PC/WI: Mussolini wants to recreate HRE instead of Roman Empire

With a pod of 1933, how could Mussolini create a new HRE? Even though the HRE were in many ways the predecessor of Germany, and arguably less prestigious than the Roman Empire, it also had territories in half of modern-day Italy and was still a grand geopolitical actor while it still existed. So instead of going for Africa and the Balkans, Mussolini's dream is to conquer Germany, Austria, Bohemia etc. under the Italian banner.

Let's assume that Mussolini takes power in Italy (and somehow manages to get people to go along with the idea of a revived HRE...), what would his moves in Europe be in order to achieve this goal?
 
That would be very interesting, since no one will actually be able to stop Italy if they actually get serious with this, thanks to the Versailles limitations. However German nationalism is quite prevalent, so if he simply tries to march on Berlin, Italy will be fighting a proto-Vietnam.

Perhaps if Italy steps in the middle of the worst of the Great Depression or a civil war where the communists threaten to take over?
 
The HRE was a German project that the Italians only sporadically and reluctantly were associated with. Just look at the Lombard League(s). It just wouldn't stir the Italian imagination the way that the actual Roman Empire did when even at the time, they rankled over it.
 
If Italy tried to take Austria, I think Germany (even in their weakened position) would side with Austria. I don't think Italy was strong enough to take them on all at once, plus the logistics for Italy going north would be awful. Plus in the meantime Austria and Germany would be screaming bloody murder that France and Great Britain have to step in and protect Austria due to the fact that the Versailles treaty put them in this weakened position in the first place.

This is a very interesting scenario, but I just can't picture how it could get started in a small enough way that Italy could keep it localized to their benefit.
 
If Italy tried to take Austria, I think Germany (even in their weakened position) would side with Austria. I don't think Italy was strong enough to take them on all at once, plus the logistics for Italy going north would be awful. Plus in the meantime Austria and Germany would be screaming bloody murder that France and Great Britain have to step in and protect Austria due to the fact that the Versailles treaty put them in this weakened position in the first place.

This is a very interesting scenario, but I just can't picture how it could get started in a small enough way that Italy could keep it localized to their benefit.

Austria was already an italian puppet/satellite, so not serious problem there.
 
Could it be achieved by diplomacy rather than force? Perhaps offering Austria and Germany benefits of a close political union. A Rome-Berlin axis/proto EU with a strong conservative/fascist outlook. It could be hailed as a new HRE maybe?
 
Could it be achieved by diplomacy rather than force? Perhaps offering Austria and Germany benefits of a close political union. A Rome-Berlin axis/proto EU with a strong conservative/fascist outlook. It could be hailed as a new HRE maybe?

It's dangerous, because the Germans had a bigger population and economy, so the Italians would wind up getting dominated.
 
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