Challenges to and the fall of the Fascist State, c1935–46 Flashcards

Question

What happened to Mussolini's attempt to create the Four Power Pact to control Germany (Italy, Germany, France and Britain)?

Answer 1

It was never ratified over the armaments issue.

Answer 2

Mussolini mobilised four divisions helping the coup to collapse. As a result Mussolini was seen to have halted the unification of Germany and Austria.

Answer 3

A "muddle-headed fellow" and later a "horrible sexual degenerate". BAD RELATIONS.

Answer 4

* Initially, Mussolini was worried by Hitler's accession to power - what if Germany tried to unite with Austria? * So Mussolini was willing to make pacts with Britain and France to stop Germany from gaining more power. * BUT was willing to have Germany on its side as another fascist power.

Answer 5

A conference between Britain, France, and Italy. Held at Stresa on Lake Maggiore in Italy, it proposed measures to counter Hitler's open rearmament of Germany in defiance of the Versailles Peace Settlement.

Answer 6

That Germany's military rearmament had been going on secretly for two years. This, after the Nazi coup in Austria, added to Mussolini's concern at the direction of Hitler's policies.

Answer 7

A statement declaring their desire for peace and continuing commitment to the League of Nations as well as disarmament.

Answer 8

* Italy * France * Britain

Answer 9

Mussolini claimed he had reached an implicit agreement with both France and Britain, to support Italy's imperialist goals in Africa as trade-off for Italy's anti-German stance. Britain and France interpreted this agreement differently though...

Answer 10

Mussolini's colonial war in Abyssinia.

Answer 11

Signing the Anglo-German Naval Agreement in 1935.

Answer 12

After Britain signed the Anglo-German Naval Agreement in June 1935.

Answer 13

* Largely been unsuccessful in the Balkans. Hadn't been able to extend its sphere of influence. * Mussolini as becoming increasingly aggressive in the Mediterranean and North Africa. * His relationship with Britain and France was beginning to fracture by 1935. * His relationship with Germany was tense. The Stresa Front opposed German re-armament and Mussolini had prevented Anschluss with Austria.

Answer 14

The last African country free of colonial rule.

Answer 15

October 1935

Answer 16

* The planning for war helped the economy. The need to produce more arms, clothing, equipment and transportation helped fuel the Italian industry. * The invasion would help to achieve autarky, as Abyssinia would provide raw materials and areas for more agriculture. * Abyssinia would provide an export market for Italian goods.

Answer 17

The need to produce more arms, clothing, equipment and transportation helped fuel the Italian industry.

Answer 18

Abyssinia would provide raw materials and areas for more agriculture.

Answer 19

Abyssinia would provide an export market for Italian goods.

Answer 20

* The invasion of Abyssinia was seen as a way of showing the dynamism of fascism and bringing about the transformation of the Italian people into more warlike people. * An aggressive foreign policy would satisfy those in the PNF who thought Mussolini needed to pursue a more "fascist" direction (and show that his rule was more than simply a dictatorship trying to maintain power). * Mussolini believed that a great victory would add to the prestige of the dictatorship. The Italian defeat by Abyssinia at Adwa in 1896 was still remembered by Italians: Mussolini believed that avenging this humiliating defeat would boost the cult of Il Duce.

Answer 21

of fascism and bringing about the transformation of the Italian people into more warlike people.

Answer 22

Satisfy those in the PNF who thought Mussolini needed to pursue a more "fascist" direction (and show that his rule was more than simply a dictatorship trying to maintain power).

Answer 23

The Italian defeat by Abyssinia at Adwa in 1896 was still remembered by Italians: Mussolini believed that avenging this humiliating defeat would boost the cult of Il Duce.

Answer 24

Defeat by Abyssinia at the Battle of Adwa.

Answer 25

Domestic policies, such as the Corporate State, and the battle for births and grain, were producing disappointing results. = Mussolini recognised that foreign success might distract public attention away from the problems at home.

Answer 26

* Gain domestic glory and prestige * Help the Italian economy * Enhance Italy's great power status * Alleviate problems at home

Answer 27

Mussolini recognised that the rise to power of the Nazis had transformed the European situation. Britain and France's preoccupation with responding to Hitler's foreign policy opened the way for Italian ambitions.

Answer 28

* A growing empire would enhance Italy's claim to be a great power. * Mussolini believed the colonies were a part of Italy's historic destiny. After all, Italy was the descendent of the Roman Empire that had controlled huge areas of North Africa and had dominated the Mediterranean. * Abyssinia lacked the means to fight a modern war. This offered the prospect of securing military glory on the cheap. * The neighbouring Italian colonies of Eritrea and Somaliland provided convenient places from which to attack.

Answer 29

Italy's claim to be a great power.

Answer 30

Italy was the descendent of the Roman Empire that had controlled huge areas of North Africa and had dominated the Mediterranean.

Answer 31

This offered the prospect of securing military glory on the cheap.

Answer 32

Convenient places from which to attack.

Answer 33

Signalled the start of the second Italian-Abyssinian war. It was on this day that Italy invaded Abyssinia without a formal declaration of war.

Answer 34

An outcome that would not only change the face of Africa, but the political rifts it caused between the fascist nations and the democratic nations would contribute to the beginning of the Second World War.

Answer 35

The Italians were angry and humiliated following the defeat at the hands of Abyssinia in the 1896 Battle of Adwa, which was the worst defeat ever inflicted on a European power in Africa.

Answer 36

6,000 Italian troops. The battle remained a painful memory in the Italian national consciousness.

Answer 37

Brutally subjugate the existing Italian colonies of Libya, Somalia, and Eritrea, but national issues prevented him from invading Abyssinia, which formed a wedge between Italy's East African colonies.

Answer 38

Needing to distract the Italian people from the problems of the 1930s, Mussolini's attention turned to the East African Kingdom. By 1934, he told his government to "prepare for the total conquest of Abyssinia."

Answer 39

The excuse for such an invasion came in December 1934 following a skirmish near an oasis at Wal Wal on the Abyssinian border.

Answer 40

Haile Selassie

Answer 41

Called upon the League of Nations for arbitration but the League decided not to attribute blame to either side and to exonerate both nations of any wrongdoing - which was to prove a grim foreshadowing of the League's handling of the entire Italian invasion.

Answer 42

The reason for the League's impotence stemmed from France and Britain's hopes that by not punishing Italy, they could hope to gain Mussolini's help in the impending war with Germany. (In 1934 Mussolini did not trust Hitler over Hitler's plans to annex Austria, which bordered northern Italy and was led by Mussolini's protege, Engelbert Dollfuss).

Answer 43

He stepped up Italy's rearmament programme. Particular attention was paid to the development and stockpiling of chemical weapons which had been used in Italy's pacification of Libya.

Answer 44

400,000 men, along with thousands of indigenous troops recruited in the Italian colonies serving to bolster Italian forces every further.

Answer 45

The aircraft of the Italian Royal Air Force bombed the town into submission.

Answer 46

Made up of 500,000 men, only a quarter of which had military training and was futile in organisation with soldiers owning personal loyalty to individual warlords. Air Force was near non-existent and machine guns were scarce.

Answer 47

By condemning the Italian invasion. The majority of the League's members voted to impose economic sanctions upon Italy. However the sanctions did not include a ban on OIL which was the one sanction that would've had a huge impact on Italy's war effort.

Answer 48

Led to a wave of defiance across Italy and the population pledged their support to the conflict.

Answer 49

Proposed a negotiated effort to the war, which greatly favoured the Italians. The Hoare-Laval Pact.

