Alright! So here's my first alternate history
I'd like to say a few things before we start:
I REALLY REALLY want constructive criticism. I really want to be good at this, the only way how is to keep on writing and gaining feedback, and implementing that into my future works.
Also, the writing is probably going to be very bad. Just a warning.
Citizens of Corfu watch as the Italian Military parades through the streets of the city
The Corfu incident was the most important event that led up to the Third Balkan War. Italian troops landed on the island, after Greece had not accepected every demand in an ultimatum Italy issued after the death of Enrico Tellini, and Italian ambassador.
Enrico Tellini was apart of the League of Ambassadors, a organization closely associated with the League of Nations. The countries which made up the LoA were Italy, France and Britain. The LoA was tasked with resolving the Albanian-Greek border dispute, which Enrico Tellini was chosen to lead. Enrico Tellini was killed in the Greek town of Kakavia.
The Italian government ordered an ultimatum to Greece under the following demands of: (1) a complete official apology at the Italian legation in Athens, (2) a solemn funeral in the Catholic cathedral in Athens in the presence of all the Greek government, (3) military honours for the bodies of the victims, (4) full honours by the Greek fleet to the Italian fleet which would be sent to Piraeus, (5) capital punishment for the guilty, (6) an indemnity of 50 million lire within five days of receipt of the note and (7) a strict inquiry, to be carried out quickly with the assistance of the Italian military attaché. Greece also was required to respond within 24 hours.
Greece had accepted 4 demands, but modified the other 4 as: 1) The commandant of Piraeus would express the Greek Government's sorrow to the Italian Minister, (2) a memorial service will be held in the presence of members of the government, (3) on the same day a detachment of the guard would salute the Italian flag at the Italian legation, (4) the military would render honors to the remains of the victims when they were transferred to an Italian warship.
Mussolini and the Italian government were not satisfied by the Greek response, and they ordered the occupation of Corfu.
The Regia Marina, the Italian Navy, bombarded the island. This bombardment was focused on the city's old fortress, which was demilitarized and acted as a shelter for Greek refugees fleeing Turkey, after the Greco-Turkish War in 1919-1922. The bombarded lasted 30 minutes, and around 16 Greek civilians were killed. Around 5,000 - 10,000 Italian soldiers then landed on Corfu.
Britain and France began to broker a deal, however Italy had demanded that it be resolved in the League of Ambassadors, which Italy was apart of but not Greece. Britian had wanted it to be resolved in the League of Nations, however France disagreed with the British, fearing that it would provide a precedent for the League to become involved in the French occupation of the Ruhr. Italy threatened that they would leave the league if it voted on Corfu.
On September 4th, the French and British ambassadors met each other in London, in which Britain promised to veto any attempt at the League voting on a resolution about France's occupation of the Ruhr in exchange for France supporting Britian (This is a HUGE leap, but for the sake of the story we're going to say this happens) France agrees. The resolution was presented to the council of the League, however Italy vetoed it. Still, Italy kept her promises, and under Mussolini's orders she withdrew from the League. In a famous incident the Italian ambassador to the league, Antonio Salandra declared: "The League has no choice about Italy's greatness." He left the League building in Paris, and returned back to Rome as a hero. The League couldn't do anything about Italy.
In Greece and Italy, the riots got worst. Many, in the public and in the military, began to support war against Italy in Greece, and Stylianos Gonatas was now under threat of being replaced by his own military that put him in power. In Athens, 5,000 people marched in support of war with Italy. Knowing what was to come, Italy moved naval reinforcements to assist the Regia Marnia in Corfu, while an additional 2,000 troops were brought in. Stylianos Gonatas's aides began to urge him to finally move a Greek force to retake the island from Italy. In Rome, many nationalists demanded that all of the Ionian Islands be annexed by Italy.
Finally, Stylianos Gonatas ordered the entire Greek Fleet to take off from port and take back the island of Corfu. At around 3:45 local time, on September 29, 1923, a Regia Marina ship fired at the Greek force. Around 78 were killed, and the Italian force in Corfu was notified and began to dig in, while reinforcements from Taranto and Venice moved southward. Stylianos Gonatas learned about the incident, and on October 2nd, 1923, Greece declared war on Italy. 5 hours later Italy declared war on Greece.
