Italian foreign policy 1922-40 Flashcards
what were reasons for invasion of abyssinia 1935
-compete with other european powers, raise status
-avenge battle of adowa in 1896
-could be used as a propaganda coup, contrast fascist success to liberal failure
-radicalise italians to be more militarist, could bring glory and unity
-needed to match rhetoric with action if his prestige as great Duce was to be credible
-produce economic benefits for autarky, hoped abyssinian resources could be exploited, could provide new market to sell
-risks minimal as large army with modern weapons, britain and france likely to turn blind eye as they focused on containing germany
when was invasion of abyssinia
1935-6
what is order of main reasons why they invaded abyssinia
- raise italys status
- minimal risks
- radicalise italians
- economic benefits
how big was the italian army sent to abyssinia
400,000
what were consequences to invading abyssinia
-increased popularity, supported by church and king as they could spread catholicism, sold it as pinnacle of fascist success, propaganda presented british and french protests as hypocritical and portrayed mussolini bravely defying the architects of “mutilated victory”
-moral condemnation, 500,000 abyssinians died, italians first nation to use chemical weapons, Only few thousand italians killed, mussolini inflated statistics for italian casualties to give impression that it was a hardfought campaign, Italians reacted thinking britain and france were hypocritical
-economic sanctions, Sanctions forbidden italy from importing, League of nations imposed sanctions but didn’t include oil rubber or metal imports which wouldve been detrimental for italy, showed that they werent really strong
-financial cost, Long term costs- 250,000 men stayed to fight guerilla war, only 130,000 italians settled in abyssinia which produced few raw materials, Only accounted for 2% of trade
Budget deficit rose from 2.5 bill to 16 bill lire, had to devalue currency by 40%
-diplomatic changes, Relations with britain and france broke, italy had to depend on germany to supply raw materials e.g. coal
what did church and king say about invasion of abyssinia
it was a “civilising mission”
whats the order of main consequence of invading abyssinia
- diplomatic changes
- financial cost
- increased popularity- wasnt sustained tho and was beginning of his downfall
- moral condemnation
- economic sanctions
“commitment trap”
italy must commit otherwise face the loss of prestige and pride- had to commit to being germanys ally and helped spain in the civil war
when was spanish civil war
1937
what were reasons in intervention in spanish civil war
-ideology, Franco was leading right wing nationalists, was anti-communist, sees Mussolini as a partner and not a rival as he’s not a fascist, Franco a traditional conservative but fascists mix past and future, Can cement support of church, can show that he can save Catholics from anticlerical nature of the republicans
-strategic ally, Could potentially get Gibraltar/ other territories and islands to help dominate mediterranean
-pretige, With defeat at Guadalajara, needed to achieve ultimate victory to avenge the lost battle (militarism)
-extract concessions from UK, Could exploit UK wanting to focus on Germany, hoped to make agreements in exchange for more territory
what are order of importance of reasons for intervening spanish civil war
- strategic ally
- prestige
- ideology
- extract concessions from UK
what were consquences of spanish civil war
-prestige dented, Loss of battle Guadalajara by republicans, embarrassment as they were technologically inferior
Mussolini seen as show and no substance, Others knew he wasn’t a real threat
-drain on rescources, Abyssinian war also draining resources, loss of tanks and other equipment
Italy weaker in 1939 than 4 years previously, they needed 4 years to recover, won’t be ready for war until 1943
-loss of popularity, Mussolini already reached peak in 1936, higher taxes to fund rearmament, More conscription, people questioned why italian soldiers were killed in Spain instead of protecting their own nation, Church managed to influence opinion to support him but still not enough to prevent loss of popularity
-diplomatic shifts, Confirms gulf between Italy and Britain, especially when Italians sunk British submarines on their way to Spain, British lacked trust with Mussolini, their relationship was soured by Spain, Relations with Germany closer, Hitler saw that Mussolini was a man of action, fought side by side
Cemented Rome-Berlin axis, working together against a common enemy, communism
whats the order of importance of consequences of intervening spanish civil war
- diplomatic shifts
- drain on resources
- loss of popularity
- prestige dented
when was the meeting at venice
1934
when does hitler come to power
jan 1933
when was troops sent to Brenner pass
1934
when was german conscription and luftwaffe introduced
1935
when was stresa front
1935
when was remilitarisation of rhineland
1936
when was rome berlin axis signed
1936
when was anti-comintern pact signed
1937
when was anschluss
1938
when was munich agreement
1938
when was chamberlains visit to rome
1939
