Ch.242Italy’s Destiny

# The Fall of Rome

Rome has fallen.

So, what happened to Mussolini?

“What happened to Mussolini?”

“Mussolini was caught by Anastasia supporters while trying to escape.”

“Oh my, oh my.”

The Anastasia supporters in Italy have accomplished something great.

When it’s divided later, I should let those people live in the Papal States.

Even if they lose some territory in the north and the Kingdom of Two Sicilies emerges in the south, if the Papal States control the central region, they’ll likely wield considerable influence.

“Manstein, who had surrendered, performed remarkably well.”

Manstein. The man who was in Greece and then switched to the German Imperial Army.

Unlike in the original history, here he deliberately leaked information to the Allied forces as an extremely risky gamble, intending to have the main forces captured and forced to surrender.

Though it ended up like this due to Churchill’s opposition.

If I didn’t have any knowledge of the future, I probably wouldn’t believe such a thing either.

Guderian, who somehow executed Operation Red Sickle, also surrendered, but these two are truly pitiful.

Because of the “Red Hero” label, future historians will seriously debate: Were they genuine communists who surrendered when things turned unfavorable? Or did they sincerely intend to defect to the Empire?

There will likely be much discussion about this.

Interestingly, in this timeline, most of the Communist German generals who participated in Operation Sickle went to Paris, except for Manstein and Guderian, suggesting they were the true communists.

Suddenly, I’m curious about something.

How does Hitler feel about all this?

Hitler, who has been staring at the map for some time now, looks extremely calm and even somewhat cynical at first glance.

There’s something I’d like to ask.

“You became a Red Hero unintentionally, so you must have worked extremely hard, Chancellor Hitler.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Indeed, the Germanic fighting spirit is excellent. Your country’s Rommel, the former Communist German officers Manstein and Guderian, and the German Empire’s Walter Model. There seem to be many outstanding individuals.”

Unlike in the original history, the split lineup of generals is making remarkable achievements in the German Empire and the Danube Federation.

“Hahaha. Thank you for your kind words.”

I just said it casually, but has Hitler truly lost his aggression?

He seems to be forcing a smile at my question, with a tone that appears both dejected and bitter. Hmm.

Still, he doesn’t seem to dislike what I said, even though I’m essentially the leader of the Slavic people.

Something… something is surprising about how different this Hitler is from the one I know.

It seems true that people change according to their environment.

“Now, let’s go to Rome. I want to see the Lion King of Africa.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

From now on, the spoils will belong solely to Haile Selassie and Hitler.

Of course, Hitler’s situation is honestly quite different from Haile Selassie’s, as the Italian army’s poor performance was so severe that it threatened the very existence of Selassie’s country.

# # #

Rome, Secretary General’s Residence

“Long live Secretary General Mussolini!”, “Long live the world revolution!”, “May Red Rome be eternal!”

Italy’s Secretary General Benito Mussolini had overcome difficult trials and finally rebuilt Rome.

Enemy forces that had landed on the mainland easily crumbled before the powerful Red Roman Army.

He eliminated the reactionary French remnants who were struggling with Algerians in Africa, incorporating Algeria into Red Rome’s communist system, and also liberated Egypt, incorporating it as part of Rome.

He reinvaded Greece and incorporated it into Red Rome’s territory, and occupied Turkey, the successor of the Ottoman Empire which had been a false Rome, thus restoring the territory of Eastern Rome.

He helped the French Commune defeat the Anti-Comintern forces in Belgium and in return received parts of mainland France.

Though once in danger, he had finally achieved victory.

And having entered the Italian mainland after claiming victory, he had captured the enemy leaders: the imperial saint Anastasia, the Prime Minister of the Danube Wall Hitler, and the Lion of Africa, forcing them to kneel before him.

With their capture, the Danube Federation was pushed back by the Red Roman Army, Russia had to retreat to its homeland, and Ethiopia became the Socialist Republic of Ethiopia.

Mussolini decided to make the defeated kneel before him and savor the feeling of victory.

“Hahaha! In the end, our Rome has triumphed! You have been defeated and we have won! We, the true Rome, not pseudo-Rome like Russia, have rebuilt Rome through communism. The Danube, which coveted Italian territory, now has Habsburg clinging to my pant leg, and even primitive Africa has been placed under communist rule!”

