Italy booklet 7 - Foreing policy

Question 1

Foreign policy aims

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Corfu Incident 1923

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Fiume 1924

Answer 3

M negotiated with Yugoslavia to give back Fiume
M won domestic support
Not much gain internationally

Question 4

Locarno Pact 1925

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Albania and Yugoslavia

Answer 5

M expanding economic and political influence in Albania
Albania became informal Italian protectorate-fascism spreading slightly
Yugoslavia = powerful block to Italy’s territorial ambitions

Question 6

Libya rebellions

Answer 6

1931 Libyan rebel leader killed

But 40 000 people died

Question 7

Four Power Pact 1933

Answer 7

Britain, France, “Germany, Italy
Brought M prestige
But pact didn’t last long

Question 8

Assassination of Austrian Chancellor Dollfuss 1934

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Stresa Front 1935

Answer 9

Britain France Italy talking about limiting Germany’s rearmament
Good domestic propaganda for Italy
M looked strong
But agreement was vague

Question 10

Why go to Abyssinian war

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Abyssinian war advantages

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Abyssinian war disadvantages

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Spanish Civil War 1936

Answer 13

nationalists from Spain rebelled against the left wing Popular Front government
Franco the leader had support from the military, church, capitalists and right wing

Question 14

Spanish civil war 1936 Musso aims and what he gave

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Spanish civil war consequences

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Why Italy and Germany’s relations grew

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Domestic tensions

Answer 17

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

Question 18

The Pact of Steel 1939

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Italy declares itself as NON BELLIGERENT

Answer 19

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