I don’t think the Italians and Germans recognized it right away. Then again, they were unarmed and had massive standing armies compared to what we have right now, so by the time they realized what had happened, it was too late for much of the civilian populace to do anything. Partisans (I use that loosely) had to take over from there, and fight as an underground army.
I’m also willing to bet that the vets and much of the current rank and file would side with the right over the left, considering they’ve historically leaned right. The top brass is a lost cause.
If this next election goes badly, in any way, I think we’re in real trouble. If the Democrats so much as maintain, the country is pretty much screwed from a socio-economic standpoint, and if there happens to be a sweeping red wave, there will be more rioting and something will likely go horribly wrong in the violence and destruction. If we manage to hold it together and a Republican (a proper one) takes 2024, it’ll be bad.
Good post.