The Red Boot

1948 was a pivotal year in the history of the Italian peninsula. The first democratic elections were held after the end of the fascist dictatorship, and the peninsula's future in the Cold War was determined. In real life, the elections were easily won by Democrazia Cristiana and Italy soon became one of the members of NATO and, later, of the European Union. What if things had turned out differently? In this alternate history of "The Red Boot", a series of minor divergences changes the fate of post-fascist Italy. Now, the various leaders of the Italian Communist Party and their allies must guide the new republic through the Cold War, trying to handle their fragile and complicated relationship with Moscow and Washington. Despite its radically different political landscape, the events of this Italy are in one way or another almost a distorted reflection of what happened in real life. Coups, secessions, terrorism, corruption and the chaos of the Cold War are just some of the threats the new republic will face. Only the smartest and/or luckiest politicians will be able to govern a peninsula that always seems on the verge of exploding.