Answer 50

Give Mussolini 2/3 of Abyssinia in return for a ceasefire. This drew immediate public condemnation, and was denounced by Ethiopians. Many in Britain and France saw the pact as doing a deal with "evil".

Answer 51

Marshal Pietro Badoglio

Answer 52

The Battle of the Ogaden. Over the next 10 days of bitter fighting, the last organised force between the invaders, and the Ethiopian capital, were defeated.

Answer 53

Badoglio's victorious army entered the capital of Abyssinia, Addis Ababa, as the remaining inhabitants watched on solemnly.

Answer 54

More than 30 million people packed the country's piazzas for victory celebrations.

Answer 55

He had managed to escape three days before and address the League of Nations on the invasion of his country. He remained in exile until Abyssinia was liberated by British and Allied forces in 1941.

Answer 56

1941 - by British and Allied forces.

Answer 57

Withdrew its delegation from the League and formally left in 1937.

Answer 58

Reoccupied the Rhineland in March 1936.

Answer 59

The Italian army had won a victory that Mussolini's biographer, Renzo De Felice, described as the dictator's masterpiece.

Answer 60

For Mussolini, the war created a form of national consensus as he and his regime increased in popularity.

Answer 61

The campaign gave a clear demonstration to the world of the ineffectualness of the League of the Nations, which was to carry profound consequences as it undermined the ideas of collective security and propelled Mussolini into an ever-closer relationship with Adolf Hitler.

Answer 62

October 1935, hoping for a quick and decisive victory.

Answer 63

Quickly seized Adwa and other border towns, but after that their progress slowed.

Answer 64

Badoglio engaged in a brutal war against the Abyssinian army in a similar manner to the campaign he had conducted in Libya. This included the use of mass aerial bombings, the murder of prisoners of war and the illegal use of chemical warfare.

Answer 65

500,000 Abyssinians

Answer 66

5th May 1936

Answer 67

1. It is estimated that around 20 millions Italians listened to Mussolini's public radio broadcast on 9th May, proclaiming that Italy had at last gained its fascist empire. 2. The League had placed limited economic sanctions on Italy, including banning weapons sales to Italy and placing limits on imports of Italian rubber and metal. However, oil was left off the list of products banned for export to Italy and the Suez Canal was not closed. (Had Britain chose to close this canal, Italy's vital supply route its forces in East Africa would have been cut off). 3. On 18th December 1935, the royal family launched the "Gold for the Patria (country)" campaign. Queen Elena presented her wedding ring to be melted down in order to help the campaign against the sanctions. Blessed by the Church, thousands of women followed the queen in giving their wedding rings to the fascist cause. In return, they were given steel rings that symbolised their marriage to the nation. This seemed to show that the true transformation of the Italian people was now taking place. 4. Despite the League's weak response, the sanctions were a propaganda coup for the fascists. Mussolini was portrayed as a leader standing up to the world and defying attempts to limit Italian power. This had strong parallels to the "mutilated victory", but this time Italy would not back down. 5. Hoare-Laval Pact of December 1935: this secret agreement between the foreign ministers of Britain and France would have handed over 2/3 of Abyssinia to Italy. However, a public outcry in Britain and France put an end to that agreement. It appeared to the Duce that the governments of both countries were desperate to avoid having Fascist Italy an enemy. 6. The Italian people, the royal family and the Church all supported the invasion and proclaimed Mussolini's greatness. 7. Mussolini approved too many to be fulfilling the image of a new Caesar who was expanding the Italian empire. For Mussolini and for many Italians, Italy had now established herself as a great power.

Answer 68

The Suez Canal

Answer 69

Around 20 million Italians

Answer 70

They had banned weapons sales to Italy and placed limits on imports of Italian rubber and metal. However, oil was left off the list of products banned for export to Italy and the Suez Canal was not closed. (Had Britain chose to close this canal, Italy's vital supply route its forces in East Africa would have been cut off).

Answer 71

The "Gold for the Patria (country)" campaign. Queen Elena presented her wedding ring to be melted down in order to help the campaign against the sanctions. Blessed by the Church, thousands of women followed the queen in giving their wedding rings to the fascist cause. In return, they were given steel rings that symbolised their marriage to the nation. This seemed to show that the true transformation of the Italian people was now taking place.

Answer 72

Mussolini was portrayed as a leader standing up to the world and defying attempts to limit Italian power. This had strong parallels to the "mutilated victory", but this time Italy would not back down.

Answer 73

Hoare-Laval Pact of December 1935: this secret agreement between the foreign ministers of Britain and France would have handed over 2/3 of Abyssinia to Italy. However, a public outcry in Britain and France put an end to that agreement. It appeared to the Duce that the governments of both countries were desperate to avoid having Fascist Italy an enemy.

Answer 74

The Italian people, the royal family and the Church all supported the invasion and proclaimed Mussolini's greatness.

Answer 75

Mussolini approved too many to be fulfilling the image of a new Caesar who was expanding the Italian empire. For Mussolini and for many Italians, Italy had now established herself as a great power.

Answer 76

1. As the war began, many Italians remained unenthusiastic, despite the orchestrated press campaign (initially doesn't gain support). 2. Despite Mussolini's proclamation of the 9th May, Abyssinia had not been fully conquered. Two-thirds of the country was still to be occupied. 3. The costs associated with supplying the 250,000 troops that were needed to fight an on-going guerrilla war were considerable. 4. The hopes that the colony would provide oil and other raw materials to help achieve autarky were never met. 5. The exports never materialised, with only 2% of Italian trade ever going to Abyssinia. Doesn't help him in his quest for autarky. 6. The lira devalued by 40% and the budget deficit rose from 2.5 billion to 16 billion lire. 7. The brutal war changed the perception of Mussolini and fascism overseas, especially in Britain. Before, Mussolini was generally seen as a dictator who had been beneficial to Italy; now, he was seen as a threat to peace.

Answer 77

No. As the war began, many Italians remained unenthusiastic, despite the orchestrated press campaign.

Answer 78

Abyssinia had not been fully conquered. Two-thirds of the country was still to be occupied.

Answer 79

The costs associated with supplying the 250,000 troops that were needed to fight an on-going guerrilla war were considerable.

Answer 80

The hopes that the colony would provide oil and other raw materials to help achieve autarky were never met.

Answer 81

The exports never materialised, with only 2% of Italian trade ever going to Abyssinia. Doesn't help him in his quest for autarky.

Answer 82

The lira devalued by 40% and the budget deficit rose from 2.5 billion to 16 billion lire.

Answer 83

Before, Mussolini was generally seen as a dictator who had been beneficial to Italy; now, he was seen as a threat to peace.

Answer 84

Highlighted the weakness of the League of Nations, which encouraged Hitler's own ambitions. This in turn disrupted the delicate balance of power that existed in Europe.

Answer 85

Moved Italy closer to Germany. This was encouraged by economic problems caused by the League's sanctions, which made Italy more dependent on Germany for trade.

Answer 86

A belief that Italy's aggressive actions would not only enhance his own power domestically but challenge the old balance of power in Europe. This was a dangerous conviction that would see the fascist regime pursue a much more radical direction in both domestic and foreign policy.

Answer 87

A very divided nation, volatile. There were liberal republicans, monarchists, catholic conservatives, anarchists etc.

Answer 88

The Nationalists (he's another fascist)

Answer 89

Italy and Germany - Franco was trapped in Spanish Morocco by the navy, who remained loyal to the Republic, and German and Italian planes were flown in to airlift his army over the straits of Gibraltar.

Answer 90

The civil war then became a testing ground for fascist troops, and became part of a wider international struggle: the fight between facsists, communists and liberals.

