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July 4, 1856 Washington City White House Franklin Pierce looked down at Douglas. Of course he thought almost everyone had to look down at Douglas. It wasn’t subtly that gave him the nickname of ‘Little Giant’. Pierce sipped his third whiskey of the evening and asked the...

January 17, 1855 Springfield, Illinois “I am honored you came to see me Lyman” began Abraham Lincoln. I expect you’ve come to talk about the upcoming contest?” Lyman Trumbull sat back and took a long breath. “Abraham, I have indeed. As you know there are...

Pannonia proper was a province of roman empire. I revived it as a term for the upper part of the new Italian run Croatian Kingdom. Sorry for the confusion.

(apologies for the long break – Christmas is family time) December 25, 1941 – Warsaw, Office of Ludwig Fischer (Polish General Government) Fischer looked at the Italian officer in a manner rather like a large load of foul sewage had been dumped in his office. General Giatano...

August 5, 1941 – Novgorod, USSR (200 km South of Leningrad) The ‘Golden’ city of Novgorod lay stretched out in the late afternoon sun. The Luftwaffe had just unleashed a heavy bombardment of the Russian forward positions. Now three regiments of the 21st division moved...

March 22, 1941 – Warsaw, Jewish Ghetto The tables were set out early in the morning, almost before the break of dawn. Still the Judenrat already had to deploy more police to keep the long lines orderly. The tables remained empty past 8, then 9 and finally at 10 Italians...

February 15, 1941 – Office of the Foreign Minister, Berlin “My dear Ambassador, it is a pleasure to welcome you to Berlin.” Began Herbert von Dirksen “It is my pleasure” Guriglia hesitated “mister ambassador” countered the Italian “Please, I am no longer a serving ambassador, like you I am...

March 27, 1941 – Belgrade, Yugoslavia – Diplomatic Cable – US Embassy to Washington ….It is apparent that the coup had clear support from the English. Milian (Nedic) has been replaced as head of the military and it appears that the plotters intend to break with the treaty signed just two days...

January 2, 1941 – Residence of the Italian Ambassador, Lisbon Count Ciano sat sipping a large glass of rather expensive champagne. The embassy party had dragged on now for several hours and he made a great show of drinking, especially in front of the German Charge de Affair. Finally the...

September 18, 1940 – Offices of Todt Organization, Berlin Ambassador Alfieri sat calmly across for Director Todt. Todt looked at him with mild disgust. The suit the Italian wore had to be worth more than Todt’s own car. Still this meeting had been specifically set by Fuhrer...

While I have a rather good idea of where this TL is going I do want to reply and answer why I think the French would allow Italian occupation of one minor colony (Tunisia) and a department of France. In July of 40 France is at its lowest point. Not only have the suffered a near complete defeat...

Excerpt from Speech October, 1922 – Mussolini …Italy is bordered by an inland sea which communicates with the oceans through the Suez Canal – an artificial means of communication which is easily blocked even by accident – and by the Straits of Gibraltar, dominated by the government of Great...

May 24, 1940 – Villa Torlonia, Rome Il Duce was out for his morning ride. His favorite mount had been ill this morning and he took the smaller Arabian out. ‘Roma’ was skittish today and several times Mussolini had to use his crop to rein in Roma. Suddenly from a bush...

Geneva – American Embassy - May 15, 1960 Eisenhower looked down at the letter he had just finished writing. He sat back and tapped the fountain pen against the desk. He hesitated for just a moment longer then stood up and moved around his desk. Reaching the office door he...

Yes the whole U-2 spying option over the USSR was a done deal by early 1960. In fact the Power's flight was delayed until May 1st and almost never went off. Of course in this TL the absence of Powers being shot down will start to have consequences, minor at first then growing. The...

April 30, 1960 – Peshawar Air Station – Pakistan Shinn and Powers sat outside the hanger in cheap aluminum chairs and looked North towards Peshawar. Ericson stubbed out a cigarette and turned to Powers. “Jesus Gary, there ain’t shit to do in this god-forsaken hole except throw small...

September 11, 1940 – Office of RSHA, Princz-Albrecht Strasse No. 8, Berlin Heydrich had put on Schubert, he decided he had to hear the Adagio one last time. Outside the gunfire was dying away. He walked over to the corner of his office and took out the record, placing it...

August 4, 1940 – Berlin, Office of the Vice Chancellor “So what you are saying my dear Heydrich is that you want me to move against the Chancellor and, lest we forget, the army while we are still at war with Russia?” Heydrich scoweled at Goering and replied, “What I am saying...

July 12, 1941 – Repatriation Site, Antwerp “The embarkation line to the right is for those officers with wounds that require assistance in boarding. Officers who are capable of entering transports without assistance should move to the left.” Then there was a pause and the...

May 23, 1940 – Dunkirk, France General Gawantka shouted over the shell fire, “Albrecht, I want more fire on the long peer and on that redoubt! Also tell 69th Grenadiers* to get off their asses and move past that strongpoint over there. Fredric is losing men just try to hold...