Chapter 363 We Need a Victory

"You know, we are winning!" said General Winter, but his voice was a little hollow.

From the outset, General Winter was prepared to persuade Italy to join the Allies from three directions:

1. Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire had conflicts of interest. For example, the Austro-Hungarian Empire had always occupied the Italian province of Trentino.

Second, the Allies would recognize all German or Austro-Hungarian territories captured by Italy in battle.

3. The Allies were fighting on multiple fronts: the Western Front, the Eastern Front, at sea, and Gallipoli, which made them look embarrassed and obviously defeated.

There was no problem with the first two points, and Sang Lino agreed generously.

But the third point...

"We still have doubts about this, General Winter." Sanlino did not hide his concerns: "The Allies did fight on multiple fronts, but they stabilized the Western Front and had the upper hand on the Eastern Front. As for Gallipoli..."

Sanlino kept his mouth shut. He knew that General Winter was the front-line commander of the Gallipoli campaign, and it was in trouble at the moment.

"Once your country joins the war, the situation will change immediately." General Winter said confidently: "The Allied forces have been exhausted in these directions. According to our intelligence, the Austro-Hungarian Empire has only deployed less than 100,000 troops at the border with your country. You can easily defeat them and cause them to collapse."

Italy can mobilize at least a million troops. With 1 million fighting against 100,000, how can they not win?

General Winter thought that this would be the first domino to topple the Allies!

But Sanlino still hesitated, not because he had no confidence in the Italian army.

Even if you have no confidence, a 10-fold advantage in military strength will not be a problem.

The problem is that if Italy wins but loses at Gallipoli or on the Eastern Front, Italy will face a fierce counterattack from Germany and Austria-Hungary for joining the Allies, which is not what Italy wants to see.

After thinking it over, Sanglino replied: "I agree with you, but we need to consider many issues, General. I will try my best to convince them."

Typical diplomatic rhetoric. General Winter sighed inwardly. This meant that there was still no substantial progress and they decided to wait and see.

…

After returning to the Queen Elizabeth, General Winter reported the progress of the negotiations to the Secretary of the Admiralty truthfully.

He couldn't help but complain in the telegram: "I don't understand what they are waiting for. It's so simple to join the war and win, but they just don't want to."

"Precisely because they fear they may not be victorious, Admiral," replied the First Lord of the Admiralty. "They want to know that they are on the right side."

The Secretary of the Admiralty was well aware of these political interests.

"Of course they are on the right side," General Winter replied. "Isn't that obvious?"

The Lord Admiral made no reply.

General Winter's words are subjective. From an objective point of view, the outcome is still unknown at this time.

Finally, General Winter sighed helplessly and asked, "What should we do next? Continue to negotiate with them?"

The Navy Minister thought for a while and replied: "No, negotiations will not work. We must let them see the hope of victory. Only in this way can they give up their hesitation and make up their minds to join us!"

"But..." General Winter said in embarrassment, "We are in a stalemate in all directions."

General Winter had to admit this, and the same was true on the battlefield of Gallipoli.

The Minister of the Navy quickly went over all the battle lines in his mind:

It is impossible to expect Russia to break the deadlock. Before the transportation channel of the Dardanelles Strait is opened, it would be good enough for them to be able to protect themselves.

Gallipoli had been trying but with little success.

It was impossible to achieve a decisive victory at sea, as the Royal Navy's strategy remained blockade, and an active attack would likely result in heavy losses.

There is only one way: the Western Front.

The Navy Minister had a flash of inspiration and immediately called General Winter back: "We need Charles, General. We need him to win a grand and eye-catching victory!"

General Winter instantly understood that this victory, even if it was only for a few days, could potentially win Italy for the Allies.

…

Falkenhayn, at the General Staff Headquarters on Wilhelmstrasse in Berlin, also received some news about Italy.

"Their intentions are obvious." Colonel Moritz held a document in his hand, which recorded the secret investigation into Italy: "They secretly contacted the military personnel of the Allied Powers and repeatedly asked the Austro-Hungarian Empire to return Trentino."

Falkenhayn said "hmm" coldly.

Although Italy did not say it explicitly, the implicit meaning of asking for the return of Trentino at this time was: If you don’t give me some benefits, don’t blame me for joining the Allied Powers!

This is a tricky question.

If Trentino was in German hands, Falkenhayn might have chosen to use it to stabilize this "fake ally."

The problem was that it was in the hands of Austria-Hungary and Austria-Hungary was unwilling to do so.

If the Austro-Hungarian Empire was forced to surrender, the result would only be to win over Italy but hurt the feelings of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which would be tantamount to sacrificing the big for the small.

"We can't do this," Falkenhayn muttered to himself.

Once this precedent was set, Italy would continue to make exorbitant demands for territory again and again until the Allies fell apart.

However, what can be done now?

Although Italy did not play a role, at least it did not join the Allies!

After thinking for a while, Falkenhayn made a judgment: "We need a victory, a remarkable victory."

Colonel Moritz groaned. At first he did not understand what victory had to do with this matter.

But a little thought will show that Italy would not be stupid enough to join the failing Entente, which would stabilize it.

"Yes, General." Colonel Moritz agreed, but then asked in embarrassment: "But how can we achieve a remarkable victory?"

Falkenhayn paused for a moment and asked, "How is the training of our new fighter going?"

Colonel Moritz replied in panic: "The pilots have only been trained for two weeks, which may not be enough to participate in the war..."

"Let them prepare for battle." Falkenhayn interrupted him: "We don't have the time or conditions to wait!"

This is the requirement of political and strategic direction, and tactics must be obeyed unconditionally, even if it is difficult.

"And Upper Silesia," said Falkenhayn.

"But General, it hasn't had time to do any tests yet..."

"Let the battlefield test it!" Falkenhayn interrupted Colonel Moritz again: "That's where it belongs!"

(The picture above shows the light tank "Upper Silesia" designed by Germany at the end of World War I. Unfortunately, Germany in history went in the wrong direction in tanks. It was obsessed with producing super-heavy tanks, so this type of tank was not able to go on the battlefield until the end of the war)

(End of this chapter)