Benito Mussolini, with his characteristically imposing posture, placed both hands on his hips and mocked the defeated.

“S-Secretary General! Please spare me just this once! I beg you! The Danube will stand before Italy!”

“Ugh. Kill me! Should I submit to the invader who invaded Ethiopia?”

“S-Secretary General. Please. Russia will stand with Italy, so please spare us. Despite appearances, I am still beautiful. If the Secretary General wishes, the Eastern Roman Empress could spend the night-“

How could this be? So these were the true colors of those who were once enemies.

Hitler, once a formidable enemy, was revealed as a cowardly nouveau riche afraid of death as a defeated general. Haile Selassie was still trying to die with a pre-modern mindset, and the Russian Empress, whom he had considered his rival, was a filthy woman willing to offer her body to survive.

Mussolini could not hide his anger at the fact that his adversaries were such characters.

“Have you ever seen such filth! Where is the iron wall Hitler who stood against us? Is there a more hideous loser? And the old lion of Africa who still doesn’t repent his mistakes and accept communism shows his level! Above all, you who call yourself the Empress of Eastern Rome and offer your country and body are nothing but a whore! But I, Mussolini, am a man who knows mercy! I will have you shot to prevent your hideous images from being recorded in history, you who fought Italy as equals! Take them away!”

Mussolini was a man who knew mercy.

While self-deprecatingly wondering if these pathetic enemy leaders were truly Italy’s worthy adversaries, he intended to have them executed so their shameful appearances would not be recorded. He wanted history to remember them as worthy opponents of the red hero Benito Mussolini.

“Hehehe. Now the world is mine.”

How laughable that Goebbels, who still hasn’t recaptured Berlin, and Thorez in Paris are all clinging to Italy.

Now is truly the time when the era of Rome has been rebuilt.

“Your Majesty, this bastard is laughing.”

“Leave him be, let him dream.”

Of course, it goes without saying that all of this was just a dream.

# # #

Meanwhile, we finally arrived in Rome.

The flags hanging in Rome included the Ethiopian flag, the black-white-red flag of the German Empire, the black-yellow flag with the double-headed eagle of the Danube Federation, the tricolor flag with the double-headed eagle of Russia, and the flag of the Turkish National State.

Scattered among them, the Spanish Falange flag was also visible.

The citizens of Rome looked at the majestic march and garrison of the occupying forces with anxious eyes, but our army maintained order.

Although I had ordered them to maintain order, accidents usually happen, but because the Italian army had performed so poorly, the occupying forces ended up sympathizing with the Italians, which was natural.

The Ethiopian army showed strong hostility toward the Italians, but they couldn’t do much as allied soldiers were maintaining peace.

Their Emperor wouldn’t be able to carry out barbaric revenge against the Italians in this setting.

“It is an honor to meet the Tsar who saved our Ethiopia.”

Haile Selassie, whom I met at the Secretary General’s residence, actively expressed his gratitude to me.

Feeling somewhat proud, I waved my hand dismissively.

“The honor is small—we couldn’t stand by and watch communists overthrow a monarchy.”

“Still, without Your Majesty’s help, Africa would have long suffered under communist oppression and would not have achieved today’s triumph.”

“The Ethiopian troops patrolling Rome’s streets are truly impressive.”

I gave him this much lip service.

In reality, when would Africa ever be able to occupy the territory of a great power like this?

And now our Benito Mussolini would be the problem.

Benito Mussolini was so shocked that when he was captured by us, he was giggling and smiling foolishly.

When Mussolini finally came to his senses, he struggled against his bonds and shouted at us.

“You bastards! What are you going to do with our Italy?”

When someone asks what we’re going to do, it’s only human decency to answer!

Being merciful, I can at least give him an answer.

“We’re going to tear it apart, of course.”

“What?”

Why is he making such a deranged face? I mean exactly what I said—tearing it apart.

We’re simply going to return Italy to its pre-unification state.

I plan to make it so they can never reunify, and to destroy their industry as well.

They must be made completely dependent on other countries.

It wouldn’t be impossible under the Papal States.

