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As soon as the Italian soldiers guarding the German-Italian border received news that the Italian government had requested support from Germany, German tanks rushed to the border.
As soon as the barrier went up, the procession of German troops continued endlessly south.
As they watched the German army marching south along the road, the Italian soldiers felt a sense of urgency. Who would have guessed that they would now be asking for support from a country that had been at war with them eight years ago?
"You are truly talking nonsense..."
The Italian army company commander, who had fought on the German front as a rookie second lieutenant eight years ago, sighed softly. When declaring war on Germany, Mussolini boasted that even Austria and Bavaria would become territories of great Italy.
But now Italy is in a position to ask Germany for help in suppressing its own rebellion.
How did the descendants of the great Roman Empire come to this point?
Regardless of the sighs and sighs of the Italian army, the German army that entered Italian territory took immediate action.
Smash everything that stands in your way without question or answer.
The German army's first operational goal was to rescue Mussolini, who was stranded in Salo.
"It's the Germans! "The Germans are coming!"
"Who is coming?"
"Germans?!"
"No, why do they come here?"
The partisans surrounding Salo were confused by the news that the German army was coming.
For them, who were full of thoughts about how to capture and execute Mussolini, the news of the German army's appearance was a thunderbolt in the night.
At first, some thought that the Italian government army might have been mistaken, but it was true that the German army was coming.
"It's the German army!"
"They're real German soldiers!"
"Run away!"
When the German tanks appeared, unarmed citizens were the first to flee. People who came out of their houses simply because of the atmosphere had no intention or will to fight for their lives.
Moreover, the opponent is the German army, the world's strongest army. What fool would risk his life in a fight where the odds of winning were so clear?
When all the bystanders ran away, the number of partisans was immediately halved. Even the partisans with weapons did not have any intention of fighting the Germans.
They were only thinking about punishing Mussolini and the fascists who were isolated in Salo, and they never thought about fighting the German army.
Regardless of why the German soldiers came here, if you want to live, you have to escape right away.
Just as the onlookers gathered to watch Mussolini's execution did not have a special sense of mission, but simply wanted to leave their mark in history, or wanted to appear special to interested members of the opposite sex, the idiots who joined the partisans also ran away, and the size of the partisans was the size before the German army showed up. It was not even half of .
With this number, it was difficult to attack the Germans, let alone stop them.
"Those Nazis are trying to take over Italy!"
"Fight! Are you going to give up your country to those fascist invaders?"
"Comrades! Don't back down! If you are Italian, let's fight proudly!"
Nevertheless, the partisans fought against the German army. Unlike the bystanders and idiots who wanted to show off, those who voluntarily took up arms with the belief of anti-fascism did not easily put down their weapons even though they clearly knew that they had no chance of winning.
However, their heroic resistance was nothing more than an object of ridicule for the German military.
"Can a rifle or something like that make a scratch on a tank? "They look like idiots with shit on their heads."
"Isn't there a sense of pride in this? "For all that, I don't think I have a good head."
"Franz! "Show the difference in power!"
When the lead tank opened fire, the courage of the partisans was quickly cut in half.
As the tanks fired a salvo, the vessel, which had been cut in half, was cut in half again, and when the full-scale attack began, the partisans were busy running away.
The Black Shirts, who were isolated in Salo and continuing their desperate resistance, looked at all this with bewildered eyes.
How on earth is this going?
Isn't that the German army? Why did the Germans come here?
"iced coffee."
"?"
"Who is your commander? "I'd like to talk."
After the battle, which did not feel like a battle, ended, a German officer standing in the middle of the torn partisans announced his intention to talk through a loudspeaker, and the most senior member of the Black Shirts stepped forward.
"Thank you for your help, but what is this situation? "I don't really understand. Please explain."
In response to the Black Shirts' question, a German officer answered that your government had requested support from Germany. That's why they came to help.
It was only then that the Black Shirts, who heard those words, realized what was going on. The German army appeared because the government had requested reinforcements from Germany.
It all makes sense now. Why did the German army appear and attack the rebels?
My life was saved and the partisans retreated, so the worst was avoided, but I felt uneasy thinking about what would happen in the future.
In the end, will Italy, like other countries, be reduced to a puppet controlled by Germany?
Previously, Italy was virtually a puppet state of Germany, and the Italians were vaguely aware of this, but they still won a mental victory, saying that it was better than being occupied by Germany like Britain and France and having to report every single important national issue to Germany. I was doing it.
Everyone, from the king and the fascist party to individual citizens.
But now such mental victory is a thing of the past.
"I would like to meet with Duce and have a detailed conversation. Please guide Duce."
***
"My name is SS Major General Otto Skorzeny."
Mussolini smiled and greeted the large German officer Skorzeny, who raised his right arm in greeting.
"Mussolini."
After shaking Skorzeny's hand, Mussolini stared at the scar on the face of the giant before him. The knife mark starting from the chin and crossing the cheek made the viewer feel intimidated.
Even so, Skorzeny, a giant with a height of 193cm, was enough to make his opponents cringe just by standing still.
Add to that the scar on his cheek, and even the strongest hearts would flutter when they met him. Mussolini was no different.
"Hey, I've heard a lot about you. "I heard that you captured both Tito and Churchill alive..."
"Hahaha. "I was just lucky. My subordinates did all the hard work."
Skorzeny smiled brightly and tried to soften the already stiff atmosphere a little.
It didn't have much effect.
"Anyway, thank you for your help. "If it weren't for your help, I would have been grabbed by communists and dragged around like a dog by now."
"It was nothing."
"So, what happens to Italy now?"
"I'm sorry, but I'm a soldier and I don't know much about politics. Therefore, I can't answer Duce's question."
