Italian foreign policy 1922-39 Flashcards
Mussolini’s 5 Foreign Policy Aims -
1) Establish empire in Mediterranean that rivals ancient Caesar’s
2) Successful FP to distract Italians from miserable conditions at home
3) Dissapointed with small territorial gains after WW1
4) More territories to settle surplus Italian population and acquire raw materials
5) Fascist doctrines preached national glory. Italians should expand to show national greatness
On 28 August 1923….
Italian General Enrico Tellini was murdered while leading an inter-allied commision on drawing the border line between Greece and Albania
Corfu Incident 1923 -
Mussolini blamed Greek Gvt for murder of Tellini (general). Demanded 50 million or he would invade - invaded Corfu on 31 August anyway.
Outcomes of Corfu Incident
Nationalists celebrated but League of Nations demanded that he end occupation. Mussolini was informed his navy would barely last 48 hours if the British chose to act. On 27th September, Italy left Corfu and received the 50 mill demanded from Greece.
- led to Italy accepting they were not as powerful as Britain or France and were not aggresive
Fiume 1924
After negotiation, Yugoslavia recognised Fiume as part of Italy. Popular success symbolically but not very useful as no material achievements.
Locarno Pact 1925
Germany joined League of Nations and accepted pre-WW1 borders of Belgium & France. Mussolini tried and failed to link this to negotiations on Italy & Austria’s borders. However, the fact he was invited to something so important indicated he was accepted as a power.
Albania & Yugoslavia
Extended Italian influence in South-east Europe by backing new president of Albania in 1925. Financed Croatian and Macedonian movements that aimed to separate from Yugoslavia.
4 Power Pact 1933
Signed in July 1933, brought international prestige to Mussolini. However, allies of France objected so it was never officially acknowledged by Britain or France.
Libya
Mussolini continued liberal gvt’s war. Brutal policies of starvation, chemical warfare and mass execution ended rebellion in 1932.
Austria 1934
Intimidated by Anschluss. After Dollfuss (Austrian chancellor) assassinated in 1934 by Austrian Nazis, Mussolini ordered 40,000 troops to the border.
Stresa Front 1935
M called meeting w Britian and France to stop germany breaking T o V
Abyssinian campaign 1935 aims
- Develop colonies for trade
- Find new resources
- Gain popularity at home (e.g church) and respect abroad (e.g Hitler)
- Bring prestige & recreate Roman empire
Success of Abyssinian invasion
- At first were v good. Mussolini portrayed as standing up to world.
- Gained support of Church, royal family and the nation
- Established Italy as a power equal to Uk and France
- Demonstrated military advancement
- Won respect of Hitler –> Rome-Berlin Axis 1936
Failures of Abyssinian invasion
- Lira decreased by 40%
- Defecit rose 2.5billion to 16billion
- Failed to find valuable resources
- Use of chemical weapons (blister agent sulphur mustard) and bombing of settlements shocked people
- Caused a rift with Britian and France - never re-established warmer relations from Stresa Front
Spanish civil war intervention aims
- Stand with new ally Hitler
- Prevent spread of Communism
- Spread fascism across Europe
- Demonstrate superiority of Italian miltary
- Gain strategic advantages from Spain e.g navy bases, military alliances
- Consolidate political position and status within Italy
