Word: goings
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Dates: during 1930-1939
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...these sorry reasons were, two splendid ways of looking at his neutrality remained to Il Duce. In the military situation created by the West Wall-Maginot Line stalemate, a neutral Italy, blocking access to Germany via the Tyrolean passes, had tremendous nuisance value. It would force Britain & France to go clear around through the Dardanelles, Black Sea and Rumania to assist Poland and establish the Salonika front (see p. 22). It was nuisance so great that it might bring B. Mussolini a fancy price if he chose to sell...
...long wanted by Germany, source of friction in the Axis when it ran at its best; Greece, guaranteed by France and Great Britain, threatened from Albania; Turkey, also guaranteed, courted by Germany, allied with Greece. Beyond these northern shores the Balkans simmered, politically and militarily fluid, but likely, to go with the strongest current that swept the Mediterranean...
Before announcing his neutrality, Mussolini had gone through the motions of an Axis partner about to go to work. He conducted a mobilization so complete that, when they realized its scope, it shocked his people. The nation was blacked out. Coffee was forbidden to all but soldiers, gasoline to all but State officials and the military. All private motor travel was forbidden after September 3. Then, after the neutrality decision, the terrifying atmosphere was relaxed. Italy was ready to defend herself if attacked, was the word. Command of Italy's armies was divided between General Graziani, no disciple...
...guns began to go off, monarchs and ministers, dictators and presidents, said what they had to say. Soon the tumult of war would be too loud to let the world hear their voices. The headlines of papers blurred and ran together-Hitler said. . . . Daladier said. . . . Chamberlain told the House of Commons. . . . Mackenzie King announced-then changed overnight. The great names and grave words disappeared. The bombing of ships and cities, clashes on the Western Front, maneuvers on the plains of Poland, overflowed in the news...
With all in readiness along her Maginot Line for heavy assault on Germany's western front, an empire ruling France was also exceedingly busy overseas. Out of retirement, to go to Syria and take supreme command of an Allied campaign with Great Britain, Turkey and perhaps Greece, Premier Daladier called France's smart little General Maxime Weygand...