Answer 91

Britain, France and USA

Answer 92

Soviet Union and Mexico, albeit inferior to the weaponry fascist governments were sending.

Answer 93

July 1936 - April 1939

Answer 94

1st April 1939 and Spain was put under the brutal dictatorship of Franco

Answer 95

The Italian military intervention in Spain took place during the Spanish Civil War in order to support the nationalist cause against the Second Spanish Republic - involved on the side of FRANCO.

Answer 96

1. Great power status 2. Empire in North Africa 3. Control in the Mediterranean and the Balkans - Having Franco on side could help Italy gain bases in the Balearic Islands. - Britain and France would feel pressured to give Italy what she wanted, especially in North Africa. - Italy would gain an ally in Spain, in the Mediterranean. - Quick victory would keep the momentum of Abyssinia going, adding to the cult of Il Duce and creating loyal fascists.

Answer 97

Balearic Islands

Answer 98

Battle of Guadalajara

Answer 99

14 billion

Answer 100

In July 1936, Mussolini committed Italian troops to the Spanish Civil War on the side of General Franco who was leading the right wing forces against the Republican government who were backed by France and the USSR (although France not willing to help that much). Intervention pushed Mussolini closer to Germany as he could no longer rely on trade with Britain.

Answer 101

The central facet of Italian foreign policy.

Answer 102

March 1936, Hitler marched German troops into the demilitarised zone of the Rhineland, defying one of the key elements of the Treaty of Versailles. Neither the League, Britain or France made any real attempt to stop Hitler, which strengthened Mussolini's view that Britain and France were weak.

Answer 103

May draw concessions on Africa and the Mediterranean from the British and French governments in order to draw him back to them.

Answer 104

The domestic benefits a successful foreign war could have.

Answer 105

Around 50,000 troops and 600 planes

Answer 106

Republican resistance finally collapsed in 1939 and General Franco was victorious thanks to help from his right-wing allies. However, the war had none of the positive consequences that Mussolini had hoped for.

Answer 107

Relatively high 3,266 Italian soldiers killed and around 11,000 wounded.

Answer 108

Cost around 14 billion lire. Required an increase in taxes for the Italian people.

Answer 109

Trade issues pushed Italy further towards further economic dependence on Germany.

Answer 110

Italy made no territorial gains as a result of supporting Franco.

Answer 111

Unlike Abyssinia, the intervention in Spain was not popular with the Italian people who didn't see it bringing benefits to them or Italy.

Answer 112

The Italian army was WEAKER in 1939 than it had been in 1936. This had been highlighted with the defeat of an Italian force by a Republican army made up of antifascist volunteers at the Battle of Guadalajara.

Answer 113

Italy's relationship with Britain and France continued to deteriorate.

Answer 114

They did not want Mussolini to become closer to Germany.

Answer 115

There was a public outcry and Eden, the new British foreign secretary was clear in his dislike for Mussolini. Public and political attitudes in Britain were becoming more anti Mussolini – pushing him towards Nazi Germany

Answer 116

1. During the Spanish Civil War, Italian ships, pretending to be Spanish, sank neutral vessels in the Mediterranean which angered the British. 2. In the summer of 1938 an Italian bombing raid on a Spanish port sunk 11 British ships.

Answer 117

British were still trying to come to an agreement with Italy and signed a Gentleman’s Agreement in 1937 which preserved the status quo in the Mediterranean.

Answer 118

A Gentleman's Agreement

Answer 119

A Gentleman's Agreement

Answer 120

Rome-Berlin Axis

Answer 121

Coalition formed in 1936 between Italy and Germany. An informal agreement formulated by Italy’s foreign minister Galeazzo Ciano informally linking the two fascist countries was reached on October 25,

Answer 122

To have Italy more economically dependent on her for exports.

Answer 123

Mussolini visited Hitler and was impressed by Nazism. This trip convinced him that Europe’s future should be fascist.

Answer 124

Italy joined Germany and Japan in the Anti-Comintern Pact. In practice this was a declaration that these countries would work together against the Soviet Union (although the reality was that the Pact was also aimed against Britain).

Answer 125

September 1937

Answer 126

November 1937

Answer 127

An anti-communist pact ostensibly directed against the Communist International (Comintern) but, by implication, specifically against the Soviet Union and Britain.

Answer 128

December 1937 This showed Italy’s position as a nation who wished to overturn the Treaty of Versailles, and confirmed an end to the Stresa Front.

Answer 129

When Hitler began the process of Anschluss in March 1938 without consulting the Duce. This was a blow for Mussolini and showed Hitler to be the senior partner is their loose alliance. Moreover, Mussolini did not stop Hitler invading Austria which was unpopular in Italy and damaged his prestige at home.

Answer 130

March 1938

Answer 131

By 1938, Italy was still rejecting a full-scale military alliance with Germany and trying to negotiate a pathway between Britain and Germany.

Answer 132

Although he was portrayed as the peace maker at the Conference, he worked with the Germans and came to the conclusion that Britain and France were weak and that a future Europe should be dominated by Germany.

Answer 133

In November 1938, the Italian Parliament was recalled and Mussolini instructed it to demand the annexation of Nice, Corsica, and Tunisia from France.

Answer 134

The Italian people were becoming more disillusioned with the regime. The domestic and foreign policy direction that Mussolini was now taking was causing concern. The quest for autarky meant that there were less consumer goods and living standards were in general decline.

Answer 135

Meant that there were less consumer goods and living standards were in general decline.

Answer 136

* A highly unpopular policy was put in place to transfer Italian workers to Germany which seemed to confirm Italy’s subservience to Germany. * Mussolini was now 55 and not the youthful dynamic dictator he was still trying to portray. * He brought in anti-semitic decrees. * Anschluss

Answer 137

Italian army invaded Albania

Answer 138

April 1939

Answer 139

Wanted to restore his reputation at home and abroad, and give the Italian economy a boost.

Answer 140

* It was already a satellite state of the Italian’s, and victory was achieved without any major fighting. * Italy could now use the invasion of Albania to show his power to Germany.

Answer 141

The invasion clearly showed the weakness of the Italian army with the army, navy and air force unable to work together and disorganised troops using weapons they had never been trained to use. This invasion was another step in pushing Italy away from Britain and France.

Answer 142

An alliance between Germany and Italy. Signed by Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini on May 22 1939, it formalised the 1936 Rome-Berlin Axis agreement, linking the two countries politically and militarily.

Answer 143

The Pact of Steel - HIGH POINT OF ITALIAN-GERMAN RELATIONS

Answer 144

The support of Germany

Answer 145

The Germans drafted the details including a clause which committed Italy to support Germany if it chose to go to war. This went against all military alliances operated only in defensive purposes.

Answer 146

Galeazzo Ciano, the foreign secretary, who made it clear Italy would not be ready for war until 1943 but was told by Ribbentrop that Germany had no intention of waging war before this date.

Answer 147

That Germany had no intention of waging war before 1943

Answer 148

On 11th August 1939, Ribbentrop and Hitler told Ciano at a meeting in Salzburg that Germany was planning to attack Poland. He was horrified and disgusted – Italy was now trapped in an extremely dangerous situation (because the Pact of Steel had committed Italy to support Germany if it chose to go to war).

Answer 149

* Despite British disliking Mussolini, they were still trying to reach an agreement with Italy (signed Gentleman's Agreement in 1937). * Rome-Berlin Axis 1936 * Anti-Comintern Pact 1937 - began to cement alliances. * Abyssinian Invasion - increased Mussolini's popularity. * Mussolini looked strong when he left the League of Nations. * Portrayed as a peace maker at Munich Conference. * Instructed Parliament to annex Corsica, Nice and Tunisia. * Gained Albania (however the invasion did show the disorganised nature of the Italian army and pushed Italy further from Britain and France). * Pact of Steel (could be considered a failure due to the terms of the pact).

