2a.4 Foreign policy 1922-1935 Flashcards
Mussolini’s foreign policy aims
M was very erratic and opportunistic than calculative and cautious
–> aimed to maximise prestige as opposed to achieving material gain for Italy
Key goal: assert Italy’s position as a world power
–> territorial claims& revising Versailles settlements to overcome shame of ‘mutilated victory’
–> Africa: to consolidate rule in Libya & expand Italian imperialism
–> Mediterranean: to assert greater power in Med compared
–>M ultimately wanted Italians to be more militant and aggressive (become dominant European power and achieve SPAZIO VITALE (expansion of Italy)
Why did Mussolini change the means of achieving his foreign policy aims?
Early 1920s, M was consolidating his power: more likely to compromise with Britain and LoN
–> heavily concerned with Hitler’s rise to power & actions of militant Germany. M looked at Britain and France to ally against Hitler
–> Foreign policy in Africa would lead to growing relationship between Hitler & M
What was the first thing mussolini did for his foreign policy?
to negotiate issues from WW1 like reparation payments
–> aimed to demonstrate to Europe’s world powers that Italy could work peacefully to achieve its aims whilst hoping for greater presence in world affairs
With smaller countries like Greece, M was much more aggressive and viewed with contempt
Why did Italy view Greece as a lesser country?
What happened on the 27th of August 1923
Dodecanese Islands: 1912 claimed by Italy but led to long international discussion on territorial dispute
27th August 1923: Enrico Tellini, Italian general, was murdered with 4 other staff members during an inter-allied commission on drawing borders between Greece and Albania
–> M attacked Greek government that they caused the assassination & demanded they hold a funeral service at a Catholic Church in Athens (had to publicly honour Italian flag & pay 50 million lire or Italy would invade Corfu)
What happened on the 31st of August 1923?
Italy bombarded Corfu without warning & occupied Island
–> celebrated by Italian nationalists & many within elite elements of Italian politics (esp. head of navy Thaon di Revel)
How did the league of nations react to the bombardment of Corfu on 31st August?
LoN, backed by Britain demanded for M to end the occupation of Corfu and put issue of international arbitration
–> Italian navy could not last even 2 days against Britain’s
–> 27th September Italy left Corfu & received the 50 million lire
Corfu: Success or failure for M?
cONFRONTATION with Greece= opposition from league of nation= forced to accept Italy’s position relative to other greater powers (did not repeat this aggressive foreign policy)
Domestically successful as M showed he was a dynamic ruler willing to engage decisive action for Italy’s pride (great contrast to perceived weakness of prior liberal governments)
After Corfu, what was Mussolini’s next huge success?
Jan 1924: Yugoslavia recognised Fiume as being part of Italy (very popular= links back to D’Annunzio)
–> showed M as a leader who could achieve what liberal govt could not
–> More symbolic than useful : Italy did not require Fiume as they had built a larger port
1925 Locarno Pact and the benefits?
M tried and failed to link Locarno to negotiations on Italy & Austria’s borders
–> fact he was invited indicated that M was accepted as equals to Great powers (more powers)
—> DOMESTIC GAINS rather than any MATERIAL achievements for Italy itself
At the same time as Locarno Pact, where and how was Italy expanding its economic links/ political interference?
in Albania: backing of Ahmet Zogu’s accession to president in Jan 1925 + 1928 Self proclamation of King Zog 1
–> Albania became informal Italian protectorate
–> extended Italian influence in south eastern Europe
How did Mussolini undermine Yugoslavia?
provided support to Croatian Ustasha and Macedonian nationalist movements (aimed to separate from newly created Yugoslav state)
–> 1934 Croatian terrorists, financed by fascist Italians were able to assassinate Yugoslavian King Alexander
What was the ‘Pacification of Libya’ 1929-1932?
Fascists were involved in an ongoing colonial war in Libya
–> Libyan force were small but well organised and required a large army (including foreign mercenaries) to control them
Marshal Badoglio took. control of italian forces and pursued a brutal policy of:
-starvation, mass execution, chemical warfare, concentration camps
Brutality of Italy in Libya 1929-32
Rebel leader Omar el Mukhtar was captured and publicly hanged
100K Libyans were forced out of homes
40k died in conc camps or whilst being transported
1/3 of Libya’s population was killed or starved to death (poison gas)
Was Mussolini’s foreign policy before 1934 successful?
successful for his domestic popularity (seen as decisive world leader who fought for Italy’s foreign policy aims)
–> still cautious in terms of the Mediterranean (too weak compared to Britain’s navy)
Italy’s relations with Britain?
Mussolini had a good relationship with many prominent British politicians e.g. Winston Churchill/ Austen Chamberlain (worked closely during Locarno negotiations)
–> Britain had helped Italy with Albania
Relations got in the way of M’s plans in the Med (Britain gave no compromise over any of the Med and Italy’s navy was too weak to challenge them)
