I Will Stage A Coup D'état-Chapter 94: Italy’s Reckoning (1)

“Certainly, modifying the structure like this is the right way to go.”

I recolored Italy’s post-war situation.

While thinking after completing the post-war plans with my subordinates, I realized one thing.

In the new Cold War structure I would create, there was a lack of events to amplify the conflict between the two camps.

Something like the Korean War would be needed for a proper confrontation between the camps, but there was no suitable place here to draw such a picture.

So, instead of a four-way split, no, a two-way split Korean Peninsula, something else was needed.

I wished for a place of appropriate size where both sides could engage in a proxy war.

Luckily, in Europe, there was one peninsula of a suitable size to replace the Korean Peninsula.

That was Italy.

So I changed my mind.

To split Italy.

If the Allied forces don’t touch northern Italy, ultimately, that region will fall into the hands of the Reds.

The Italian Communist Party in the original history also had a force that could not be ignored, so if the Reds were given an opportunity to grow like this, it wouldn’t be strange for them to secure a position equivalent to a state.

Although they wouldn’t be recognized by the international community, they would easily progress to a stage where they would be tacitly acknowledged as a de facto regime.

Just like North Korea before the Korean War.

The structure was also similar to Korea.

The Red Northern Italy, which possessed most of the country’s industrial power, and the poor agricultural country of southern Italy.

Isn’t this a familiar structure?

Of course, even there, the war would only break out if someone like a pseudo-Kim Il-sung pressed the acceleration button, but in a structure where ideologically opposed countries confront each other, small-scale conflicts were bound to occur frequently.

That was enough to raise tensions.

“Your Excellency. The British Prime Minister wishes to speak with you.”

“The British Prime Minister?”

I had them prepare a telegram.

Anthony Eden’s request was simple.

“I heard that Germany is preparing a puppet regime in northern Italy with Mussolini as the leader. Shouldn’t we also establish a government in southern Italy to counter it?” ṞàΝỐ𝐁ÊŠ

Well, that’s true.

To absorb and use the remaining Italian army as Allied forces, a government organization to command them was essential.

Since there wasn’t enough resentment towards Italy to dismantle the existing government organization, I suggested using the ‘current Kingdom of Italy government’ as it was.

“We are thinking the same. Then, let’s hand over the civil administration of our occupied territories to the tentatively named ‘Southern Kingdom’.”

“I agree.”

An agreement was easily reached.

The next day, the First Lord of the Admiralty came to discuss the issue of the Italian Navy instead of the Minister of the Navy.

“Your Excellency. Now is the time to take the Italian naval vessels as reparations. What could be a better trophy than battleships?”

No, that’s not it.

The era of battleships has already ended.

It’s just that aircraft carriers haven’t had a chance to demonstrate their full potential, but the era when battleships dominated the seas has passed.

Only our big ship and big gun theorists didn’t know that.

Anyway, the navy’s battleships.

I have also been thinking about it.

I was thinking of handing over those useless scrap metal to the Soviet Union as reparations.

Ah, that way, we could prevent the Soviets from grumbling about their share and make it easier for us to secure our share, wouldn’t it?

Incidentally, it would also hinder the Soviet Union from focusing on cost-effective weapons like submarines and destroyers.

Isn’t that good?

“Senior.”

“Ah, yes, Prime Minister.”

“I will handle the issue of the Italian battleships, so the Navy should slowly prepare for the aircraft carrier construction plan.”

“Yes, I understand.”

The First Lord of the Admiralty retreated without being able to object.

While I was at it, I sent a telegram to Stalin.

“Dear General Secretary Stalin. If Your Excellency wishes, I am willing to reflect the Soviet Union’s intentions in the matter of the Italian navy distribution.”

Stalin showed an immediate response.

As a man serious about battleships to the point of attempting to build four Sovetsky Soyuz-class battleships1, the Secretary came in without hesitation.

“Dear Prime Minister Lee Sung Joon. The Union is ready to accept Your Excellency’s goodwill.”

Having confirmed the Soviet Union’s intentions, it was time to consult with Britain.

“Dear Prime Minister Eden. Your Excellency, I would like to discuss the issue of distributing the Italian navy, which is the spoils of this war.”

Anthony Eden also reacted swiftly.

“I would like to know Your Excellency’s thoughts.”

I casually mentioned the idea of handing over about four Italian battleships to the Soviet Union.

This is all for the future of the British Empire, you know.

Eden immediately threw a fit.

“That is absolutely unacceptable. If we must give battleships to the Reds, we will give them a few of our outdated Royal Sovereign-class ships.”

After all, it wouldn’t be the British Empire if they didn’t incite hatred towards Russia.

They’re thinking of doing some sabotage to the Soviet Union, and you’re stopping that?

“Shouldn’t we consider the post-war shares?”

I persistently mentioned “shares” and persuaded them that a carrot was needed to appease the Soviet Union.

This time, a compromise was not easily reached.

As the British Empire considered battleships as strategic weapons, they were unwilling to back down even a single step on this issue.

Giving away the battleships would be the cheapest option.

It couldn’t be helped.

“Then let’s go with handing over the Royal Sovereigns.”

Stalin would be disappointed, but there was no other way.

I did my best, you Red.

