M4 - Foreign policy 1935-40 Flashcards
what were the reasons for Mussolini’s planned invasion of Abyssinia?
boost economy/expand autarky
domestic prestige
expansion of Fascism
international prestige
boost economy
war-related industries were given government contracts to start production of arms, equipment and transport for war
expand autarky
Abyssinia would provide the raw materials which Italy needed for economic self-sufficiency
build up a stronger export market
domestic prestige
use of propaganda to show the Italian people the expansion of the Italian Empire
attempt to turn people’s attention away from the failures of the Corporate State and the overall economy
expansion of Fascism
Mussolini was under pressure to take a more aggressive approach to spreading Fascism
war and conquest would unite the Italian people under Fascism as well as spread fascism into Africa
fascism = aggressiveness
international prestige
revenge for the Battle of Adwa in 1896
boost the cult of il Duce abroad as Italy would be seen as a powerful expansive nation
Mussolini also wanted to show Hitler the strength of the Italian armed forces to try to put off another attempt at Anschluss
when was the invasion of Abyssinia?
October 1935
how many men did Mussolini send to invade Abyssinia?
400,000
what was the nature of the invasion?
Badoglio was put in charge after November
used aerial bombings, poison gas and mass executions to suppress the Abyssinians
when did Italian forces take Addis Ababa?
May 1936
what was the LoN response to the invasion of Abyssinia?
economic sanctions on weapons sales and rubber imports
in what way was the LoN’s response a major weakness?
Italy was still allowed to import oil
the Suez remained open (important in getting troops from Italy to Abyssinia by sea)
what was the Italian public’s reaction to the invasion of Abyssinia?
they were in major support of the invasion
they rallied behind Mussolini after the condemnation from the LoN to defend Italian honour
key members of the elite and church pledged their support for Fascism
MAJOR DOMESTIC SUCCESS
when was the ‘Gold for the Patria’ campaign launched?
18 December 1935
what was the ‘Gold for the Patria’ campaign?
Queen Elena gave her wedding ring to be melted down to ‘help Italy with the economic sanctions’
thousands of Italian women followed the Queen and have their rings too
SHOWED THE MAJOR SUPPORT FOR MUSSOLINI AND FASCISM DUE TO THE WAR
what were the successes of Mussolini’s invasion of Abyssinia?
won a quick war of conquest with only 1000 casualties
obtained Abyssinia as a new colony, thus enhancing Italian prestige and status as a ‘Great Power’
won major domestic support for the Fascist regime
in what ways did the invasion of Abyssinia show Italy as a great power?
signing of the Hoare-Laval pact with Britain and France showed that Italy was now to be taken seriously and that Britain and France did not want to make an enemy of Italy
the acquisition of a colony and expansion of the Italian Empire
what were the failures of the Italian invasion of Abyssinia?
only 1/3 of the country had been taken
not many Italians settled in Abyssinia and oil and raw materials needed for autarky never materialised
major economic consequences
damaged Italy’s global reputation
how much had the lira been devaluated by due to the invasion of Abyssinia?
40%
how many Abyssinian’s were killed during the invasion and why did this damage Italy’s reputation?
500,000
use of brutal warfare through the use of gas and mass executions portrayed Italy as a warmonger
created tension between Italy and France/Britain
what did the invasion of Abyssinia show Mussolini about the British and French?
showed major weakness in the two nations
they had no control or power over the invasion
the fact that they sanctioned Italy for the invasion annoyed Mussolini
1933 Oxford Union debate example of lack of patriotism in Britain - showed Mussolini that Britain was not the right ally
shifted Italian diplomacy away from Britain/France and towards Germany
what is evidence that the invasion of Abyssinia caused Italian diplomacy to shift towards Germany?
the signing of the Rome-Berlin Axis in 1936
when did Mussolini send Italian troops to fight in the Spanish Civil War?
July 1936
what were Mussolini’s aims with intervening in the Spanish Civil War?
put pressure on Britain and France and so force concessions from them
gain a strategic ally in Spain who could give Italy ports in the Med to enhance their position
another potentially swift war to enhance domestic support
how many troops were sent to Spain?
50,000 Italians
political consequences of the intervention in the Spanish Civil War
despite victory, Franco never conceded any land to Italy and so Spain never became the satellite state Italy hoped it would become
was incredibly unpopular amongst the Italian people, with many confused as to why Italy had any interests in Spain
shift towards subordination to the Nazis created resentment amongst Italians
military consequences of the intervention in the Spanish Civil War
3,000 soldier died
military focus on Spain meant that consolidation of power in Abyssinia was prevented
massively weakened the Italian army and showed major weaknesses (Battle of Guadalajara)
economic consequences of the intervention in the Spanish Civil War
cost 14 billion lire
Italian currency reserve was halved
cuts to wages and increased taxes at home
Italian economy became more reliant on Germany’s economy (no autarky)
what happened at the Battle of Guadalajara?
major Italian defeat to the Spanish republicans
many anti-Fascists fought alongside the republicans
was a major propaganda failure for Italy
showed huge weakness in the Italian army
3,000 dead
how had Italy’s intervention in the Spanish Civil War damaged relations with Britain/France?
Italy was attempting to secure control over the Med, a region both France and Britain were strong in
the Italian navy submarines also sank many neutral merchant ships which angered Britain
how many British ships were destroyed by Italian bombing in Summer 1938?
11
what ways did Britain try to improve relations with Italy?
