The Third Reich in Desperation

Third Reich Episode 396

Perhaps, it was not clear at the time, but now, the effect of this move is particularly obvious!

On the surface, Ciano's move was to use the name of the king to consolidate Italy's annexation of Albania.But in fact, this also virtually consolidated the status of King Vittorio Emmanuel III of Italy.

Because the current king of Italy is not only the king of Italy, but also the new king of Albania at the same time.

Therefore, even if Mussolini wanted to abolish the king, he had to weigh the consequences of doing so.With Mussolini's strong desire to conquer the territory, he would never allow Albania to fall into chaos due to the loss of the king again, and even break away from Italy to a certain extent.

Therefore, Vittorio Emmanuel III also understood that Ciano was actually his benefactor.

Now that Ciano met the king, he was sure that the king would not embarrass his benefactor, at least he would give him a favor.What's more, it is also a good thing for the king to replace Mussolini, who is also domineering day by day, and it is in his interest.

Of course, Ciano's means and territory are more than that.

During the time when he was in harmony with Mussolini, Ciano made positive suggestions for Mussolini in a planned way, so that Mussolini accepted his proposal, made personnel adjustments to various government departments, and replaced a large number of party and government officials. dignitaries.

Doing so undoubtedly consolidated Mussolini's dictatorship and strengthened his rule.

But on the other hand, it is not easy for bureaucrats who seek to make a fortune to see Mussolini himself directly. During those days, most of them flocked to Ciano, and through various channels to the first man next to Mussolini A counselor, seeking the desired high position.

Taking advantage of the opportunity to consolidate Mussolini's rule, Ciano directly bought a large number of people's hearts, and for a while he was in power, reaching the pinnacle of his political career.

Even Mussolini's most proud mixed cabinet was secretly called "Ciano cabinet" by many Italian officials.

These preparations cannot be accomplished overnight.In other words, as early as the beginning, Ciano has been keeping himself behind and laying the groundwork.

In a sense, he is more scheming than Mussolini.

Naturally, Mussolini was the bright leader in Italy, but Ciano was more like a shepherd.

He took the second place, calling himself Mussolini's subordinate and son-in-law, but in fact, he influenced most political decisions in Italy and was a key figure hiding in the shadows.

Because what Ciano has done fundamentally has always been in line with Mussolini's interests, so Ciano and Mussolini often represent the same thinking at the top of Italy, and ordinary officials will not Make a fine distinction.

"What Ciano said meant what Mussolini meant." This is the habitual thinking of most Italian politicians.

But thinking about it the other way around, Ciano just used Mussolini's name to do something he wanted to do.

Yes, he consolidated and expanded the power of Italian fascism for Mussolini.But he was not all for Mussolini, to a certain extent, he was also for the country of Italy.

Today, Ciano has increasingly felt that his differences with Mussolini have widened.And as foreign minister, more than anyone else in Italy, he sensed the treachery of Reinhardt's German fate!

On the surface, Reinhardt "sincerely" complimented the Italian leader's plan for the new Roman Empire, and encouraged the Italians and the British to fight to contain the British Mediterranean Fleet for Germany, thereby reducing the pressure on the German navy when it landed on the British mainland.

When Italy failed in Africa, the German army sent reinforcements from only two divisions in batches, and it also included the condition of requisitioning 2 Italian infantry divisions and 1 armored division!

This abacus is better than a thief!

As the Minister of Foreign Affairs, how could Ciano fail to see the deceptions and tactics of the Germans in every German-Italian transaction.

Sadly, Italian Prime Minister Mussolini was a self-righteous fool who even thought he could take advantage of the Germans.

And Italy's No. [-] figure, Deputy Prime Minister Rossi, is an out-and-out pro-German faction.During Mussolini's hospitalization, he deepened his cooperation with the Germans.

As a result, Ciano felt more and more that in Italy, the only one who had the ability to control the situation and change the status quo was him, the "shepherd" in the shadow.

Body 6 Chapter [-] Reaching the Sky in One Step

Ciano's authority in Italy has long been no secret.Even Mussolini knew very well that his son-in-law, relying on his prime minister's father-in-law, has been playing tricks for a long time.