Answer 150

* Hoare-Laval Pact - Eden was clear in his dislike for Mussolini, public outcry and political attitudes in Britain becoming more anti-Mussolini. * Hitler beginning Anschluss in March 1938 without consulting Mussolini. * Mussolini didn't stop invading Austria - unpopular at home. * Invasion of Abyssinia pushed him away from GB and FR - had long term consequences. * Spanish Civil War was unpopular. * Rome-Berlin Axis - made Italy dependent on Germany. * Pact of Steel * Withdrew from the League of Nations which confirmed an end to the Stresa Front. * 1938 was an unpopular year for Mussolini - a highly unpopular policy was put in place to transfer Italian workers to Germany which seemed to confirm Italy’s subservience to Germany, Mussolini brought in anti-semitic decrees.

Answer 151

Paragraph was on slide

Answer 152

After withholding formal allegiance to either side in the battle between Germany and the Allies, Benito Mussolini declared war on France and Great Britain and joined the side of Germany.

Answer 153

To wage war in the Mediterranean and North Africa.

Answer 154

The idea of a "parallel war" and the Pact of Steel. Also, Germany had been performing well, so Italy might have thought she stood good chance. Also didn't want to betray Germany and not join them...

Answer 155

Italy would concentrate on the Mediterranean and Northern Africa, while Germany would concentrate on northern, central and Eastern Europe.

Answer 156

A short war that would provide Italy with the spoils of war for very little cost.

Answer 157

Most Italians were not supportive of a war and neither was Hitler as he knew Italy wanted to gain territory at the expense of Germany taking all the risk. Hitler didn't want Italy to take too much.

Answer 158

An armistice with Germany - 17th June 1940

Answer 159

Corsica (near Italy) and Somalia but was wary of pushing Italian claims without having done any actual fighting.

Answer 160

The armistice was eventually signed on 22nd June 1940, but Mussolini was not invited and only received two small French towns.

Answer 161

A campaign to expand the Italian Empire in North Africa. Italian forces in Libya attacked the British in Egypt. They did have some early successes here, crossing into Egypt and towards the Suez Canal.

Answer 162

By May 1941, Italy had lost Eritrea, Somalia, and Abyssinia

Answer 163

In total, 380,000 Italian troops had surrendered and been taken prisoner, a huge blow to fascist propaganda that proclaimed the transformation of the Italian people into a militant nation willing to die for il Duce.

Answer 164

British advance into Libya was only stopped when German troops arrived under the command of General Rommel to reinforce Italian forces.

Answer 165

German field marshal during World War II

Answer 166

A British advance into Libya was only stopped when German troops arrived under the command of General Rommel to reinforce Italian forces. This ended the idea of a "parallel war" as Germany had to engage in areas where Hitler had hoped the Italian army would do the fighting.

Answer 167

A battle of the Second World War that took place near the Egyptian railway halt of El Alamein. It's important because it's a DEFEAT.

Answer 168

Despite Rommel's Italian and German forces having some early victories over the Allies, they were in retreat after defeat at the Battle of El Alamein.

Answer 169

The Axis forces (i.e Germany, Italy and Japan) surrendered in North Africa; Libya was lost, and the Allies were preparing for an invasion of Italy from Tunisia (which is close to Sicily and would give them a base)

Answer 170

The Mediterranean - Mussolini had no consistent strategy for attacking key British positions.

Answer 171

Malta Gibraltar Alexandria (in Egypt) never came under sustained attack

Answer 172

There was poor coordination between the navy and the air force, with Italian planes bombing their own ships.

Answer 173

The Battle of Taranto (in Italy)

Answer 174

The Italian navy was crippled by a British air attack on the port of Taranto, with half its battle fleet lost.

Answer 175

The existence of the German navy did prevent Britain from having control of the Mediterranean, and Italian shipping to North Africa increased in the months after Taranto.

Answer 176

An offer of the French colony, Tunisia, fearing a prolonged campaign with France's colonial regions.

Answer 177

28th October 1940 (despite Greece never having been a focus for Italian territorial claims before)

Answer 178

Worried about Hitler's interest in the Balkans so looked to solidify Italy's position in the region. He did not even tell Hitler he was launching the attack.

Answer 179

Mussolini assumed Greece had only 30,000 soldiers and so attacked from Albania with 60,000 men. Greece actually had 300,000 soldiers.

Answer 180

* Mussolini assumed Greece had only 30,000 soldiers when they actually had 300,000. * Mussolini did not coordinate the attack with the navy or air force. * 28th October was also a poor data to invade as the weather conditions were very wet and there were freezing temperatures in the mountain regions. Some Italian uniforms disintegrated in the rain. * ITALIAN LOGICAL SYSTEM ATTACKED. * 32,000 Italian soldiers killed and 100,000 wounded. * Britain helped Greece. * Greeks counter-attacked and invaded a quarter of Albania - a satellite state of Italy. * Germany humiliated Italy by defeating the Greeks in weeks.

Answer 181

They counter-attacked and invaded a quarter of Albania (a satellite state of Italy).

Answer 182

Marshal Badoglio was removed as little progress was made during a spring offensive.

Answer 183

* Half a million Italian soldiers deployed * 32,000 killed * 100,000 wounded

Answer 184

No, after six months, Mussolini had to call on the help of Germany.

Answer 185

Mussolini had to call on the help of Germany who humiliated the Italian forces by defeating the Greeks in weeks (the Greece had run out of weapons).

Answer 186

The Royal Navy (Britain) sunk three Italian cruisers and two destroyers proving their dominance in the Mediterranean.

Answer 187

Made Italy a laughing stock around Europe and it was the Germans not the Italians who invaded and took over Greece and Yugoslavia in April 1941.

Answer 188

* Italian strategists ignored every part of modern warfare, troops didn't have enough weapons. * Feuds between the Italian generals. SYSTEMIC FAILURE OF MILITARY COMMAND

Answer 189

By 1943, Italy had failed to achieve any of the aims set out in Mussolini's "parallel war". The Italian military had been shown to be weaker than Greece, which wasn't even considered to be a major European power. Fascist propaganda was unable to disguise the truth from the Italian people. This had a major impact in undermining their faith in fascist rule and Mussolini himself. The Germans now viewed the Italians with even more contempt.

Answer 190

"given our tragic situation...the only thing left to do is place everything in Hitler's hands, because we are incapable of doing anything."

Answer 191

Italy's stance - didn't want to go to war in 1940

Answer 192

Date: Armistice signed on June 22nd 1940 Success or failure: Failure Why: Only received two small French towns

Answer 193

Date: October 1940 Success or failure: Failure Why: 32,000 killed. Italy humiliated. Germany defeated Greece within a few weeks.

Answer 194

Date: 1940 Success or failure: Failure Why: Italy bombed their own ships. Italian strategy was confusing and inadequate. Battle of Taranto.

Answer 195

Date: September 1940 - May 1941 Success or failure: Failure Why: 250,000 Italian troops were defeated in Egypt by British. Lost Eritrea, Somalia and Abyssinia. General Rommel had to come and reinforce Italian forces so the British couldn't invade Libya.

Answer 196

* Military unpreparedness * Inadequate leadership of the military * Inadequate leadership of Mussolini * Economic weakness

Answer 197

There had been no determined effort to prepare Italy for a long conflict. As the war dragged on beyond 1940, the extent of Italy's military weakness became painfully apparent. The claims of fascist propaganda that Italy had an army of 8 million bayonets and an air force that could "blot out the sun" were wild exaggerations.

