7: Italian Foreign Policy 1922-1939 Flashcards
Timeline of Diplomatic actions
1924-Italy gain Fiume 1925-Mussolini signs Locarno Treaty 1926-Albania becomes a protectorate of Italy 1933-Four Power Pact signed in Rome 1934-Dolfuss Affair 1935-Stresa Front 1937-Anti-Comintern Pact 1938-Munich Conference 1939-Pact Of Steel
Timeline of Military Actions
1923-Bombardment of Corfu 1928-32 ‘Pacification’ of Libya 1935-Invasion Of Abyssinia 1936-Participation in Spanish Civil War 1937-Withdrawal from LoN 1939-Invasion Of Albania
What were Mussolini’s Foreign Policy Aims?
1: Establish a modern Roman Empire
2: Distract Italians from bad conditions at home
3: Make up for territorial gains following WW1 and humiliation at Paris Peace
4: Acquire raw materials for industries
5: Expand to show national greatness
Successes and failures of the Corfu Incident Of 1923
Successes: Mussolini’s actions of bombarding Corfu and occupying it was celebrated. Received 50 million lire from Greece if they agreed to leave
Failures: LoN demands Italy leave and Mussolini was forced to accept his lack of power compared to France and Britain
Successes and failures of Fiume 1924
Successes: Yugoslavia agreed to recognise Fiume as part of Italy. Proved Mussolini to be stronger than the previous liberal government
Failures: However Yugoslavia agreed to this in return for Italy recognising Susak as Yugoslavia’s land
Successes and failures of the Locarno Pact Of 1925
Successes: As being invited to such an important European meeting showed the Italian people and Mussolini that Italy was being accepted as equal to the Great Powers
Failures: Mussolini wanted to make negotiations on Italy and Austria’s borders but had failed
Successes and failures of the Four Power Pact Of 1933
Successes: brought international prestige to Mussolini
Failures: Never agreed to by Britain or France and Germany lost interest after Hitler game to power
How did the idea of the Anschluss with Austria effect Mussolini?
- In 1934 Mussolini negotiated with the Austrian Chancellor Dollfus to stop the Anschluss but he was assassinated
- Mussolini sent in troops to intimidate Hitler but he denied all knowledge
- Supported Austria remaining independent
What was the Stresa Front?
- 1935 meeting in Stresa
- After Hitler announced he was rearming and introducing conscription Mussolini met with Britain and France in concerns over Germany’s intentions
What are some reasons for Mussolini’s invasion of Abyssinia?
- Promote his leadership
- Unite Italian people/make them forget domestic problems
- Resources could be used to benefit economy
- Rebuild an Empire
- Make up for land they didn’t get after WW1
- Make up for defeat in Abyssinia 1896
Successes of the invasion of Abyssinia
- Mussolini shown as a strong leader and a ‘new Caesar’
- The Church bless Mussolini for ‘civilising Abyssinia’ despite most Abyssinians being Christian
- Got the respect of Hitler and they signed the Rome-Berlin Axis in 1936
- Showed their military skills
Failures of the invasion of Abyssinia
- 10,000 Italian soldiers lost their lives
- Lira devalued by 40%
- Budget deficit rose from 2.5 billion to 16 billion
- Failed to find much natural/valuable resources
- Lost support from Britain and France
- 2/3 of the country still to be occupied
What were Mussolini’s aims for the Spanish Civil War?
- Stand with his new ally Hitler
- Prevent the spread of communism
- Create another Facist Government in Europe
- Demonstrate Italian military’s power
- Gain strategic advantages in Spain like a naval base or alliance
- Show he was a strong leader
How much help did Mussolini give in the Spanish Civil War?
- 75,000 troops
- 950 tanks
- 1400 pilots and 400 planes
•Compared to Germany who provides 16,000 troops and 200 tanks
How did the Spanish Civil War go?
•In 1939 Franco (Facist) emerged triumphant
What were the significance of the Spanish Civil War?
- Got support from the Church but not the public
- Mussolini gained no territory or naval bases from it and Spain remained neutral in WW2
- Isolated Italy from Britain and France
- Cost 14 billion Lea and 4,000 soldiers died as it lasted longer than planned
- Mussolini grew closer to Hitler
How did Mussolini’s relationship to Hitler change after the Spanish Civil War?
- Grew closer
- Mussolini admired Hitler
- Mussolini took on the Goose-step
- However In 1939 Mussolini met with Chamberlain and promised to control Germany if he could have influence in Africa and the Mediterranean
Mussolini Power Timeline:
1922: Made PM and got emergency powers
1925-7: Set up a dictatorship, eliminated opposing parties, censorship and secret police
1929: Concordat settles Church/State disputes
1933: Mussolini controls 7 ministries
1935-6: Abyssinia invasion
How did the Italy/Germany relationship change over time?
- After the Rome-Berlin Axis In 1936 and Anti-Comintern Pact In 1937 had a strong alliance
- As Germany became more powerful Hitler needed Mussolini less
- Gave Mussolini 2 days notice about the Anschluss and invaded Czechoslovakia in 1939 without consulting him
- Made a Pact Of Steel In 1939 but then Hitler broke the Anti-Comintern Pact by signing the Nazi Soviet Pact
Why was there domestic tensions against Mussolini?
- There was an anti-German feeling amongst most Italians
- Italians were not enthusiastic about war
- Too much military spending
- Facist squads would violently attack anyone who questioned Il Duce and the regime
Why was the Pact Of Steel created in 1939?
- Italy was dependent on Germany for trade
- Hitler needed an alliance due to his plan to invade Poland in ‘39
- Both has Facist ideologies
- Each nation committed to support each other in war
What does it mean when Mussolini declared Italy as ‘non-belligerent’ in 1939?
Italy was not neutral in the war, they supported Germany but were not involved in military action
Why did Mussolini declare Italy as non-belligerent in 1939?
- Didn’t have Military strength ready for War Until 1943
- Waiting to see so they didn’t join the losing side
- Anger at German betrayal by signing the Nazi-Soviet Pact
- Wanted to keep and alliance open with France/Britain