True, Ciano was a good foreign minister, but he was not a good subordinate.

Although Ciano made suggestions for Mussolini, he solved many troubles and avoided many risks.However, his utilitarianism is too heavy, even a foreign minister cannot satisfy his ambition.

But this time, Ciano was going to make further plans, and even his two most trusted confidants felt that he was too impatient.

Because Mussolini was hospitalized many times a while ago, his control over most domestic government affairs has indeed declined.However, the declining part did not fall into Ciano's pocket, but was collected by Italian Deputy Prime Minister Rossi.

Now, the domestic political situation in Italy is actually very complicated.

On the one hand, although Mussolini was divided twice by Ciano and Rossi, he was still the leader of Italy after all, with a very strong voice and many cronies.

On the other hand, Rossi took advantage of Mussolini's multiple admissions to the hospital and took over some important domestic institutions.

In the "Operation Ballista" where the British army attacked the port of Oran, France, Rossi even supported Admiral Lefer in the Italian Navy, dispatching 2 main battleships, 2 Dreadnought-class battleships, and 3 "Zara" ships. "class heavy cruiser, 4 "Jusanno" class light cruisers, and 12 destroyers of various types, in one fell swoop severely damaged part of the British Mediterranean Fleet, plus the entire British Task Force, and captured a large number of aircraft carriers including the Royal Ark. Premium warship.

This battle was Rossi's toughest battle ever.

And what Rossi used various means to cobble together at that time was also the essence of the entire Italian navy.

In the First World War in the Mediterranean, Italian Admiral Lefer became famous and became a generation of famous generals in the Italian Navy.And the most belligerent admiral in Italy also reached a certain degree of friendship with Rossi.

In addition, Mussolini did not reward Lefer, the great hero, but instead punished him, and Rossi specially sent someone to greet and win him over.Today's Lefer, and obviously inclined to Deputy Prime Minister Rossi.

And with the support of Lefer, who is becoming more and more famous in the navy, Rossi will undoubtedly have a lot of help in the navy.

As for Mussolini, relying on the Italian black shirt army with many cronies, he then controlled the Italian army, that is, he had the Italian army as the backing.

Now, there are only Ciano's people, and they only stay in the political circle.

For Ciano, his popularity and connections in the military are almost zero.

Fortunately, Ciano is also a scheming "shepherd", so naturally he will not allow himself to have no backup.

Therefore, during the Italian-French war last year, Ciano took the initiative to win the post of commander of the Italian Air Force's bomber squadron in Pisa, and served as half of the "Minister of Soldiers".

On the surface, Ciano expressed his loyalty to Mussolini, and expressed his support for Mussolini's determination to launch a war against France with practical actions.

But in fact, Ciano, who had always opposed war with France before, made the second policy after he was convinced that Mussolini would agree to avoid participating in the war.

The navy has always been the target of Deputy Prime Minister Rossi's wooing, and the army is controlled by the leader Mussolini through the black shirts. If Ciano wants to get help from the military, he can only start with the air force.

Fortunately, despite the Italian-French war, Army General Gambala suffered a humiliating defeat.However, for the air force under Ciano's command, all the established goals were carried out smoothly.

Although it was also because the French Air Force was almost held in the north by the German Air Force and had no time to go south.However, it also contributed to Ciano's reputation.

At least, with Ciano in the Air Force, the Air Force didn't lose.

Afterwards, Ciano boasted in private: "Isn't the main force of the French army also held in the north by the Germans? Our army used 32 divisions to attack 5 French divisions, but it also failed. In the final analysis, I still want to The air force did a lot to win."

The reason why Ciano said this was precisely to prepare for his good relationship in the Air Force in the future.

Ciano can see very clearly that in today's Italian military, Rossi and Mussolini are actually nepotism.Of course, this is something any senior leader would do.Ciano himself did the same in the Foreign Office.

After all, to lead a group, the most important thing is achievement.The most basic thing is to be able to command everyone under your hands.

People can't command, and it's impossible to get results.

As for the theory of the supremacy of ability and the theory of meritocracy, those are all nonsense.