The Third Reich in Desperation

Third Reich Episode 409

Not only did he call Mussolini by his name, but he also called Ciano the prime minister in advance.This kind of blatant fawning can be heard by everyone.

Still, Ciano apparently didn't mind not being called prime minister ahead of time.He even seemed to be a little satisfied with the flattery of this confidant, and nodded with a smile on his face: "Yes, if it were me, I would also agree to send a regiment to the Germans, at most, agree to send a volunteer to join their eastern army." front."

"Moreover, on the African battlefield, I will not agree to let the Germans command our troops. I will let our own generals command our own Italian troops." Before he became prime minister, Ciano was already excited Make arrangements for after that.

Text 6 Chapter [-] Abandoned Son

Even though Rossi had arranged for someone to block the news, he didn't expect the paper to contain the fire.

In Italy, his family is not the only one. Although he took over most of the prime minister's power during Mussolini's previous hospitalizations, this is still not all power.

In addition to Mussolini, there are several forces in Italy that exist at the same time.

Attached to the extended forces of Mussolini, the Ciano and Rossi factions.Among them, the Ciano faction and the General Staff faction were controlled by the king at the same time.

Even if one of the factions blocks the news, as long as someone in the other faction wants the news to spread, the news will definitely not be successfully blocked.

Ciano, who was eager to take over the post of prime minister, naturally would not let the news be blocked, so that the Italians continued to think that the leader was named Mussolini.

But for the Italian people, it is difficult for them to see the truth and the inside story.

On the evening of the day Mussolini was attacked, news came that the leader of Mussolini had been assassinated and seriously injured.Not long ago, people who heard the high-profile discharge of the leader could not believe it was true.It wasn't until Rossi saw the news that he really didn't dislike it, so he let the official confirm it.

The broadcast in Italy announced the news of Mussolini's assassination to the people of the whole country, and the country immediately entered a state of emergency.

This news plunged the whole of Italy into great doubt and panic.It wasn't until people saw the half-lowered national flag and saw newspapers and all news media using uniform black that they gradually understood in shock that this unbelievable fact really happened right in front of their own eyes. !

While shocked, everyone's heart.Only two heartbreaking questions remain

Who is the murderer?

Is the future of Italy an external crisis brought about by the massive invasion of Europe by the Soviet army, or an internal bloody darkness brought about by the assassination of Mussolini?

Because Ciano himself was the mastermind of the assassination, but he needed to conceal the fact that he assassinated Mussolini.

So he chose to selectively expose the assassination of Mussolini.

For example, he only disclosed to the public that Mussolini was assassinated.But Chiano did not disclose the process of the assassination and how it was done.

In other words, on the one hand, Ciano hopes that the people will know about the murder of the first meeting.On the other hand, he does not want the public to know how the Prime Minister was attacked.

However, even if the public does not understand the detailed process of all this, anyone with a little brain can figure out who the biggest beneficiary will be once Mussolini dies.

"After the accident of the dictator of the kingdom, the king who has been suppressed is the biggest beneficiary behind it. It doesn't need to be us, even ordinary people can see it." In the office, Rossi analyzed thoughtfully.

Beside him and staying in this office at the same time, most of them are members sent by the German Gestapo, and a small number of cronies that Rossi himself has developed and bought in Italy in recent years.

Basically, the central executives of the Italian branch of the German secret police and all of them are gathered in this office.

"It's not a problem at all. People all over the world know it." Jonas, a secret police officer who went to Italy from Germany at the beginning and has worked with Rossi for more than ten years, shook his head and shrugged: "The problem The thing is, we don't have any evidence that the king was behind it."

"What do you think?" Rossi stared into the eyes of his old partner from Germany.

"Even if the king is promoting the whole thing, he will not be the murderer himself." Jonas smiled: "The murderer who arranged the specific implementation must be someone from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."

"Ciano." Rossi said lightly.

"That's right, it should be Ciano." Jonas nodded, dragging his chin with his hand and said: "The officials who spread the news at the first time were basically from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. And the first to disclose the first attack The newspaper is also directly under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on weekdays and mainly reports international news. These people suddenly turned to pay attention to the assassination of the premier, and their intentions are obvious enough.”

"Go on." Rossi obviously relied heavily on his German partner.In fact, in these years, he has indeed done a great job under Jonas's suggestion.