Anyway, I thought it was about time to gather with the Allied leaders and have a serious conversation.

There were limitations to communication through telegrams or special envoys.

British Prime Minister Anthony Eden expressed his agreement to my proposal.

Stalin also agreed.

However, he said he disliked flying, so we should meet somewhere he could reach by rail.

That’s how we ended up with Ankara, the capital of Turkey.

It was a bit of a hassle, but not impossible to go.

The schedule was not too tight.

After changing planes a few times and landing in Ankara, Turkish President İnönü personally came out to greet me.

“You have suffered a lot because of the Italians.”

“If Korea and Britain had not made Italy surrender, there would have been more sacrifices. On behalf of the Turkish people, I express my deep gratitude.”

The Turkish president maintained a friendly attitude throughout.

İnönü took me around to various nice places as if he were a tour guide.

Well, sometimes you have to treat yourself.

I toured Atatürk’s Mausoleum with my wife, ate delicious food, and briefly enjoyed the feeling of being a tourist.

And that night.

“Husband~ How about we have a bit of fun tonight~?”

Perhaps intoxicated by the different place and atmosphere, my wife suddenly made a provocative move.

My wife’s underwear was combative, unfitting for the era.

Seeing her flushed face and expectant eyes, there seemed to be no avoiding this battle.

After a night of fierce battles with my wife in bed, my face was half-haggard.

In contrast, my wife, who had launched a fierce offensive, was still energetic.

No, she seemed to have gotten younger.

It was a phenomenon clearly violating the laws of military science.

After resting thoroughly(?) in Ankara for two days, Stalin arrived by train.

Having seen his face a few times, I could treat him more comfortably than before.

We took photos, had dinner, and talked about battleships.

Stalin seemed very dissatisfied with not receiving the Italian battleships and kept mentioning it to me.

I also wanted to give him that scrap metal.

We sat there and appropriately badmouthed Britain.

The Secretary laughed at my 21st-century quip, “The British are responsible for all the atrocities in the world.”

“That is truly a correct statement. The more I listen, the more I feel that Your Excellency’s insight matches mine in many ways.”

It sounded like something I had heard before, but that didn’t seem quite right.

I didn’t conduct a Great Purge(?), terrorize the people(?), or run concentration camps(?).

The next day, British Prime Minister Anthony Eden arrived.

Five hours after Eden’s arrival, we began the historic Ankara Conference.

The main topic was the disposition of surrendered Italy.

We swiftly carved up Italian territory on the map.

For starters, one of Stalin’s demands was reflected.

“The Dalmatian coast and part of Istria should be ceded to Yugoslavia as war reparations.”

We readily agreed.

From the perspective of national self-determination, Stalin’s demand was reasonable.

Britain also made a demand.

“We will annex Italian Somaliland as British territory.”

Stalin and I also agreed.

They should take that much compensation.

“I suggest restoring the Kingdom of Ethiopia and annexing Italian Eritrea to Ethiopia as war reparations.”

This was my proposal.

It wasn’t a matter decided by sentiments like repaying the favor of the Korean War.

From a long-term perspective, we needed to have an ally in Africa to whom we had shown grace.

It was a decision made purely from a strategic standpoint.

“Agreed.”

R𝑒ad latest chapt𝒆rs at freewebnovёl.ƈom Only.

As it was a story somewhat coordinated at the working level, the discussion proceeded swiftly.

Now, only the much-anticipated Italian mainland, Libya, and Tunisia remained.

Britain brought up another proposal.

“Let’s return Tunisia to France and divide Libya for trusteeship.”

“What do you mean?”

“Let’s have British Egypt take eastern Libya and Cyrenaica, and have Italy temporarily administer western Tripolitania.”

I-Italy?

Suddenly?

Stalin showed obvious discomfort.

“No, what’s so pretty about those Italians that we should leave them a colony?”

Eden’s ploy to swallow Libya whole by using Italy ended like that.

As a result of the three-day Ankara Conference, we made the following dispositions regarding Italy.

Disposition of Italian colonies:

Libya -> Trusteeship under international mandate

Ethiopia -> Independence

Eritrea -> Annexed to Ethiopia

Somaliland -> Merged with British Somaliland

Tunisia, Corsica, French mainland east of the Rhone -> Returned to France

Half of the Istrian Peninsula, Dalmatian coast -> Ceded to Yugoslavia

Postwar Italian government formation -> To be decided by the Allied Supreme Command

With these agreements reached, we could shake hands with smiling faces.

However, there were a few traps hidden in this negotiated plan.

The formation of the postwar Italian government.

Would this really go as intended?

I deliberately targeted this part and inserted ambiguous content about letting the Allied Supreme Command decide.

Of course, I didn’t think about feeling sorry for the Italians.

The country I’m responsible for is Korean Empire, so what does it matter if Italy gets a bit fucked?

In an era where no one cares about conscience, why should I alone be a model student following the rules?

Footnotes

1. The Sovetsky Soyuz-class battleships, also known as "Stalin's Republics", were a class of battleships begun by the Soviet Union in the late 1930s but never brought into service. They were designed in response to the Bismarck-class battleships being built by Germany. Only four hulls of the fifteen originally planned had been laid down by 1940, when the decision was made to cut the program to only three ships to divert resources to an expanded army rearmament /genesisforsaken