Summary (New Roman Empire)
From Alternative History
[edit] Summary
This ATL explores the idea of a New Roman Empire. Before and During WWII, Italian extreme Nationalist, Benito Mussolini, rose to power and formed the Italian Fascist Party. He quickly became Il Duce (the leader) of Italy. Mussolini dreamt of powerful Italian Empire, one that rivaled that of the Ancient Roman Empire. Despite making progress in Ethiopia, his dream never came true in OTL as he was shot and killed in 1945 at the end of the war. But what if that never happened. What if the Italian Dictator had continued his conquest if Africa and finally got his New Roman Empire? FYI: Despite being titled a "summary" this article is still pretty lengthy and still growing. Feel free to contribute ideas!
[edit] Pre-War
Italiam fascist, Benito Mussolini forms the Italian Fascist Party, and threatens to march on Rome. The king was so afraid of Mussolini and his fascists that he appointed him Prime Minister. Mussolini soon appoints himself dictator of Italy. Mussolini immediately begins improving Italy. He dramatically boosts the economy and begins bulding up the nation's military. He popularizes the slogan, "The Country is Nothing Without Conquest. Italy is ready for expansion.
[edit] Invasion of Ethiopia
In October 1935, Mussolini finally puts his ideas to practice by invading the independent African kingdom of Ethiopia. The Ethiopians resist fiercely, but through the use of illegal mustard gas, the Italians overpower the Ethiopian forces. In May 1936, Ethiopia's Emperor flees to England and the capital, Addis Abeba, is in Italian hands. Mussolini officially declares Italy "The Italian Empire". Egypt seeks a treaty with the United Kingdom, fearing an invasion of Italy. The Anglo-Egyptian Treaty of 1936 is signed, putting the U.K. mostly in control of Egypt.
[edit] Beggining of World War II
During the next three years, the attention is drawn towards Germany. Austrian painter Adolf hitler rises to power and is eventually crowned Chancellor of Germany. Tensions climax when Hitler invades Poland on September 1 1939 and, using Blitzkrieg tactics, takes the entire country in three weeks. The United Kingdom, France, and the Soviet Union all declare war on Germany, forming the Allies. Japan, invading Manchuria and, for its own expansionist reasons, ally with Germany. Germany and Japan declare war on the Allies and form the Axis. The United States remain neutral at this time. Mussolini, wishing to avoid a large scale war and taking the opportunity to seize more African lands, declares the Italian Empire's neutrality and turns his attention back towards Africa.
[edit] The Italo-Sudanese Conflict
With its back turned on the European conflict, the Italian Empire prepares for another expansion into Africa. Musolini sees Sudan as the key to the rest of East Africa. In this ATL the U.K. never had the chance to fortify Sudan as they were too busy with Egypt. On October 29 1939, Mussolini ordered the full scale land invasion of Sudan. However, the Sudan Defense Force (SDF), after seeing the horrors of the Italian invasion of Ethiopia, knew this was coming. They fightt back using guerilla warfare and their superior knowledge of desert tacticts. By December 1939, the Italian invasion of Sudan is at a stalemate. To aid in the invasion, Mussolini purchases 200 aircraft and bombers from the U.S. and founds the Italian Air Squadron (IAS). Mussolini uses his air superiority to bomb the entire counrty of Sudan. The SDF are forced out of their encampments and into the open, where they are forced into full scale land battles with the Italian army, where they lose miderably. By January 1940, Mussolini controls all of the Sudanese region.
[edit] The War in Europe Continues
Meanwhile, back in Europe, conflicts continue. In March, 1939, Spanish Nationalists led by Francisco Franco overthrow the Spanish Republic and take over the country. On April 9, 1940, Germany blitzkriegs Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, cutting right around the heavily fortified Maginot Line on the French border, and invades northern France. In June 10, 1940, Paris falls to the Nazi's and with it, all of France. A heavy bombing campaign on the United Kingdom ensues. Tensions between Germany and the Italian Empire arise. (Keep in mind, unlike OTL, Italy never allied with Germany).
[edit] Italy Joins the War
Back in Africa, Mussolini's influence was spreading throughout Eastern Africa. The United Kingdom, who were suffering greatly from Hitler's bombing campaign, see's the opportunity to recruit a powerful ally. In September, 1940, the U.K. offers all of Egypt as a sovereign state to the Italian Empire, in return for its declaration of war against the Axis. Mussolini, refusing to pass up the opportunity to gain one of the strongest African powers, accepts. On September 17, 1940, The Italian Empire declares war on Germany. Two days later the Japanese Empire declares war on Italy. Mussolini issues a large scale draft of all able bodied men in preperation for the battles to come.
