M4- Italy's international standing by 1935 Flashcards
what were Mussolini’s foreign policy aims?
achieve ‘Great Power’ status for Italy
promote fascism and Italian prestige abroad
establish Italian dominance in the Mediterranean, the Adriatic and the Balkans
expand colonisation in Africa
how did Mussolini conduct foreign policy?
ALL BY HIMSELF
he avoided the Foreign Office by making himself Minister of Foreign Affairs
he had total control over Italian foreign policy
who were the main ‘Great Powers’ in Europe?
Britain and France
both had immense influence in Europe after the collapse of A-H and Germany
how was France’s position to Italy a growing threat?
they were exerting more influence in the Balkans, a region Mussolini hoped to take control over
their colonial ambitions in North Africa also threatened Italian Libya and Italian hopes of colonial expansion
how was Britain’s position to Italy a growing threat?
Britain had complete control over the Med —> Mussolini wanting to retake control of Italy’s waters
Britain also had a major colonial presence in Africa (Suez —> Egypt)
how did Mussolini hope to deal with the larger powers?
through diplomacy and peace
how did Mussolini hope to deal with the smaller powers?
through aggression and war
when was the Italian invasion of Corfu?
31 August 1923
what caused the Italian invasion of Corfu?
the assassination of an Italian general in Greece
which Italian general was assassinated in Greece?
Enrico Tellini
what demands did Mussolini make to the government of Greece?
attend Tellini’s funeral
honour the Italian flag in Athens
pay penalty of 50 million lire
what happened during the invasion?
Italian navy bombarded the island of Corfu and troops occupied the island
when was Mussolini forced to leave Corfu?
27 September 1923
who forced Mussolini to pull out from Corfu?
the League of Nations
with British backing
successes of Corfu invasion
MAJOR DOMESTIC SUCCESS
Italy received 50 million lire from Greece
major domestic success with the support of the nationalists increasing as a result
it was a major contrast to the liberal state who had little success in foreign policy
failures of Corfu invasion
Italy’s position as a subordinate to Britain and France was confirmed
showed the limited ability of the Italian Navy compared the the British Med fleet
received condemnation from the LoN
which pact was Fiume ceded to Italy?
Treaty of Rome
with Yugoslavia
when was the Treaty of Rome?
January 1924
successes of Treaty of Rome
MAJOR DOMESTIC SUCCESS
again nationalists (particularly those who were major d’Annunzio supporters were hugely impressed) increased their support for Fascism
again showed the weakness of the Liberals who failed to take Fiume themselves
did show Yugoslavian weakness
was the Treaty of Rome really a success?
not really cos the significance of Fiume had fallen since 1920
Yugoslavia had their new port, Split, which was more strategic than Fiume for Yugoslavia
when were the Locarno Treaty signed?
1925
how was Italy involved in the Locarno Treaty?
they were invited
which was a major deal for the Italian people
successes of Italian involvement at Locarno
DOMESTIC SUCCESS
showed that Italy was being taken seriously when it came to the reorganisation of Europe
propaganda was used to show Mussolini as a powerful leader who had major influence over Europe
failures of Italian involvement at Locarno
Mussolini attended one session
didn’t even read the final draft
Italian interests with their borders with A-H were not even acknowledged
again showed Italian subordination in comparison to the powers of Britain and France
who became the new President of Albania in 1925?
Italian backed Ahmet Zog
why did Mussolini see Italian influence in Albania as important?
it shared a northern border with Yugoslavia
meant that Yugoslavia would effectively be surrounded from both sides
would allow him to increase pressure
how did Mussolini increase influence in Albania?
supplied Zog with money
encouraged Italian companies to invest in Albania
employed Italian officers as advisors to the Albanian military
when was the Treaty of Friendship signed?
1926
Albania was now an Italian satellite state
successes of growing Italian influence over Albania
increased pressure on Yugoslavia
increased Italian influence in the Balkans
who did Mussolini fund in an attempt to destabilise Yugoslavia?
