This is a rough draft AH of a Fascist Italy managing to squeak out something worth having in WWII, I posted a couple different versions of this in a creative writing forum elsewhere until I was told about this place. I hope you guys like it.
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AU Fascist Italy Victory (Sort of) in WWII
Mussolini's dislike of Hitler was enough to convince him to pursuit a policy of official neutrality like Franco in Spain. Instead Mussolini opted to support the burgeoning German-Japonic Alliance as much as he could without officially joining them. Then after the war began in earnest and Hitler invaded France, Mussolini seized Corsica (mostly) bloodlessly while France was distracted to bolster support for himself, while at the same time sweet talking Spain and Greece into joining a 'Pact of Fasces' (despite Greece not being Fascist at the time, until Mussolini installed a puppet government), and made gains in Yugoslavia as the Germans launched their own invasion. Granted while Germany didn't have to bail Italy out of it's military misadventures in Ethiopia the Nazi's never the less discovered that conquering Russia in a land war would be Hell. While the Germans had more bodies to throw at the problem than in RL in the end the Russian winter, Stalin's sheer unwillingness to lose, and the entrance of America into the war spelled the end of Nazi Germany.
Once it became apparent that Germany would lose, Italy formally joined the Allies and managed to squeeze recognition over most of it's European conquests, primarily it's expanded Dalmatia region and Corsica (but had to pay France a hefty sum of money) it was required to let go of Ethiopia and it's other African claims.
The Soviet's managed to repel the German invasion, however they suffered even heavier losses and as a result weren't able to advance as swiftly, the Allies managed to beat them to Berlin. It was in Warsaw that the Soviet and Allied Generals formally shook hands, as a result it was Poland that wound up being split into two de facto countries, both claiming to be the 'true' Polish government. West Poland was the first to join NATO, East Poland became a Soviet satellite.
German was divided into four zones, split between America, Britain, France, and Italy, and it was under Mussolini's suggestion that Germany be broken up into three different countries, Rhineland, Bavaria, and Brandenburg.
Despite being a late-comer to the Allies, Italy was in a much stronger position than most of Europe's nations. Being the only 'Great Power' that was largely unravaged on the home front. Mussolini parlayed this strength to gain much, though he was denied his ambition for a permanent seat in the security council of the newly formed 'United Nations' due to the objections of France and the Soviet Union.
On the Italian political side of things during the war, Mussolini 'convinced' Victor Emmanuel III to abdicate in favor of his son Umberto II (who was more pliable), Mussolini ruled as Il Duce much as Franco ruled in Spain.
In order to solidify his holdings, Mussolini launched a policy of colonization in his new possessions, most importantly launching a fresh wave of Italian settlements and Italianification in the newly formed Duchy of Dalmatia, (RL Croatia, portions of RL Bosnia, and Kotor Bay in RL Montenegro). By the sixties Italians made up a full 27% of the population.
On a global scale the Fascist movement was still seen as a viable form of government due to Mussolini's successful disassociation with Hitler and his racist policies, the final seal on that division came about by Italy's support for the formation of Israel, being the third nation to recognize it's existence (just after America and the USSR).
The Fasces Alliance of Italy, Spain, and Greece continued to exist but also joined NATO in order to gain stronger protection from the USSR. Italy also allowed the United States to place military bases in Dalmatia in order to better deter Soviet adventurism or a possible invasion from the newly created Communist Yugoslavia.
After World War II Benito Mussolini continued to rule Italy with the only forces of resistance being the Soviet sponsored nationalist/communist groups in Dalmatia.
After Mussolini's death and burial with full honors in 1962, under a combination of pressure for the United States (at this point viewing Italy's fascist government as an embarrassment) and internal pressure from a nascent youth movement, Umberto II abdicated in favor of his son Victor Emmanuel IV who stunned the aging Fascists in government by using emergency powers to restore democracy in Italy. And while there was one serious attempt at a Fascist coup, it failed spectacularly when Victor Emmanuel delivered an emergency address via live television, ordering the Italian Royal Army to obey the nascent democratic government.
The other two members of the 'Pact of Fasces' followed two different paths. Greece remained Fascist for an extra decade before a botch invasion of Cyprus resulted in the Greek Fascist regime being overthrown. Cyprus had gained independence from Fascist Greece due to the arrival of George II and the Grecian royal family, they ruled Cyprus through a government in exile with the (ironic) support of Turkey. In order to bolster support for itself in the seventies, the Greek Fascists launched an invasion that was ultimately repelled by a combined Cypriot-Turkish force. Once news of the defeat reach the mainland a spontaneous demonstration in Athens sparked a wildfire of demonstrations that resulted in the Fascists being ousted. After a few months of negotiations it was agreed that Greece would adopted a republican government while Cyprus would retain it's constitutional monarchy, Constantine II abandoned his title King of the Hellenes and become Constantine I, King of the Cypriots.