Gentleman’s Agreement in 1937
recognition of Italian Abyssinia
when was the Rome-Berlin Axis signed?
October 1936
how did the Italian economy become more reliant on Germany?
Germany started importing cheap Italian goods
meant that the Italian export market was heavily reliant on Germany
when did Italy join the Anti-Comintern Pact?
November 1937
when did Mussolini withdraw from the LoN?
December 1937
what was the impact of the signing of the Anti-Comintern Pact and the withdrawal from the LoN?
major shift away from the French and British
major shift towards Germany
BUT not a formal alliance YET
Mussolini was ready to accept any concessions in the Med from Britain which would make him switch his mind
when was Anschluss?
March 1938
what was Mussolini’s reaction to Anschluss 1938?
nothing
did not prevent Hitler from invading
what did Anschluss show?
MAJOR ITALIAN WEAKNESS
complete change from what happened in 1934
Italy was no longer superior to Germany
Hitler had made Mussolini his subordinate and there was no way Mussolini could usurp him
when was the Munich Conference?
September 1938
what role did Mussolini play at the Munich Conference in 1938
mediator
he brokered the deal which gave Germany the Sudetenland
prevented a war over a planned German invasion of Czechoslovakia
what did Mussolini’s role at the Munich 1938 show?
he was a clear subordinate to Hitler
GAVE HITLER THE SUDETENLAND
was seen as a peaceful leader and Italy was seen as a nation of peace
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TO WHAT HE WANTED —-> nation of AGGRESSION and POWER
what % of the increase in state deficit was due to military spending?
80%
what had this increase in state deficit caused?
the govt to force the income of the middle-class down
was extremely unpopular
what effect had the failures of Autarky have on the price of consumer goods?
they became more expensive for Italians to purchase
when was a commercial treaty signed between Italy and Germany?
February 1939
confirmed the Italian economy’s reliance on the German economy
what were the most unpopular policies introduced by Mussolini?
the transfer of Italian workers to Germany
the anti-Semitic decrees
how many Italian workers were transferred to Germany by 1945?
500,000
how were these Italian workers treated in Germany?
POORLY
they were heavily discriminated agaisnt
showed what the German people thought of Italians:
- made the concept of an German-Italian alliance hard to understand
what did the transfer of Italian workers to Germany show about Mussolini?
his subordination to Hitler
Italy was a satellite state of Germany
growing discontent towards Germany
showed WEAKNESS and was a major aspect of Italian discontent
why was support for Mussolini still present despite these unpopular policies?
the cult of Il Duce really worked
people loved him, not the PNF
people still gathered to hear his speeches
by 1939 there was now a generation of Italian adults who had grown up with only Mussolini as their leader
when did Mussolini invade Albania?
April 1939
what were the reasons for the Italian invasion of Albania?
end the growing Japanese economic influence in Albania
as compensation for allowing Hitler to take Austria
- hoped that it would be a domestic success to cover the failure with Anschluss
what had the invasion of Albania show about the Italian military?
WAS POOR
were unorganised
used weapons without any training
poor coordination between army, navy and air force
could only defeat smaller powers:
stood no chance against Britain and France
when was the Pact of Steel signed?
22 May 1939
what did the Pact of Steel outline?
military and economic cooperation between Italy and Germany
what was significant about Article 3 of the Pact of Steel?
clause which stated that if Germany went to war, Italy had to provide full military support
what concerns did Ciano have with the Pact of Steel?
he knew that Italy would not be prepared to fight a war until 1943
how did Ribbentrop reassure Ciano?
he said that Germany also did not intend to go to war until 1943
when did Ribbentrop inform Ciano that Germany would invade Poland?
11 August 1939
impact of the signing of the Pact of Steel
POSITIVE
strong military alliance with Germany
economic support from Germany would help Italy’s failing war economy
impact of signing of the Pact of Steel
NEGATIVE
MAJOR DOMESTIC FAILURE
formalised Italy’s subordination to Germany
Hitler had now control over Italy’s military and power
also was incredibly unrealistic as Italy was not ready for an imminent war
Italy’s economy and military was nothing compared to Germany’s
what impact did the signing of the Nazi-Soviet Pact have on Mussolini?
contradicted the Anti-Comintern Pact he had signed with Germany in 1937
why was it difficult for Mussolini to choose neutrality over war?
staying neutral would go completely against the ideas of fascism being a force of aggression and war
would be making the same ill-fated decision as the Liberals did in 1914 which would lose him support
when did Hitler release Mussolini from the Pact of Steel?
27 August 1939
expected psychological support from Italy
what did Hitler expect of Italy?
Hitler hoped Italy would prevent a French and British invasion from the South
what were the main reasons for Mussolini being neutral?
- felt betrayed by the Nazi-Soviet Pact of 1939
- wanting to play the waiting game so he would not end up on the losing side
- the Italian military and economy was not prepared
what pushed Mussolini to decide to enter the war?
major German advances in Western Europe with Holland, Belgium and then France
showed that perhaps Germany would be the victor of the war
hoped that Italy would join at the right time so it would not suffer many casualties but still sit on the victory table
why did Mussolini decide to stick with Germany instead of switching sides to the Allies or staying neutral?
allying against Germany would be a death wish as Blitzkrieg had shown it’s power in obliterating the French defences (which were supposed to be better than the Italian ones)
he did not want a post-war situation where a neutral Italy would be obliterated by a potentially successful Germany
when did Mussolini declare Italy’s entry into WW2?
10 June 1940
