Foreign Policy 1935-40 (pg 244) Flashcards
What is important to note about breakdown of Stresa and move to Germany?
Took place over several years and not just driven by common nationalistic ideology ; not defining feature
Mussolini original views of Hitler?
Fanatical get boring - accentuated by the murder of Dollfuss and attempted Anschluss prompting the Stresa Front
Abyssinian war?
Turning point
Hoare-Laval Pact (1936) was leaked and public opinion was outraged ; Anthony Eden much more negative to Mussolini
British public and opinion turning away from Mussolini ; antagonism grew through Spanish a civil War and Italy’s intervention aimed at undermining French influence
What did Italians do that worsened relations even more?
Italian submarines, pretending to be Spanish, sank neutral ships in the Mediterranean and angered the British ; Italian bombing raid in 1938 sunk 11 British ships too
Did they work things out?
Despite this antagonism they came to a Gentleman’s agreement in 1937 ; confirmed the status quo in Mediterranean and limited Italian intervention - April 1938 they recognised Italian rule in Abyssinia
THESE AGREEMENTS HAS NO REAL SUBSTANCE ; ITALY IGNORED AND BRITAIN UNABLE TO STOP ITALY’S MOVE TO GERMANY
Relationship with Germany?
Rome Berlin Axis in October 1936 ; cooperation between the two nations
Spanish civil war had drawn them together
Economically Germany took advantage of Italy’s problems ; exports more reliant on German markets
Mussolini aspiring to Fuhrer?
September 1937 ; 800000 Germans came out to proclaim fascist values - type of militant society he wanted to become - made him sure that Europe’s future is fascist
1937 - anti-Comintern pact ; aimed as much at Britain as USSR
What confirmed Italy’s place alongside Germany?
Anti Comintern pact
Withdrawal from League of Nations in 1937
Confirmed their place as a revisionist power seeking to rewrite the TOV ; end of Stresa Front - could still be trying to gain concessions however by using Germany as a bargaining tool
Anschluss 1938?
No attempt to stop Nazis ; this was unpopular in Italy due to the great fear of Germany on border of Italy - personal failure that questioned his image as a leader who could stand up for Italy’s international affairs
What did Anschluss demonstrate?
That Hitler was more powerful ; Italy became more and more like a German satellite state
Further demonstrated at the Munich Conference of 1938 ; subservient role to Hitler ; greeted as a hero for peace but for him it confirmed a Germany dominated Europe
Evidence to suggest Mussolini wasn’t completely in Hitler’s hands at this point?
Offered a full scale military alliance in 1938 ; but this was rejected as Mussolini trying to negotiate a path between Britain and Germany
Discussed with Ciano the possibility of staying neutral in a possible war
