I Will Stage A Coup D'état-Chapter 79: Mediterranean Theater (1)

Chapter 79: Mediterranean Theater (1)

As the domestic situation in Korea was entering a lull, Britain and Germany clashed.

“Lend-Lease violates wartime neutrality! Stop it!”

A confrontation was created as German battleships directly blocked the path of a British convoy sailing through the Arctic Ocean.

This standoff developed into a situation where naval forces from both sides were dispatched and engaged in a nerve-wracking battle for a week.

Duce, who had been quietly observing this situation, rolled the dice.

“Hey, how about we try to expand our territory while Britain and Germany are engaged in this nerve war?”

As it was, Italy had already dispatched an army of 1 million to Yugoslavia and was fighting a life-or-death war with the guerrillas.

Everyone was horrified by Duce’s idea, but Mussolini’s thoughts were resolute.

“Germany is struggling a bit in the Soviet Union, but it’s obvious they will ultimately win. If we want to obtain the spoils we desire from this war, we need to stick our fork in the meat early.”

The target Duce had in mind was Turkey.

Not the same Axis ally Greece, nor the formidable Britain.

Italy was merely going to reclaim the ‘unredeemed territories’ in Anatolia that had been promised during World War I.

Duce thought his own logic was quite justified.

“Duce! That’s the one thing we can’t do.”

Although Turkey was a weak nation, it was a country with a modernized military.

Even ignoring the 26 active divisions, its population could squeeze out at least 2 million available troops.

How could they possibly subdue that?

“My decision is made.”

Duce abruptly started creating a pretext against Turkey.

“Our Italy had territories promised in the Treaty of Sèvres (Note: Treaty promising the division of the Ottoman Empire) stolen by Turkey’s ‘illegal’ actions. Rome, as a victor nation, has the right to claim the price of the blood we shed.”

Of course, it wasn’t that Mussolini suddenly accelerated without reason.

It’s not like Duce had bipolar disorder, and how could he do that out of madness?

There was always some logic and reason behind a politician’s actions.

“Mussolini, that bastard is boasting about expanding territory in Yugoslavia, but when is he going to subdue those Yugoslavian bastards?”

“That bastard’s job is done now.”

The people no longer enthusiastically supported or endorsed the endless bloodshed of the Yugoslav occupation.

On top of that, the massive occupation costs and accumulated military expenditures since 1935 were strangling the Italian economy.

Duce needed a scapegoat to restore his popularity and turn things around.

That target just happened to be Turkey.

Turkey was flustered by Mussolini’s pretext.

“No, what Treaty of Sèvres from when? You gave up all your rights in the Treaty of Lausanne (Note: Treaty ending the Turkish War of Independence).”

“That was done under coercion!”

As Mussolini showed signs of suddenly accelerating, Hitler was also flustered.

“No, Turkey needs to be brought into our Axis alliance in the long run.”

“Fuhrer, think carefully. I’m Mussolini. I still remember your promise to repay the favor for turning a blind eye to the annexation of Austria.”

Faced with Mussolini’s ultimatum of ‘me or Turkey’, Hitler had no choice but to tacitly approve Rome’s actions.

Since he had been indebted to them before, he considered it as repaying a favor.

“Fuhrer! This is an absurd act. Do you think Britain will just sit back and watch Turkey getting taken over?”

If things went wrong, there was a possibility of British intervention.

Upon hearing those words, the Fuhrer also became displeased.

“So what? Those British bastards are openly getting on our nerves by sending weapons to the Soviets. We can do some annoying things to them too.”

With the Fuhrer’s tacit approval, on June 3, 1942, the Italian army invaded Turkey.

Britain, which had been watching this shocking situation with disbelief, was shocked.

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“Look at this! Leaving those Axis bastards alone, they are stirring up the whole world. If we let them do as they please, our influence in the Mediterranean will completely disappear.”

Even without Churchill arguing for ‘correcting’ Italy’s actions, the British political circles were quite stimulated.

They were irritated by a specific great power attempting to seize the Bosphorus-Dardanelles Strait, which was vital to the British Empire’s national interests.

And Turkey itself was a strategic stronghold.

If Italy gained control of a country that could simultaneously exert influence on the Balkans and the Middle East, it was evident that even the British Empire’s Middle Eastern territories would be threatened.

That was absolutely unacceptable.

The Suez Canal was a lifeline that should never be threatened under any circumstances.

“Now, it’s time for us to be resolute too. How long will we cower in fear of past defeats?”

“But, we have a treaty with Germany…”

“Are those German bastards keeping that treaty well?!”

In Parliament, the voices of the war advocates were louder than ever.

Churchill did not miss this atmosphere.

