7.3) German-Italian Relations 1933-5 Flashcards
Why would Mussolini want to ally with Hitler and Nazi Germany?
A strong ally against the European powers of Britain and France, with they could use the potential alliance between them and Germany to make demands
What part did Mussolini have in Hitler’s rise to power?
Mussolini had funded multiple right wing groups in Germany to spread the ideology of fascism across Europe
Why could Nazi Germany be a problem for Italy ideologically?
Germany could be seen as the centre of fascism over Italy, with the Fuhrer overshadowing the Duce
Did relations between Austria and Germany get off to a good start?
NO
What is Anschluss?
Germany would merge with Austria
Did the Austrian government like Anschluss and why or why not?
No because it was more of a takeover rather than a merger
Why would Anschluss be a problem for Italy?
-Germany would now occupy the previous Italian-Austrian border which would remove the security Italy gained by defeating Austria-Hungary in 1918
-Italy may be pressured to hand over German speaking areas in their northern provinces
In what year did Italy gained its northern border security from Austria-Hungary?
1918
What did Italy gain from a peace conference in 1919 that may be demanded by Germany?
German speaking provinces in Northern Italy
Who was Austrian Chancellor in 1933?
Engelbert Dollfuss
Dollfuss visited where 3 times in 1933 and what did he find out during those visits?
Rome
-Italy would react to any German aggression against Austria
-Mussolini told Dollfuss to supress the Nazi party in Austria
What did Mussolini recommend Dollfuss and the Austrian government to do to prevent Anschluss and when?
Create a right wing regime modelled on Italian fascism and be anti Nazi in February 1934
What happened to Dollfuss and when and who by?
Assassinated in July 1934 by Nazi sympathizers
What was Mussolini’s reaction to Dollfuss’ assassination and what did he call Hitler?
Placed Italian troops on the Austrian border and called Hitler “a horrible sexual degenerate”
What was the Stresa Front?
Meeting of Italy, Britain and France in the Italian town of Stresa
What were the aims of the Stresa Front?
To try to stop Hitler and the Nazis from breaking further terms of the Treaty of Versailles
When did the Stresa Front meet?
14th April 1935
When did Hitler introduce the new German aircraft the Luftwaffe and his plans to expand the army by x5?
March 1935
What did Mussolini gain from the Stresa Front meeting?
-Britain and France would be horrified at a German Italian alliance
-Mussolini thought that he could expand his colonial empire if he didnt ally with Germany
What country did Mussolini want to invade first to expand his colonial empire?
Abyssinia
What is modern day Abyssinia known as?
Ethiopia
