Historically, Mussolini only launched his campaign to march into Rome in 1922, and Mainz did not expect that, because of the butterfly effect caused by his own crossing, this event was now happening two years ahead of schedule.
Mussolini had created a Fascist Party—a fanatical nationalist, highly aggressive, and keen on war and foreign expansion. From a long-term perspective, Mussolini's rise to power was not good news for the German army.
But judging from the current situation, as Mussolini incited the army to march toward Rome, Italy entered a period of internal turmoil. During this time, it was unlikely that Italy would continue sending troops to attack Austria, greatly easing the security situation in the south.
In fact, the Italian forces trapped at the foot of the Alps, exhausted by Walter Model's harassment, soon realized their homeland was in chaos, with factions fighting for power. Few still remembered they were stuck in the snow-capped northern mountains, running out of food and ammunition. After waiting for reinforcements for almost half a month without anyone coming, this demoralized army faced desperation.
The Italian government could not organize any aid because it was consumed by its own internal strife. Seeing no hope, the commander of the trapped Italian army gritted his teeth and made a fateful decision: surrender to the Germans.
On November 4, 1919, the desperate Italian army formally surrendered to the Germans.
After signing the surrender agreement, the Italian commander handed over the weapons, and the soldiers raised their arms, laid down their guns, and were escorted to German prisoner-of-war camps. Surprisingly, the Italians seemed relieved, at least in the camps they had food to eat.
The Italian commander was stunned. He had assumed the German army numbered at least 150,000, but only 10,000 stood before him. Could so few troops have forced 100,000 Italians to surrender?
"I want to meet your commander!" he demanded.
The herald revealed that Walter Model himself—standing opposite—was the commander who had accepted their surrender.
Shocked, the Italian commander stammered: "W-what? You're joking, right?"
Model sneered at his reaction. The Italian commander explained: "Your rank is only lieutenant. In our army, a lieutenant commands at most a company. I did not expect that such a young officer would lead this army!"
The Italian commander was a lieutenant general, expecting the opposing force, though smaller, to be commanded by at least a major general or brigadier. Instead, a lieutenant had led them to victory—completely unexpected.
Model explained: "We are different from you. Our Wehrmacht is streamlined from the five million-strong Second Reich Germany troops, so nearly all our soldiers are elite. Condensed forces are highly effective. Though small in number, our combat power is formidable. Your army has seen this firsthand."
The Italian commander finally understood. He conceded: "I see. We are convinced, and have no complaints."
After supervising the surrender of 100,000 Italian troops, the Germans seized 80,000 rifles, 100 machine guns, 50 cannons, 200 submachine guns, 500 sniper rifles, 3 million rounds of ammunition, and 100,000 shells.
The Italians' claim that they lacked ammunition was false. They had enough to fight a breakthrough, but fear of death and timidity led them to surrender. For them, surrender guaranteed survival and food, whereas resistance meant risking death. Model reflected: such an army was formidable as an enemy but unreliable as an ally.