I'd like to say a few things before we start:
I REALLY REALLY want constructive criticism. I really want to be good at this, the only way how is to keep on writing and gaining feedback, and implementing that into my future works.
Also, the writing is probably going to be very bad. Just a warning.
Citizens of Corfu watch as the Italian Military parades through the streets of the city
Chapter I: The Landing
August 27, 1923 - October 2, 1923
August 27, 1923 - October 2, 1923
The Corfu incident was the most important event that led up to the Third Balkan War. Italian troops landed on the island, after Greece had not accepected every demand in an ultimatum Italy issued after the death of Enrico Tellini, and Italian ambassador.
Enrico Tellini was apart of the League of Ambassadors, a organization closely associated with the League of Nations. The countries which made up the LoA were Italy, France and Britain. The LoA was tasked with resolving the Albanian-Greek border dispute, which Enrico Tellini was chosen to lead. Enrico Tellini was killed in the Greek town of Kakavia.
The Italian government ordered an ultimatum to Greece under the following demands of: (1) a complete official apology at the Italian legation in Athens, (2) a solemn funeral in the Catholic cathedral in Athens in the presence of all the Greek government, (3) military honours for the bodies of the victims, (4) full honours by the Greek fleet to the Italian fleet which would be sent to Piraeus, (5) capital punishment for the guilty, (6) an indemnity of 50 million lire within five days of receipt of the note and (7) a strict inquiry, to be carried out quickly with the assistance of the Italian military attaché. Greece also was required to respond within 24 hours.
Greece had accepted 4 demands, but modified the other 4 as: 1) The commandant of Piraeus would express the Greek Government's sorrow to the Italian Minister, (2) a memorial service will be held in the presence of members of the government, (3) on the same day a detachment of the guard would salute the Italian flag at the Italian legation, (4) the military would render honors to the remains of the victims when they were transferred to an Italian warship.
Mussolini and the Italian government were not satisfied by the Greek response, and they ordered the occupation of Corfu.
The Regia Marina, the Italian Navy, bombarded the island. This bombardment was focused on the city's old fortress, which was demilitarized and acted as a shelter for Greek refugees fleeing Turkey, after the Greco-Turkish War in 1919-1922. The bombarded lasted 30 minutes, and around 16 Greek civilians were killed. Around 5,000 - 10,000 Italian soldiers then landed on Corfu.
Britain and France began to broker a deal, however Italy had demanded that it be resolved in the League of Ambassadors, which Italy was apart of but not Greece. Britian had wanted it to be resolved in the League of Nations, however France disagreed with the British, fearing that it would provide a precedent for the League to become involved in the French occupation of the Ruhr. Italy threatened that they would leave the league if it voted on Corfu.
On September 4th, the French and British ambassadors met each other in London, in which Britain promised to veto any attempt at the League voting on a resolution about France's occupation of the Ruhr in exchange for France supporting Britian (This is a HUGE leap, but for the sake of the story we're going to say this happens) France agrees. The resolution was presented to the council of the League, however Italy vetoed it. Still, Italy kept her promises, and under Mussolini's orders she withdrew from the League. In a famous incident the Italian ambassador to the league, Antonio Salandra declared: "The League has no choice about Italy's greatness." He left the League building in Paris, and returned back to Rome as a hero. The League couldn't do anything about Italy.
In Greece and Italy, the riots got worst. Many, in the public and in the military, began to support war against Italy in Greece, and Stylianos Gonatas was now under threat of being replaced by his own military that put him in power. In Athens, 5,000 people marched in support of war with Italy. Knowing what was to come, Italy moved naval reinforcements to assist the Regia Marnia in Corfu, while an additional 2,000 troops were brought in. Stylianos Gonatas's aides began to urge him to finally move a Greek force to retake the island from Italy. In Rome, many nationalists demanded that all of the Ionian Islands be annexed by Italy.
Finally, Stylianos Gonatas ordered the entire Greek Fleet to take off from port and take back the island of Corfu. At around 3:45 local time, on September 29, 1923, a Regia Marina ship fired at the Greek force. Around 78 were killed, and the Italian force in Corfu was notified and began to dig in, while reinforcements from Taranto and Venice moved southward. Stylianos Gonatas learned about the incident, and on October 2nd, 1923, Greece declared war on Italy. 5 hours later Italy declared war on Greece.