Chapter 202 International Training Ground
The opening ceremony of the 1936 Berlin Olympics was undoubtedly the most spectacular in history. The Berlin Imperial Stadium, which can accommodate 110,000 spectators, was packed. When Ludendorff and Hitler appeared on the rostrum, everyone stood up and saluted, shouting the slogan "Long live the German Empire". The scene was breathtaking.
Italian leader Mussolini and his son-in-law, the new Italian Foreign Minister Ciano, were also on the rostrum of the Imperial Stadium, feeling the rise of Germany, a barbaric country that has always "ridden" on Italy's neck.
Although the Italian fascist leaders are reluctant to admit it, Germany is ultimately a powerful industrialized country that Italy can hardly reach. The country's industry, technology and education are outstanding in the world, and as early as the second half of the last century, the German Empire took advantage of the opportunity of the Second Industrial Revolution to become the first industrial country in Europe and the second in the world. Although it has experienced a disastrous defeat in a world war, the German industry is still growing rapidly, always chasing the industrial giant across the ocean, the United States.
No matter how hard Italy tried, it still ranked last among industrialized countries. In Mussolini's view, Italy's weak industrial strength was not due to lack of technology. Italians were able to produce the best cars and airplanes in the world. Although Italy's air-cooled engine technology was far behind Germany's, Italy's liquid-cooled engines were not backward, and in the design and manufacturing of military aircraft, Italy was at the world's leading level.
But watching Germany, which was already leading and developed, make rapid progress since 1931, made Mussolini feel that his fate was unfair. He worked hard for Italy for more than ten years, but his achievements were far less than one-tenth of what Hitler had made Germany gain in just a few years.
And because of the rise of Germany, Britain, France and the United States also began to expand their military and prepare for war. The naval holiday era is over, and countries are planning to build new battleships and aircraft carriers. Various new aircraft and new tanks and armored vehicles are also emerging. The theory of mechanized army also began to become popular in Britain, France and Germany.
Judging from the current trend, the cost of arming a powerful future mechanized army will be an astronomical figure!
And such a mechanized army also needs strong industrial strength to back it up. The Germans have such industrial strength-in terms of steel alone, Germany produced 20 million tons in 1935! Italy only has 2.3 million tons, which is one-eighth of the former. It is only slightly more than the 1.7 million tons of the Bohemian Federation and 1.5 million tons of Poland, which were just controlled by Germany. And because Italy is extremely lacking in various resources needed to develop heavy industry, it is very difficult to develop further.
Therefore, the fascist leaders of Italy believe that if the major European powers begin to expand their military forces and prepare for war, then with their strong industrial advantages, they will be able to catch up with Italy quickly-just like the situation after Germany began to expand its military forces and prepare for war.
In a few years, Italy's military advantages may disappear!
Therefore, it is necessary to take advantage of Italy's military advantages and expand its sphere of influence in the Mediterranean and its surrounding areas as much as possible.
Now Abyssinia has been trampled under the feet of Italy. If the opportunity of the Spanish Civil War can be used to turn Spain into a vassal of Italy, then the revival of the Roman Empire will be half successful...
With a lot of thoughts in his mind, the Italian fascist leader did not pay attention to the opening ceremony of the Olympics at all. After a long time, he heard the voice of his son-in-law Ciano: "Leader, Chancellor Hitler will meet with you in the VIP lounge."
Mussolini then realized that the opening ceremony of the Olympics had ended. Ludendorff and Hitler had left the rostrum, and the Germans in the stands of the stadium were leaving in an orderly manner - this was completely different from the style of the Italians who liked to disperse in a hurry!
Mussolini stood up and looked around. He found that his "old friend" General of Infantry Hessmann was standing in the aisle, smiling and waving at him. There was also a plump blonde beauty beside him, his countess wife Chloe.
"Okay, let's go to the VIP lounge with Count Hessmann." Mussolini straightened his uniform. "I think the First Quartermaster General (Hessmann is the Deputy Chief of Staff, but his current power is almost comparable to that of Ludendorff, the First Quartermaster General in World War I) will definitely attend the talks."
...
"Leader, the General Staff of the Wehrmacht told me that the Spanish National Defense Committee (referring to the rebels) has suffered a great setback in the past ten days."
In a lounge decorated quite elegantly, after a few pleasantries with the visiting Mussolini, Adolf Hitler told him everything he knew about the Spanish Civil War in German with a heavy Austrian accent.
