You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly. You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
alternatehistory.com
After the Conflict in the Ukraine Mussolini felt that the Italian Military had proved that it could hold its own against a major power. The recent conference in Berlin had been in his opinion a clear indication that the major powers were unwilling to act anywhere.
Italian intelligence had been in close contact with Croatian separatist for some time. The Italians hope was for a Croatian uprising which would provide grounds for Italian Intervention. The Italian's had also secretly gotten an agreement with the Bulgarian government to strike at the same time.
The Hungarian's had been approached about also participating in the action but the King ( the former Austro-Hungarian Emperor ) seemed to be not that happy with starting a war in Europe.
The Italians had already occuppied Albania and so they were prepared to act from the south as well as from the North.
Explosions rocked Northern Croatia as Croatian seperatist attacked Yugoslav government facilities. The Croatians immediately followed the script and pleaded with the Italians to save them from the Serbs. Italian forces then crossed the Border and Italian aircraft attacked Yugoslavian airfields.
Twenty-four hours latter on May 5,1939 the Bulgarians struck from the west into Macedonia. The Yugoslav ambassadors to Great Britain and France both pleaded with those countries to act. Chamberlain could not believe that in less than a year another war had broken out.
Italian ifantry suuorted by tanks and air support poured into Croatia. The Italian Navy struck at the Yugoslavian navy in a pre-emptive strike. Troops from Albania move northward into the Montenegrian provience . The Yugoslav army fought back and managed to contain the Italian advance from Albania. Croatian units had defected and Slovenians also seemed unwilling to fight.
In Vienna there appeared to be chaos as the Chancellor seemed to panic. Austria had been in chaos for sometime as there seemed to be a lack of resolve toward completing the restoration of the monarchy.
Some wondered what would the giant to the north do.
Meanwhile to the east the Ukranie had been busy rebuilding its military as was the Poles. The Polish military had gone into a massive build up. The 14 TP tanks had been replacing the 7TP tanks in armoured units. The Poles had deployed 3 of their Motorized Cavalry Divisions to their eastern frontier. The Divisions had seen 7TP tanks replace the machine gun armed tanksa. The machine gun tanks had been converted into SP gun platforms. The Polish army had deployed 4 infantry divisions, 3 cavalry divisions and 2 tanks brigades to its Liuthanian section while 8 infantry divisions, 3 cavalry diviisions and 4 tank brigades had been moved along the central sector.
To the north the Finns ordered partial mobilization so as to reinforce its border defences. Europe it seemed was going to be dragged into a major war as Stalin felt that now was a perfect time to strike again to regain more of the lost territioris.