read this.
What party was in power?
I'm wondering what party was in power of your magnificent Russian Empire, since I don't remember seeing did you have laisez faire, interventionism or state capitalism?
Great AAR!
I'm wondering what party was in power of your magnificent Russian Empire, since I don't remember seeing did you have laisez faire, interventionism or state capitalism?
Great AAR!
It was a conservative party with interventionism. Also pro-military, moralist and limited citizenship. This way I had no control over what the capitalists were building, but thankfully I could upgrade what factories I really needed.
A laissez-faire party in power would've been a moment of solitude. Especially after half the aristocrats turned into capitalists after a tech. research. Imagine the oceans of level 1 liquor distilleries from Poland to Alaska!
A laissez-faire party in power would've been a moment of solitude. Especially after half the aristocrats turned into capitalists after a tech. research. Imagine the oceans of level 1 liquor distilleries from Poland to Alaska!
Imagine the oceans of level 1 liquor distilleries from Poland to Alaska!
The Russian Empire - drowning the world in Vodka since 1882!
It was a conservative party with interventionism. Also pro-military, moralist and limited citizenship. This way I had no control over what the capitalists were building, but thankfully I could upgrade what factories I really needed.
A laissez-faire party in power would've been a moment of solitude. Especially after half the aristocrats turned into capitalists after a tech. research. Imagine the oceans of level 1 liquor distilleries from Poland to Alaska!
True hehe well interventionism is the best IMO, btw what's the difference between residence and limited citizenship? I find VickyWiki down so I can't check it from there.
Btw was that a modified party? Since I could only find laisez faire parties with lim. citizenship though I am playing VIP:s newest version.
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Being a Russian, this AAR is pure music to my ears!!! I would love to see it continued ... or even ported into Armageddon or AoD.
On that note, Mishgan, would you happen to have the save game stashed away somewhere?
On that note, Mishgan, would you happen to have the save game stashed away somewhere?