“When the hardliners gain power, we should also join the ranks of finishing off the Axis. Only by being among the victors can we also obtain a share, right?”

Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden also agreed with Churchill’s logic.

“Then, how? The Prime Minister will never agree to the idea of resuming the war to finish off Germany.”

“Then, how about provoking the easy target, Italy?”

“By what means?”

“Have you forgotten? We are also sending Lend-Lease to the Soviet Union.”

Lend-Lease!

Anthony Eden felt his mind brighten at those words.

Could Mussolini tolerate the British Empire blatantly sending Lend-Lease?

It was worth testing out.

Regardless of whether the British were making such calculations, Turkey, which was currently under attack by Italy, was in a state of having a fire under its feet.

Italy alone was burdensome, but that wasn’t all of the enemy’s strength.

Rome was a member of the ‘Axis Alliance’.

What if Germany or the Balkan countries intervened?

President Mustafa Ismet Inonu urgently looked around for allies to fight against the Axis.

“Your Excellency. There are only two countries on Earth that will fight against the Axis.”

“South Korea and the Soviet Union.”

Inonu hastily sent letters to both countries.

Lee Sung Joon, the Prime Minister of South Korea, sent this reply to Turkey’s request for aid:

“The Korean government is aware that the Turkish people have been swept into an unjust war. However, we are too far from Turkey and do not have enough capacity to provide assistance. We will send some meager funds and wish for your country’s victory.”

Korea politely declined support while showing courtesy.

After all, Korea was a country with little to do with the Middle East.

Inonu looked to Moscow.

This one had a lot of concerns.

Korea was an authoritarian country that had adopted capitalism, but the Soviet Union was different.

As a communist country, it was ideologically incompatible with Turkey.

On top of that, there were territorial disputes.

Although they had reached a diplomatic reconciliation, resentment remained.

Moscow was a difficult party for Ankara to readily reach out to.

But it was better than the country being ruined, wasn’t it?

Ataturk said that Hitler would fall.

If Hitler falls, isn’t it clear that the Soviet Union on the opposite side would win?

Even considering the post-war order, bowing to the Soviets from now on didn’t seem bad.

Inonu sent Minister of War Ali Riza Artunkal to Moscow.

When the Turkish envoy arrived in Moscow, Molotov came to the airport to greet him.

“Comrade General Secretary is waiting for you.”

As soon as Artunkal met Stalin, he explained Turkey’s situation and asked if the Soviet Union could provide support.

“Of course, it’s possible.”

From the beginning, Stalin had no intention of refusing Turkey’s request for aid.

How could he refuse when he could turn the Axis navies causing trouble in the Black Sea through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles Straits into fish in a fishbowl, and open the way for the Soviet navy to advance into the Mediterranean?

Stalin treated Artunkal with a very friendly attitude and promised to immediately send materials to arm 10 divisions.

Artunkal was astonished at the offer to send a tremendous amount of military supplies while fighting a life-or-death battle.

Artunkal became convinced that joining hands with the Soviet Union was the right choice, even if it meant provoking Germany.

The next day, the two countries formally concluded a defense cooperation treaty and agreed to allow the stationing of Soviet troops in some Turkish territories after the war as compensation for the support.

This shocking treaty surprised the world.

“The Reds have opened the door to the Mediterranean.”

Who allowed that door to be opened?

It was Italy.

Italy is recklessly stirring up and ruining the British Empire’s backyard.

Should their outrageous actions be left unchecked?

Voices began to call for sending Lend-Lease to Turkey as well.

Then, Italy did not remain silent either.

“If you send even a single rifle or bullet to Turkey, we won’t stand idly by.”

Having suffered a bloody nose in Yugoslavia due to the intervention of the anti-fascist volunteer army, Italy had no intention of repeating the same mistake.

Rome’s strong backlash in turn provoked a strong reaction from Britain.

“Just try it!”

Two weeks after Italy’s invasion of Turkey, Britain launched a Lend-Lease convoy.

“How dare they! How dare they!”

Duce was enraged but didn’t have the courage to dare block this convoy.

To confront the British, Hitler’s support was desperately needed.

Mussolini reluctantly approached Hitler.

“Fuhrer. We Italy need Germany’s backing and support.”

Again, at this point?

It seemed that Italy would cause trouble and Germany would have to clean it up.

Hitler, who was already busy focusing on the Eastern Front, rejected this request.

“Handle that on your own in Rome.”

However, a misunderstanding occurred during the communication process.

Mussolini interpreted Hitler’s words to handle it themselves as a blank check to support Italy’s actions.

“In that case, there’s nothing to fear.”

Italy decided to confront Britain with all its might.