Answer 198

1. Large sums of money had been spent on rearmament between 1925-38 - 11.8% of national income (compared to 5.5% in GB). However much of this was spent on inadequate weaponry or even luxurious living quarters for officers. 2. The army was small and outdated. In June 1940, fewer than 800,000 men were ready to fight and they were largely equipped with rifles and artillery dating back to WW1. 3. As during WW1, there were language problems between the officer class and peasant conscripts. This led to low morale, as seen in the massive numbers of Italian prisoners taken in Africa (many would have rather been taken prisoner than fight). 4. No thought had been put into a large-scale armaments production during wartime. 5. ITALY WAS ONLY PREPARED FOR A SHORT WAR - Mussolini thought it would be over by September 1940. 6. Italy possessed only 1,000 effective planes, and these were of inferior quality. The Fiat CR42 was slow and under armed compared to British and German planes. 7. Italy only had 1,500 armoured cars and light tanks. This became a major problem because the Second World War was to be a mechanised war. 8. Italian steel production went down by 20% between 1940-42. This, along with shortages of other raw materials, meant that losses, particularly in tanks and aircraft, could not be replaced. Fiat and Spa could only produce 2,550 vehicles a month in 1941, when they had produced 4,883 a month in 1938. 9. The USA could produce more aircraft in a week than Italy could in a year. 10. Mussolini puts money into large scale rearmament but for out of date equipment...

Answer 199

1. The generals were steeped in the defensive traditions of WW1 and were unsure of the usefulness of air support. The navy also adopted a defensive strategy, reluctant to risk their new battleships against the British fleet. USING OUTDATED METHODS. 2. Language barriers between the officer class and peasant conscripts. Led to low morale.

Answer 200

1. Strategic materials like coal and iron ore had to be imported from German occupied territories. Germany became increasingly reluctant to divert resources to Italy as the war began to go badly for them. 2. Italy was only prepared for a short war - Mussolini thought it would be over by September 1940. 3. As Minister of War, Minister of Navy and Minister of the Air Force, Mussolini made all strategic decisions e.g where and when to attack. He often made decisions without consulting military experts. He promoted officers more for their obedience and powers of flattery than for their merit.

Answer 201

1. Large sums of money had been spent on rearmament between 1925-38 - 11.8% of national income (compared to 5.5% in GB). However much of this was spent on inadequate weaponry or even luxurious living quarters for officers. 2. Autarky had not been achieved and Italy was not self-sufficient. 3. Strategic materials like coal and iron ore had to be imported from German occupied territories. Germany became increasingly reluctant to divert resources to Italy as the war began to go badly for them. 4. Food production fell. Wheat harvest dropped by 1.5 million tonnes as a result of many peasant farmers being drafted into the army. Rations fell to just 1,000 calories a day; bread rations were the lowest of any combatant country other than the USSR. Coffee, petrol and soap became virtually unobtainable. 5. Italian steel production went down by 20% between 1940-42. This, along with shortages of other raw materials, meant that losses, particularly in tanks and aircraft, could not be replaced. Fiat and Spa could only produce 2,550 vehicles a month in 1941, when they had produced 4,883 a month in 1938. 6. The Italian economy was only working at 25% of its capacity during WW2. For example, many Italians remained unemployed.

Answer 202

MUSSOLINI His poor leadership means that the generals are weak and economic problems exist and Italy ultimately suffer terribly. He had the responsibility of creating, organising preparing and selecting officer corps, troops and equipment and was in charge of guiding the "destiny" of the nation.

Answer 203

Large sums of money had been spent on rearmament between 1925-38 - 11.8% of national income (compared to 5.5% in GB). However much of this was spent on inadequate weaponry or even luxurious living quarters for officers.

Answer 204

11.8% of national income, compared to 5.5% in GB.

Answer 205

Autarky had not been achieved and Italy was not self-sufficient.

Answer 206

Strategic materials like coal and iron ore had to be imported from German occupied territories. Germany became increasingly reluctant to divert resources to Italy as the war began to go badly for them.

Answer 207

The generals were steeped in the defensive traditions of WW1 and were unsure of the usefulness of air support. The navy also adopted a defensive strategy, reluctant to risk their new battleships against the British fleet.

Answer 208

In June 1940, fewer than 800,000 men were ready to fight and they were largely equipped with rifles and artillery dating back to WW1.

Answer 209

As during WW1, there were language problems between the officer class and peasant conscripts. This led to low morale, as seen in the massive numbers of Italian prisoners taken in Africa.

Answer 210

large-scale armaments production during wartime.

Answer 211

A short war - Mussolini thought it would be over by September 1940.

Answer 212

Wheat production

Answer 213

Rations fell to just 1,000 calories a day; bread rations were the lowest any any combatant country other than the USSR.

Answer 214

Coffee, petrol and soap

Answer 215

Only 1,000 effective planes, and they were of inferior quality.

Answer 216

The Fiat CR42 was slow and under armed compared to British and German planes.

Answer 217

1,500 This became a major problem as the Second World War was to be a mechanised war.

Answer 218

Steel production This, along with shortages of other raw materials, meant that losses, particularly in tanks and aircraft, could not be replaced. Fiat and Spa could only produce 2,550 vehicles a month in 1941, when they had produced 4,883 a month in 1938.

Answer 219

Italian economy only working at 25% of its capacity during WW2. For example, many Italians remained unemployed.

Answer 220

The USA could produce more aircraft in a week then Italy could in a year.

Answer 221

Minister of War Minister of Navy Minister of the Air force

Answer 222

As Minister of War, Minister of Navy and Minister of the Air Force, Mussolini made all strategic decisions e.g where and when to attack. He often made decisions without consulting military experts. He promoted officers more for their obedience and powers of flattery than for their merit.

Answer 223

* Rationing * Food and clothing shortages/rising prices * Disgruntled population * Loss of support for Mussolini * Economic problems * Longer working hours * Allied bombing raids

Answer 224

Italy's failings in the Second World War were due to a range of factors. Firstly, Mussolini's dominance of all leadership roles led to inertia at the top of Italy's military. Mussolini was unable to prioritise the key aspects of the war that required his attention. Italy's military equipment was mostly obsolete and unable to fulfil the requirements of the mobile war in Africa. Antiquated tactics from the First World War and the problems of language still persisted. Economically, Italy's industry was unable to meet the practical demands of the Second World War. It was never organised to meet the fundamental requirements of total war.

Answer 225

* Strikes * Antifascist groups * Conservative elite

Answer 226

The combined effects of economic turmoil, rationing, food and clothing shortages and Allies bombings led to growing unrest among the Italian people, culminating in Italy's first strikes for over 18 years and first mass protest within Axis-controlled Europe.

Answer 227

March 1943

Answer 228

Turin, this then spread to to Milan and other areas.

Answer 229

Communist workers.

Answer 230

Better pay for people forced to evacuate their homes.

Answer 231

When the government agreed to increase the money for evacuees. The industrial action clearly demonstrated the political weakness of the fascist regime by 1943.

Answer 232

They were the first mass protest within axis-controlled Europe. Showed how communism and socialism were still able to influence Italian workers despite 20 years of fascist rule, which considerably alarmed Mussolini.

Answer 233

Antifascist groups

Answer 234

L'Unita - illegal COMMUNIST newspaper

Answer 235

The "Party of Action"

Answer 236

Republicans, radicals and left-leaning liberals.