With Rossi's nod of approval, Jonas spoke more confidently and confidently: "When Ciano first worked for Mussolini more than ten years ago, he had already acted very skillfully."

Next, Jonas reviewed for everyone how Ciano helped Mussolini settle his political opponents, infiltrate the political arena, install cronies, gather Italian consortiums and arms companies, and use the black shirts to restrain all parties.

"His talent is strong enough!" Jonas said sincerely: "With his assistance, just a few years after taking office, Mussolini became the most powerful prime minister in Italian history, and became the most powerful prime minister in Italian history. No.1 among the previous Italian leaders in combating the mafia. With his black shirt army, he can even compete with the Royal Army, and even the king can only choose to give in to him.”

"This is not due to Ciano alone." Rossi interrupted lightly.

Interrupting Jonas' words was not because Rossi disrespected his partner, but because Rossi had enough hard memories of that time.

Mussolini was able to ascend to the pinnacle of power in Italy, and Rossi also made great contributions.During that time, Rossi always thought that he was one of the four most important ministers Mussolini trusted and needed the most.

As a result, Mussolini sold him after changing hands, and he had no psychological burden to abandon him, and even worse, he wanted to put Rossi to death!

This is the never-ending rift between Rossi and Mussolini. Rossi will remember this enmity forever.

Jonas, who knew the whole thing, nodded and said silently: "Yes, this is not due to Ciano alone. There are countless efforts including you. Ciano alone can't do it. to a later extent."

Rossi frowned, and continued Jonas's words: "But Ciano thought he was the one who controlled everything, and he foolishly took the initiative to be the king's pawn."

"He will be abandoned by the king immediately." Rossi said without doubt: "The king also has his own interests, and he has to prove that the murderer who assassinated Mussolini was not him."

Just after Rossi finished speaking, a reporter from the Italian branch of the Gestapo rushed into the office and reported urgently: "The latest news is that Italian Foreign Minister Ciano is suspected of murdering Prime Minister Mussolini. Already at 5:30 this afternoon, downstairs in his office, he was arrested by the Minister of the Palace, Duke Aquarone, with the royal guard."

Text 6 Chapter [-] Merger of Germany and Italy!

King Vittorio Emanuele III's methods shocked many people.

Even though everyone knew that Vittorio Emanuele III would definitely find a way to clear himself of his suspicions, but the other party directly chose the most sophisticated move.

Not only did he use Ciano to assassinate Mussolini, but he also let Ciano take full responsibility with his backhand and became the culprit afterwards.

On the one hand, Mussolini was eliminated, and at the same time, the Ciano Group was eliminated with one stone.Before the Ciano Group was eliminated, the Ciano Group was also charged with the crime of assassinating Mussolini.

Now he doesn't need to explain anything. For the people, finding the murderer is enough to eliminate the king who was the most suspected beneficiary.Suspicion suffered.

While crossing the river and tearing down the bridge, he can kill two birds with one stone. Emanuele III is really playing very well.

As for the Ciano forces, because they were too active in revealing too many details when they sought cooperation with the king before, they handed over all their handles to the king.

Ciano thought that he was what the king needed most, a wolf who could help him eliminate Mussolini, a big tiger, but unfortunately, he was just a dog in the eyes of Emmanuel III.

Ciano, who was useless, was put on the chopping block by Vittorio Emanuele III in a blink of an eye.

In this way, the status quo of the factions in Italy is suddenly much clearer.

During Mussolini's period, there was one superpower and many powers, and in an instant, only Rossi and the king were left in polar opposition.

"What we need to deal with now is only Emmanuel III and his general staff." Jonas handed a document to Rossi: "The royal family has begun to vigorously sweep Ciano The rest of the faction. In addition, we have also received temptations from the royal family."

Looking through the documents and records, Rossi clearly found that King Emmanuele III had asked the General Staff to send many people to contact him, hoping to get his opinion.

support!Or against?

Rossi turned to close the document and pushed it to the corner of the table: "It seems that if we don't express our support for the king immediately, it will be our turn when the generals of the General Staff clean up the remaining personnel sent by Ciano .”

"We don't have much time." Jonas also nodded in agreement: "Many of Ciano's former cronies have defected and expressed their willingness to play for the royal family to lead the country again. Wait for Oliver and Matthew to take the lead Turn around. From my understanding, they will do the same. Even if Ciano is released now, he has no manpower to deploy."