A different Italy

A Different Italy in the 1930s

August 17, 1934 - Italy decides that the attempt of Albania to gain allies is an attempt to break Italian influence over the country, sending Mussolini into a fury and ordering an invasion. While Italy is able to overrun the nation in a week, Mussolini is shot by a sniper shortly arriving to review the conquests, sending the nation of Italy into shock.

September 1, 1934 - Alexander I is assassinated after cancelling his trip to France and a conservative military regime takes over, causing Yugoslavia to declare war on the beleaguered nation of Italy barely 10 days after the assassination of Il Duce. Greece soon follows hoping to take over the southern part of Albania. Italo Balbo, only recently deemed a threat to Mussolini in Rome, returns to the capital much to the applause of the city. Italian fascists will jockey for position but it is Balbo who is in effective command.

September 15, 1934 - Yugoslavian forces are able to make significant headway into Venezia and northern Albania as Greek forces move up from the South. Vlore and Tirana are still in Italian hands, and volunteers flock to the army because of the nature of Yugoslavian invasion. Belgrade offers to cease in exchange for eastern Venezia and Fiume along with a total withdrawal from Albania, which Balbo firmly refuses.
 
I've got an idea for a new timeline.

If the Albanian attempt to garner friends in 1934 was seen as a move to break them from Italian orbit in a way that Mussolini takes as hostile, he might decide to invade later in the year and take over. I figure he's sniper bait at that point and that with the change of government in Yugoslavia after their king's trip to France, there might be a war (possibly involving Greece) over control of Albania. There is also a good chance Balbo becomes Duce afterwards as he would have just been moved to Libya as governor. I also think that, if Yugoslavia and Greece can be beaten, and Balbo holds onto power for long enough, Italy might have the resources to forge her own path in the years to come...

Thoughts?
 
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