Battle of the Third Reich

"The generals of the headquarters launched a coup and they killed Mussolini." A senior Italian police officer yelled at his men.

"They want to surrender to the Germans, our marshals and generals have betrayed the Kingdom of Italy."

"Kill those treasoners and avenge Mussolini!" a National Police lieutenant stood standing next to the lieutenant colonel and shouted, raising the Beretta submachine gun high in his hand.

"Some veterans who are loyal to the country are fighting the traitors' running dogs. We are going to support them now. If anyone is unwilling to go, I hope to stand up now." The police lieutenant pulled his pistol from the holster and looked at him. A sharp glance at the subordinates gathered in the courtyard.

"Very good. I saw a group of loyal warriors. I am proud of your choice. Now, according to their respective teams, get on the train in full. Let's go and give the group of traitors a little bit of a look."

The battle in the city of Rome has become fierce, and the citizens are hiding in their homes in trembling. After the radio station in Rome issued an emergency notice with ambiguous words, there was no more sound from the radio.

The fierce gunfire became a piece on the Venice Square in the city center. Mussolini's guard and the Gendarmerie who came to receive the Venice Palace broke out. The Prime Minister's Guard equipped with a large number of automatic weapons and the Army Gendarmerie faced each other across the Venice Square. At the time of the shooting, the guards occupied a double advantage in terrain and firepower. More than 20 military police had died in half an hour of fighting. The streets and squares were scattered with the remains of soldiers wearing gray uniforms wearing black Napoleon bicornes.

Similar battles took place near almost every key unit in Rome. So far, the coup has not yet controlled any government department. Badogrio was greatly disappointed with the performance of the military police. Sure enough, the military police were still policemen, and they were not opponents of those regular troops.

The Field Marshal has lost control of the situation. The Army unit closest to Rome is still a hundred kilometers away, and at this time he can’t guarantee that the other party will continue to obey his orders, because now he stands up to fight the military police. Most of them are veterans of the Army.

He didn't know that Rome had hidden so many army soldiers who had left the team. What made the marshal worry more was that he didn't know who was in charge of these people until now. The news of Mussolini's disappearance from the palace dungeon made him wonder whether there was a connection between these two things, and what role the royal family played in it. He did not believe that without the internal response, the other party could Convene and equip so many soldiers in such a short time.

"We caught several rebels. They said they received a notice from the Fascist National Party at eight in the morning. After gathering at the designated place, someone sent them weapons by truck." A colonel reported.

"Eight o'clock in the morning? Mussolini was still in the prime minister's house at that time. Did he already know our plan?" Badogrio turned back quickly from the window.

"No, it must be because of other things, otherwise he wouldn't follow me to the palace so honestly. It was damn, let this guy run away, otherwise I would be able to question him face to face." Badogry Ao patted the windowsill hard.

"Mussolini should not have returned to his people. The rebels think we killed him."

"Perhaps this is what Mussolini wants to see. He is a joke expert."

"Now to say what is the use of this, we need more manpower. I have a bad news and a good news. The bad news is that half of the National Police in Rome has rebelled. The good news is that the remaining half said they will remain neutral. "

"Which kind of good news is that the promises of the guys at both ends of the first mouse are simply unreliable."

"We must use that marine camp."

"It's not time to dispatch them, that is the general reserve team, we must first ensure the safety of the royal family and the headquarters." Several staff members discussed enthusiastically.

"Quiet everyone! All are quiet!" Suddenly a staff yelled, so everyone closed their mouths and looked towards the colonel.

"This is a call from the Air Defense Command. They found a German convoy at an observation post on the outskirts of the city." The colonel clenched the microphone tightly, his face pale in white. Obviously he understood that if the news was true, it would mean to Rome what.

"This is not possible. The Germans are still confronting our troops in the Apennines."

"Is the observation post wrong?"

"They shouldn't make jokes about this kind of thing."

