On the distant border, the cold wind blows across the desolate plains, making a sound like the howling of ghosts and wolves. Catherine, the general who had just been appointed commander of Army Group South, was wearing a straight military uniform and inspecting his newly formed troops with a stern expression. This land is filled with tension and uneasiness due to the clouds of war. At this time, the German army deployed a total of 17 divisions and 1 brigade in northern Italy. These troops were originally reserved as reserves, quietly lurking in the rear, like sleeping beasts, always ready to be awakened into battle at critical moments. No one expected that the gears of fate would turn so quickly, and that they would be activated urgently at this special moment. Strictly speaking, these troops were not the elite divisions of the German army and had not experienced the brutal and fierce battles on the Eastern Front battlefield. However, even so, their combat effectiveness is still very different from that of the Italian army. In the resolute eyes of the German soldiers, they revealed a well-trained professionalism and confidence, which is what the Italian army lacks. "Report, urgent telegram from the headquarters!" Suddenly, a burst of hurried footsteps broke the silence of the scene. The communications staff hurried over with a telegram in his hand, looking panicked.

His forehead was covered with beads of sweat, which stood out in the cold wind. Catherine slowly turned around and looked at the communications staff officer with burning eyes, her eyes revealing a kind of calmness and calmness that had been battle-tested for a long time. "There is a problem in Italy. Prime Minister Mussolini has been arrested by their king. He has sent people to negotiate peace with the Allies, intends to withdraw from the war, and even plans to deal with us." The communications staff spoke very fast, almost in one breath Complete the report on the contents of the telegram. After hearing this earth-shattering news, Catherine's expression was unexpectedly calm. He didn't look shocked and shocked like the others around him. Instead, there was a trace of indifference in his eyes, as if he had foreseen all this happening. In his mind, although this incident was unexpected, when he thought about it carefully, it was reasonable. Although Catherine was born in the Air Force, he has always had in-depth research and understanding of the situation in Italy. He knew that Italy was full of internal contradictions, like a volcano that could erupt at any time. In the early days of the war, Italy relied on the powerful German offensive to achieve some superficial victories, so these contradictions were temporarily suppressed under the surface of calm. However, as the war situation turned, especially on the Eastern Front, Italian troops suffered heavy losses. Those terrible casualty figures and news of defeat continued to spread back to the country, like sparks, igniting the fuse of conflicts that had been hidden in Italy for a long time. Popular dissatisfaction, fighting between political factions, and various factors are intertwined, making the situation in Italy precarious. "Order from the Supreme Command: Immediately station in Rome. Anyone who encounters resistance will be killed without mercy. In addition, the Air Force will provide us with support." The communications staff then took out another order and said firmly. After hearing this order, Catherine's face finally showed a hint of excitement that was imperceptible. A cold light flashed in his eyes, as if an enraged cheetah had finally found a chance for revenge. "Very good. I have already had enough of them. Today I have found a chance to take revenge. I will teach these pig-like teammates a lesson and let them know how powerful we are." He said through gritted teeth, his voice full of anger and determination. "Order all troops to assemble immediately, distribute ammunition, and set off in two hours." Catherine gave the order decisively, her tone unquestionable. "Yes!" The communications staff member stood at attention and saluted, turned around and quickly conveyed the order. For the next two hours, the entire Army Group South was in a state of flux. Under the command of officers, the soldiers were gathering and distributing ammunition in an orderly manner. Trucks loaded with weapons and ammunition shuttled between the camps. The roar of the engines and the shouts of the soldiers were intertwined, creating a tense and powerful picture.

In a corner of the camp, soldiers of the 26th Tank Division were conducting final inspections and adjustments on their Panther tanks. These tanks are the pride of the German army. Their huge bodies shine with a cold metallic luster in the sun, like giant steel beasts ready to pounce at any time. The crew members skillfully checked various performance indicators of the tank, from the engine to the artillery, paying no attention to every detail. Their eyes were full of anticipation and excitement, and they were full of confidence for the upcoming battle. Two hours later, Army Group South was fully assembled. On a vast plain, the troops were neatly arranged like a sea of ​​steel. The soldiers were dressed in black military uniforms and holding weapons, quietly waiting for the order to set off. Their faces were filled with determination, as if they were about to embark on a journey of justice. Catherine stood on a command vehicle, scanning the troops in front of her. He took a deep breath, then waved his hand and shouted loudly: "Let's go!" In an instant, the entire army was like a raging tide, crossing the border and rushing towards Rome. The 26th Tank Division, which was leading the charge, took the lead. The huge tracks of the Panther tank pressed heavily on the cement road, making a dull sound. Every time it advanced, it left a deep mark on the road, as if on the road. Proclaim to the world the strength and determination of the German army. At the same time, on the border, the Italian soldiers stationed on the border suddenly panicked when they saw such a large-scale action by the German army. They originally thought that Germany in the north was a reliable ally, and their daily defense was only symbolic. After all, facing Germany's powerful military power, they knew that if the other party really launched an attack, they would be unable to resist it. "What are the Germans going to do? Send out so many tanks?" an Italian soldier said in horror with his eyes wide open. His hands were tightly holding the rifle in his hand, his body was shaking slightly, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. "Is it an invasion?" Another soldier guessed with doubts on his face, his eyes full of fear and uneasiness. "How is it possible? We are allies." Someone tried to deny this terrible idea, but there was a trace of uncertainty in his voice. "Maybe it's to support us?" Someone put forward a relatively optimistic guess. "It's possible. After all, I heard that the war in North Africa was not going well." Others agreed. However, when they saw the mighty German troops heading in the direction of Rome, their doubts became more and more serious. "Do you think a new war has broken out? This time I feel very murderous." An Italian soldier couldn't help guessing again, his voice full of worry. "Is there something wrong with Rome?" Another soldier boldly expressed his thoughts. The Italian commanders were in a dilemma after learning that Catherine was leading the Southern Army to go to Rome. On the one hand, they did not dare to easily block the actions of the German army, because the German army's combat effectiveness was too strong, and they would suffer heavy losses in the event of a conflict. On the other hand, they were very worried about the intentions of the German army and did not know what impact the German army's trip would have on Italy. After a heated discussion, the Italian commanders finally decided to adopt a wait-and-see attitude and chose to open the door wide and let the German troops pass. They were lucky enough to believe that maybe the German army was just passing through Rome and would not cause substantial harm to Italy. In this way, the German army successfully crossed the Italian defense line without encountering any obstacles and continued to advance rapidly in the direction of Rome. Along the way, the German troops were like a black torrent, raising a cloud of dust wherever they went. In the Italian villages and towns along the way, when residents saw such a large-scale German army, they hid in their homes in fear and did not dare to go out.

