Chapter 599 Italy Sends Troops

As early as a few years ago, after Mussolini visited Berlin, he formed an Axis power with Berlin. The two sides shared common interests and expanded outward together.

According to this agreement, when Germany launched a war in Europe, Italy should immediately follow, but in fact, Italy did not do so.

After all, Britain and France have never failed. In the first World War, Britain and France eventually became the victors, which made Mussolini have a certain resistance in his heart, and he could not easily go to war with Britain and France.

But now, he has nothing to worry about.

With the main force of the Anglo-French coalition being wiped out and the collapse of France just around the corner, what is there to fear in Italy under such circumstances?

Time to get started!

So, Mussolini mustered up his energy and wanted to eat a few pieces of meat on French soil.

Fulfill the promise at that time and do it to France!

To this end, Italy dispatched more than a dozen divisions, from the south of the border between the two countries, to invade France in a big way.

If you look at the map, you can know that Italy is a long strip, and the border with France is not very long. Most of the borders are shrouded in the long Alps mountains. Therefore, Italy wants to attack France. First of all Going over these mountains!

In Germany's war against France, the armored forces played a powerful role. Under the example of Germany, Italy also intends to follow suit.

At the forefront of the attacking force was the Italian 133rd Armored Division, nicknamed "Littorio", which was one of the five Italian armored divisions. (There is also information that there are only four armored divisions in Italy.)

The commander of this armored division was Major General Giovanni Messer.

In World War II, the record of the Italian army is obvious to all. Even the shooting down of the air force commander by the naval artillery happened to the Italians. It may also be because the British won and lost Italy in later generations. Therefore, it is more important to the Italian army. slandered.

In short, in World War II, the Italian army really had nothing to do, and the Italian army lacked memorable commanders.

And now Giovanni Messer can be said to be one of the few outstanding army generals in the Italian army.

Messer was born in Puglia, Italy, and began his military service in 1901. He was involved in the Italian conquest of Libya and the First World War.

After the First World War, Messer became a junior officer of Vittorio Emanuele III, and by 1935 Messer was appointed to command a special infantry battalion and promoted to colonel.

Afterwards, he was commissioned to command a motorized brigade as a brigadier general at Vernona.

Due to his outstanding performance in the Second Italian-Ethiopian War, Messer was promoted to at least general and command of the Italian Armored Division.

Judging from his resume, Messi is definitely a war-tested veteran.

Even in the evaluation of later generations, he was one of the few Italian generals in the Italian army who made good use of armored units. Moreover, he also served as the commander of the German-Italian Army in North Africa and the Italian Army of Russia in the Soviet-German War.

But now, Messi is not optimistic about this offensive action.

It was too hasty. Originally, they were preparing for a war in North Africa, but as a result, they were temporarily transferred here! Although the defeat of the French is just around the corner, is there a stage for Italy in this war?

Italy is originally a mountainous country, which is why Italy has always been developing light tanks. Italian armored divisions are not heavy armored divisions in a pure sense, but consist of almost equal numbers of tanks, artillery and infantry.

For example, the current 133rd Panzer Division is composed of the 3rd Bersalini Sniper Infantry Regiment, 1 Panzer regiment, including 3 battalions of L.3 light tanks, a total of 117 tanks, and 1 artillery regiment.

The total number of teachers is about 5700.

The so-called L3 light tank is actually the original CV33 tank. This kind of weak chicken-like tank, that is, the Italian armored force, regards it as a treasure. Looking at Europe, it has long been outdated.

But now, Messer had to bite the bullet and set off according to Mussolini's orders, and Mussolini demanded that his troops, like the German Panzer Division, attack, attack, attack!

Do you have that ability?

Looking at the cute little tanks around him, Messer felt that when he came out this time, he was just trying to gain a sense of presence. Maybe it would be counterproductive.

"Master, the Piña Pass is in front." Beside him, the adjutant said to him.

When Mussolini declared war on France, their army was already in motion, advancing from the border area, crossing the border, and continuing to move forward.

Along the way, did not see the French border guards.

There are two explanations for this. One is that France has continuously deployed border guards to block the Germans in the north and set up the Weigang line of defense, which has led to a defensive vacuum in the border area here. I am afraid that the entire border area here, the French have no The strength of several battalions, so after discovering their own invasion, they immediately retreated.

The second is that the French set up a trap in front of them, waiting for them to drill forward! If there are traps, Pinia Pass is the best location.

This is what Messer has always been worried about. Their march, the first difficulty, is the Piña Pass!

"Order Bersalini to snipe the infantry regiment, first climb to the commanding heights of the mountain pass, and prepare to cover the advance of our army!" Messer said.

The armored division focuses on the powerful mobility of tanks, but it is not established in the Italian army. In their offensive, the vanguard is not tanks, but infantry.

In the mountains, only if the infantry first occupies the surrounding commanding heights can they protect their tank troops and pass normally.

Therefore, the preparations in the mountains are almost all mountain infantry divisions, and there is no mountain armored division.

After receiving his order, the Italian soldiers of the infantry regiment started to climb up the hill with the Carcano M1891 rifle in their hands.

The hillside is not particularly steep, and there are also paths that shepherds have stepped on. They bend their bodies and run up slowly.

Wearing a steel helmet on his head, sweat soon oozes out of his forehead. As infantrymen in the armored division, they prefer to squat on a small L3 tank and move forward with the tank.

Now this kind of walking on foot is quite uncomfortable.

Amor held his rifle and felt his legs stagger, but the top of the mountain was already in sight.

Work harder!

Amor gathered his courage and wanted to continue to climb up, but at this moment, he felt a dark shadow fly over, and then, under his feet, there was another thing that was smoking.