FP 1935-39 Flashcards
who was leader of Spain in 1936?
General Franco
what were the 2 sides of the Spanish Civil War?
Franco = right-wing military dictatorship backed by Germany + Italy
Government = Republicans backed by France + USSR
what were the reasons M got involved in the Spanish Civil War?
- to secure concessions from Britain and France
- to gain a strategic ally in the Med in Spain which would give them greater control in the area
- to promote authoritarianism in Europe
- enhance the cult of il Duce in Italy
- to increase relations with Germany
when was the Battle of Guadalajara?
March 1937
what happened at the Battle of Guadalajara?
- M ordered his troops to push for Madrid
- Italian troops were stopped at Guadalajara which was 50 km away from Madrid
- the Garibaldi Brigade led by the Rosseli brothers fought against Italian forces
HUGE embarrassment for M
what were the Balearic islands?
Ibiza
Mallorca
these were important for Italy
what political impacts did the Spanish Civil War have on Italy?
- Franco did not concede to M and would not become a satellite state for Italy
- M revealed no concessions which he hoped for
- the war was not popular amongst the Italian people
- looked like Italy was under Nazi control
- complete breakdown in relations with Britain and France
what military impacts did the Spanish Civil War have on Italy?
- 3266 soldiers killed
- 11,000 wounded
- Italy focussing on Spain meant that it’s hold on Abyssinia was lost
- weakened Italian army which was not good for WW2
what socio-economic impacts did the Spanish Civil War have on Italy?
- the war costed 14 billion Lire
- increased taxes set by the govt to pay for the war
- Lira was further devalued
- Italian currency reserves halved
- Italian economy became reliant on Germany
what was the Anti-Comintern pact?
November 1937
agreement against communism
was first agreed between Germany and Japan
seen as a ‘litmus test of loyalty’ for Axis members
what impact did the Anti-Comintern pact have on British, French and German opinions of M?
Italy had now joined a formal alliance with Germany which reinforced it’s ambitions to join the Axis powers
British and French would see this as an act of aggression HOWEVER they both were also against communism so the idea of an anti-Comintern pact was not a threat to them
Germans would see this as an increase in strength for their side
what impact did the Anti-Comintern pact have on M opinions of Britain, France and Germany?
M would now have a more closer relationship with Germany as it was now politically aligned with it against communism
what was the anti-Comintern pact an example of?
Italy moving towards Germany
when did Italy withdraw from the LoN?
December 1937
what impact did Italy leaving the LoN have on British, French and German opinions of M?
marked the end of the Stresa front
Italy followed Germany in leaving the LoN so it was clear that these two were together
the British and French would not have been happy because they were the only great powers left in the LoN so they would have to carry a greater economic weight