San Marino Joins the Axis

In OTL San Marino is considered the world's longest surviving Republic, but in the Second World War it's existence was nearly ended when the Allies mistakenly believed San Marino to have joined the Axis powers. This scenario asks the question; "What if San Marino had joined the Axis?"

Background of Point of Divergence
In OTL, during the year 1923, Giuliano Gozi of the Sammarinese Fascist Party was elected one of the Captains-Regent in the Republic of San Marino. During the next election, during the same year, the second Captains-Regent, Ezio Balducci, was also Fascist. The tiny nation, despite being surrounded by Italy remained neutral during the war but suffered two attacks from the allies; having been bombed in 1944 by the British, and invaded in what is now known as the Battle of San Marino when an occupation by German Soldiers was mistaken by the Allies as signs that San Marino had broken neutrality. After the Benito's death in Italy, the Fascist government in San Marino was overthrown but regained control shortly after only to loose it after the Battle of San Marino and the establishment of the 'Committee of Freedom', and the eventual election of the nation's first Communist government.

The point of divergence lies in Ezio Balducci, who had closer contact with Benito and greater ambitions for the republic. Namely in public works like aqueducts, railroads, and the aim of making San Marino something of a Nuremberg for Italy- to make San Marino the heart of Italian Fascism. In 1933 a plot to overthrow Gozi by Ezio was discovered and Ezio sentenced to hard labor the following year. The Italian government reported this supposed plot as 'absurd' as it implied that Italy would have been involved in some way.

In this timeline the Coup does happen as laid out in the supposed conspiracy, and Ezio does take sole power- overthrowing the constitutional government. To solidify his hold Italian troops are brought in from Italy- thus initiating a series of events that bring San Marino into the ranks of the Axis powers.

Implications
Following the liberation of San Marino, the Sanmarinese government isn't able to secure reparations for unjust attack on the neutral nation as San Marino was in this timeline not neutral. Political parties that where able to operate under Gozi, who upheld the constitution of the state, are instead subverted under Ezio and his Italian associates. Thus they are in a different position when the nation is 'liberated'. Namely one must consider that the Committee of Freedom was an alliance of the Socialist and Communist party; two parties that where opposed in OTL and in this one. With San Marino being occupied by the Allies as an enemy state, some other government may have emerged.

Timeline
1923 - Giuliano Gozi is elected Captains-Regent of San Marino. Ezio is elected as the second Captains-Regent soon after during the same year.

1926 - The People of San Marino, a newspaper, is established shortly after Benito's visit to the nation.

1933 - The plot is not discovered.

193X - The coup occurs, Ezio takes power- enforces a single party state regardless of the constitution. Does so with Italian aid.

1940 - San Marino joins the Axis Powers, declares war on Great Britian.

1944 - Britain Bombs Sanmarinese infrastructure as part of the war effort, and invades the tiny nation in what is known as 'The Liberation of San Marino'.