CHALLENGES TO, AND THE FALL OF, THE FASCIST STATE 1935-1946 Flashcards
1
Q
What were Mussolini’s foreign policy aims before 1935?
A
- To assert Italy’s position as a world power
- The reverse the treaty of Versailles settlements in order to overcome the shame of the mutilated victory
- Consolidate Italy’s rule in Lybia and other parts of Africa
- Extend influence in the Mediterranean Sea which he believed was unfairly dominated by the Allies and thus made Italy “a prisoner of the sea”
- Achieve expansion of the spazio vitale (living space)
2
Q
What was the Corfu incident?
A
- 1923
- Italian general (Tellini) murdered
- Mussolini claimed that the Greek government had financed the assassination of Tellini
- Demanded that they attend a funeral service in Athens, where they would publicly honor the Italian flag and pay 50 million lire
- Otherwise, Mussolini would invade Corfu
- August 31st, Mussolini invaded without warning and was forced to withdraw from Corfu by the League of Nations who would crush the Italian army within 48 hours
- Still acquired 50 million lire from Greece
- Showed Mussolini as a dynamic ruler willing to engage in action to stand up for Italy’s pride
- Led to opposition from the league of Nations and was forced to step down
3
Q
What happened at Fiume?
A
- 1924
- Yugoslavia recognized Fiume as a part of Italy
- Considered a great victory for Mussolini
- Displayed success of fascism where the liberal government had failed
- Yugoslavia no longer needed Fiume so was merely a domestic victory
4
Q
What was the Locarno Pact?
A
- 1925
- Mussolini helped facilitate Locarno Pact
- Associated with with the great powers
- On an equal level with the other European countries
5
Q
What was the Pacification of Libya?
A
- Mussolini continued the brutal was against the Libyan rebellion that started during the First World War
- Chemical warfare
- over 1/3 of the population either killed or starved to death
6
Q
Italian relations with Britain:
A
- Historically positive relationship after the first world war
- Churchill admired Mussolini, called him a “genius”
- Britain gave out vast loans to Italy for quota 90 to be possible
- Britain refused to compromise on naval control in the Mediterranean which conflicted with Mussolini’s foreign policy aims
- Relations worsened after the Corfu incident 1923 leading to policies of rearmament
7
Q
Italian relations with France:
A
- Majority of antifascist exiles settled in France
- French unrest at OVRA operations in Paris
- Viewed France as its rival to expansion policies
- France concerned about security of Tunisia
- Mussolini acknowledged the power of France and was prepared for co-operation
8
Q
Italian relations with Germany:
A
- Mussolini was concerned that any nationalist government may seek to unite Austria and Germany (Anschluss)
- Mussolini and Hitler had mutual respect and often exchanged letters
- Mussolini provided Hitler with political guidance as Hitler promised to pursue an alliance between Italy and Germany
- Hitler’s appointment as Chancellor worried Mussolini as he further feared Anschluss
- Mussolini introduced the “Four Power Pact” between Britain, France, Italy and Germany that promised Hitler parity of arms with Italy and alluded to territorial changes to the Versailles settlement
- Britain and France never ratified the pact
- Despite the failure of the pact, the Nazi attempt to pursue Anschluss but Mussolini declared he would not allow for it to take place
9
Q
What was the Stresa Front?
A
- 1935, Hitler openly accounted for secret rearmament
- This was a direct breach of the Treaty of Versailles
- Increased Mussolini’s concern about Hitler’s reliability
- In retaliation to Hitler’s declaration, Mussolini met with British and French foreign ministers at Stresa to discuss actions
- All agreed upon desire for peace and commitment to the League of Nations
- Agreement to support Italy’s goals in Africa in return for anti-Germany action in the Stresa front
- Mussolini inserted the words “in Europe” to portray the approval of invasion into Abyssinia
10
Q
What were Mussolini’s motivations for action in Abyssinia?
A
- Would provide a short term economic stimulus
- Would provide raw materials and areas for agricultural expansion, contributing to autarky
- Gain to empire
- Appeased politicians who were concerned that Mussolini needed to pursue a more fascist direction
- A successful campaign in Africa would demonstrate to Hitler the power of his fascist rule and prevent the Anschluss with Austria
11
Q
What was the invasion of Abyssinia?
A
- 1935
- Force of 400000 men
- Italians quickly seized Adwa and other border towns
- Involved mass bombings, the murder of prisoners of war and the illegal use of poisonous chemicals
- 20 million Italians listened to a public radio announcement
12
Q
What were the outcomes of the invasion of Abyssinia?
A
- Sanctions placed on Italy banning weapons sales and rubber and metal imports
- Massive propaganda success for Mussolini, portraying him as a leader who was standing up to the world and defying attempts to limit Italian power
- “Gold for Patria” campaign, Queen Elena presented her wedding ring to be melted down to help the campaign, thousands of women followed suit and were given steel rings to symbolize marriage to the nation
- Achieved true greatness for Italy
13
Q
What were the failures of the invasion of Abyssinia?
A
- 2/3 of the country was still to be occupied
- Only 130000 Italians ever settled in Abyssinia and hope of gaining raw materials and agricultural land never materialized
- Lira devalued by 40%
- Death of 500000 Abyssinians using illegal chemical weapons
- Altered the perception of Mussolini and Fascism
14
Q
How did Mussolini intervene in the Spanish civil war?
A
- Response to fear of concessions for actions in Africa
- 1936, Mussolini joined Germany in committing troops to the Spanish Civil war on the side of General Franco
- Marked the first time Italian fascism and German Nazism fought on the same side
- A victory would earn Italy a new ally
- Mussolini sent 50000 soldiers, 1400 pilots, 400 fighter planes and 200 bombers into Spain
- Despite Victory, 3266 soldiers killed
- Cost 14 billion lire which further reduced its value
- Intervention was not supported by Italian people and hampered Italy’s attempt to consolidate its position in Africa
- Army greatly weakened, demonstrated in defeat at Guadalajara
- Overall, an unnecessary movement that led to the breakdown of relations with Britain and France
15
Q
Why did Diplomatic relations with Britain and France breakdown?
A
- Abyssinian war seen as a breach of the Stresa Front
- Mussolini undermined France’s influence in the Mediterranean by intervening in the Spanish civil war
- Italian submarines, pretending to be Spanish, attacked neutral shipping in the Mediterranean, angering the British government
- Italian bombing raid on Spanish ports sunk 11 British ships
- The British and Italian government signed the “Gentlemen’s agreement” to limited Italy’s intervention in the Spanish war, Mussolini simply ignored it
- The Rome-Berlin Axis in 1936 was an informal co-operation between Italy and Germany
- Italy withdrew from the League of Nations
