Italian War of Conquest

### Conflict

* Just After The War of Liberation (Although some Historians argue The Italian War of Conquest was a part of The War of Liberation.)

### Result

* Imperian/Greek Victory
	+ Imperian annexation of Hungary, Romania
	+ Partitioning of Yugoslavia and Bulgaria between Greece and The Imperium
	+ Imperian Puppeting of The Kingdom of Italy
	+ Imperian occupation of Northern Italian lands

Combatants| * The Imperium
* The Kingdom of Greece
	+ German Exile Army
* Romania
* Hungary
* Yugoslavia
* Bulgaria

Commanders| * The Emperor of The Imperium
	+ HFM. Erwin Rommel
	+ Adm. Karl Donitz
* George II of Greece
	+ Gen. Giovanni Messe
* FM. Ferdinand Schörner†

Casualties| * 6,000 Imperian Soldiers
* 12,000 Greek Soldiers

Total: 18,000 Deaths | * 50,000 Italian Soldiers
	+ 6,000 German Exile Soldiers
* 20,000 Yugoslav Soldiers
* 11,000 Hungarian Soldiers
* 6,000 Bulgarian Soldiers
* 3,000 Romanian

**The Italian War of Conquest** , also called '**The War of 1941**' and '**The War of Triumph**' in Greece, was a war between The Kingdom of Italy (Under Mussolini's Fascists) and The Imperium with their Greek Ally. Despite the war being fought over a short time period, The Imperium was impressed by Italian efforts to defend their homeland. The Kingdom of Greece only joined the war to take lands in The Balkans. The conflict also involved a brief Imperian Invasion of Hungary, Yugoslavia, Romania and a Greek Invasion of Bulgaria. The Italians had a force of 10,000 German Exiles from mainly Waffen-SS Divisions near the border during and after The Imperiumist Takeover. These German Exile Forces would lose around half of their strength as they fought in Italy.

The Main Part of the War was fought in Italy in which The Imperium had to undertake a month long assault to break the Alpine Line which was heavily fortified by Italian Mountain Troops. Due to the Italian resolve in the war, The Emperor would grant Mussolini and King Emmanuel III joint control of the new puppet state. This joint control of power would last until the Fascist Spring Revolts of 1943

## History

Prior to The Invasion, The Kingdom of Italy had been a close ally of The German Reich. Italy ,like the rest of the world, was heavily affected by The Great Depression and despite their actions in The Great War, they felt they had been robbed by The Allied Powers. This would lead to Benito Mussolini (a former Socialist) forming the *Partito Nazionale Fascista* which was the first fascist party in the world to gain power. He would go onto gain power and eventually become Prime Minister of Italy in 1922. Once he had gained control, he stripped many powers away from the King and declared himself *Il Duce* and had now formed a Dictatorship.

Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party seized power in 1932. This leads to strong Italo-German Relations but Mussolini is threatened by Hitler's Views on the Italian and Mediterranean race. His views lead to some threats between the two states. The Italian Navy receives a heavy boost under Mussolini who grows his Navy to compete with the British Royal Navy.

When The **War of Liberation** ,or **Second Great War,** occurs The Kingdom of Italy joins the war on the side of the Axis and Italian-German communications are slightly hindered because of racial issues with the Germans believing they are racially superior but also the Italians believing Germany will help defend the Franco-Italian Border. The Italians attempt a small offensive in the south but are completely repelled by The French defenders and are even pushed back slightly. Italy loses ground in Libya which worsens these relations. Germany has to send Erwin Rommel to assist the Italian Army there who are significantly weaker. The First Battle of El-Alamein sees The British hold off The Italian and German Army in Africa and hinders the North African Campaign.

The Italian Failure in North Africa leads Rommel to order an invasion of Tunisia and French Algeria. This goes well and The Italian Army now lead by Rommel capture Tunis. This however would not change a devastating event to Italian War Efforts. On the 6th of January 1940, German Generals defy Hitler's Orders to attack into France and the Imperiumist Takeover begins. The British and French noticed that something in Germany had changed and retook the captured lands in French Africa which even worsens Italian conditions. During this Takeover, Nazi Loyalists and Waffen-SS Soldiers defect to Fascist Italy which proves to be a wise decision as Hitler is killed and The Imperium is founded.

In the later months of 1940, The United States joins the war and Italy loses Piedmont. However, The Allies offer Italy an Armistice where the Italians gain control of British Sudan and parts of North Africa. This didn't affect the Imperium who would go onto win the war.

## Leading Up to War

After The War, The Imperium wished to consolidate more power in Europe. This involved an Invasion of The Balkans and Italy. This Invasion was going to be costly for The Imperium so The Emperor opted for a diplomatic approach. An Alliance with The Imperium against The Western Allies. The Italian population were split. The Fascists and Monarchists were more lenient and wanted to join the Imperium's Alliance , much to the disapproval of The German Exile Army, whereas a the Communist Minority wished for an alliance with the Soviet Union. The Democrats saw the West unifying and wanted Italy to join a Western Alliance. Ultimately, the Fascists and Monarchists came out on top but this was too late. The Imperium had noticed the time-wasting and changed their demands , subjugation or be conquered. The Italian Government was in a frenzy. The Imperium also went to Greece and managed to gain a partnership with the Greeks in a combined invasion of The Balkans.

The Imperium crossed the border and invaded anyway beginning the Italian War of Conquest.

