Italy - Declaration of neutrality & the intervention crisis

Question 1

What are the 4 key reasons Italy intervened in WW1

Answer 1

• Gain land
• Make Italy look strong
• Authoritarian styles measures
• To not look weak

Question 2

Why was it a bit controversial that Italy initially chose to remain neutral

Answer 2

• part of the Triple Alliance since 1882 but Italy’s treaty obligations did not apply as the Austrian government had not consulted the Italians before declaring war on Serbia

Question 3

Italy announced that she would remain neutral despite the calls from …………….. for Italy to honour her commitments

Answer 3

• Italy announced that she would remain neutral despite the calls from Nationalists for Italy to honour her commitments.

Question 4

Why would neutrality to WW1 be in the best interest of the public

Answer 4

• many politicians believed joining the war would put too great a strain on the Italian economy
• much of the Italian population was at best uninterested in entering the war on either side

Question 5

However, the declaration of neutrality split the………….. in Parliament and set off a …………..

Answer 5

• liberals
• political crisis

Question 6

Why did Prime Minister Salandra argue Italy should join the war

Answer 6

• fearing that if Germany won they would not be sympathetic to an ally who failed to come to their side at this critical time.
• but also i the event of a victory for the Triple Entente Italy would not see any of her ambitions in the Mediterranean realised

Question 7

How could joining the war help Prime Minister Salandra’s power

Answer 7

• Salandra could introduce repressive legislation could offer an authoritarian solution to Italy’s problems
• If Italy won, Salandra and his methods would not be challenged

Question 8

Why did Italy choose to join the Triple Entente in the war

Answer 8

• Salandra and Sonnino, the foreign minster, began secret discussions with Britain, France, Germany and Austria
• The Entente offered the best deal offering much of the irredente lands to Italy

Question 9

On …….., Italy signed the ……….. pledging to support Britain, France and Russia

Answer 9

• 26 April 1915
• Treaty of London

Question 10

When the story broke, it caused ……………… in Italy

Answer 10

When the story broke it caused serious unrest in Italy

Question 11

Why was there a possibility of constitutional crisis because of the process under which Italy pledged to support the Entente

Answer 11

The negotiations had been conducted in complete secrecy and not even the army general staff had been informed

Question 12

What 3 major things/groups were against intervention

Answer 12

• The PSI
• The Catholic Party
• The Pope

Question 13

The ……….. - local government representatives - reported there was………….. (once intervnetion was announced)

Answer 13

• no appetite for war outside of the major cities

Question 14

In Early May, …… & …….. deputies announced their opposition to the Treaty of London leaving Parliament totally divided

Answer 14

• Giolitti & 300

Question 15

…….. was expelled from the …….. party for supporting intervention!

Answer 15

Mussolini was expelled from the Socialist party for supporting intervention!

Question 16

………… resigned and the King asked ………… to form a new ministry

Answer 16

Salandra resigned and the King asked Giolitti to form a new ministry

Question 17

Why did Giolitti refuse the king’s offer

Answer 17

• If Italy did not honour the Treaty of London it would have betrayed both sides
• & more importantly the King informed Giolitti that he would abdicate if the Treaty of London was not honoured —-> trigger a crisis in Italy

Question 18

In this context, Giolitti refused the king’s offer and Salanda was…..

Answer 18

• reinstated as PM on 16 May

Question 19

On 25 May, Italy officially……

Answer 19

declared war on Austria

Question 20

It is important to note that the ………………. & ……………….. realities forced Italy in to war - not because of pressure from ……………..

Answer 20

• foreign and domestic
• interventionists