11 – Episode 11 Fisherman and Fish (2)
August 10, 1914. Palazzo del Quirinale, Rome, the capital of Italy.
While the major powers around them had entered into war, Italy strictly adhered to its obligation of non-intervention, neither joining the Triple Entente nor engaging in negotiations. Both sides recognized that neither had the resources to force Italy’s participation.
With a population of 35.7 million, an army consisting of 25 divisions during peacetime, and the fourth largest navy in Europe, Italy’s status was too burdensome for either side to easily sway. Diplomats and spies residing in Rome were well aware of this fact.
Whenever they could find the opportunity, the major ambassadors would visit the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Kingdom’s Prime Minister, Antonio Salandra, to confirm Rome’s position and report the results back to their respective countries.
Even Germany, officially allied with Italy, was not an exception. The German ambassador in Rome, Hans Ludwig Carl von Plötz, also received instructions to persuade and dissuade Italy from leaning towards negotiations.
Hans von Plötz, born in 1862, was a member of the von Plötz family from Mecklenburg. He was a typical bureaucrat who studied law and political science. Starting as a secretary at the Washington legation, he accumulated experience in the financial ministry before moving to the foreign ministry. He served in Dresden, The Hague, the Vatican, Paris, Berlin, and Belgium, showcasing his diplomatic skills.
The Imperial Foreign Ministry highly valued his abilities and entrusted him with the position of Italian ambassador, which was considered the most dangerous variable in the European situation, as it was poised between the Triple Entente and the Allies.
Von Plötz also agreed with this perspective of the foreign ministry. He believed that the Italians were an unreliable ally, and this belief was proven when they declared neutrality as soon as the Great War erupted. It was a clear betrayal of the Triple Entente.
However, in the current situation, if they were to go beyond neutrality and join the “hostile camp,” the burden on the Central Powers would be too great. Although the Italian parliament leaned towards neutrality, there were variables that could change the game anywhere. The king was one of them.
The Italian king had the authority to overturn the decisions of the parliament. Depending on the king’s will, Italy’s course of action could change completely.
The German ambassador walked through the magnificent corridor following the chamberlain.
The luncheon was held in the Augustus Hall.
King Vittorio Emanuele III received the ambassador with a leisurely attitude.
Born in 1869, the king had been in power for 15 years and was a seasoned politician. The king was known as a weak monarch in social circles, but beneath the reputation of being gentle, he concealed the cunning face of a shrewd manipulator who controlled parliamentary politics.
After exchanging formal greetings, von Plötz took the seat guided by the chamberlain. Some refreshments and beverages were prepared on the table.
Of course, it was the king who touched the drinks and refreshments; the ambassador did not lay a hand on the wine. The wine, reflecting the light of the chandeliers, had a rosy hue.
“Ambassador, it is futile to talk to Giuseppe. The position of Italy remains unchanged from what the cabinet has stated. The Triple Entente is limited to defense, as the ambassador is well aware, isn’t it?”
“Your Majesty, am I not asking Berlin to immediately fight for Rome? I am simply requesting implicit support, such as providing convenience in ports and low-carbon usage, and introducing strict procedures for trade with France and Russia.”
“Such implicit support would be seen as a violation of neutrality. We are a neutral country, not a belligerent.”
Although the words were spoken like this, no one believed that Italy would uphold neutrality in this position. The king intended to side with whoever offered better conditions when the time was ripe, and the ambassador believed that the Italians would choose a side after assessing the situation.
“Your Majesty, Italy, Germany, and Austria are all members of the Triple Alliance. If a friend who has entered into a strong alliance refuses even simple cooperation, who will trust Italy in the future?”
“That trust is not determined by the ambassador. And as the ambassador said, cooperation means assisting with the customs and inspections of German and Austrian goods, and dealing with the scrutiny of countries like Russia and France. Then who will bear the burden of the damages? Should it not be our citizens who rely on trade with them for their livelihoods?”
The King’s argument had no logical flaws. The ambassador decided to use a carrot.
“I understand that Italy will bear some losses. But won’t Rome benefit as much as it considers the alliance? Berlin is not asking for a free hand.”
“Please be more specific.”
“Berlin will provide support to persuade the Ottoman Empire regarding their claim to the Dodecanese Islands. Our government is also prepared to mark it as Italian territory on the maps we produce.”
Italy still held onto the Dodecanese Islands, which it occupied during the Italo-Turkish War. Germany had so far tolerated Italy’s occupation, considering its relationship with the Ottoman Empire, but now it was showing a willingness to recognize it as Italian territory. This meant that Italy would bear diplomatic burdens and receive benefits, so it was definitely a benefit.
“It seems that we are leaning towards the negotiating side of the Triple Alliance. But that doesn’t mean we have to fulfill their demands. Isn’t time on our side, Italy?”
For Vittorio Emanuele, who had planned to raise the conditions Italy could obtain by weighing both sides, delaying the decision was a good thing.
The King was very interested in the territories Italy could obtain in this war.
Great Italy!