[edit] Hitler Invades East Africa
Hitler, who had been planning on invading North Africa for some time, takes the opportunity to cut right into the Italian Empire. After the fall of France, Kenya was no longer backed up by the French military. In October, 1940, Hitler easily overruns the teritory and stations some troops there. He then then launches a blitzkrieg attack on Ethiopia. But Musollini is ready. He sends a huge counter attack, aided by the Itallian Air Squadron. The land battle is at a bloody stalemate, but the IAS soon gain air superiority. With the help of frequent air raids, the Italians pushed the Germans back to a fort located at Wajir. The Italian Army soon sorrounds the city. However, the German defenses are strong and the Italians are having a hard time penetrating the city. From October 7-10, the siege of Wajir takes place. It was a long battle with many deaths on each side. However, in the evening of October 10, 1940, German forces are finally overrun and the Italian Empire officially occupies Kenya, Somalia, and all of Eastern Africa. Hitler's invasion of Africa is halted by Mussolini, and OTL's North African campaign never happens. The Italian Empire now comfortably controls all of East Africa, Sicily and the Italian peninsula.
[edit] Italian Expansion of North Africa
With the African front quickly dealt with, the Allies have no more reason to remain in North Africa. All that is left is the barely functional states of Libya, Algeria, and Morocco. Throughout the closing weeks of 1940, the Italian Empire quickly annexes these North African territories, meeting little to no resistance. Meanwhile, Hitler begins to recover from his grave loss in East Africa. Mussolini now officially controls all of North and East Africa.
[edit] America Enters the War
The following year witnesses little combat as the Italian Empire spends time and money fortifying their newly gained territories in preperation for another German invasion. Germany, crippled by its loss in Kenya, has pulled out of Stalingrad to the east and is recovering from its losses. On the other side of the world however, things are starting to heat up. On December 7, 1941 the Japanese Empire attakcs Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, killing thousands of Americans. America soon declares war on Japan, while Germany declares war on the U.S. The Allies have now gained a powerful companion. A combined British and Italian army stations themselves in northern Italy, preparing for a direct assault on Germany, while American prepare for an amphibious invasion of northern France.
[edit] The Allies Strike Back
On March 12, 1942, The Italo-British Army launches a combined air and land assault on lower Germany, while the Americans launch the infamous Operation Overlord in Normandy (Two years earlier than OTL D-day since the U.S. never had to spend time taking Italy in this ATL). Furthermore, the U.S.S.R. launch a massive land invasion in the east. The Allies plan to sorround Germany from all sides. Meanwhile, the United States also begins a bloody campaign of "Island Hopping" in the Pacific.
[edit] Germany Surrenders
The American assault on Normandy is a success. With the help of a Free France fighting force, the U.S. drive the Germans almost entirely out of France. The Soviets meet similar success in the east, pushing Germany back to its pre-war eastern border. Finally, the Italo-British army in the south decimate the distracted Germans, pushing them almost up to their capital city of Berlin. By mid-April, 1942, Germany is sorrounded. Adolf Hitler commits suicide in one of his bunkers. The remainder of Nazi officials surrender the rest of Germany over the next week, however, a small band of Nazi resistance remains underground in Berlin. The Allies celebrate V-E Day all around the world.
[edit] New Tensions
With the fall of Germany, comes the desire for its lands. A bitter feud erupts between the allies over who gets what land. The Americans, too concerned with the war in the Pacific, decide they have no need for Germany. The British desperately trying to recover from the viscious bombing campaign from the Germans (which had just ended recently in this alt.hist.) decide they have no need for the German lands. France, feeling too inferior to compete with the Italian Empire and the U.S.S.R, decide they don't want any German lands. The feud remains strongly between Joseph Stalin and Benito Mussolini. The feud becomes so intense that Stalin threatens Mussolini with military force. However, they eventually agree on a compromise: Mussolini gets the western half of Germany, while Stalin gets the eastern. To prevent further conflict they did the same with the capital, despit it being submerged in the Soviet side. The two dictators settle their forces in their parts of Germany, unsatisfied. Mussolini decides he doesn't want a conflict with the powerful Soviet Union. He now turns his attention to the rest of Western Europe.
[edit] Help!
Ok, I am having serious writers block right now. I am at the point where the Italian Empire now control Italy (of course), Western Germany, all of North Africa (Eypt, Libya, Algeria and Morroco), Ethiopia, and Kenya. I now want Mussolini to annex France and Spain without triggering any major wars (yet) but I am having a hard time figuring out how (especially with the Spanish nationalists!). I would very much appreciate your guys contributions. Feel free to edit and even add more sections and I'll look over the changes and see if I like it. Thanks!
-Drew
With Italy in control of the Italian mainland, North Africa, East Africa, and Western Germany. Mussolini decides to focus on Western Europe. Spain, was an ally of Nazi Germany, is hiding Nazi war criminals, angering Many Countries. Mussolini offers to invade Spain, and depose Francisco Franco, thereby handing the Nazi War criminals over to Britain and France! At first they refuse, however Spain invades France, believing the French to be the greater threat to their nation. The Allies then give permission to Italy to attack Spain. The Spanish, caught up in fighting the French are caught by surprise, and Madrid quickly falls! Franco is captured, and all German Refugees are detained. The Allies then reward Mussolini with not only Spain but also the French Territory that Spain annexed. Much to the dismay of France! Italy then emerges as one of the most powerful Countries in the World!
With all that land Italy can nitro it's economy and launch an economic takeover. Although that would set it at odds with Russia.
