Chapter 227: Damnation in Exchange for Salvation
Greece found itself in a rather unique position following the Balkan Wars. Their territory had more than doubled, and they initially had an alliance with Serbia in regards to joining together should one or the other come under attack by a third party.
This treaty was made in reference to Bulgaria even if it had not outright stated it. But the Ottomans soon began to conflict with the Greeks over the Aegean islands, naturally Greece wanted to respond with War, but Serbia had declined.
Having had their forces exhausted by the Balkan Wars, and suffering from threats on both sides by Bulgaria and Albania alike. Serbia asked Greece to settle the dispute peacefully. Which, of course, left a sour taste in the mouths of the Greeks.
Then came the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and the declaration of war by Austro-Hungary which plunged the world into a state of total war. Having been previously chided by the Serbians when they initially asked for their help with the Ottomans, the Greeks responded likewise when it came to the joint invasion of Serbia by the Imperial Powers.
Instead, choosing to remain entirely neutral, that is, of course, if Bulgaria made a move, as only an idiot would believe that they would take their defeat in the Second Balkan War and the loss of significant territory lying down.
This was initially the case, however, as the war continued to progress with repeated allied losses, many independent nations began to believe that it would soon be over, with a complete and total Imperial Powers domination.
Greece was not an exception to this idealism towards the war. The Ottomans had joined the Allied Powers, and this was Greece's opportunity to settle grudges held since 1453, or perhaps even longer.
If it was damn near certain that the imperial powers would win, then what was stopping them from joining now, and contributing just enough to regain Constantinople and other historically European and Greek territories?
Logically speaking, this reasoning was quite sound. The problem, of course, being the Balkans would be a region of the world that would forever engage in absolute fuckery of the highest level. If the Greeks suddenly announced an entry into the war on behalf of the Imperial Powers, then Bulgaria would soon join the allies.
Bruno was no doubt conflicted about this matter. On the one hand, he felt one of his minor regrets from how WWI turned out, and the years of global chaos which followed its conclusion, was that the Greeks unfortunately did not regain control over Saint Constantine's Holy City, as well as the lands surrounding it. And in doing so, blocking off the Islamic world from Europe altogether.