Mussolini's Foreign Policy Flashcards
Evidence of failure of Corfu in 1923.
-Italy’s bombardment of Corfu was condemned by the League of Nations, and condemned by Britain.
-Italy complied and left Corfu.
-Didn’t receive a full apology from Greek government.
-BUT gained the 50 million Lira he wanted.
Evidence of success in Fiume in 1924.
-Yugoslavia recognised Fiume as part of Italy.
-BUT no real material gains from this.
Evidence of success in Albania 1924.
-Ahmed Zog gained power in Albania for Italy.
-By 1926 Albania was effectively an Italian satellite state.
Evidence of weak relations with Britain and France.
-France and Italy had conflicting interests in Africa and the Mediterranean
-Britain backed League of Nations in terms of Corfu.
-Stresa front frequently ignored/ not abided by.
Evidence of success in Abyssinia 1935.
-Successfully invaded.
-Good for propaganda: u/c (Church, Royals) proclaimed Mussolini’s greatness.
-About 20 million Italians listened to M’s radio broadcasting proclaiming fascism’s success.
-Gold for Patria campaign.
-Image: new Caesar expanding Italian empire.
Evidence of failure during the Spanish Civil War in 1936.
-High Italian casualties and unpopular with the people.
-Economic implications: cost 14 billion lire and increased taxes for Italians.
-Loss of relationship with Britain and France creates closer dependency on Germany.
Evidence of failure in Abyssinia 1935.
-Did not provide Italy with oil.
-Did not help Autarky- only 2% of Italian exports went to Abyssinia.
-Expensive: Lira devalued by 40% and deficit rose massively.
Where was Italy’s failure in North Africa in WW2 and what was its implications?
-Battle pf El Alamein.
-Loses North Africa for the Axis powers and gives the Allies a front to attack Italy from.
Evidence of Italy’s weakness WW2.
-Libya- requires German support and undermines prospect of a ‘parallel war’.
-Greece- Italy undermines Greek force and invades without telling Germany; require German support again and Germany emphasises Italian weakness by taking over Greece and Yugoslavia very quickly.
Aspects of strong Italian/ German relations.
-Rome-Berlin axis- informal alliance 1936.
-Italy joins anti-comintern Pact 1937.
-Italy leaves the League of Nations 1937.
-Pact of Steel- Italy committed to support Germany WW2.
Aspects of weak Italian/ German relations.
-Hitler does Anschluss in 1937 without Mussolini knowing; compromsies Italian interests.
-Hitler invades Poland in 1939 despite telling Italy they wouldn’t be ready for war until 1943.
When was the Rome-Berlin Axis?
1936
When did Italy leave the League of Nations?
1937
When did Italy join the Anti- Comintern pact?
1937
When was Corfu?
1923
When was Fiume?
1924
When was Albania?
1924
When was Abyssinia?
1935
When was Italy’s intervention in the Spanish Civil War?
1936
Foreign policy initiatives pre-1935.
-Corfu
-Fiume
-Albania
-Libya
-Britain+ France.
Foreign policy initiatives pre-1940
-Abyssinia
Spanish Civil War
-Relations with Germany
Foreign policy initiatives post-1940
-Battle of El Alamein
-Libya
-Greece.
