Word: spined
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Dates: during 1940-1949
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...future. They saw a new courage in the Italian Army, they saw unprecedented risks taken, and firmness foreign to the enemy. On a limited front they had broken attacks in which there seemed to be German assistance. But if that assistance grew, if it struck at Greece's spine near Salonika, then the wonderful war might become a sadder thing...
What happened next depended on the stiffness of the Marshal's spine. He sent his new No. 2 man, Admiral Jean Darlan, to Paris to try to soften Hitler's demands. The Admiral had no sooner arrived than he stated flatly: "I affirm that the French Fleet is absolutely and will remain under complete French jurisdiction and that it will defend the Empire against any challenge whatsoever." But Admiral Darlan had authority to agree to Laval's reinstatement provided Marshal Pétain retained supreme power...
...Marshal's spine became too pliant, Hitler would eventually treat France as he had treated the other countries he has conquered. If it became too stiff, anything might happen, including the breakup of France. With De Gaulle on one side and Déat on the other and the Marshal in the middle, France was already not one country, but three...
...Grecian swivet. The Bulgars' decision might make no immediate difference whatsoever: the Germans could undoubtedly penetrate Bulgaria whether the Bulgars wished it or not. But the ramifications of the decision might have heavy bearing on the outcome of the whole war. On the weary spine of Boris III, who never wanted to be king in the first place, rested a backbreaking, heartbreaking weight...
...Hitler felt strong enough to do, three other ways of helping Italy suggested themselves: 1) a drive from the west coast of France, down across submissive Spain, at Gibraltar; 2) sending troops from Hitler's pool of 1,000,000 men in Austria (see map) to put some spine into the Italian armies now afield; 3) sending troops from the smaller pool in Rumania, to attack Greece from the rear across Bulgaria...