They don't know what changes this war will bring to their lives, and can only wait for the unknown fate in fear and uneasiness. As the German army approached Rome, the entire city fell into chaos. The Italian government is in chaos, with officials worried about their future. Please...you...Collect_6Ⅰ9ⅠBookⅠ(Six\\\Nine\\\Book\\\!) Ordinary people also feel an unprecedented crisis, and the streets and lanes are filled with an atmosphere of panic. Shops are closing and people are stocking up on food and daily necessities in preparation for the coming disaster. Outside Rome, Catherine stood on the command vehicle, looking at the city ahead, her heart filled with complex emotions. He knew very well that this operation would completely change the destiny of Italy and would also have a profound impact on the situation on the entire European battlefield. But he did not hesitate at all. As a soldier, he must resolutely carry out the orders of the headquarters. "Prepare to attack!" Catherine gave the order again, her voice low and powerful. The German troops quickly formed battle formations, with tanks, infantry, artillery and other arms working closely together to prepare for the final assault on Rome. A thrilling battle is about to begin, and Italy's fate will be rewritten at this moment. At this moment, Rome has become a **** on earth. Thick black smoke, like a ferocious beast, rose from every corner of the city, blocking the sky and the sun. The blazing fire spread wantonly in the streets and alleys, illuminating this ancient and solemn city in red. Under the raging fire, the building made crackling sounds, as if groaning in pain, and was in danger of collapsing at any time. The pungent burnt smell filled the air, making it suffocating. The entire capital guard force was deeply divided. A considerable number of soldiers remained loyal to Mussolini. After Mussolini announced his resignation as prime minister due to illness, they quickly realized that there was a huge conspiracy hidden behind it. The officers who were loyal to their leader were filled with righteous indignation and without hesitation led their soldiers to launch a fierce attack on the palace. They firmly believed that the king's actions were a betrayal of the country and Mussolini and must be stopped. In the chaotic military camp, the commander of the 1st Guards Division glared angrily at the lieutenant colonel in front of him. The veins on his face popped out, as if they were about to explode at any time. "Damn it, you can't even control your own troops, what do you do for food?" His voice echoed like thunder in the empty camp, full of anger and rebuke. The lieutenant colonel leader's face was filled with helplessness, his forehead was covered with beads of sweat, and his eyes revealed deep anxiety and helplessness. "Division Commander, I didn't expect them to rebel. I have always tried my best to maintain the stability of the army, but who could have expected that something like this would happen. Now the rebels are gathering crazily, what should we do?" His voice sounded. Trembling slightly, it seemed as if he was seeking advice from his teacher, but also as if he was trying to defend his dereliction of duty. The major general glared at the lieutenant colonel leader. He was a decisive and ruthless person, and he did not hesitate at this critical moment. "What should I do? Assemble my troops immediately and suppress this rebel army as quickly as possible! If we let them succeed, we will all be finished!" He said decisively, with no doubt in his tone. "Yes!" The lieutenant colonel leader quickly stood at attention and saluted, turned around and prepared to execute the order. However, at this moment, an officer rushed into the camp in a panic, his face as pale as paper, as if he had seen a ghost. "Your Majesty General, something bad is going on!" he said breathlessly, his voice full of fear.

The major general division commander and the lieutenant colonel commander turned their heads at the same time and looked at the officer with burning eyes. There was a trace of uneasiness in the eyes of the major general commander, and he had a premonition that something worse might happen. "What's going on? Tell me quickly!" he shouted anxiously. "German troops appeared outside the city!" the officer finally managed to catch his breath and said loudly. Upon hearing the news, the Major General's face instantly turned pale, as if all the blood had been drained away. His eyes widened with disbelief on his face, and he shouted angrily: "Damn it, how did they appear in the capital? Didn't the troops along the way fight back? Are our defense lines useless?" "I don't know, General." The officer who came to report was so frightened that he broke into a cold sweat, his legs trembled slightly, and his speech became slurred. "We have just received news that the German troops outside the city are huge and it seems they are coming with bad intentions." The major general's mind went blank for a moment. He never imagined that when the situation in Italy was so chaotic, the German army would suddenly appear outside Rome. He groaned secretly in his heart. He was already trapped in the quagmire of internal rebellion, and now he was facing a huge threat from the German army. What should he do? "Quick, immediately send an alert to other troops to get them ready for battle. At the same time, contact surrounding friendly forces and request support." The major general commander pretended to be calm and quickly issued a series of orders. He knew very well that he must remain calm at this moment, otherwise the entire city of Rome would fall into a state of eternal destruction. After receiving the order, the lieutenant colonel and the officer hurriedly ran out of the camp to perform their respective tasks. The major general and division commander stood alone in the camp, looking at the blazing fire and the black smoke outside the camp, filled with worry and despair. (End of chapter)