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History A Level - Italy > Foreign Policy > Flashcards

Foreign Policy Flashcards

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1
Q

Why did Mussolini desire to have a strong foreign policy?

A
  • Weak foreign policy contributed to collapse of Liberal Italy (e.g Mutilated victory)
  • Wanted to establish Italy as a ‘great power’, furthing his ides of nationalism
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2
Q

How could Mussolini’s choices over foreign policy be described?

A
  • Actions were often erratic and opportunistic

* Used it to maximise his prestige and popularity than achieve material gains for Italy

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3
Q

What were the key aims of Mussolini’s foreign policy

A
  • ‘to make Italy great, respected and feared’
  • Stand up for Italy’s territorial claims, revising ToV settlements/overturn mutilated victory
  • Expand Italian imperialism in other parts of Africa besides Lybia
  • Assert greater power in the Mediterranean which was dominated by Britain
  • Gain the Balkans as an Italian sphere of influence
  • Create ‘spacio vitale’ for a more militant, aggressive race
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4
Q

What was Mussolini’s approach to foreign policy in each decade he was in power?

A
  • 1920s : cautious, compromises with Britain and the LoN
  • Early/Mid 1930s: fears around more militant Germany, sided with Britain/France
  • Mid/Late 1930s: became more aggressive, conflict with Britain/LoN and greater relationship between Hitler and Mussolini
  • 1940s: WW2, the desire for strong policy was greater than actual capabilities
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5
Q

What were tensions like between Greece and Italy before Mussolini rose to power?

A

Sour since 1912 due to Italy claiming the Dodecanese Islands

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6
Q

Describe the events of the relations between Greece and Italy in 1923

A
  • 27th August - Italian General Enrico Tellini and 4 of his staff were assassinated in Greece, had been working to set up a peace settlement/establishing Greek-Albanian boundary
  • Mussolini blamed Greek government for financing/carrying out assassination. Demanded a full apology and 50 million lire or the Italiam army would invade Corfu
  • August 31st - Italy bombarded Corfu without warning and occupied island
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7
Q

How were the events of Corfu a success for Mussolini/Italy?

A
  • Actions celebrated by nationalist and many withing elite elements of Italian politics incl. head of navy
  • Got the 50 million lire it demanded
  • Domestically showed Mussolini to be a dynamic ruler who stood up for Italy’s national pride. Helped to cement his power due to contrast to liberal government
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8
Q

How were the events of Corfu a failure for Mussolini/Italy?

A
  • LoN demanded Mussolini end the occupation of Corfu, decision was also backed by Britain
  • Mussolini had little choice but to comply with the LoN . 27th September withdrew
  • Mussolini’s decisions were shaped by the reality of Italy’s power - head of the navy said that they wouldn’t survive 48 hours if Britain acted
  • Didn’t get full apology from Greek government
  • Internationally Mussolini face opposition from the league and had to accept the power exerted by Britain and France
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9
Q

What happened in January 1924?

A

Yugoslavia recognised the Italian-speaking city of Fiume as being part of Italy

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10
Q

How was Fiume a success for Italy/Mussolini?

A
  • Had historical significance of d’Annunzio’s occupation of the city, seen to be very significant for nationalism in Italy
  • Showed Mussolini as able to achieve what the liberal government had not
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11
Q

How was Fiume a failure for Italy/Mussolini?

A
  • Was mainly symbolic, Yugoslavia now had Split as a port
  • Italy recognised Yugoslavian rule of Susak in exchange for Fiume
  • No material gains for Italy
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12
Q

How did Mussolini treat Yugoslavia from after Fiume?

A
  • Funded ethnic minorities such as the Croats who opposed the government
  • In 1934 Croatian terrorists - funded and training on bases provided by Italian fascist - assassinated the Yugoslavian king
  • Yugoslavia did not antagonise Italy but also refused to be intimidated into subservience
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13
Q

How did Mussolini get involved in Albania?

A
  • 1924 - Italian sponsored local chieftain, Ahmed Zog took power on border of Albania and Yugoslavia
  • Fascists continued to support Zog with money, encouraged Italian companies to invest in Albania and sent Italian officers to advise the Albanian army
  • By 1926 Albania was little more than a satellite state to Italy
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14
Q

How did Mussolini advance Italian influence in Lybia?

A
  • Continues ‘pacification of Lybia’ begun by Liberals
  • Used brutal measure of poison gas, mass executions and use of concentration camps
  • 1/3 of the population were killed or starved to death including 40,000 in concentration camps
  • Put down Lybian rebellion in 1932
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15
Q

What helped to shaped Italian relations with Britain, France and Germany?