In Spain, Francisco Franco reigned with an iron grip until his death in 1975, however seeing what had happened in Italy and Greece he decided to install the Carlist pretender, Xavier, Duke of Parma as the next King of Spain. Francisco Javier I took the Spanish throne and attempted to reign as an absolute monarch but barely lasted seven months before a military coup saw his abdication and exile overseas. The military quickly fell into factions and the nation began to slide into chaos, a five year civil war followed. The Second Spanish Civil War was brief in comparison to the First, and while not as devastating, the end result was the secessions of Basque County and Catalonia, and the creation of the Third Spanish Republic.
In modern times Italy is a constitutional monarchy, more conservative due to strong ties between the Catholic Church and the government, but with a growing population of young liberals that are sickened by endemic corruption in the government, a more stable economy than in RL. Italy of course has more territory, the largest being the Dominion of Dalmatia and Croatia, a multiethnic region with large populations of Croats, Italians, Bosnians, and minorities of Serbs.
The Dominion of Dalmatia and Croatia was formed two years after the democratic restoration due to agitation from the native ethnic groups of Croats and Bosnians, partially modeled after the British Commonwealth, the Dominion shares a monarch with Italy and has some internal powers but the Italian government still runs it's military, foreign affairs, and most of it's economy. Italians, those with Italian ancestry, and Croats and Bosnians who at least partially identify with the Italian culture (or just support the status quo) number at roughly 57% (this was at 90% during the violent breakup of Yugoslavia), actual Italians are somewhere around 44%.
Modern foreign relations includes strong relations between Italy and it's NATO allies, Italy has easily the best relations in Europe with Israel, often taking Israel's side along with the United States in many matters. Relations between Italy and France are much better, though some French nationalists still agitation for 'the return' of Corsica.
There are still territorial disputes with the former Yugoslav republics of Bosnia and the Union of Serbia and Montenegro over the Dominion. The Kingdom of Italy was among the first nations to recognize the newly established Federal Republic of Germany in Sept. of 2002 (consisting of the Rhineland and Brandenburg, Bavaria opted to remain it's own nation). And of course recognized the reunified Republic of Poland during the 80's when Communism began to collapse.
Fascism, despite having fallen apart in Europe is much stronger than in RL and is still viewed as a viable form of government, sadly this means that dictatorships worldwide have an ideological justification for their policies. Even authoritarian governments that officially condemn Fascism still draw from it's theories and practices.
Mussolini is very much a controversial figure in Italy, but is still revered by many due to his successful reign and is considered to be on par with the other brilliant leaders in WWII.
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AU Fascist Italy Victory (Sort of) in WWII
Mussolini's dislike of Hitler was enough to convince him to pursuit a policy of official neutrality like Franco in Spain. Instead Mussolini opted to support the burgeoning German-Japonic Alliance as much as he could without officially joining them. Then after the war began in earnest and Hitler invaded France, Mussolini seized Corsica (mostly) bloodlessly while France was distracted to bolster support for himself, while at the same time sweet talking Spain and Greece into joining a 'Pact of Fasces' (despite Greece not being Fascist at the time, until Mussolini installed a puppet government), and made gains in Yugoslavia as the Germans launched their own invasion. Granted while Germany didn't have to bail Italy out of it's military misadventures in Ethiopia the Nazi's never the less discovered that conquering Russia in a land war would be Hell. While the Germans had more bodies to throw at the problem than in RL in the end the Russian winter, Stalin's sheer unwillingness to lose, and the entrance of America into the war spelled the end of Nazi Germany.
Once it became apparent that Germany would lose, Italy formally joined the Allies and managed to squeeze recognition over most of it's European conquests, primarily it's expanded Dalmatia region and Corsica (but had to pay France a hefty sum of money) it was required to let go of Ethiopia and it's other African claims.
The Soviet's managed to repel the German invasion, however they suffered even heavier losses and as a result weren't able to advance as swiftly, the Allies managed to beat them to Berlin. It was in Warsaw that the Soviet and Allied Generals formally shook hands, as a result it was Poland that wound up being split into two de facto countries, both claiming to be the 'true' Polish government. West Poland was the first to join NATO, East Poland became a Soviet satellite.
German was divided into four zones, split between America, Britain, France, and Italy, and it was under Mussolini's suggestion that Germany be broken up into three different countries, Rhineland, Bavaria, and Brandenburg.
Despite being a late-comer to the Allies, Italy was in a much stronger position than most of Europe's nations. Being the only 'Great Power' that was largely unravaged on the home front. Mussolini parlayed this strength to gain much, though he was denied his ambition for a permanent seat in the security council of the newly formed 'United Nations' due to the objections of France and the Soviet Union.
On the Italian political side of things during the war, Mussolini 'convinced' Victor Emmanuel III to abdicate in favor of his son Umberto II (who was more pliable), Mussolini ruled as Il Duce much as Franco ruled in Spain.
