How much of a better light should be considered ITTL.Looks like the dude will be seen in a better light TTL
The timeline is brilliant, any vignettes from the levant or north Africa would be cool.And if there is any recommendations anyone can give me to improve this TL, please tell me.
The timeline is brilliant, any vignettes from the levant or north Africa would be cool.
Well, what a shocking turn of events, I am really impressed (favorably of course) by them. There is so much to comment and say, well I hope the bloodbath of Triest won't be vain for Italy... surely won't be for Israel TTL.
And well, the traditional anti-German distrust in Italy will now develop TTL in other forms, certainly more violent in the Northeast. And probably the German speaking minority in Alto Adige would end even more fragmented and never get speaking rights in Italy TTL.
While I can understand why the Slovenians revolted, still they would later pay at the best with a diaspora. Well Liubiana already paid and likely more when the Italian will return.
I don't see much mercy for Hungary and above all for Romania, both being now between Soviet hammer and fascist anvil. Mussolini may commend Horthy somehow, but the Hungarians still messed up and the Italians could pretend some form of compensation, or allow Stalin to grab it pretending Vodjovina to be given to Croatia or in alternative to Serbia (if joining the block). But Romania would face worse likely...
Also, I can see why Franco is euphoric - he did pratically get full clean slate from the West (and so Mussolini and the other Fascist allied leaders).
Meanwhile I so love those TTL biographic excerpts, they are fantastic.
Naturally, for last of course Hitler shot himself in the feet and Germany as well. TTL will pass a more negative image of "Germany VS all of Europe"...
When it comes to Slovenia, all I'll say is Balbo isn't the only Italian general in the region. The dual nature of Italy will be on full display.
Hungary and Romania are destined to be the centre of a crisis between the great powers after the war (and indeed before it). Serbia is too broken to be challening anyone at the moment.
I am not surprised about both statements. Certainly if the war in Europe would end in 1944, much would depend from Roosevelt's positions, who was more supportive of certain remarks of Stalin to push Soviet influence in Eastern Europe. Maybe he could even arrive to pretend certain limitations from Italy and her allies in the Northern Balkans (and becoming eventually the second most hated President in Italy after Wilson if would force Mussolini to claim a "second mutilated victory"). The only saving grace is Churchill and Britain would favour the Roman Alliance in anti-Soviet containment. And if post war talks would happen in 1944, Winston has all the time to barter a peace he would feel more favorable.
France... Is not going to be in a good place. Not that Franco and Mussolini would pretend French metropolitan land, of course. But the country would be half freed by fascist troops and as reward, Italy and Spain could look towards certain overseas territories, if else in terms of economic projection... Albeit could try straight to pretend the flip of the protectorates in such regions. French positions on the table would be weaker than ever. And also Turkey could try some claim...
‘This Day is Sacred’ by the London Times, December 25th 1943
While once, the news of Christmas was enough to bring the sound of guns to a halt all across France in the midst of the Great War, no one would dare think such foolish thoughts about the chances of that happening here in Trieste.
Despite having received no almost no training, with almost no support the Jews of Hungary, in one week, have turned Trieste into a fortress. By some estimates, there are some 500,000 Jews still left inside the city, with the children and many women by now mostly evacuated. Every street has its own patrol setting up plans and traps. They have no uniforms but it’s easy to tell who is Jewish – they’re dressed like they’ve been dragged through the mud but have faces so intensely devoted to their work that they could lose an arm and not notice it until someone pointed it out. I saw boys who were barely half my height set up machine gun turrets in the ruins of this once great city of Trieste. This Renaissance town has been pulverised by indiscriminate bombing – it would be as unthinkable as bombing Dresden. [1]
What are Giuseppe 'Peppone' Bottazzi and his friendly enemy the parish priest Don Camillo Tarocci doing in Mondo Piccolo, in the valley of the Po?
I'm honestly surprised Italy would not have already seized Corsica, that would probably be one of the few French territories allied command would be willing to let Italy take.
I'm honestly surprised Italy would not have already seized Corsica, that would probably be one of the few French territories allied command would be willing to let Italy take.
Somewhat more seriously, what is the Haganh doing? And did Orde Wingate get himself into Trieste somehow?