The King, who witnessed the rise of a unified kingdom and an empire that was emerging as a major power in Europe, had an obsession with making Italy a first-class European power. The opportunity to make that dream a reality was very close.
It was the world war that erupted among the empires.
Even if only the unification of the kingdom was achieved, it was a dream that could not be realized without getting involved in the process of France, Austria, and Prussia fighting.
“The proposal from Berlin is a grateful story. It certainly suits our interests. However, as I mentioned earlier, if it affects our neutral stance, it will harm Italy’s national interests.”
“Even if Your Majesty takes some measures, there is no room for negotiation.”
“Of course, the ambassador may see it that way. But I don’t think this is an issue that the ambassador alone can answer. At least, domestic affairs in our Italy should be decided by the cabinet.”
The King bit into a freshly baked cookie.
The King of Italy had no interest in Berlin’s proposal.
The German ambassador, disappointed with the outcome of the meeting, reported to his homeland. It seemed difficult to follow the Kaiser’s instructions, as it was unlikely to rely on a hostile president or foreign minister. His expression as he wrote his report was naturally not a good one.
But there was no need for Ambassador Von Kaiser to be disappointed.
From the beginning, Kaiser had not placed great expectations on him. The official activities of a diplomat were nothing but a curtain to hide the movements beneath the surface.
In practical terms, the one leading Kaiser’s strategy in Italy was Lieutenant Karl Rudolf Gert von Lünsteht, the Italian Minister of Finance. The fact that he was not particularly old or high-ranking made him inconspicuous, which was the main reason he was chosen. Kaiser had assigned him based on Lünsteht’s political power and life history, which had taken him all the way up to the enemy in the Second World War.
Born in 1875, Lieutenant Lünsteht came from a traditional military noble family and was a promising officer who followed the elite path. Starting as a cadet officer in the 83rd Infantry Division, he went through the military college in Hanover, completed the staff officer course at the Prussian War College, and had the opportunity to work as a staff officer for the 22nd Reserve Infantry Division. He had prepared the infantry division to invade France, but then received unexpected orders from above.
“Lieutenant Lünsteht, orders have come from above for you to go to Rome.”
“Am I to take the position of the ambassador?”
“Seems like it.”
Lünsteht expressed his disappointment at the new position bestowed upon him by his homeland. The order to step back from the brink of war as a member of the Lünsteht family, where almost every man served in the military, was enough to make his blood boil. He could bear missing out on his specialization, but if he missed this opportunity, he would lose the position of general that was practically in his hands.
He reluctantly accepted the order issued by his homeland.
But the person who unexpectedly issued this order was Kaiser.
The division commander handed him a letter and immediately instructed him to dispose of it, along with the Kaiser’s personal letter and blank appointment document.
In the personal letter, Kaiser said the following:
“I want you to fight with the Italians without any sense of knightly honor. Erase fair fights from your mind. Tear apart and trample the enemy’s weaknesses savagely. It doesn’t matter if you use dishonorable or despicable means. Do whatever is necessary for the victory of the empire. Treat the Italians who have forsaken the honor of their alliance like Attila.”
Lünsteht knew from reading the letter that Kaiser wanted to entrust him with an important task. The moment he realized that, his heart started pounding.
“Facing an entire nation is a greater task than moving a single division. Even Count Bismarck himself boasted that he gained his merits on the diplomatic stage, didn’t he?”
The young army officer began his mission as soon as he arrived in Rome.
In essence, the appointed ambassadorial officials of each country were not only spies exposed on the surface, but also responsible for commanding intelligence networks.
Of course, it was unprecedented for a lieutenant, not a high-ranking officer like a general or colonel, to command spies.
Lünsteht moved the intelligence network freely, using the blank appointment document given by Kaiser. There was no need to report to nominal superiors, so there were no constraints on his actions.
Until now, the spies had focused on extracting military and diplomatic information from the Kingdom of Italy, but now their goals had completely changed.
The orders from Rundstedt were simple.
“Find an easily manipulated newspaper and journalist. Anyone who can be bought with money will do, regardless of their loyalty to the country. Bring me a list of traitors willing to betray their homeland.”
The agents meticulously investigated candidates who could be bought with the money provided by Rundstedt. However, they still lacked a solution, so they considered using Italians to establish a newspaper.
Rundstedt issued a second and third order.
“Establish contact with communists and socialists. Build relationships with them and provide financial support. The enemies of the Kingdom of Italy will soon become our friends.”
“Expose the politicians hostile to the Triple Alliance. Any scandal, no matter how small, will do. If there isn’t one, fabricate it and gather evidence to expose them. We must destroy their morality and eliminate their political influence.”
It was a shameless operation that left no stone unturned.
But this was undeniably war.
There were no rules in war, and there was no need to consider means and methods. The honorable gentlemen’s war was a fantastical concept that could hardly exist in reality.
“Even if the Italian government decides on war, I must make sure they cannot carry it out. If I fail, the burden on us in this war will be too great.”
Rundstedt understood Kaiser’s instructions more clearly than anyone else. The fate of the German Empire rested on his shoulders.
Seated in his study, Rundstedt slowly and decisively began to spread the dangerous mold in Italy.