novelAbuy 83. Was Italy pushed back?
83. Was Italy pushed back?
A war of words has broken out in Europe.
The Italians accused you of shooting down our Air Marshal, you shameless British.
The British were furious. It had nothing to do with us; there were no of our fleets or planes there. The despicable Italians were trying to frame us.
There was only the Italian navy there; it was yourselves who did it.
The European continent is in an uproar.
The Americans burst into laughter the moment they saw the news.
"Sean was right again. The Italians' command is chaotic; even the marshal is dead."
"Sean is terrifying. He just mentioned Balbo, and Balbo was shot down. What a terrible curse."
"Yes, that's a curse on Sean."
The legend of Sean Wayne has reached new heights in the United States.
Now when Sean goes out, people don't ask when Italy was defeated by Greece, but rather...
"Sean, who's next to die?"
How the hell would I know? Upon hearing Balbo's news, Sean was on the verge of tears. He had originally thought that Italy's preemptive attack on Greece could change the marshal's fate.
It seems that won't work.
It's all fate.
In an effort to salvage his reputation and overcome his setbacks, Mexico accelerated its offensive, and at his urging, the four divisions of the 25th Army began all-out combat in Greece.
Reinforcements are continuously being deployed to Albania.
At this moment, a force is being reorganized under the command of General Henry Wilson. This expeditionary force consists of four divisions totaling 57000 men, including two armored divisions.
The morale of the Greek army was immediately boosted upon receiving the news.
The British Royal Navy is also preparing to intervene.
The Italian navy was equally humiliated and seemed ready to vent its anger on the enemy, and a major battle from the sea to the land was about to break out.
The death of the air marshal brought even greater chaos to the Italian Air Force, and command even came to a standstill at one point.
The Greeks also seized the opportunity. Seeing that the Third Julia Division had advanced too aggressively, the Greeks amassed their forces and began a counterattack.
In Athens, Greece, General Papagos, commander of the three armed forces, points to a map.
"Order Major General Tsolagrau of the Third Army to send out a cavalry brigade to harass the Third Julia Division by taking advantage of the bad weather and environment, and the 10th and 11th Infantry Divisions to attack from the flanks."
With their morale boosted, the Greeks began to fight back.
Bang bang bang.
On the mountain roads, a group of cavalrymen appeared from time to time, carrying short-barreled rifles.
Exhausted, the Julia chef had just repelled a wave of attacks, and the romantic Italians hadn't even had a chance to sit down and enjoy their favorite pasta when gunshots rang out again on the road.
"Those damned Greeks, organize a defense."
Major General Troisi emerged from his tent. It was raining, his troops were moving slower and slower, and supplies from the rear were even slower.
"Report, the Greek cavalry has retreated."
"Damn it." Watching the enemy run away, leaving only dozens of mountain soldiers' corpses at the scene, the major general's heart sank lower and lower.
The other side is harassing them, preventing them from resting; this is a delaying tactic, an encirclement.
"Power the 47th Infantry Division and have them land immediately to support the flank."
The communications soldier immediately accepted the order.
"47th Infantry Division, this is the 3rd Julia Division of Vovusa. Where are your troops?"
"We are still on Konica Island."
"Did I hear that right? Are you still on the island?"
"Yes, we have just completed the occupation of Corfu and are currently resting."
"Shouldn't you have taken Corfu first?"
"The situation is more complicated than you think."
I am Cao!
The Third Julia Division was shocked. "You've been fighting for days and haven't even taken down these few broken islands?"
The 47th Barry Infantry Division was too embarrassed to say, "It's not my fault, it was a mistake made by the Navy during the landing."
No, the blame should be placed on Greece's terrible weather.
We were unable to land on Corfu, so we had to find another place.
The communications soldier returned to the command post looking dejected.
Major General Troisi was constantly sending out generators, while Divisions Ferrana and Santaro were still on the front lines in Elea and were unable to get there in time.
"Report."
"explain."
"The 47th Infantry Division won't make it."
"Can't get there?" Major General Trossi felt like it was getting dark. He seemed to be surrounded. Without the 47th Infantry Division's cover on his flank, he would be annihilated.
"What the hell are those bastards doing?"
"General, what should we do?"
"Move towards Konica."
The Greek cavalry brigade relentlessly pursued the 3rd Julia Division.
The 10th and 11th Infantry Divisions behind them were rushing to the scene.
With a deafening roar, the Italians were blown away.
Julia's division was instantly thrown into chaos. "General, the enemy is catching up!"
"Damn it!" Major General Trossi's face turned ashen.
6 month 23 number.
Old Mexico's mood calmed down a bit, and he forgot the pain caused by his beloved general Balbo. He sent his trusted general, former Deputy Minister of War Sodou, to the Albanian side. As a veteran of World War I, Old Mexico still trusted him.
"Your Excellency, the remaining Albanian troops have been assembled."
Hahaha!
Old Mo happily strolled to the map, confident that once his main army arrived and reinforcements arrived, the mere fifteen divisions of Greece would be his for the taking.
Besides, the other side doesn't have much air force.
"The empire's dream should be realized; this is like a military picnic."
Old Mo said smugly.
"Yes, Your Excellency, it's as simple as a picnic," the Black-Clad Army Commander, Zenoa, flattered from the side.
"Report."
"Speak," Old Mo said, glancing at the map with delight.
"Due to the weather, the Albanian troops did not cross the Bandus Mountains, the Julia Division was surrounded by the Greek army, and the 47th Infantry Division was unable to land and provide support from the sea."
Our forces in West Macedonia are facing a crisis across the entire front.
"What did you say?" Old Mo turned around abruptly. How did things change?
"The Ferrana and Santaro masters encountered fierce resistance from the enemy and were unable to break through Epirus."
Greece recaptured Vovuzha and reached the Bandus Mountains, advancing towards Albania.
I am Cao!
This isn't a case of not having fought back; it's a case of being pushed back.
They couldn't even save their own four divisions deep in the Greek heartland.
Old Mo couldn't believe it; he was speechless for a long time.
Manstein's prediction came true, and Italian frontline troops were thrown into complete panic.
This was a terrible war with a chaotic command structure and equally chaotic execution of operational plans.
On June 27, 1940, after ten days, news finally came about the movements of the Italian army.
"Breaking news! Breaking news! The Italian vanguard has been surrounded and annihilated. The Greek army has crossed Bandus, and the Battle of Bandus has ended in a Greek victory."
The British expeditionary force was about to arrive in Greece, and Greece had withdrawn all its troops from the north.
Albania, occupied by Italy, will face a fierce counterattack from the Greek army.
Europe was in uproar.
The United States was shocked.
Why did Britain assemble an expeditionary force so quickly?
The Italians, who had gained the upper hand at the start of the war, were beaten down in about ten days.
"That can't be right, can it?"
"Sean, it's Sean's curse. The Italian Air Force Marshal has fallen, the Air Force is in chaos, Britain has officially intervened, and they have provided air support to Greece."
"That must be it. How could the Italian army, lacking air power, lose so quickly?"
"Sean's terrible curse continues; Italy is finished."