A

The contrast between the desires of Mussolini’s foreign policy and the reality of Italy’s military and diplomatic power

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16
Q

What happened with the Locarno pact?

A
  • Saw Germany join the
  • Mussolini tried, unsuccessfully, link in negotiations around the Austrian border with Italy
  • Portrayed involvement as success to Italian people as being part of a prestigious conference
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17
Q

What issues saw unity/agreement between Italy and Britain?

A
  • Historically had good relations
  • Mussolini was well liked by Churchill and foreign minister Austen Chamberlin
  • Revaluation of the Lira was dependant on funding from Britain - so Mussolini had to be diplomatic
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18
Q

What issues saw disagreement between Italy and Britain?

A
  • Mediterranean was dominated by Britain and would not concede any power
  • Mussolini tried to undermine British power by supporting pro Italian groups in Malta
  • Italy unable to stand up to Britain re. Corfu
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19
Q

Overall what were Italian British relations like between 1922 and 1935?

A
  • Mainly good
  • Dominated by Britain and Italy having to comply due to political and socio-economic reasons
  • Tension over the Mediterranean meant that in the surface they had a good relation but underneath it was tenser
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20
Q

What were the several areas of tensions between Italy and France?

A
  • Mussolini saw France as a major competitor in Africa and the Mediterranean
  • France controlled Tunisia which had a high Italian speaking population, the French were suspicious of Mussolini
  • Mussolini unsuccessfully tried to look into an anti-french alliance with German, Hungary and Spain
  • The majority of antifascist exiles from Italy lived in France, so OVRA were spying in France
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21
Q

Where was there an agreement between the French and Italians?

A

They helped to create the Locarno Pact together

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22
Q

Where were there disagreements between Germany and Italy?

A
  • Mussolini had little respect for Weimar Germany, said it was run by socialist and pacifists
  • Mussolini attempted to create the four power (Italy, Germany, France, Britain) pact but failed
  • Mussolini mobilised four divisions in 1934 when Hitler first attempted the Anschluss, seen to stop union
  • Mussolini was worried Hitler coming to power and the Anschluss could have threatened Italian power in the Balkans
  • Personal insults were thrown between the two - Mussolini called Hiter a ‘horrible sexual degenerate’
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23
Q

Why did Hitler not entirely shun Mussolini?

A

In the early years, he was interested in building relations with another fascist nation

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24
Q

What was the Stressa Front?

A
  • An alliance between Italy France and Britain

* They declared their desire for peace and continuing commitment to the League of Nations

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25
Q

How did the Stressa Front affect Mussolini’s foreign policy?

A
  • Mussolini interpreted the agreement as France and Britain allowing for Italy’s colonial aims in Africa
  • Meant that the invasion of Abyssinia was a turning point in Italy’s foreign policy
26
Q

When did Mussolini plan and carry out the invasion of Abyssinia?

A
  • Planned the invasion from 1932

* Carries it out in 1935

27
Q

Name some of the reasons for the invasion of Abyssinia

A
  • Helped the economy
  • Would show the dynamism of racism, bring about the transformation Italy into a nation of more warlike people
  • Achieve autarky, Abyssinia would provide raw materials and more area for agriculture. It would also create an export market for Italy
  • Boost cult of il Duce and add prestige to dictatorship. Helps to make Italy a great power
  • Distract from poor domestic policy (corporate state, battles for births and grain)
  • Part of Italy’s history Destiny (Roman empire)
  • Abyssinia lacked means to fight a modern war and Italian colonies of Eritrea and Somaliland were conventions places from which to attack
28
Q

What were the 4 key events that led up to the Abyssinian invasion?

A
  • 1929: soldier began to occupy disputed border areas between Italian Somaliland and Abyssinia
  • 1930 : Italy built a fort at the Walsall oasis (well inside Abyssinian territory)
  • December 1934: skirmish between Italian and Abyssinian troops, 30 Italians and 107 Abyssinians killed.
  • Mussolini demanded full apology and heavy compensation while Abyssinia wanted a league of nation investigation
29
Q

What happened during the invasion of Abyssinia?

A
  • October 1935: 400,000 men deployed to Abyssinia
  • Border towns like Adwa quickly seized but progressed slowed
  • One month in head of army De Bono was replaced with Marshall Badolglio
  • Used aerial mass bombings, murdered prisoners of war and illegal chemical warfare
  • 500,000 Abyssinians estimated to have died
30
Q

When was Abyssinia officially controlled by Italy?