Answer 237

The Christian Democrats. This was formed with Church backing in the middle of 1942.

Answer 238

extremely covert and illegal.

Answer 239

Mussolini's secret police.

Answer 240

1,400 However, these groups were never suppressed the same way as Nazi Germany.

Answer 241

Returning soldiers were able to give news of conditions on the frontline.

Answer 242

The re-emergence of political antifascism after 18 years.

Answer 243

Antifascist slogans

Answer 244

ALL groups, except for republicans, agreed to work together against fascism. This was the first time in Italian politics that the communists, socialists and Catholics had agreed to collaborate. None of these groups had the potential to overthrow Mussolini, but antifascist politics was remerging and discussion beginning on the nature of the Italian political system once fascism was removed.

Answer 245

The conservative elite that he had skilfully worked with since he had become prime minister in 1922.

Answer 246

* The Vatican * Military leaders * Industrialists * The police

Answer 247

A weakened figure, beset by illness and stress and without any plans for how Italy should progress in the war.

Answer 248

How to extract Italy from the war and overthrow Mussolini without provoking the Germans who could easily occupy Italy if Hitler believed it was necessary - something Italy was not in a position to do.

Answer 249

3rd September 1943

Answer 250

* 13th May 1943 * 9th July 1943 * 19th July 1943 * 17th August 1943 * 3rd September 1943

Answer 251

Axis troops in North Africa surrendered to Allied forces and, with Tunisia occupied, a route to invade Sicily was opened up.

Answer 252

British, American and Commonwealth troops landed in Sicily. They faced little resistance and had occupied the western half of the island within a week.

Answer 253

Germany, Italy, and Japan.

Answer 254

* Mussolini met Hitler and requested troops to be moved from the Soviet Union (where Germany was fighting) to the Mediterranean to help defend Italy, but this was rejected. * Allied planes bombed Rome, leaving 1,500 dead. * Mussolini showed his inadequacies as a military leader when he asked one of his generals if there was any plan in place to defend Sicily, despite the fact that Mussolini had placed HIMSELF in charge of the whole military campaign so drawing up a strategy was in fact his job.

Answer 255

The Allies had control of Sicily. THIS WAS THE FIRST ALLIED FOOTHOLD ON EUROPEAN SOIL SINCE THE START OF THE WAR.

Answer 256

17th August 1943

Answer 257

* Unpopularity of war; allied invasion * The King * Dino Grandi/leading fascists wanted him removed. * Grand Council removed him

Answer 258

The plan to depose Mussolini beginning in late 1942, when leading fascists Dino Grandi and Galeazzo Ciano raised the idea of seeking peace.

Answer 259

Dino Grandi Galeazzo Ciano

Answer 260

The King - so Grandi needed his support.

Answer 261

The King and Grandi discussed options and creating a government that could negotiate with the allies. The Vatican and the King opened up secret police talks with the Allies.

Answer 262

The allied invasion of Sicily

Answer 263

16th July 1943

Answer 264

A deputation of fascists met Mussolini and convinced him to call a grand council.

Answer 265

Getting the necessary support from other leading fascists, and obtaining the support of the King's advisors, army generals and chiefs of police.

Answer 266

Only 1-2 days before the council met.

Answer 267

July 24th 1943 It is debatable whether Mussolini understood the significance of the meeting.

Answer 268

Two hidden grenades.

Answer 269

* Mussolini began with a long, rambling speech that lasted for 2 hours. * Other fasciitis then spoke out against Italy's failure during the war and, after 9 hours, Grandi's motion to remove Mussolini was passed by 19 votes to 7. The Grand Council decided to restore the authority and responsibility of state institutions and return it to the Crown, the grand council, parliament and corporations.

Answer 270

19 votes to 7

Answer 271

* Tired but calm * It's possible that, as dictator, he intended to simply ignore the vote and carry on as usual. Historians can only speculate what Mussolini's mindset was.

Answer 272

The King met Mussolini and informed him that he was to be replaced by Marshal Badoglio. Mussolini attempted to leave but what placed inn an ambulance and taken to prison - an anticlimactic end to Mussolini's reign (although not the end of the story...)

Answer 273

January 1943, although don't invade until September 1943.

Answer 274

* Remove Italy from WW2 * Control the Mediterranean * Force Germany away from the Eastern Front * Force Germany away from northern France - the Allies are planning to liberate France, D-Day.

Answer 275

The British convinced them that an invasion would help the allies to acquire more airfields from which to attack German forces and open up a second front in the Balkans.

Answer 276

A slow war of attrition, which slowed down the allied forces.

Answer 277

Badoglio had begun to negotiate Italy's surrender to the Allied forces. On 3rd September 1943 he promised to secure all of Italy's airfields and ports and hand over the entire navy and airforce. He also guaranteed the Allies 60,000 Italian troops based around Rome. However, by 8th September, the King and Badoglio had not actually done any of this and so Italian troops were confused as to who they were should be fighting for.

Answer 278

Some Italian soldiers surrendered, some tried to get home and, as a result, the Italian army disintegrated.

Answer 279

* To secure all of Italy's airfields and ports * Hand over the entire navy and airforce * 60,000 Italian troops based around Rome

Answer 280

The King and Badoglio had not actually done anything they promise to the Allies e.g handed over the airforce and so the Italian army was confused as to who they were fighting for and was in disarray.

Answer 281

Fighting broke out between Italian AND German armies, and 4,800 captured Italian soldiers were shot for resisting the German army.

Answer 282

German forces poured into Italy to invade them (Mussolini had been deposed by this point).

Answer 283

The King and Badoglio fled South towards the allies, leaving Italy in chaos. They refused to issue orders to the Italian army to fight the Germans in case this led to Germans murdering Italian civilians, but this lack of direction meant that Rome was easily captured by the Germans.

Answer 284

13th September 1943

Answer 285

9 months * Much of the fighting took place along the Apennine mountains where the Germans halted the allied advance for 4 months. * Poor weather meant that the Allies and the Germans were engaged in a war of attrition in mud and snow.

Answer 286

Four battles

Answer 287

6 divisions of troops were diverted to France from April 1944 to prepare for D-Day which was the priority.

Answer 288

Long and brutal and only ended when the war in Europe ended.

Answer 289

June 4th 1944

Answer 290

Rome captured by the Allies

Answer 291

2nd May 1945, 20 months after the allied invasion of southern Italy. The Allies really only occupy Italy completely by the end of the war.

Answer 292

Badoglio begins to negotiate Italy's surrender

Answer 293

The King and Badoglio hadn't handed over navy/airforce etc. to the Allies and Italian soldiers were left confused as to who they should be fighting for.

Answer 294

German forces enter Italy to invade

Answer 295

Italy was declared at war with Germany

Answer 296

Allies diverting troops to France for D-Day

Answer 297

Rome was captured by Allies

Answer 298

All of Italy was under Allied control

Answer 299

* Mistakes by the Italians e.g King and Badoglio fleeing and leaving Italian soldiers confused * Allied forces e.g diverting troops for D-Day *Other reasons for the slow invasion e.g King and Badoglio negotiating Italy's surrender

Answer 300

The Hoare-Laval Pact

Answer 301

October 1922

Answer 302

Pact of Steel

Answer 303

Political dealings

Answer 304

Matteotti crisis

Answer 305

Anti-semitic decrees, Anschluss, disgruntled population, rations

Answer 306

Workers and employers working in harmony. Employees and employers administered various sectors of the national economy. These were represented in the national council of corporations. The corporations served to combat socialism and syndicalism by absorbing the trade union movement.

