[RN7]

Originally Posted by mpipes

In the campaign I had....

With the launch of strategic nuclear weapons against neutral countries, the Italians finally have had enough. Despite suffering several NATO nuclear strikes, Italian ire focuses on the Soviets, and the government’s decision to align with the New Warsaw Pact. Italians take to the streets in open rebellion against the government, seizing control as the military stands by at first and then joins the rebellion. The Socialist Italian Prime Minister and his deputy are captured by mobs and lynched, the Foreign Minister is burned to death in a Molotov cocktail attack on his villa outside Rome, and the Defense Minister is arrested near Milan and given a brief “trial” before being shot by a firing squad in Milan’s main square. Hundreds of other leftist politicians and their families are ruthlessly hunted down and killed. In one infamous incident, at least 1500 are locked in a heavily fallout contaminated prison near Foggia and left to die. Italian units cease combat operations and retreat back toward Italy under white flags. Within two weeks a new pro-NATO government takes full control and Italy repudiates its treaties with Greece and the Warsaw Pact, ordering its troops back to Italian territory and declaring a general cease fire with NATO before Christmas.

The Italian Army successfully re-organizes and rebuilds through March 1998. Secret negotiations take place with NATO partners in December 1997 and January 1998, as the Italians unsuccessfully attempt to bring France and Belgium back into the alliance. Italy makes assurances to German and Austrian leaders that the country plans to rejoin the war as a NATO member. Italian and NATO POWs held by these reconciled NATO partners are repatriated to their respective countries, with several thousand Italians and other NATO troops rejoining their respective national militaries.

Italian troops in conjunction with Austrian rear guard troops force the passes into eastern Austria and penetrate to the Czech border as the Italians re-enter the war on the NATO side, rolling up the Pact forces as they tear into the Pact’s flank. The combined NATO force enters Czech territory before running out of steam after capturing Budweis. However, NATO is spent at this point and is not in a logistical position to make any further follow up. Stories start to circulate of clashes between Czechoslovakian 24th Motor Rifle Division troops and Soviet troops relieving them of occupation duty in Austria, when the 24th's commander (backed by his commissar) refuses to hand over scarce vehicles and supplies. The 24th MRD is quickly and quietly recalled home given internal security duties at home, where it is noted they take great delight in hunting down Soviet deserters and marauders who try to cross the Carpathian Mountains.

In November the Soviet 30th Guards Motor Rifle Division is ordered to move to Ljubljana in Yugoslavia in preparation for attacking supply links to the Italian Folgore Mechanized Division and associated Austrian militia troops (which have been attempting to drive out the last of the Soviet forces and capture Graz, Austria). The 30th delays, making excuse after excuse before eventually declaring that they will no longer follow orders. It is only the latest in a string of incidents where Pact divisions have refused to obey orders.

I think the fact that Italy joined the Warsaw Pact in T2K was stretching reality too far in my opinion. Italy's democratic traditions and Western culture are just to strong for that to happen. There are plenty of Italian communists but they are a minority in Italian politics, and I think they are more of the champagne communist variety. Also Italian military links with other NATO countries and the US are also too strong for this to happen, in fact it might have even led to a military coup by disgruntled Italian forces.

Originally Posted by mpipes

As for the nuclear weapons...
The primary concern of the US military would be to get the nuclear weapons out. Without going into classified details....in the event of a possible compromise of a nuclear weapon, commanders are authorized to TAKE ANY AND ALL STEPS to prevent it. And I do mean authority to do ANYTHING. At the very least, sabotage.

I could see the US quickly removing the GLCM's which were under US control, but the other nuclear weapons were under joint control and could have led to some problems if the Italian government nationalised them and the US tried to forcibly remove them from Italy. Also a US attack on nuclear weapons storage bases in Italy would have led to Italy declaring war against the US very quickly. This would have caused a severe problem for NATO who was fighting Soviet and WP in Central Europe at this time, and also would have exposed US forces in the Mediterranean and the Middle East to Italian attack (or allowed the Soviets to use Italian bases).