"The uprising failed in most of the densely populated and industrially developed provinces, and the National Defense Committee also lost their leader, General San Juerjo. The Republicans also formed a large number of militias.
In addition, most of the Spanish navy and air force are on the side of the Republicans. If there is no strong external interference, the failure of the National Defense Committee is inevitable."
Hitler spoke in a very cold tone, as if he had little interest in intervening. However, this attitude reassured Mussolini - he had long regarded the Mediterranean coast as the territory of the "Roman Empire".
"So Italy is ready to send troops to intervene!" Mussolini replied in clear and standard German. "Before coming to Berlin, I had already agreed with General Franco (Franco died in a plane crash in San Julho). became the leader of the Spanish rebels)."
More than 10 billion liras are gone again! Hersman sat alone on a leather sofa, mentally calculating the cost of Italy's war - first the Second Abyssinian War, and then the Spanish War. Before World War II, Italy fought two costly wars and spent too much money on the colonial enterprise of Abyssinia. So that by 1940, the national treasury was empty and strategic reserves were seriously insufficient. During World War II, it could only act as a drag bottle for Germany.
But Hessmann had no intention of dissuading Mussolini—it was impossible, and Germany really needed a battlefield to test weapons.
In addition, a weak Italy would also help Germany establish its position as the leader of the Axis powers.
"In fact, we and the Portuguese have already begun to intervene in the war." Mussolini added, "Our planes have transported 14,000 Spanish soldiers from Morocco to the Spanish mainland. The Salazar government of Portugal is also on our side. , allowing us to transport weapons and troops through Portuguese ports...With our support and that of Portugal, I believe that the Spanish Defense Council will soon reverse the unfavorable situation.”
The Italian leader cleared his throat, clasped his hands, leaned forward and said: "If Germany is willing to stand with us, victory will come sooner."
"Do Britain and France know about your actions in Spain? Do they approve of it?" Adolf Hitler asked.
"Of course they know, Mr. Prime Minister." Mussolini smiled contemptuously, "You should know the systems of these two countries...what about democracy, freedom, and peace. This useless concept has turned their people and The government has become a weakling. They clearly hate the Bolsheviks in Spain, but they dare not send troops, so they can only rely on us, Italy!
Moreover, the Catholic Church is on our side! "
The Spanish Grand Left's revolutionary actions of burning churches and killing priests certainly had their progressive significance, but this action also turned the powerful Roman Ecumenical Church into a mortal enemy. In this era, the Roman Church has an influence on the politics of many European and American countries - many devout Catholics will listen to the church's opinions and vote!
"Mr. Chancellor, Britain, France and the Soviet Union are preparing to establish a non-intervention committee." German Foreign Minister Neureiter, who was present, told Hitler. "Obviously their attitude is hands-off."
"Hmm," Hitler nodded and glanced at Hersmann again. Hersman smiled slightly and said: "Mr. Prime Minister, the Soviet Union hopes that we will not interfere. As a condition, they can recognize our merger with the Baltic States, Bohemia, and Austria, and restore the imperial system!"
As if Mussolini had anticipated these problems, he immediately said with a smile: "We, the Kingdom of Italy, can support Germany's restoration of the monarchy. That is Germany's internal affair. As for the Baltic, Bohemian and Austrian issues... South Tyrol It’s always an obstacle.”
"The Germans there can be moved to Germany," Hitler said. "After merging Bohemia, Austria and the Baltics, Germany will be a big European country with 750,000 square kilometers. We have a lot of open space." .So don’t care about hundreds of square kilometers of South Tyrol.”
"There are also German- and Slovenian-speaking populations in the Trieste area..." Mussolini saw that Hitler was easy to talk to, so he increased the pressure on the spot.
"It's all ours!" Hitler waved his hand and said, "But... we need to sign a treaty with Italy. Our two countries should establish a special relationship. This will be the political basis for us to participate in the Italian-led intervention in the Spanish war!"
Hersman added: "We will send a total of no more than 10,000 volunteers, including air force and army armored units and artillery, to Spain."
This number is just right. It will not steal Mussolini’s limelight. It is enough to test the effectiveness of Germany’s new weapons and tactics. It can also be rotated to allow up to 100,000 key personnel of the German army to be deployed before the start of a world war. Go to Spain and smell the smoke.