A

5th May 1936

31
Q

How was the Abyssinian invasion a success for Musolini?

A
  • An estimated 20 mil Italians listened to Mussolini’s radio broadcast on the 9th of May 1936 that proclaimed Italy had started its fascist empire, fulfilling image of the new Caesar
  • The Suez Canal remained open
  • Italian people, royal family all supported invasion
  • The Hoare-Laval Pact Dec 1935: secret agreement between foreign ministers of France, UK and Italy would have handed 2/3 of Abyssinia to Mussolini. appeared that Italy was now being taken more seriously
  • 18th Dec 1935: Royal family launched the ‘gold for Patricia’ campaign, queen melted down her wedding ring, women got steel ring to be ‘married to the nation’
32
Q

How was the Abyssinian invasion a failure for Musolini?

A
  • Aims of autarky based on new oil reserves and raw material were never met
  • Cost of supplying the 250,000 troops against guerrilla fighters was considerable
  • Only 2% of Italian trade went to Abyssinia
  • Lire devalued by 40% and the budget deficit rose from 2.6 billion to 16 billion
33
Q

What did the Abyssinian invasion do in terms of foreign relations

A
  • Highlighted weakness of the LoN and encouraged Hitler’s foreign policy aims
  • Began to split Italy’s relations with France and the UK
34
Q

What happened in July 1936

A

Mussolini committed Italian troops to help Franco in the Spanish Civil War

35
Q

What were the positives of getting involved in the Spanish Civil War?

A
  • The establishment of another fascist state withe Franco, supported by 50,000 Italian troops, forced the collapse of the Republican resistance in Spain in 1939
  • Generated stronger ties between Italy and Germany
36
Q

Name the negative consequences of getting involved with the Spanish Civil War

A
  • 3,266 killed, 11,000 wounded
  • Cost 14 billion lire, resulting in increased taxes and further economic dependency on Germany
  • No territorial gains
  • Was not popular with the people who didn’t see any benefit from it
  • Army was significantly weaker in 1939 after engaging in conflict - highlighted with Italian defeat to antifascist volunteers at the battle of Guadalajara
  • Relations with Britain and France who supported the Republican forces deteriorated
37
Q

Why did Mussolini begin to form closer Italian-German relations after 1936?

A
  • Eden, the new British foreign minster, disliked Mussolini
  • Hoare-Loval Pact say British attitudes become more anti Mussolini
  • Italian ships pretending to be Spanish sunk neutral vessels in the Mediterranean
  • Summer 1938 Italian bombing raid of a Spanish port sunk 11 British ships
38
Q

What actions demonstrated closer ties between Italy and Germany?

A
  • November 1937 - Anti- Comintern Pact signed along side Japan
  • December 1938 - Mussolini withdrew of the LoN
  • End to the Stressa front
39
Q

Was the relationship between Italy and Germany equal?

A

No
• Hitler conducted the Anchluss without consulting Mussolini
• At the Munich Conference portrayed to be a peacemaker but he had to work with Germany to exert authority

40
Q

What happened to foreign policy between 1938 and 1939?

A
  • November 1938 - told Parliament to demand the annexation of Nice, Corsica and Tunis from France
  • Invaded Albania in April 1939 to restore economy and Mussolini’s image - but easy as it was already a satellite state
  • Pact of Steel in May 1939 - committed Italy to aid Germany if it went to war. signed due to Mussolini’s belief that Italy needed Germany’s help for Med. foreign pol.
41
Q

What did Ribbentrop (Germany foreign) tell Ciano (Italian foreign minister)? Did this hold true?

A
  • Ciano said Italy wouldn’t be ready for war before 1943
  • Ribbentrop said that Germany wouldn’t start a war before then
  • 11 August 1939 saw Germany tell Italy it was going to invade Poland
42
Q

What was the affect of Italian-German relations on Mussolini’s domestic policy

A

The Anti-Semitic decrees and the ‘Reform of Customs’

43
Q

What did the anti-Semitic decrees state?

A 
Jewish people were forbidden from 
• Marrying a non Jewish person
• Holding public office jobs
• Owning more than 50 hectares of land
• Running a business of more than 100 employees
44
Q

What were the consequences of the anti-Semitic decrees?

A

Over the following 3 years
• 6,000 Jewish people left
• Foreign Jewish people were deported

45
Q

Why did Mussolini implement the anti-Semitic decrees?

A
  • Believed harsher policy towards Jewish people would create more militaristic nation
  • Unify Italy over an ‘external and internal enemy’
  • To create an idea of racial superiority of Italian people
46
Q

What were the reform to customs?