Croation terrorists
given training in Italy
assassinated the King of Yugoslavia in 1934
in what ways did Mussolini expand his African colonies?
less about expansion
more about consolidation:
Libyan rebels were trying to overthrow the Italian regime
Mussolini decided to put it down through the Pacification of Libya
who did Mussolini send to Italy to pacify Libya?
Pietro Badoglio
what did Badoglio use to pacify the Libyans?
starvation
mass executions
poison gas
concentration camps
when did the Pacification of Libya end?
1932
concl on Mussolini’s foreign policy before 1934?
MAJOR DOMESTIC SUCCESS
- had won support from the nationalists (pretty much most of Italy)
- showed the weakness of the Liberals and the strength of Fascism
- increased influence in the Balkans with Albania
LITTLE INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS
- little ground made with increasing power in the Med
- was checked by the naval power of Britain at Corfu
- was still not a ‘Great Power’ and was a clear subordinate to Britain and France
in what ways were Anglo-Italian relations cordial?
Britain fought with Italy in WW1
Mussolini was close with Churchill and A.Chamberlain
Britain helped Italian ambitions in Albania
while
Italy put pressure on Turkey to cede Mosul to Britain
why did Mussolini see Britain as a future enemy?
THE MED
Mussolini was obsessed with ending British dominance in the Med
extremely evident in Corfu incident which was ended by the presence of the RN
what policies did Mussolini adopt to deal with the British threat?
increase naval armament in the hope of defeating the RN in the future
funding nationalists in Malta to fight against British rule
in what ways was Italy dependent on Britain?
in order for the Battle for Lira to be a success, Italy had to rely on Britain for financial support
Italy was thus reliant on British and US markets
therefore a war would make the Italian economic situation very difficult
concl on Anglo-Italian relations
WAS LARGELY CORDIAL
- both helped each-other out with Albania and Mosul
- both had good political relations
BUT TENSE (future conflict was likely)
- British control over the Med was a major issue for Mussolini who wanted Italian control
HOWEVER
the Italians relied heavily on the British and so an early war would be disastrous
what were the main reasons for tense Franco-Italian relations?
anti-Fascists in France
French colonial ambitions in Africa
anti-Fascists in France
many anti-Fascists who were exiled from Italy settled in France
Mussolini ordered OVRA operations in France which angered the French (ROSSELLI BROS)
French colonial ambitions in Africa
there was a growing Italian presence in Tunisia which the French were worried may be used in an Italian attempt to take control over French Tunisia
concl on Franco-Italian relations
similar to British
French control over Africa and Med both clashed with Italian ambitions
but Italy did respect France as a great power and was prepared to work with them
what was Mussolini’s relationship with the Weimar Republic?
saw them as socialists and pacifists
how was Mussolini involved in the growing right-wing extremism in Germany?
he funded right-wing groups who opposed the Weimar Republic
what was Mussolini’s main concern with Germany?
the potential of Anschluss with Austria
why was an independent Austria important for Italy?
would provide a crucial buffer between Italy and Germany
who was the Chancellor of Austria?
Dolfuss
when was Dolfuss assassinated?
July 1934
by Nazi sympathisers
what was Mussolini’s reaction to Dolfuss’ assassination?
he sent 40,000 troops to the Brenner pass
put off a Nazi invasion of Austria
successes of the failed Anschluss of 1934
BOTH DOMESTIC AND INTL PRESTIGE
showed Italian superiority to Germany
Mussolini had used the military to prevent Anschluss
showed Mussolini as a powerful leader
Hitler was his subordinate
STOPPED THE NAZIS
concl on German-Italian relation?
started off poorly
failed Anschluss was because Mussolini sent troops to stop invasion
HOWEVER
- Hitler intended to building good relations with Italy
- at the time Hitler was not preparing his aggressive foreign policy
when was the Stresa Front set up?
1935
what was the Stresa Front in response to?
German declaration of rearmament in March 1935