Answer 307

The time between Mussolini's dismissal and his escape, made possible by a daring aerial raid by German commandos. Much happened in these 45 days.

Answer 308

* Demonstrations in favour of peace took place all across Italy. * The Germans took control of Rome * Marshal Badoglio's government held peace talks in secret with the allies.

Answer 309

Mussolini transferred to a prison on Gran Sasso, the highest mountain in the Abruzzi region south east of Rome.

Answer 310

28th August 1943

Answer 311

12th September 1943

Answer 312

* On 12th September 1943, Otto Skorzeny and 16 SS troopers joined the Fallschirmjäger to rescue Mussolini in a high-risk glider mission. * Furious and fearful of the implications of a potential alliance between the Allies and what he presumed would now be a hostile Italy, Hitler decided the only course of action was to annex former Italian territory and overseas possessions and rescue his fellow dictator from captivity * The rescue of Benito Mussolini would be codenamed Operation Eiche. * Intercepted radio transmissions revealed Mussolini was being held under armed guard in the Hotel Campo, a ski resort high in the Apennine Mountains in the Gran Sasso region of southern Italy. * Skorzeny located Mussolini and told him that he had been sent by Hitler to take him to Germany. Il Duce and Skorzeny escaped in a small Fieseler Storch aircraft.

Answer 313

Mussolini met with Hitler at the Nazi control centre in East Prussia. Here, Hitler demanded that Mussolini return to Italy at the head of a new fascist government that the Nazis would establish.

Answer 314

Four gruelling battles over several months. The Allies finally achieved a breakout in May 1944. Kesselring managed to organise a successful retreat of most of his German army, which prolonger the fighting in Italy.

Answer 315

D-Day landings in Normandy

Answer 316

D-Day resulted in six Allied divisions being removed from Italy.

Answer 317

The priority for the Allied High Command was to keep as many German divisions in Italy for the rest of the war rather than trying to achieve a rapid victory in Italy.

Answer 318

More than 300,000

Answer 319

Northern Italy became embroiled in a vicious civil war between Italian Fascist supporters and partisans determined to bring about the final destruction of Fascist Italy and Mussolini.

Answer 320

Mussolini announced the creation of a new German-sponsored Fascist state, The Italian Social Republic, more commonly referred to derisively as the Salò Republic (RSI).

Answer 321

The Salò Republic (RSI) or the Republic of Salò

Answer 322

At Gargano on Lake Garda

Answer 323

German arms

Answer 324

Only a small part of northern Italy

Answer 325

* Many Italians had lost faith in Mussolini who was suffering from ill health by now * Mussolini was too dependent on Germany * By 1944 the partisans posed a serious threat in the north

Answer 326

A last minute puppet Fascist regime based in Salò on Lake Garda - Germans had rescued Mussolini from his mountain prison and restored him in the north as ruler of the “Italian Social Republic.” Although the Republic exercised official sovereignty in northern Italy, as a puppet regime it had no power and was dependent on the German military to maintain control.

Answer 327

A new German-sponsored Fascist State run by Mussolini.

Answer 328

The conservative groups, notably industrialists and the Church, who had largely embraced the pre-war Fascist State.

Answer 329

Mainly radical fascists who had been part of the violent black shirt militia such as Roberto Farinacci.

Answer 330

New manifesto of the RSI - attempt of return to radicalism of the early fascism. Declared Judaism a nationality and that all Jews should be classed as the enemy.

Answer 331

He never had the time, willingness or support from the Germans to put his policies into place.

Answer 332

* It spawned a fearful militia. * Although historians disagree about the number involved, estimates of militia range from 50,000 to 140,000 men. * Had a navy and airforce. * Five fascists, including Ciano, were sentenced to death for treason and their executions carried out in January 1944. * Verona Manifesto - declared Judaism a nationality and that all Jews should be classed as the enemy. * Around 7,500 were sent from Italian camps to Nazi death camps where nearly 7,000 were executed. * German policy set out that for every German soldier that died, 10 Italians would be executed. Partisan attacks in March 1944 that killed 33 German soldiers for example, had been answered with the execution of 335 Italians.

Answer 333

50,000 to 140,000

Answer 334

Five fascists, including Ciano. Their executions were carried out in January 1944.

Answer 335

7,500 were sent and nearly 7,000 were executed.

Answer 336

A brutal civil war was waged in northern Italy between Italian partisans and German and RSI forces.

Answer 337

For every German soldier that died, 10 Italians would be executed. Partisan attacks in March 1944 that killed 33 Germans soldiers for example had been answered with the execution of 335 Italians.

Answer 338

The declaration of an Armistice on 8th September 1943 took place.

Answer 339

Ivanoe Bonomi, a liberal

Answer 340

The Kingdom of the South, that came under the control of king Victor Emmanuel and his provisional government. * However, the provisional government's power was limited, with the Allies holding real power and authority within southern Italy.

Answer 341

Mussolini - after he was rescued by the German forces.

Answer 342

After a small lakeside resort on the shore of Lake Garda where some government agencies of this new republic had been established.

Answer 343

15th September 1943

Answer 344

In reality, there was no clear central authority for the Salò Republic. Mussolini's residence was not in Salò and many government agencies were based in Milan.

Answer 345

Because he feared this would allow Mussolini to develop an effective power base which could become a threat to German interests within Italy - don't fully trust each other.

Answer 346

Rome - even though Mussolini held no direct authority over Rome.

Answer 347

Only 600 days Mussolini was both the head of state and foreign minister, refusing to recognise the authority of the Italian King Victor Emmanuel III.

Answer 348

Various government departments were established which where headed by loyal Fascists such as general Rodolfo Graziani, who was given the position of defence minister.

Answer 349

Rodolfo Graziani

Answer 350

The Republican Fascist party, which was headed by Alessandro Pavolino.

Answer 351

Alessandro Pavolino

Answer 352

Alessandro Pavolino remained in this post until April 1945 when he was captured by partisans alongside Mussolini and was also executed.

Answer 353

The Republican Fascist Party had only 487,000 members compared with the 2.6 million members of the PNF in 1939.

Answer 354

487,000 (compared to 2.6 million members of the PNF in 1939)

Answer 355

* Army * Navy * Air force which fought alongside German forces - funded by Germans.

Answer 356

Four divisions, consisting of approximately 50,000 men.

Answer 357

Could be used to demonstrate the continuing power of fascism, over the young in particular, although fear and repression were used to "encourage" the response.

Answer 358

There was a Fascist police force and Fascist militias (known as the Black Brigades) continued to operate.

Answer 359

The Black Brigades

Answer 360

They performed a key role in fighting Italian partisans.

Answer 361

Those who had voted for Grandi's motion on 25th July were condemned to death and FIVE OF THEM were executed including Mussolini's son in law, count Galeazzo Ciano.

Answer 362

That in this new republic he was returning to the founding principles of the Fascist movement, to revolutionary fascism away from the conservatism of the previous Fascist regime.

Answer 363

* Many Italians had completely lost faith in Mussolini and the Fascists. * The republic was heavily dependent upon German support. * Mussolini was closely controlled by the Germans and was treated as the puppet leader. * Mussolini had lost his charisma and was suffering from ill-health. * By 1944, the partisans posed an increasing and serious threat to German forces and the Salò Republic.

Answer 364

Italians who want to fight against the Germans and the RSI forces

Answer 365

Waged in the north between partisans and German and RSI forces.

Answer 366

The Germans ran almost EVERYTHING in the Salò Republic, including the telephones and post.

Answer 367

In reality, in both northern and southern Italy, real power resided with FOREIGN/EXTERNAL POWERS - Germans and Allies.

