To the Italian people, Italy had long since become something utterly unfamiliar.
Mussolini's government had fallen into its final frenzy. It crushed every public demonstration, arrested members of every opposition party, and imposed martial law on Rome at any cost.
In those four days from May 22 to May 25, at least 2,000 civilians died under Italy's armed suppression. Hundreds of members of Mussolini's opposition were arrested and imprisoned, where they endured terrible torture.
Mussolini's brutal actions caused an uproar throughout Italy and triggered wave after wave of demonstrations across Rome.
But by then, none of that mattered to Mussolini. If he could not repel the Anglo-French-Australasian Army's assault on Rome, the next man hanging from a lamppost would be Mussolini himself.
On May 15, May 22, May 25, and May 27, the Anglo-French-Australasian forces organized massive bombing raids on Rome, destroying countless buildings and facilities throughout the city.
Although the number of Italian casualties in Rome was unknown, the effects of heavily bombing such a densely populated city went without saying.
To destroy Italy as quickly as possible, the Combined Army of Britain, France, and Australasia would not waste all its forces in Rome. Instead, it dispatched several small armies to continue attacking other parts of Italy.
France focused mainly on Sardinia, Britain mainly on Sicily, while Australasia went around from Ancona, north of Rome, to cities such as Foggia and Naples in Southern Italy, attacking the entire region.
The Italian Government could do absolutely nothing against such an offensive.
The army's disadvantage meant Italy was doomed to struggle against the Anglo-French-Australasian forces. On top of that, the Italian Navy did not dare venture out to fight, leaving the enemy free to attack Italy's territory at will.
That was the tragedy of Italy as a Mediterranean country: it was