Chapter 159
Chapter 159
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: The Italian War (5)
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The U.S. nuclear strike had come only after fierce debate.
“Unless we stop the enemy armored division advancing south into southern Campania, two more divisions of our Kingdom forces will be annihilated. If our strength weakens further, we won’t even be able to hold Calabria at the tip of the peninsula. Mr. President, please authorize the use of nuclear weapons.”
Faced with Italy’s desperate plea, the U.S. government deliberated intensely.
“If we use nukes here, won’t the Reds risk using them too?”
“But if we hold back out of fear, southern Italy will fall to the enemy.”
That was the crux of the issue.
If Italy fell completely, it would amount to certifying a Western defeat.
Prestige, influence, expectations.
As a superpower locked in competition with the Soviet Union, America couldn’t afford to lose those.
No, even if it meant gaining everything else, they couldn’t hand the Mediterranean over to the Soviets.
“Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. If we use nukes, can we definitely stop the Reds?”
“Absolutely.”
Truman lit a cigarette at Bradley’s bold assurance.
While he smoked, the generals and officials waited for the president’s deliberation to end.
After a long drag, Truman stubbed out the butt in the ashtray.
The president made his decision.
“Drop it.”
On July 20, 1950, a U.S. Air Force B-29 strategic bomber broke through southern Campania and dropped an atomic bomb over the Northern Italian People’s Army’s 3rd Armored Division as it approached the Basilicata border.
“Observe carefully.”
One minute after the bomb fell, the atomic weapon exploded above the Northern Italian armored unit at the end of its glide.
A new sun blazed into existence on the ground, and the immense heat caused the air to expand violently, unleashing a storm.
The fireball instantly hurled everything around it outward from ground zero.
KABOOOM!
Tanks caught in the blast were flung like toys despite their dozens of tons, flipping over helplessly.
A lucky few survived unscathed, but the crews in vehicles near the epicenter were roasted alive by the searing heat.
The tank-desant riders clinging to the exteriors didn’t stand a chance.
Since the entire division had clustered tightly for the breakthrough, fifty tanks in the 3rd Armored Division melted down or lost their crews entirely, while the remaining hundred were wrecked or immobilized.
“I-Incredible.”
The Northern Italian People’s Army offensive, which had aimed to split the Southern Kingdom forces in two and deliver a decisive blow, ground to a halt from this single bombing run.
Northern Italy could not hide its shock at the turn of events.
America had actually dared to use nukes.
Northern Italian Communist Party Secretary Grieco immediately wired Moscow, begging for retaliation.
“America has used nuclear weapons, Comrade Secretary. The Soviet Union must show it will use nukes for Northern Italy too. Otherwise, those imperialists will keep using them.”
“Don’t worry, Comrade Grieco. The Soviet Union keeps its promises.”
Stalin did not refuse Grieco’s request.
Two days later, a Soviet TU-4—developed independently using German technology, since no B-29 had made an emergency landing like in our timeline—crossed the Adriatic at night with an atomic bomb aboard and dropped it over the Southern Italian 4th Infantry Division defending central Puglia.
KABOOOM!
The West recoiled in horror as another nuke detonated.
How many nukes were going off in Italy?
But this was only the beginning.
America, fired up by the Soviet retaliation, decided to use one more nuke to reverse the unfavorable tide.
The next day, a fresh atomic bomb rained down on Northern Italian forces.
The Soviets weren’t taking it lying down.
Stalin deemed it too risky to keep matching atomic bombs and pulled out a new card.
“Scramble the MiGs.”
Until now, the Soviets had limited themselves to sending alliance volunteer forces.
Not anymore.
Soviet Air Force units, pre-deployed through Yugoslavia, now entered the fray.
They hid their affiliation with markings, but anyone listening to their radio chatter knew they were Russians.
As the powerful jet fighters—MiG-15s—challenged them, U.S. air superiority immediately began to waver.
“What? Have those Ivan bastards lost their minds?”
The war had now escalated into direct confrontation between the two superpowers.
Of course, America pretended not to notice the Soviet unofficial intervention.
It was to prevent the conflict from spiraling irreversibly.
The Soviets, too, avoided provoking the Americans more than necessary.
They targeted the Southern Kingdom as much as possible and left U.S. Navy ships at sea untouched.