A

An ideological campaign aimed at radicalising Italian society

47
Q

Name the reformed customs

A
  • Civil servants forced to wear uniforms
  • Army adopted the goose step, because it look more imposing
  • Hand shaking forbidden and the introduction of a straight armed ‘Roman Salute’
48
Q

What issues did Mussolini’s foreign policy cause domestically in Italy?

A
  • The anchluss made many Italians fearful

* 1935 - 39, increased military spending accounted fro 80% of the growing defecit

49
Q

What domestic issues was Mussolini facing prior to 1939 that was affecting his foreign policy?

A
  • Reform of customs/anti-Semitic decrees failed to gain support of the church, business and judiciary
  • Seen as a sign of weakness and subordination to Germany
50
Q

What economic issues was Mussolini facing prior to 1939 that was affecting his foreign policy?

A
  • Increasingly reliant on Germany

* Attempts to achieve autarky means that consumer good were becoming more expensive

51
Q

Why did the prospect of Italian neutrality in WW2 cause an issue for Mussolini?

A
  • Fascism had linked militarism and nationalism with its image so being neutral would make Italy appear weak
  • If Germany won, It was unlikely to be kind to any ally that did not contribute to the war effort
  • However Ciano the foreign minster told Mussolini that they should not engage in a costly conflict
52
Q

What did Mussolini do 26th August 1939?

A

Presented Hitler with a costly list of what the Italians needed for war, which amounted to 170 million tonnes of goods

53
Q

How did Hitler respond to Mussolini’s list of goods?

A

Understood that Italy could not get involved in a major conflict and released it from its obligations under the Pact of Steel

54
Q

When did Italy join WW2?

A

June 10th 1940

55
Q

Describe the failures of the Italian military in North Africa

A
  • Retaliation attack from the British in Egypt in January 1941 saw 30,000 British troops defeat 250,000 Italian ones
  • May 1941 - lost Eritrea, Somalia and Abyssinia, 380,000 troops taken prisoner
  • Germany had to come help Italian troops ending the concept of a ‘parallel war’
  • Battle El Alamein saw start of Italian retreat
  • By May 1943 the Axis forces surrendered in north Africa
56
Q

What were the reasons for the failures of the Italian military in North Africa?

A
  • Tactics confusing and inadequate, no consistent strategy for attacking key British positions
  • Allied bases of Malta, Gibraltar and Alexandria never under sustained attack
  • Italian planes bombed own ships July 1940
  • British air attacks saw loss of half of Italian navy fleet at the Battle of Taranto Nov 1940
  • German navy had to help
57
Q

Describe the failures of the Italian military in Greece

A

28th November 1940
• Assumed that Greece had 30,000 troops so attacked with 60,000 men
• Greece had 300,000 troops
• Date was bad with poor weather conditions - some uniforms disintegrated in the rain
• Air force and navy were not coordinating on attack
• Greece counter attack took 1/4 of Albania
• German army came in 6 months later and defeated the Greeks in a few weeks

58
Q

What four reasons can be seen to explain the Italian military defeats of WW2

A
  • Military unpreparedness
  • Inadequate military leadership
  • Mussolini’s inadequate leadership
  • Economic weakness
59
Q

Evidence of military unpreparedness contributing to Italy’s failure in WW2

A
  • Army was small and outdated, fewer than 800,000 soldier ready to fight
  • Italy was only prepared for a short war - M hoped it would be over by Sept 1940
  • Only had 1000 effective planes of inferior quality to the British and German planes
  • Only 1500 armoured cars and light tanks
  • The US could make more aircraft in a week than Italy could in a year
60
Q

Evidence of inadequate military leadership contributing to Italy’s failure in WW2

A
  • Navy adopted defensive strategy to not risk new battleships against the British fleet
  • Language problems between the officer class and peasant conscripts which led to low morale demonstrated by no of Italian PoW, unwilling to die for country
61
Q

Evidence of Mussolini’s weak leadership contributing to Italy’s failure in WW2

A

As minster of war, Minister of the Navy and Minister of the Air Force Mussolini made all strategic decisions and often did not consult military experts. he also promoted officer due to obedience/powers of flatter rather than merit

62
Q

Evidence of economic weakness contributing to Italy’s failure in WW2

A
  • Autarky not been achieves
  • Food production fell with rations at 1000 calories a da
  • Steel production went down 20% 1940-42
  • Coal and iron ore had to be imported from German occupied territories and Germany grew reluctant to give them resources as they both began to do badly in the war

History A Level - Italy (8 decks)

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