“Honestly, I feel sorry for the Italian army, which performs so terribly in every battle. The Lion King of Africa and the Danube Prime Minister here say they cannot forgive Italy.”

I allowed a sneer to form on my lips.

You will soon be torn to pieces. All because of you alone.

As if saying this, I poked Mussolini’s chest repeatedly with my finger.

It’s all because of you, you know.

“No. No! My Red Rome cannot fall!”

In the end, he’s whining like a child, which makes me wonder if this is okay.

“Garibaldi must be crying in his grave. The Italy he worked so hard to unify is being torn apart because of someone. It hasn’t even been a hundred years.”

The unification hasn’t even reached its centennial—how pitiful.

Although the Pope will be the head, Italy will essentially be torn to pieces.

“Originally, he should be brought to a war crimes tribunal and properly executed, but we’ll have only a formal trial with Ethiopian judges. As promised, we’ll hand him over to the Ethiopian Emperor. The rest will be brought to war crimes tribunals.”

This should be enough, right?

“Thank you.”

Fortunately, Mussolini didn’t try to escape, so how fortunate that we can tear Italy apart among ourselves.

Shortly after, the leaders of the allied nations arrived in Rome.

“To think I would see even Rivera, the leader of the Spanish Falange Party.”

So it seems he is indeed working with Franco.

He must have come since he’ll be participating in carving up Italy.

Wow. If I hadn’t come here in person, I wouldn’t have seen all these historical figures.

Hitler, Göring, Mussolini, Haile Selassie, Rivera.

When would I have seen them if I hadn’t come in person?

Though all these people flattered me, saying I look young for my age. If you’re jealous, get your own possession privilege!

Recently, I’ve been pleased that my appearance doesn’t age beyond this point.

After all, for a woman, youth is everything.

I find myself unconsciously grateful for my firm skin.

Anyway, notable figures from various countries are trying to score points with me, as I’m in a position to boss them around.

Yes, it’s natural since we’re about to divide Italy.

Everyone looks happy. They’re excited about the prospect of carving up Italy.

Greece? What does Greece have to gain?

Their country wasn’t completely stripped, they repelled the Italian army, and the kind Turkish army is protecting Greece and still stationed there, so I’ll have to make sure they receive some reparations later.

Anyway, it’s time to tear Italy to pieces.

I examined each of the leaders gathered to divide Italy.

It’s good to see everyone looking excited about the prospect of tearing Italy apart.

“As previously discussed, we plan to divide Italy. How much does Spain want? For reference, I’m willing to help you get Gibraltar back, so keep that in mind when you speak.”

In other words, I’ll help you get Gibraltar back, so take only what you deserve in good conscience.

Honestly, I didn’t expect Churchill to give up Gibraltar, but he probably wants to take a piece of mainland France instead.

Spain has already advanced across the Pyrenees to Bordeaux and helped our fleet land in Italy.

“Well, we want Sardinia, which was territory of the Crown of Aragon.”

He spoke confidently, as if saying he deserved his share.

Oh, yes. I don’t dislike this.

A man should know how to demand his share with confidence.

But if he wants territory from the Crown of Aragon era, shouldn’t he also be eyeing Sicily?

Of course, I already have plans for that area.

“Surprising. I thought you would want Sicily as well.”

“Your Majesty, Tsar of Russia. Instead, after we capture the French Commune in this war, I would like to obtain Corsica.”

Ah, so that’s what he meant.

Rivera was quite perceptive.

He knows we’re tearing apart the Italian mainland, and considering that Spain’s main front is against the French Commune, aiming for Sicily would be too greedy.

The Crown of Aragon justification is merely a pretext to grab some land.

“Corsica, is it.”

Honestly, strictly speaking, both Sardinia and Corsica might be a bit of a stretch for Spain to integrate.

Well, fine. They can expel everyone and fill it with Spaniards if they want—that’s not my concern.

Looking at the map, if we’re tearing Italy apart, it does look neat for Spain to take Corsica.

Though I wonder if this makes Spain too powerful.

I don’t think Spain will become that strong just by taking a few islands. We’ll see about that later.

The problem is that there’s also a French representative here.

“This is outrageous! Trying to seize our French territory!”

An elderly man stood up abruptly.

“Ah, Marshal Pétain.”

I didn’t know a French leader was here too.