“Warships are extensions of sovereign territory. Touch those, and the Yankees might flip out, blowing the whole thing up.”
Both sides swung punches within these unspoken rules.
By late July, five atomic bombs had been dropped on Italy.
Three by America, two by the Soviets.
The problem was that America had nukes left, while the Soviets had depleted their stockpile.
“This is trouble.”
Stalin wanted to press the attack but had no weapons to wield.
He decided to buy time until new warheads could be charged.
“Get me Pyongyang.”
To buy that time, Stalin turned to the dictator of the Far East, Yi Seong-jun.
*
The time had come for the cool-headed mediator, Your Excellency Yi Seong-jun.
I received a request from the Soviets to prevent a nuclear war.
See? A few nukes dumped on their heads had certainly snapped them awake.
Still, it was a relief that Stalin was scared.
They clearly dreaded what might happen if their own troops got nuked.
I exchanged wires with both nations to align positions.
What struck me in the process was how unexpectedly belligerent America was.
Was it a backlash against the Reds gaining real strength, maxing out anti-communist fervor?
Or a side effect of McCarthy rampaging early?
Either way, America’s aggression threw me off.
“We can’t forgo nukes until things revert to the status quo.”
I could understand their stance if I put myself in their shoes.
The U.S.-Southern Kingdom coalition was in a bind where they couldn’t win without nukes.
So it wasn’t unreasonable for them to go all-in to flip the battlefield.
But if America kept nuking like this, the Soviets might hit maximum rage and do something crazy.
“Your Excellency, nukes aren’t just ordinary weapons. Keep using them, and all of Europe risks total war.”
“No, without them, Italy falls. If you’re not telling us to hand Italy to the Reds, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”
“Your Excellency, why not think it over more carefully? At this rate, the Soviets won’t hesitate to nuke U.S. forces.”
“We’ve factored in that risk.”
Had America really steeled itself that much?
But there seemed to be an angle for persuasion.
I worked Truman over with this pitch.
“Al-right then, how about this? Reserve nukes strictly as a last resort and use lesser weapons beforehand.”
“Lesser weapons?”
“Why not chemical agents with milder lethality?”
In fact, during the Vietnam War in our timeline, U.S. forces had used chemicals relentlessly.
Agent Orange, the infamous defoliant, was a favorite.
The Americans knew it harmed humans but sprayed it wildly over swamps and jungles.
This time wouldn’t be different.
Use milder irritant chemicals instead of nukes, and keep at it.
“Chemical weapons.”
With or without gas masks, chemical weapons tire out defenders the moment they’re deployed.
And this time, they had justification: Northern Italy had used chemicals since the war’s outset.
Truman accepted my proposal.
“But this is temporary. If we get pushed back, we resume nukes.”
“Understood.”
America agreed to pause nukes for now.
In exchange, they’d use massive chemical barrages.
When I floated this deal to the Soviets, Stalin sent a thank-you note for our mediation.
“To Prime Minister Yi Seong-jun. Your Excellency’s intervention has saved the Union and Europe. I offer my deepest respect for your efforts toward peace.”
Oh, if you’re so respectful, don’t play with fire next time.
But since I’d pulled a dirty trick on Stalin, I replied amicably.
“To Secretary Stalin. Your Excellency, this agreement is strictly temporary. If America faces crisis, nukes will return. Exercise caution in shaping the battlefield.”
Don’t corner them so they can’t save face.
Anyway, the mediation succeeded.
“Korea’s giant Yi Seong-jun saves Europe from nuclear war crisis.”
All Europe cheered my name.
Okay, I get the excitement, but what was this?
I nearly lost my mind hearing that Germans were marching the streets with my portraits.
What kind of insanity is that?
Not even my own country, but Germany—the one we’d stripped bare—idolizing Yi Seong-jun?
It sounded mad, but it was happening.
The humor was that the perpetrators were Nazis and Junkers.
‘If those guys actually take power, Germany—no, Europe—will be a sight to behold.’
Mosley’s crew, preaching Korean-style democracy in my name, had already racked up global scandals. These guys didn’t seem headed for anything good either.
‘Self-proclaimed followers are always the biggest headache.’
I clicked my tongue and instructed the KCIA to keep an eye on Germany too.