Re: Blood and Iron

The Italians were dug within their fortifications having fallen back past their initial gains at the border of Trient. The territory was large and vast in size. Or at least relatively so with the resources currently at their disposal.

Perhaps in anticipation that the Germans, Russi and Austro-Hungarians would be descending upon them like a tidal wave of steel. They wisely adopted the policy of abandoning all the territory they had seized during the Winter Offensive of 1914, and instead consolidate their position in an area that was more advantageous for defensive warfare.

The Allies had to admit, without the winter to cover their advance, and the carelessness of the Austro-Hungarian Army on Christmas day of 1914, they would have never broken through the fortifications the Central Powers had built in the region.

To put it simply, they were hoping these defenses would allow them to halt the German advance in Italy. Sacrificing a pawn to protect the King so to speak. There was just one problem with this mentality. Bruno’s companies had overseen the construction projects that build these massive border fortifications.

Not that the Italians were aware of this fact. And thus while they stood on watch, gazing over the sandbags and barbed wire which sat atop the steel reinforced concrete trenches, one of the men could not help but remark on how quiet things were.

"Normally by now the Germans would have attacked, no? So why is it that I hear no engines in the distance? Are we really just supposed to sit here and wait for their attack?

It is not like the man’s comrade did not understand this sentiment, as he was quick to respond with his own remarks regarding the issue.

"Man, I’m the same fucking rank as you. Do you honestly believe they tell me shit like that? Obviously, whatever the Generals have planned it is way above our pay grade. I swear to god you’re always-"

The man suddenly stopped as he stared in horror at his friend. A German soldier with a Stahl helm that was painted with camouflage and a Totenkopf that was decorated over it stood with his gas grenade in one gloved hand and a gas mask on his face.

Before the Italian soldier who had spotted him could even say anything, the German stormtrooper pulled the pin and tossed the device near their feet. Before disappearing into the shadows as if he were some kind of spectral entity.

The gas spread rapidly, too rapidly, and began to suffocate the Italian soldiers within the trench complex. Who struggled to hang on for dear life as they began to cough. But it was too late. Phosgene gas had begun through the air, and affect everybody inside.

---

Bruno stood on a mountain above the bunker complex he had helped build on the alpine border between Austria and Italy. In preparation for chemical warfare, it had been fitted with its own ventilation system.

But he had sent men in to disarm these systems, so that they could gas out the complex while most men slept. By now, the soldiers of Bruno’s army, or at least the most battle hardened and elite, were quite skilled at infiltration and sabotage.

It was an effortless thing for them to do. And as the Italians woke to a cloud of phosgene above their heads, the Germans soldiers began to rush into the trench complex.

Covered from head to toe in thick wool clothing, gas masks, and leather gloves and boots that were tied off with puttees. The Germans ran into the phosgene with bayonets attached and fearless expressions on their faces.

Silently stabbing those Allied soldiers within the border defenses to death in a swift and lethal attack. While other areas of the border defense were facing a frontal assault by the Austro-Hungarians and Russians, here in the most critical area, Bruno made sure to eliminate his enemy in a well-executed assault.

And sure enough, the strip of border he assaulted fell to the German army within the hour. All of the allies having either choked to death on the liquid pooling up in their lungs, or having been stabbed by German steel.

Either way, casualties were almost non-existent on the German part. Those who managed to muster some form of a defense of their own life while afflicted with poison gas did not manage much in terms of retaliation before being sent to meet their maker.

And when the flag of the Austro-Hungarian Empire raised over the bunker complex again, Bruno got on the radio and confirmed that the most well-fortified portion had been secured, and that his men would now spread through the complex to assault the Allies from their flanks while Germany’s allies continued to press forward from the front.

With Trient reclaimed, and Italy’s defenses on the border of Tyrol thoroughly dismantled overnight. The path to Rome had been opened. And the allies would be forced to re-consolidate their forces with those who survived and retreated having been forced to draw a new line of defense, and battle plan after realizing the Germans were getting a bit too good at countering them.

In fact, the idea of waging a defensive war in Italy was starting to seem like a bad idea, as every time they tried the Germans found some new way to easily overcome their fortifications. Italy now wondering whether or not continuing this war was a good idea.

After all, they had joined because of the fact that the central powers snubbed them multiple times in the previous decade, and thought this would be a good way to gain some disputed territories with Austro-Hungary.

But with the current projection of the war, and when they considered the fact that they had not lost nearly as much as Great Britain and France had during the course of the war, and thus were not suffering from the Sunk Cost fallacy like their allies were. It made them deeply consider the possibility of suing for peace.

However, would the powers that be which wanted a German defeat allow for such a thing? Not without a fight… That’s for damn sure!

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