"exactly?"
Mussolini was anxious. Skorzeny was telling the truth in his own way, but it sounded like a different answer to Mussolini's ears.
What can you do when you have lost all power and have been reduced to an old man in the backroom?
Skorzeny had no feelings or thoughts towards Mussolini, but Mussolini was anxious about how he was looking at him.
Even if you act like you don't have an expression on your face, deep down, aren't you laughing at yourself for being nothing more than a miserable loser?
I guess it's worth it. Whenever he shouts that he will rebuild the Roman Empire, he is now only receiving help from the army of the country he fought in the past...
"By the way, there's a place you need to go with me."
"Where is that place...?"
"You will find out when you go. Don't worry, it's not that far away."
"… .."
I'm anxious.
***
October 2, 1948
Ostmark Bochen, Germany
Before World War II, this place was called Bolzano in Italian.
However, when Italy lost the war, the city came to be called by its German name, Bocen, instead of Bolzano.
It was originally called Bochen since the days of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, so it is not unusual as it is just a return to the past.
Most Italians living in the city left the city because they were concerned about being discriminated against as a minority within the Third Reich, but those who had lived in the city since the Five Hungarian Empire remained in the city.
As eight years passed, the city was rebuilt and it became difficult to find traces of the war. Naturally, traces of Italy also became difficult to find.
The reason I chose Bochen as the meeting place was because I wanted to show Mussolini this. I was curious about what he would think when he saw the city he had oppressed become a complete part of Germany.
"How do you feel about looking around Bochen, Duce?"
"Uh, um..."
Mussolini was no longer Duce, but I still called him Duce out of respect.
Rather than saying Mussolini one by one, it is easier to briefly say Duce. Mussolini looked embarrassed, as if he was still embarrassed to be called Duce.
"I think it's a really beautiful city."
"That's a good thing. "I should add this as a phrase to introduce Bochen."
"Hehehehe..."
The Italian dictator, who wore a fancy uniform of his own design and gave eloquent speeches to thousands of audiences, is no longer in the world. Only an old and unmotivated man remains.
Although Mussolini was shocked, he thanked me for saving him. Immediately afterwards, he asked:
Was there any favor from the Italian government for his rescue?
"no. There was no such thing. "It was purely my decision to order Duce's rescue."
"Is that so?"
Mussolini nodded with a look that said, 'Yes, then.' I guess he guessed it too. That there was no way they could save me from the damage they threw away.
If he still had enough affection to ask for rescue, he would have taken Mussolini with him when he went on a run to Naples.
"I am offended... but why did you save me? "To put it bluntly, we're not on good terms with each other, are we?"
"Of course."
I thought I was going to spin it around and say it, but it just clicked in. You didn't expect this?
Mussolini seemed to have had a change in personality after being overthrown, and he spoke outspokenly.
"Let's eat first. I'll explain slowly while we eat."
"······That's right."
Although I was surprised by his question, I suggested eating first.
Perhaps because he had suffered so much both externally and psychologically, Mussolini lost weight and only his bones remained.
When the food came out, Mussolini hesitated, but emptied the food on his plate cleanly without leaving a single crumb or drop of soup.
"Didn't you ask me a moment ago why I saved you? I will give you the answer."
When the atmosphere was ripe, I answered Mussolini's question.
"Before I answer, let me ask you a question. Duce, what do you want to do?"
"What are you talking about?"
"That's the king and the fascist party that abandoned you."
Mussolini's face was slightly distorted as he was eating pasta.
"Why are you asking that?"
"First of all, it must be a bad feeling. Is that right?"
"It can't be good."
I knew it. Because he didn't say it, it seemed like he must have had a strong antipathy towards the King who kicked him out and the Fascist Party. If so, it would be easier to talk about.
"Then number two. "If you were to sit in power again, what would you do then?"
"How do you do it? "You mean the King and the Fascist Party?"
"Then what?"
Mussolini also seemed to have sensed the intention of my question. He was not a fool - he had done many foolish things - but there was no way he would not have figured out a hint like this.
The reason I brought Mussolini alive was not for teabagging, but to modify Italy to suit our tastes.
Of course, I also know what Mussolini is hearing among Italians.
However, he remains a little more popular than the greedy and authoritarian king who has no ability, and there is no one in Italy who can be considered a replacement other than Mussolini.
Not everyone can play the role of a puppet, but we cannot leave it to the king or the fascist party thugs who are petty and have no grasp of reality. Especially not the communists.
For a time, he received absolute support throughout Italy, and he still has a support base, and he was the perfect person to use as a puppet for Mussolini, who at least knew how to rule the country.
That's why I ordered him to be brought alive to me.
"What do you think? I'll make you the leader of Italy again. "Isn't this a good deal?"
I sliced the steak and brought it to my mouth. It was a little tougher than usual, perhaps because the meat was originally in this condition or because the chef didn't cook it as well. But it still tasted good.
Mussolini seemed to be struggling. Will he escape from being an old man in the back room and rise to power again? Will he continue to live like this?
Just being able to regain the power he lost and reign as king in Italy as before would be an attractive enough proposition.
Although it is a German puppet, as long as Europe is in Germany's hands, all other countries are there as well, so there is nothing special about Italy.
I thought Mussolini would immediately say yes if I told him to obey what I said from now on because I would restore his power.
But the answer that came out of Mussolini's mouth was different from what I expected.
"I refuse."
"·······???"
The answer was different from what I expected, but I kept cutting the steak so as not to show any embarrassment.
"What is the reason? "Have you changed your mind?"
"That's right."
Mussolini nodded obediently.
"Of course, the Fuhrer's proposal is desirable, but... the Italian people will no longer want me. "I can be sure of this one thing."