Answer 368

Unpopular - Mussolini in ill health and too dependent on Germany.

Answer 369

Brutal, terror regime - Verona Manifesto, civilian killings, civil war

Answer 370

The part of southern Italy controlled by the Allied Military Government (AMG).

Answer 371

The King established the royal government of the Kingdom of the South - provisional government.

Answer 372

The Allied Military Government (AMG)

Answer 373

Again, this government had virtually no power and was under the control of the Allies that expanded as the allied force pushed north.

Answer 374

The provisional government had virtually no power and was under control of the Allies.

Answer 375

The conservative elites, many of whom had been involved with national or local government, kept their positions to help make sure the country could still function in some form.

Answer 376

To widen his government to include antifascist parties. Badoglio was removed as the head of government and was replaced by antifascist liberal Ivanoe Bonomi.

Answer 377

It had an army but struggled to conscript Italians. There was an attempt to conscript 100,000 men to form an Italian army but the anger at the King and the state of war meant that it was resisted by most men. Although 50,000 were eventually forced in to the army, the antifascist war of liberation was fought solely in the north and this lead to post-war divisions.

Answer 378

50,000 men (who were mostly forced)

Answer 379

The anger at the King and the state of war meant that it was resisted by most men.

Answer 380

It was small to begin with, the Nazis had ruled Rome and so the Allies directly ruled Sicily and most of southern Italy in the form of Allied Military Government (AMG).

Answer 381

Sardinia and four south-eastern provinces. Even those were concessions by the Allies to give the new government credibilty.

Answer 382

Barely, only 22 divisions remained out of the 62 that existed on the 8th September.

Answer 383

Many army officers had simply dissolved their units, the soldiers returning home if they were lucky, or taken prisoner and transported to Germany if not.

Answer 384

The German commander general Kesselring, who organised his forces to maintain stubborn defensive lines in Italy.

Answer 385

Resulted in many Italians having to live in terrible conditions and reliance on the extortionate black market became essential to survive. Corruption was widespread, which was made worse by the US decision to exploit the Mafia.

Answer 386

The Mafia - to gain information and help undermine the German position and Fascist supporters within Italy.

Answer 387

Poor and declining economic conditions

Answer 388

Made many Italians less supportive of the Allies

Answer 389

An alternative "government" sprang up in Bari, led by anti-Fascists who refused to support Badoglio's government, and who wanted the monarchy to go.

Answer 390

Make itself more credible by aiding the military situation in Normandy.

Answer 391

Normal - alliance between Catholics, Socialists, Liberals came together to create a government.

Answer 392

the support of German troops.

Answer 393

January 1944: Allied troops landed at Anzio. May 1944: The German Gustav defensive line collapsed and the strategically important town of Cassini fell

Answer 394

January 1944: Allied troops landed at Anzio. May 1944: The German Gustav defensive line collapsed and the strategically important town of Cassino fell to the Allied forces.

Answer 395

Germany was on the verge of defeat across Europe, and German troops in Italy rapidly retreated to the Austrian border. Mussolini was now 61 years old and lacked the charisma and energy of his early years in power. In many ways, he was now a disillusioned and broken man.

Answer 396

Mussolini blamed the Italian population for the failure to achieve the glorious expansion of the Italian empire.

Answer 397

The vast majority of Italians were no longer motivated or persuaded by Fascist propaganda.

Answer 398

That a new German miracle weapon would reverse the military advance of the Allies. He also hoped that the USA and Britain would turn on the USSR and would need the support of Italy and Germany, but these hopes were completely unrealistic.

Answer 399

No By 1944, it was clear that the Germans were losing the war, thus making the Salò Republic incredibly weak. Without the support of German troops, the RSI could not survive.

Answer 400

Kept themselves to themselves and waited for the allies to arrive in the north of Italy.

Answer 401

16th December 1944

Answer 402

Received a standing ovation and drew enormous cheering crowds as he toured bombed-out areas of Milan.

Answer 403

Capture major areas of northern Italy

Answer 404

He contemplated suicide, although he expressed hopes of escaping to Switzerland.

Answer 405

Mussolini headed towards Lake Como on the Swiss border, followed by several cars of supporters, including his mistress Clara Petacci. He had no clear plan and his entourage joined with a German military convoy, which was then stopped by Italian communist partisans 50km short of the Swiss border two days later.

Answer 406

Clara Petacci

Answer 407

Partisans stopped the convoy Mussolini was travelling in with evacuating German soldiers. Mussolini had disguised himself as a German soldier but was recognised by the partisans and taken prisoner/arrested.

Answer 408

Mussolini claimed to be in possession of mysterious documents which could be used to gain a favourable peace for Italy, but those claims were ignored and he was taken to the village of Dongo on Lake Garda.

Answer 409

To the village of Dongo on Lake Garda.

Answer 410

The local partisan leader, colonel Valerio, ordered his execution (Valerio was a pseudonym and nobody is certain what his real name was, although the communist partisans and politicians Luigi Longo and Walter Audisio were suggested. Mussolini, his mistress Clara Petacci and 12 other captured fascists were shot in machine gun fire.

Answer 411

His and Clara Petacchi's bodies were displayed in Milan where huge crowds attacked Mussolini's body and then both their mutilated bodies were hung upside down on the girders of a petrol station in Piazzale Loreto in Milan.

Answer 412

28th April 1945

Answer 413

Undignified and humiliating end for Mussolini.

Answer 414

Fighting in northern Italy continued, however on 1st May 1945, news came through of Hitler's death and on the 2nd May 1945, THE WAR IN ITALY CAME TO AN END.

Answer 415

2nd May 1945

Answer 416

* Terrible state. * Economy and infrastructure were ruined. * Many Italians lacked clean food and water. * Millions of Italians were unemployed. * Cost of living was 23 times higher than in 1938. * Half a million Italians, including civilians, had lost their lives in the war. * 30,000 partisan revenge killings were estimated to have taken place following Germany's surrender.

Answer 417

Half a million, including civilians

Answer 418

The North had experienced the majority of the fighting.

Answer 419

Socialists, Communists and Christian Democrats Uniting together

Answer 420

The Christian Democrats who were the successors of the Catholic party

Answer 421

To become a republic

Answer 422

Italy voted to become a republic

Answer 423

12.7 million votes to 10.7 million votes Virtually every area in the south voted to keep the King and virtually every area in the north voted to become a republic showing how divided the two sides were. *Italy doesn't have a king today and has therefore been a republic ever since.

Answer 424

One based on proportional representation. Elections were held for a new Constituent Assembly on the same day as the referendum on the monarchy. For the first time, women were allowed to vote.

Answer 425

After the war in 1945

Answer 426

The Christian Democrats were victorious, securing 𝟮𝟬𝟳 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟱𝟱𝟲 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘀 (around 37%), the Socialists 𝟮𝟭% of the seats and the Communists 𝟭𝟵% of the seats. The old Liberal party only secured 𝟳% of the seats.

Answer 427

* The senate was to be elected * The president became largely symbolic * The PM would be elected mainly by parliament * Government was to be a cabinet of ministers which would be responsible to the parliament

Answer 428

It was anti-fascist in construction and definition - a weak government that would not be able to repeat the fascist year. * 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗱. * The monarchy was replaced by a president as Head of State. * Mussolini's Lateran Pacts were actually included in the Constitution.

Answer 429

* Italy lost its lands in Africa * Had to hand Fiume back to Yugoslavia * Had to pay compensation to Yugoslavia, Abyssinia, Greece and Albania

Answer 430

A president as Head of State

Answer 431

His family tomb in Predappio attracts 100,000 visitors every year.