4 - Qui Audet Adipiscitur
"There seems to be no question that [Mussolini] is really interested in what we are doing and I am much interested and deeply impressed by what he has accomplished and by his evidenced honest purpose of restoring Italy."
- FDR to US Ambassador to Italy
1936 - 1939
Rearmament of Germany and further industralisation of Italy still continued uninterrupted, when Spanish Civil War started, following victory of Popular Front in elections and chaos mixed with atrocities comitted by anarchists.
Sadly, military coup was succesful just partially, and full-scaled civil war started. Many countries intervened, one way or another, like 'mysterious' submarines sinking supply ships.
In total numbers, Italian intervention was largest one - whole divisions were sent, air squadrons included. It was also not just German, but Italian planes, which transported Franco's army from Africa to Spanish front. Without this operation, rebellion would end much differently.
Republicans even tried to convince Spanish people that so called 'volunteers' are invasion army, but officially, Corpo Truppe Volontaire was under Franco's command, and followed orders of his and other nationalist generals
Asian battlefields were too far away, but were too important to pass for both Axis 'allies'.
Sino-German Cooperation was not strong enough. If Krauts can abandon friendly power to it's fate, betray it, just like that, what that means for Italy?
Japanese now had better weapons, training and stronger industry, but Chinese had virtually unlimited manpower. Most importantly for Il Duce, Germany supported Japanese for their own goals, against USSR, where would gain land and influence only Germany, so more and more suspicious Mussolini rather ordered another secret
operazione, to give Chinese Nationalist blueprints and materiel necessary to stop the invaders.
Empire of Japan very soon found itself in brutal atrittion war they couldn't possibly win from very start.
Meanwhile, Italy initiated own rearmament programme.
Cannone da 75/32 modello 37
Alpini, an elite mountain warfare military corps of the Italian Army.
Battle hardened italian 'volunteers' returned with stories full of honor and glory. And about other things, not allowed to publish anywhere.
"Bad blood does not mind"
World seen Italy's defense of Austria in 1934 as the only visible success of collective security in Europe, but in 1938, situation was entirely different. Wehrmacht was prepared to invade the country in matter of hours, Austrian nazi supporters were seen everywhere and no one could deny, that whole time after fall of Austria-Hungary, German-speaking population wanted to join Greater Germany.
If Italy would refuse, no German coal or steel would be sent to Italy and nation would be forced to ally with Britain and especially with hated France.
That was simply unacceptable.
Treaty of Munich was very useful for Italy's foreign policy: first, once again Britain and France showed major weakness and zero desire for war, even when sovereign states of Europe itself were consumed by it's strong neighbours. Second, it gave more time to everyone, especially Italy. And finally, it convinced Il Duce, that perhaps it would be really better to fight amongst themselves.
Why to spill noble Roman blood for goals of arrogant, still half-barbaric people beyond the Alps?
Four italian aircraft carriers, powerful technological miracles, were finally fully operational in 1939. Four battleships and four carriers of Italian Navy were more than enough to control Mediterranean Sea from both
Royal Navy and
Marine Nationale.
Aquila-class aircraft carrier
Displacement: 23,900 t (standard)
28,200 t (full load)
Length: 235.5 m
Beam: 30 m
Draft: 7.3 m
Installed power: 113,000 kW
Propulsion: 4 × geared steam turbines
8 × boilers
4 × shafts
Speed: 56 km/h
Range: 10,200 km at 33 km/h
Complement: 1,420 (107 officers)
Armament: 8 × 135 mm 45 cal guns
12 × 65 mm 64 cal guns
132 × 20 mm 65 cal AA-guns
Armor: Deck: 8 cm
Aircraft carried: 51
As everyone except Chamberlain expected, Germans invaded rest of Czechoslovakian rump state.
After decades of italian influence, control of economy and systematic italianization, Italy was confident about annexation and full colonization process.
But Zog simply couldn't resist urge to play brave monarch. Petty king of petty kingdom wanted to showed some teeth. Or tooth, better to say. One tiny tooth.
Germans still wanted more. And more. War seemed inevitable now.
Despite all italian attempts to persuade (to them) friendly Poles into different policy, they accepted British offer to guarantee their independence. Like old Entente powers were willing or even able to help. After Rhineland, Abyssinia, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Lithuania...how they could expect a difference?
In the end, they sent, too late in addition, tiny bank loan and literally few worthless planes. They were willing to fight for a Poland to the last...Pole.
Most of the Italian
divisiones amassed around Yugoslavian borders, only few of them guarded Franco-Italian borders, reason of which wasn't known yet.
Well-trained, well-equipped MVSN units were known for ther ruthlessness as much as for their unquestionable obedience.
Then, 1st April 1939, Italy left Pact of Steel. Shocked and furious Germans received just a few cold words about broken promises, especially not starting war before 1942, which seemed more likely everyday, especially after Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.
"Many enemies. Much honor."
It begins.
Everyone expected Poland be the first target, but surprisingly, it started with French declaration of war. Germans called it 'Strasbourg Incident', in fact, series of many incursions into Alsace-Lorraine, authorised by certain general, member of German resistance. They hoped for bloody but quick conflict, which would remove national socialist party's power, while keeping all territorial gains.
But all this was revealed much later, years after world war.
Furor Teutonicus indeed.