## The War

Despite being taken by somewhat surprise, The Italian Army was confident they could hold in The Alpine Forts. On the 7th of August, Imperian Tank Divisions crossed into Yugoslavia. The Greek Army Launched an invasion of Yugoslavia the same day. On the 8th, Hungary and Romania joined the war in defence of Yugoslavia. The Imperian Army realised the Alpine forts would be an obstacle for the Imperian Invasion as the Italians had fielded elite mountain divisions and had fortified the mountains.

The Imperian Army had to assault and siege down the Italian Fortresses. The German Exile Army had risen up and rushed to the border to fight The Imperium. Led by Field Marshall Schörmer charged from their fort to meet the Imperian Assault Force. This would be called The Battle of Mals. This would be a decisive Imperian Victory and The GEA retreated to their fort heavily outnumbered and outgunned. The Imperian 9th Guard Division flooded into the Fort in a massacre and killed 3,000 German Soldiers. The Alpine Forts had been broken and Imperian Tank Divisions breached the gap. The Italian Forces had to retreat from their forts as an Imperian Grand Offensive occurred all along the front. The Imperian Invasion was ruthless and entire villages and towns were bombed and shelled to cripple the retreating Italians. Venice was a last holdout of Italian Forces where the Italian Troops fought valiantly but inevitably surrendered.

Meanwhile, The Imperian Charge into Yugoslavia had been a great success and Belgrade was captured on the 28th August. Following The Capture of Belgrade, The Yugoslavian Government capitulated after 20,000 Yugoslav soldiers had died in the defence of Yugoslavia. Following this, The Imperium Tank Divisions spearheaded into Hungary which was again ruthless and headed by Felix Steiner who was known for his aggressive tactics and disregard of loss of life. On the 7th of September, The Imperium Army surrounded Budapest and demanded a surrender. Miklós Horthy refused and The Imperium Army crushed Budapest. The Hungarians were overwhelmed and surrendered during the fighting. Romania surrendered on the 12th September after the Fall of Budapest in fear of The Imperian Army.

The Greeks and Imperians launched a combined Invasion of Bulgaria on the 15th which would see the deaths of 6,000 Bulgarian Soldiers in a few days which would end the Balkan Campaign. On The Italian Front, The Alpine Wall had fallen along with most of the North by 16th September. The Italians had suffered defeat after defeat. The German Exile Army fled to Rome as a last stand. 30,000 Italian Soldiers had already been killed. Just as The Italians gained a footing, the Imperium attacked again and pushed very close to Rome the stopped. On the 30th September, The Imperium invaded Sicily via Naval Invasion and Pushed through the South. Imperian Marine Divisions flooded the Eastern Coast and All Remaining Italian Soldiers fell back to a defensive line around Rome.

In the early days of November, not much happened. The Italians formed a flimsy defence around Rome which they thought would fail. Then on the 5th, the attack began. The Imperians had severely overestimated the determination of The Italian Defenders and they were beaten back on the 7th after a 3 day attack. The Imperium was surprised by this as they thought The Italians were at breaking point. The 10th saw a Second Imperian Assault which broke the Outer Line of Defence and the remaining Italians fled to Rome. Benito Mussolini vowed to fight until the last man. The Battle of Rome began on the 15th and The German Exile Army fought bitterly alongside their Italian Allies. The Imperium and The Emperor were very impressed by the determination and defiance of The Italians who resisted and held out. As such, The Battle of Rome ended on the 20th with widespread Italian surrender. The Imperial Guards stormed the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana and killed many German Exile Soldiers. They captured Benito Mussolini and took him straight to Imperia. FM Schörmer was also killed in this raid.

Upon arriving in Imperia he ordered an immediate ceasefire which was largely obeyed by both sides. In Imperia, he met with The Emperor of The Imperium who congratulated Mussolini for the Italian Defiance. He proposed that Italy surrenders to The Imperium but remains as an Imperium Governed Puppet State only losing some Northern Lands but The Italians keep their Empire and pride. The deal included a resignation of Mussolini and eventual empowerment alongside King Victor Emmanuel III as Imperial Governor. He accepted and the Greeks accepted their deal and on the 30th of November 1941, the war ended.

## Aftermath

By the End of the war, over 100,000 Soldiers had been killed on either side. The Imperium was very surprised by the sheer determination of The Italians in holding them off and had the German Exile Army not have left the fort line, the breakthrough would not have happened so easily and The Imperians would have lost more men than what they lost. The Free Atlantic States looked on as a spectator of The War and noted that the Imperium can be halted temporarily but when they break out they overwhelm and massacre the enemy. Horrific War Crimes and Massacres were committed in The Balkans by The Imperians. Union Propaganda called the Battle of Budapest the "Massacre of Budapest" due to the pure ferocity and mercilessness of the Imperian Invaders.

The Imperium and Greeks had completed all goals and The Greeks had taken a good amount of land. Imperian-Greek Relations were very high and The Imperium wished for a closer alliance but Greece decided to go back to neutrality which The Imperium respected. The Imperium had now established a strong Puppet and Ally in The New Italian Empire, this Empire would become The Imperium's Crown Jewel.

The Massacres and Tactics of Felix Steiner were noted by Rommel and The Emperor who warned Steiner to calm his aggressiveness as they found it invoked a blood rage among the troops shown in the Battle of Budapest. The War was a great success for The Imperium and Greeks and in effect, The Italians as they remained an semi-independent state with an Empire. The German Exile Army was disbanded and The Remaining 4,000 Soldiers were given a choice. This was join the Imperium in the Imperial Storm Divisions or die. 1,000 Die-Hard Nazis were executed and 3,000 joined The Imperium.