How succesful was Mussolini in achieving his foreign policy aims pre-1935

Question 1

Hey is it difficult to understand Mussolini’s aims?

Answer 1

Very erratic and opportunistic

Focused mainly on maximising prestige rather than actually making material gains

Question 2

Mussolini’s aims

Answer 2

Assert Italy’s position as a world power
Assert greater power in Mediterranean
Transform the nation into a more militant aggressive race

Question 3

Italy’s position as a world power?

Answer 3

Overturn the mutilated victory - liberals had been very weak (strong actions to contrast them)
Consolidate Libya
Expand with further colonies in Africa and imperialist ambitions

Question 4

Assert greater power in the Mediterranean?

Answer 4

Italy was a prisoner of the sea in the “Mare Nostrum” ; dominated by Britain and France

Question 5

Transformation?

Answer 5

Militant and aggressive race (reform of customs and anti-semitism 1938) who could claim Italy’s position as a dominant power and achieve the expansion of Italy’s spazio vitale (living space)

Question 6

What caused this aggressive form of irredentism?

Answer 6

Equally nationalistic thought from ANI since 1910 (especially after merger via Federzoni) and Fascism also had an equal part to play

Question 7

Goals vs methods?

Answer 7

Goals did not change until 1940

Methods in which they were achieved certainly did

Question 8

How did methods change?

Answer 8

1920s ; Mussolini was consolidating power internally and much more cautious ; compromise with LON and Britain - also concerned about the rise of Nazism with 1934 Anschluss… keen to form an alliance with Western powers to contain Hitler
1930s - more aggressive foreign policy + consolidation in Africa caused conflict and sanctions with western powers ; pushed him into a fatal alliance with Hitler - intervention with Spanish civil war in 1936-39

Question 9

First requirement

Answer 9

Negotiations to do with sorting out reparation payments from WW1 - Switzerland and Britain

Question 10

Stance taken with reparation payments?

Answer 10

Aimed at demonstrating to Britain and France that Italy was able to work peacefully in achieving its aims
With lesser powers, prepared to be more aggressive ; especially with Greece who he viewed as a lesser nation

Question 11

Dodecanese Lands?

Answer 11

Italy had claimed them in 1912 and in august 1923, Tellini, an Italian general, was murdered while leasing an inter-allied commission on drawing the border between Greece and Albania - used this as an excuse to attack the Greeks, claiming that they had financed the assassination

Question 12

Demands to Greeks?

Answer 12

Funeral service in Catholic Church in Athens, penalty of 50 million lire, publicaly honour Italian flag otherwise Italy would invade corfu… which it did

Question 13

Corfu?

Answer 13

31st August 1923 - Italy bombarded Corfu and occupied it ; celebrated by nationalists and many within the elite elements of Italian politics
LON and Britain demanded they end occupation of Corfu ; REALISM struck and di revel (navy head) told him that they wouldn’t survive 2 days ; Italy left Corfu a month later and received the payment from Greece

Question 14

Success Corfu?

Answer 14

Great success domestically as it showed he was a dynamic leader willing to engage in decisive action to stand up for Italy’s national pride ; contrasted greatly with Liberals backseat stance and cemented his power

Question 15

Failure of Corfu

Answer 15

Opposition from LON and forced to accept Italy’s subsidiary position to greater powers like Britain

Question 16

Mussolini’s success 2?

Answer 16

Jan 1924 - Yugolsavia recognised Fiume as being part of Italy ; given its historical memory of d’Annuzio this was a big success for Mussolini and showed that he was able to achieve everything the Liberals couldn’t

Question 17

Downsides of Fiume??

Answer 17

Largely symbolic - no longer economically worthy (greater port at Split) ; gains were domestic rather than material achievements internationally

Question 18

Locarno Treaty?

Answer 18

1925 % Germany accepted pre WW1 borders between itself and Belgium and France thus brought to an end a long lasting problem in European peace

Question 19

Failure of Locarno

Answer 19

Unable to link Locarno to negotiations on Italy and Austria’s borders

Question 20

Success of Locarno

Answer 20

Very fact that he had been invited to such an important European Commission indicated that he was equal to the Great Powers ; popularity increased

Question 21

Albania

Answer 21

Italy backed Zog’s accession to president and self proclamation as king in 1928 ; a Albania became an informal Italian protectorate and this extended Italian influence in southern eastern influence

Question 22

How did he undermine Yugoslavia?

Answer 22

By backing Zoe in Albania and also supporting the Croatian Ustasha nationalist movements that aimed for separation from Yugoslavia ; in 1934 they assassinated the Yugoslavian king Alexander (financed by Italian fascists)

Question 23

Africa?

Answer 23

Continued brutal war against Libya ; Mussolini continued the pacification of Libya through brutal means such as poison has and 1/3 of population starved/killed - put down rebellion in 1932

Question 24

So… was his policy successful before 193?

Answer 24

Domestically yes - decisive world leader who would fight for Italy’s foreign policy aims ; contrasting with liberal government
Much more cautious in directly challenging the League of Nations/Britain and France - aggressive nature (Yugoslavia and Libya) would play a decisive part in Mussolini’s actions in international affairs

Question 25

Mussolini’s relationship with Britain, France and Germany?

Answer 25

Complex and driven by realities if Italy’s military and diplomatic position and the foreign policy aims

Question 26

Italy good relationship with Britain?

Answer 26

Britain had backed Italy in independence in 1870
WW1 allies
Mussolini had good relations with Churchill Chamberlain etc
Worked together during Locarno Treaties
Helped Italy’s ambitions in Albania after Italy helped pressure Turkey for Britain

Question 27

Cordial relations with Britain clashed with…

Answer 27

Territorial claims in the Mediterranean that was dominated by Britain - they would accept no compromise ; inability of Italy with Corfu in 1923 led to a policy of fascist rearmament to stand up to Britain
Mussolini supported pro-Italian groups in Malta

Question 28

What complicated their relationship - Britain and Italy?

Answer 28

Revaluation of Lira in 1927 only achieved by funding of British and they were intrinsically linked with a world financial system dominated by Britain/USA ; thus Mussolini’s policy towards Britain up to 1936 was ambiguous and respectful while secretly reign to build up military might to challenge Britain

Question 29

Problem with France?

Answer 29

Many antifascist exiles had settled in France ; Mussolini complained about this while French complained back about OVRA carrying out missions (such as Rossellini brothers in 1937)/infiltrating anti fascist organisations

Question 30

How did Mussolini view France?

Answer 30

As a rival, to Italian power in the Mediterranean and its imperialist aims in Africa - French worried about Tunisia which had a majority Italian population (might use this to get Tunisia - similar to theory of nationality with Fiume)

Question 31

What was Mussolini’s foreign policy with France?

Answer 31

Ambivalent ; Mussolini understood French power and influence in Europe and was prepared to work with them in aspects such as the Locarno Treaty
Rising possibilities of anti-French alliances with Germany, Spain and Hungary ; foreign policy desired tempered by Italy’s ability to achieve them