In order to solidify his holdings, Mussolini launched a policy of colonization in his new possessions, most importantly launching a fresh wave of Italian settlements and Italianification in the newly formed Duchy of Dalmatia, (RL Croatia, portions of RL Bosnia, and Kotor Bay in RL Montenegro). By the sixties Italians made up a full 27% of the population.
On a global scale the Fascist movement was still seen as a viable form of government due to Mussolini's successful disassociation with Hitler and his racist policies, the final seal on that division came about by Italy's support for the formation of Israel, being the third nation to recognize it's existence (just after America and the USSR).
The Fasces Alliance of Italy, Spain, and Greece continued to exist but also joined NATO in order to gain stronger protection from the USSR. Italy also allowed the United States to place military bases in Dalmatia in order to better deter Soviet adventurism or a possible invasion from the newly created Communist Yugoslavia.
After World War II Benito Mussolini continued to rule Italy with the only forces of resistance being the Soviet sponsored nationalist/communist groups in Dalmatia.
After Mussolini's death and burial with full honors in 1962, under a combination of pressure for the United States (at this point viewing Italy's fascist government as an embarrassment) and internal pressure from a nascent youth movement, Umberto II abdicated in favor of his son Victor Emmanuel IV who stunned the aging Fascists in government by using emergency powers to restore democracy in Italy. And while there was one serious attempt at a Fascist coup, it failed spectacularly when Victor Emmanuel delivered an emergency address via live television, ordering the Italian Royal Army to obey the nascent democratic government.
The other two members of the 'Pact of Fasces' followed two different paths. Greece remained Fascist for an extra decade before a botch invasion of Cyprus resulted in the Greek Fascist regime being overthrown. Cyprus had gained independence from Fascist Greece due to the arrival of George II and the Grecian royal family, they ruled Cyprus through a government in exile with the (ironic) support of Turkey. In order to bolster support for itself in the seventies, the Greek Fascists launched an invasion that was ultimately repelled by a combined Cypriot-Turkish force. Once news of the defeat reach the mainland a spontaneous demonstration in Athens sparked a wildfire of demonstrations that resulted in the Fascists being ousted. After a few months of negotiations it was agreed that Greece would adopted a republican government while Cyprus would retain it's constitutional monarchy, Constantine II abandoned his title King of the Hellenes and become Constantine I, King of the Cypriots.
In Spain, Francisco Franco reigned with an iron grip until his death in 1975, however seeing what had happened in Italy and Greece he decided to install the Carlist pretender, Xavier, Duke of Parma as the next King of Spain. Francisco Javier I took the Spanish throne and attempted to reign as an absolute monarch but barely lasted seven months before a military coup saw his abdication and exile overseas. The military quickly fell into factions and the nation began to slide into chaos, a five year civil war followed. The Second Spanish Civil War was brief in comparison to the First, and while not as devastating, the end result was the secessions of Basque County and Catalonia, and the creation of the Third Spanish Republic.
In modern times Italy is a constitutional monarchy, more conservative due to strong ties between the Catholic Church and the government, but with a growing population of young liberals that are sickened by endemic corruption in the government, a more stable economy than in RL. Italy of course has more territory, the largest being the Dominion of Dalmatia and Croatia, a multiethnic region with large populations of Croats, Italians, Bosnians, and minorities of Serbs.
The Dominion of Dalmatia and Croatia was formed two years after the democratic restoration due to agitation from the native ethnic groups of Croats and Bosnians, partially modeled after the British Commonwealth, the Dominion shares a monarch with Italy and has some internal powers but the Italian government still runs it's military, foreign affairs, and most of it's economy. Italians, those with Italian ancestry, and Croats and Bosnians who at least partially identify with the Italian culture (or just support the status quo) number at roughly 57% (this was at 90% during the violent breakup of Yugoslavia), actual Italians are somewhere around 44%.
Modern foreign relations includes strong relations between Italy and it's NATO allies, Italy has easily the best relations in Europe with Israel, often taking Israel's side along with the United States in many matters. Relations between Italy and France are much better, though some French nationalists still agitation for 'the return' of Corsica.
There are still territorial disputes with the former Yugoslav republics of Bosnia and the Union of Serbia and Montenegro over the Dominion. The Kingdom of Italy was among the first nations to recognize the newly established Federal Republic of Germany in Sept. of 2002 (consisting of the Rhineland and Brandenburg, Bavaria opted to remain it's own nation). And of course recognized the reunified Republic of Poland during the 80's when Communism began to collapse.
Fascism, despite having fallen apart in Europe is much stronger than in RL and is still viewed as a viable form of government, sadly this means that dictatorships worldwide have an ideological justification for their policies. Even authoritarian governments that officially condemn Fascism still draw from it's theories and practices.
Mussolini is very much a controversial figure in Italy, but is still revered by many due to his successful reign and is considered to be on par with the other brilliant leaders in WWII.
