Italian Republic

Flag of Northern Italy

North Italy, officially the Republic of Italy, is the second largest of the Italian remnant states, and is a puppet to the Danubian Federation. The nation is a Unitary Parliamentary Republic dominated by the Social Liberal party for the overwhelming majority of its history. The Italian republic used to just be a small rump state on the east bank of the Po river. But now extends all the way across the North of Italy, only losing Piedmont to Sardinia. With the chaos of the Italian Civil War we have only a rough estimate as to the establishment of the Italian Republic with numerous dates given. North Italy is a victor of the Second Weltkrieg holding far more legitmacy than it did only 5 years ago when the Socialists still controlled much of the north. These socialists are giving a large scale boost to the Social democratic party, prompting Danubia to force its influence back into the country to prevent an Entente aligned state. Thus most people from outside of Italy recognize it as simply an Austrian puppet and so a puppet for the Reichspakt. It along with Sardinia will be fighting over the influence of the Two Sicilies trying to get them to join their side of the Italian Crisis.

## History

The Italian republic in 1936 was a laughing stock to most around the world. It had fallen victim to the same sorts of ideological struggles that had torn apart neighboring France. But due to the influence of the Reichspakt Italy was torn into 5 separate pieces. After the short lived federation attempt the Italian Republic held one of its most important elections in history in 1936 where the still popular Prime minister, Ivanoe Bonomi won another term. This supplanted the dominance of Social Liberalism within the republic and gave it the stability in needed for the upcoming few years. When the Second Weltkrieg began the Republic was ordered by Austria to stay out of the wider conflict for the time being. This allowed the Italian Republic to prepare its forces for a potential reconquest of Lombardy and Florence. The opportunity would soon show itself when the Danubian Federation joined the wider Weltkrieg. North Italy was quick to the chase and entered into the war launching a surprise offensive across the Po River. This cause devastation to the socialist forces who were still caught up fighting the Papal States and Two Sicilies. However the Third Internationale sent some forces quickly stalling the offensive before it could knock out their ally. Danubia sent some forces over to the Italians allowing them to hold off the counteroffensives that would tear throughout 1941 and 1942 as the Internationale tried to force itself over the Po River. However the entrance of the Entente into the war would change everything as the Socialists had to fight on three fronts and were nearly encircled. The Socialists pulled forces away from North Italy thinking that they would not dare to try and conduct an offensive with such small numbers. And they were wrong, and they paid for it. Northern Italian forces quickly forced the lackluster defense out and began rapidly advancing towards Florence and Bologna which fell in a matter of days. Danubian forces quickly followed suit and the pincer between Two Sicillian and North Italian forces destroyed over half of the Socialist army. This dealt a death nail to the Third Internationale in the south as a joint offensive by the Sardinians, North Italy, and the French Republic would force its way into Southern France later forcing their capitulation. In the Final peace deal the Northern Italians were given all of North Italy aside from some lands in Latium and Piedmont. But aside from that massive gains were made. But with Elections coming soon in 1946 the worries that a Social democratic Italy reached the Austrian Ears. And they decided to act and launched a quick operation into Northern Italy and puppeted the government. While Northern Italy still holds elections the Social Democratic party is now barred until wide spread syndicalist support is squashed and all parties have an equal chance of winning. However behind the scenes the Reichspakt plays its cards to keep Italy in this state and other parties scheme to do the same. Northern Italy's elections are not as free and fair as they once were.

## Military

The Northern Italian miltiary is repectable for its size. With an amount of divisions around the same size of that of Northern France. A navy around the size of Greece, And a token air force. Italy will likely not play much of a military force should a Third Weltkrieg occur. But Italy's position on the peninsula will give it a good tactical position should war come.