M4- Italy's international standing by 1935 Flashcards

1
Q

what were Mussolini’s foreign policy aims?

A

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

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2
Q

how did Mussolini conduct foreign policy?

A

ALL BY HIMSELF

he avoided the Foreign Office by making himself Minister of Foreign Affairs

he had total control over Italian foreign policy

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3
Q

who were the main ‘Great Powers’ in Europe?

A

Britain and France

both had immense influence in Europe after the collapse of A-H and Germany

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4
Q

how was France’s position to Italy a growing threat?

A

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

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5
Q

how was Britain’s position to Italy a growing threat?

A

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)

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6
Q

how did Mussolini hope to deal with the larger powers?

A

through diplomacy and peace

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7
Q

how did Mussolini hope to deal with the smaller powers?

A

through aggression and war

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8
Q

when was the Italian invasion of Corfu?

A

31 August 1923

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9
Q

what caused the Italian invasion of Corfu?

A

the assassination of an Italian general in Greece

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10
Q

which Italian general was assassinated in Greece?

A

Enrico Tellini

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11
Q

what demands did Mussolini make to the government of Greece?

A

attend Tellini’s funeral
honour the Italian flag in Athens
pay penalty of 50 million lire

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12
Q

what happened during the invasion?

A

Italian navy bombarded the island of Corfu and troops occupied the island

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13
Q

when was Mussolini forced to leave Corfu?

A

27 September 1923

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14
Q

who forced Mussolini to pull out from Corfu?

A

the League of Nations
with British backing

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15
Q

successes of Corfu invasion

A

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

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16
Q

failures of Corfu invasion

A

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

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17
Q

which pact was Fiume ceded to Italy?

A

Treaty of Rome
with Yugoslavia

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18
Q

when was the Treaty of Rome?

A

January 1924

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19
Q

successes of Treaty of Rome

A

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

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20
Q

was the Treaty of Rome really a success?

A

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

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21
Q

when were the Locarno Treaty signed?

A

1925

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22
Q

how was Italy involved in the Locarno Treaty?

A

they were invited
which was a major deal for the Italian people

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23
Q

successes of Italian involvement at Locarno

A

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

24
Q

failures of Italian involvement at Locarno

A

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

25
Q

who became the new President of Albania in 1925?

A

Italian backed Ahmet Zog

26
Q

why did Mussolini see Italian influence in Albania as important?

A

it shared a northern border with Yugoslavia
meant that Yugoslavia would effectively be surrounded from both sides

would allow him to increase pressure

27
Q

how did Mussolini increase influence in Albania?

A

supplied Zog with money

encouraged Italian companies to invest in Albania

employed Italian officers as advisors to the Albanian military

28
Q

when was the Treaty of Friendship signed?

A

1926

Albania was now an Italian satellite state

29
Q

successes of growing Italian influence over Albania

A

increased pressure on Yugoslavia

increased Italian influence in the Balkans

30
Q

who did Mussolini fund in an attempt to destabilise Yugoslavia?

A

Croation terrorists

given training in Italy

assassinated the King of Yugoslavia in 1934

31
Q

in what ways did Mussolini expand his African colonies?

A

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

32
Q

who did Mussolini send to Italy to pacify Libya?

A

Pietro Badoglio

33
Q

what did Badoglio use to pacify the Libyans?

A

starvation
mass executions
poison gas
concentration camps

34
Q

when did the Pacification of Libya end?

A

1932

35
Q

concl on Mussolini’s foreign policy before 1934?

A

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

36
Q

in what ways were Anglo-Italian relations cordial?

A

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

37
Q

why did Mussolini see Britain as a future enemy?

A

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

38
Q

what policies did Mussolini adopt to deal with the British threat?

A

increase naval armament in the hope of defeating the RN in the future

funding nationalists in Malta to fight against British rule

39
Q

in what ways was Italy dependent on Britain?

A

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

40
Q

concl on Anglo-Italian relations

A

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

41
Q

what were the main reasons for tense Franco-Italian relations?

A

anti-Fascists in France

French colonial ambitions in Africa

42
Q

anti-Fascists in France

A

many anti-Fascists who were exiled from Italy settled in France

Mussolini ordered OVRA operations in France which angered the French (ROSSELLI BROS)

43
Q

French colonial ambitions in Africa

A

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

44
Q

concl on Franco-Italian relations

A

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

45
Q

what was Mussolini’s relationship with the Weimar Republic?

A

saw them as socialists and pacifists

46
Q

how was Mussolini involved in the growing right-wing extremism in Germany?

A

he funded right-wing groups who opposed the Weimar Republic

47
Q

what was Mussolini’s main concern with Germany?

A

the potential of Anschluss with Austria

48
Q

why was an independent Austria important for Italy?

A

would provide a crucial buffer between Italy and Germany

49
Q

who was the Chancellor of Austria?

A

Dolfuss

50
Q

when was Dolfuss assassinated?

A

July 1934
by Nazi sympathisers

51
Q

what was Mussolini’s reaction to Dolfuss’ assassination?

A

he sent 40,000 troops to the Brenner pass

put off a Nazi invasion of Austria

52
Q

successes of the failed Anschluss of 1934

A

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

53
Q

concl on German-Italian relation?

A

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

54
Q

when was the Stresa Front set up?

A

1935

55
Q

what was the Stresa Front in response to?

A

German declaration of rearmament in March 1935