Italy booklet 7 - Foreing policy Flashcards
Foreign policy aims
1) Establish Mediterranean force
2) To distract itaisans from their poor conditions at home with strong foreign policy
3) He was disappointed by the small territory gains after WW1
4) More territorires
5) Expand to show national greatness
Corfu Incident 1923
M bombarded the island
M looked strong and pleased the nationalists
But League of Nations opposed - especially britain
Italy received 50 milllion lira
=won domestic support
Fiume 1924
M negotiated with Yugoslavia to give back Fiume
M won domestic support
Not much gain internationally
Locarno Pact 1925
Saw Germany take its place in the league of nations
M failed to link Locarno to negotiations on Italy and Austria borders
But M being invited to the agreement showed he had gained European presitge
Albania and Yugoslavia
M expanding economic and political influence in Albania
Albania became informal Italian protectorate-fascism spreading slightly
Yugoslavia = powerful block to Italy’s territorial ambitions
Libya rebellions
1931 Libyan rebel leader killed
But 40 000 people died
Four Power Pact 1933
Britain, France, “Germany, Italy
Brought M prestige
But pact didn’t last long
Assassination of Austrian Chancellor Dollfuss 1934
Dollfuss was antigerman M pledged to support albania Sent 40 000 troops to albania border m denies any knowledge of Dollfuss death M looks strong as he stabilized europe
Stresa Front 1935
Britain France Italy talking about limiting Germany’s rearmament
Good domestic propaganda for Italy
M looked strong
But agreement was vague
Why go to Abyssinian war
Domestic; bring prestige, gain home popularity, avenge Adowa defeat from 1896, good opportunity as Abyssinia was weak
Economic: find new resources like oil, colonies to trade with, consolidate Italian territory
International: Win respect from Hitler, take advantage of Stresa front relations, consolidate Italian power/ territories
Abyssinian war advantages
Very strong domestic support Had brought greatness to Italy M had support from the Chjurch , royal family etc M was the "new Caesar" Italy demonstrated military skills Won respect of Hitler
Abyssinian war disadvantages
10 000 soldiers died
Lira devalued 40%
Budget deficit rose from 2.5 to 16 billion
Didn’t find much valuable resources
International disapproval due to war tactics like the use of chemical weapons
Created bad relations with Italy and Britain
Spanish Civil War 1936
nationalists from Spain rebelled against the left wing Popular Front government
Franco the leader had support from the military, church, capitalists and right wing
Spanish civil war 1936 Musso aims and what he gave
Aims: Create closer relations with Hiltler
Prevent Communism spreading
Demonstrate Italian military superior
consolidate political position
M gave: 75000 troops
950 tanks
1400 pilots and 400 planes
In comparison to Germany giving 16000 troops and 200 tanks
Spanish civil war consequences
Italy looked weak due to loss at Guadalajara
War was unpopular and M lost support
M gained no territory
Isolated Italy from Britain and France
Horrific military tactics= international disapproval
Disrupted trade
Cost 14 billion lira and caused devaluation of the lira
Why Italy and Germany’s relations grew
Italy wants to conquer seas without having the threat of being invaded from the top, so having the Rome-Berlin Axis meant Germany would cover this
Worsening relations with Italy, France and Britain pushed italy to get closer to Germany
From 1936, Italian economy was more reliant on Germany for trade, like coal
M was becoming more impressed by Hitler
Domestic tensions
Growing anti-German feelings in Italy
Disapproved of 1938 Racial policy
Disliked increased military spending
Police/Fascist squads were violent to anyone who spoke out against M
General tense atmosphere especially in towns to Fascist repression
Italians were not enthusiastic about the upcoming war
= Italy not secure
The Pact of Steel 1939
Italy and Germany
Why?
Economic: Italy was dependent on Germany for trade
Diplomatic: Hitler wanted alliance so Britain and France would maintain the Med and not invade Germany
Italy’s weak relations with B and F force him
M had no clear foreign policy
Ideology: Both wanted to conquer the world
Close ties with Fascism and Nazis
Military: Italian military overstretched due to Abyssinian war and especially Spanish civil war. Germany was increasingly gaining territory and becoming more powerful
Italy declares itself as NON BELLIGERENT
Despite Pact of Steel,m Itally declares itself as non belligerent. Meaning italy was not neutral but it wouldn’t be involved in military action
Why?
Strategic: M didn’t want to commit to the losing side, wanted to wait and see
Not ready economically for war, was buying time
Diplomatic:Keep options open for a new western alliance
Was angery over Germany betrayal of Anit-Comintern Pact (Nazi-Soviet Pact signing)
Economic: didnt’t have the resources, need 1.75 millions tons of petrol, coal and steel
Military: Depleted miltary due to aby and spanish war