"Give me the phone." Badogrio strode to the colonel and grabbed the receiver from the other hand.

"I'm Badogrio, I'm the chief of staff of the headquarters, who are you? Listen to Captain Etore, I want to know more details? Ten minutes ago? Why are you reporting to me now?! Repeating confirmations? I understand, and I continue to talk about the six trucks with the flags on them. They are moving along Columbus Avenue towards the city. Okay, Captain, let your people continue to monitor. If there are new situations, they will immediately report to me Report." Badogrio returned the receiver to the colonel.

"Probably a German paratrooper." The colonel hung up the phone.

"If there are six trucks, the number of people should not be too large. It should be like two rows."

"This is not the key. Why did they appear here? We didn't receive any news at all."

Badoglio frowned tightly at the map table. Let’s not worry about how the Germans appeared outside the city of Rome. This person could not pose any threat to the city. The key is the meaning behind the German operations. I have to let Badoglio think about it. Fan.

"It is reported that General Luciano of the Fourth Army sent a telegram that the Germans launched a sudden attack on his line of defense. At present, the line of defense has been breached by the enemy. He and his headquarters are retreating towards Florence."

"My Excellency Marshal, General Anthony of the 21st and Sixth Coast Infantry Division sent an urgent call, the Villarregio line of defense collapsed, and the enemy was approaching Pisa." The Marshal reported.

"This is impossible." Badogrio took two telegrams.

"The Germans tore up the agreement with me, these **** and unjustified bastards." Badoglio felt a cramp in his heart. He took a few steps back and sat down at the map table. His face became A blue sweat appeared on his forehead.

He is not a naive boy. Of course, he knows that the agreement between countries is one of the most fragile things in the world. He had also expected that the blonde boy in Germany would be an accident. The apostle of God turned out to be the same political scoundrel as Hitler.

But he was powerless at this time. He doubted that the Germans had figured out his hole cards, otherwise he would never have launched such a decisive battle at this time. The two telegrams that followed one after another clearly conveyed a message to Badoglio that the Germans had mastered his follow-up plan and that the Italian army had no secrets before the Germans.

The Kingdom of Italy has been completely defeated. The Germans did not give Badoglio the opportunity to play political means. The heavy army group gathered in Florence is the last trump card held by the Field Marshal. The problem is that these troops are still lacking. Equipment and training, and obviously the Germans are unlikely to leave them these times.

Badogrio can foresee that there will not be any chance for the lower Sicilian defense line to the south. At this moment the Germans may have landed on the Italian coast. Thinking of where Badogrio stood up sharply, he looked down at the map with his hand on the map table.

"The Germans must have landed near Rome. I should have thought that they would have this move. Now it must be their vanguard that is out of the city." Badoglio said on the map.

"If it is true, then Rome," one of the staff exclaimed.

"Rome is bound to fall, and it is impossible for the troops on our hands to hold the city." His colleagues nodded affirmatively.

"I don't know how many German troops are behind." Someone asked.

"It is estimated that there will be no less than one division, otherwise this small unit will not be so fearless." Someone opened his brain.

"Citizens can be organized to fight street battles with them." Obviously this is a warrior, but it is a pity.

"There is no weapon or ammunition to give them at all." Finally, there is a clear head.

"Aren't there some veterans and policemen? They should be willing to fight the Germans for Italy." The wise man appeared.

"They may fight for Italy, but they will definitely not fight for you and me, Marshal. I suggest taking the royal family and government personnel to evacuate from Rome." This is smarter.

"The Germans have broken through the Apennines, where can we retreat." The pessimistic tone.

"Then what should you do, stay here and wait to be a prisoner?" This is a bar.

"Why can't you bravely die on the front line, you coward." Another brave man appeared.

"Yu Qi died in vain, Italy needs us elites even more alive." Someone immediately stood up and said that the overall situation should be the priority.

The staff revolved around the distressed Field Marshal, and began a heated quarrel. (To be continued.)