Hitler at War by Miller Robert L

Author:Miller, Robert L.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Enigma Books
Published: 2015-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

Hitler and His Generals

Military Conferences

The Italian Crisis

July 26, 1943

[Fascist Italy was Hitler’s ally of choice, an alliance he advocated since 1928, before his ascent to power. On the night of July 25th the Grand Council of Fascism voted against Mussolini by a significant majority that included his son-in-law Galeazzo Ciano. Mussolini was then dismissed and arrested by King Victor Emmanuel III. The overthrow of Mussolini reflected on the Axis and the Nazi regime itself and the deep seated doubts expressed by many Nazis about the alliance with Italy surfaced suddenly within Hitler after July 25, 1943. Despite the innumerable Gestapo and Abwehr agents operating in Italy at the time, the Germans were caught by surprise by the Italian crisis and Hitler was about to react violently.]

THE FÜHRER: Have you received anything, Hewel?

HEWEL: Nothing concrete yet. Mackensen1 just sent a telegram. He said, shall we say, that the Reichsmarshal’s trip2 could possibly be jeopardized because of the incidents. But we’re still waiting for the details. So far he knows that the Duce was finally compelled by the Farinacci group to summon the Grand Council.3 That was planned for yesterday, but was put off until 10 p.m. because no agreement had been reached yet on the program. He has heard from various sides that the meeting was extraordinarily stormy. Because the participants are bound to secrecy, he hasn’t heard anything real yet—just rumors. One of the most persistent rumors he has heard says that they want to make the Duce appoint a head of government—a prime minister in the form of a politician: Orlando, who is 83 years old and already played a role in the Great War4—and then the Duce is supposed to become the president of the Fascist Grand Council. These are all just rumors; we’ll have to wait and see. Then it is to have been said that this morning at 10 o’clock the Duce went to see the king, together with a number of generals, and that he was still there, meeting a continuing stream of important personages.5 Buffarini, among others, is said to be with him currently.

THE FÜHRER: Who’s that?

HEWEL: Buffarini is a Fascist.6 [—] I’m still waiting for details from…that this crisis within the party spreads and becomes a crisis of the state. [—] It is also maintained that the Duce, especially as a result of the meeting in northern Italy,7 is steadfastly determined to continue the fight. [—] That’s all that’s come through so far. Glaise8 hopes to hear something concrete this afternoon from Buffarini, who’s with the Duce now. Then this afternoon … would—

THE FÜHRER: Good old Farinacci is lucky to have done this in Italy and not with me. If he had done that with me I would have had him hauled off by Himmler at once—immediately. [—] That’s the result of such actions. What can be expected from it anyway? [—] Idle talk!

HEWEL: But, as I already said, Mackensen emphasized that these are just rumors. In any case, there is a considerable

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