o Foreign policy, 1935–40 Flashcards
How significant were the consequences of Mussolini’s more aggressive foreign policy in the years 1935-40?
Invasion of Abyssinia and its consequences
Intervention in the Spanish Civil war and its consequences
Diplomatic breakdown of Stresa Front and the move towards Germany
Domestic tensions
Pact of Steel
Italian Neutrality, 1939-40
How significant were the consequences of Mussolini’s more aggressive foreign policy in the years 1935-40?
(Invasion of Abyssinia and its consequences)
Invasion of Abyssinia had been planned conquest motivated by the following factors:
- planning for war undoubtedly helped the economy, helped fuel Italian industries producing arms, clothing, equipment, and transportation.
- invasion linked tot he idea of autarky - Abyssinia would provide land and raw materials, as well as increase in exports - satisfy Italy’s Nationalist and colonial ambitions and increase popularity at home
- to provide Fascism with a major propaganda victory - peasants would move from the south to Abyssinia, decreasing pressures on land reforms as well as emigration to foreign countries - as gov. would provide land in Abyssinia for them.
- to demonstrate to the world that Italy was a major power - transforming the Italian people to more warlike people through the militaristic aspects of fascism.
- foreign policy was an easier roue to aggressive fascist policy that that of which M could achieve domestically - expanding his rule more than just simply maintaining power through compromise with Italy’s conservative elites.
- shameful defeat at the battle of Adwa in 1896 would be overcome by this victory and would significantly boost the cult of il duce.
- Victorious invasion of Abyssinia would prove to Hitler the power of M and dissuade him from invading Austria.
invasion, 1935:
M invaded Abyssinia on 3 Oct 1935, hoping for a quick victory, under the false impression that Britain and France would condone it
- 6 Oct 1935: Adowa captured
- 05.05.1936 - Italy won the war with 400,000 troops and air power, mass aeriel bombing, murder of prisoners of war, illegal use of poisonous chemicals.
- 5 May 1936: Selassie exiled after Addis Ababa was taken
Consequences:
- LoN banned import of essential such as weapons, rubber and metal but oil and Seuz canal was left off the list (which may have had an effect on M)
- growing popularity for Mussolini back home - seen as defending Italy form the other powers trying to suppress Italy.
- married women including the Queen Elena presented their wedding rings to be melted in order to help the campaign against the sanctions - transformation of the Italian people was now taking place.
- 2/3 of Abyssinia was unconquered
- economic cost was huge and led to devaluation of the Lira by 40% with the budget deficit rising from 2.5 bil to 16 bil.
- garrisons were established which occupied many troops (250,000)
- use of Mustard gas against civilians gave them a bad reputation of brutality - also a danger to European peace. 500,000 Abyssinians killed.
- only 130,000 Italians were ever settled in Abyssinia. Only 2% trade went to Abyssinia.
- tensions grew with Britain and France but they supported only limited sanctions on Italy e.g. the Hoare-Laval Pact December 1935 meant that Italy could keep Abyssinia but a smaller independent nation would be established - German Italian relations started to grow. Saction’s from LoN on Italy shifted their trade towards Germany.
- relationship with the nations was damaged beyond repair - Fascist regime pursued a much more radical direction in both domestic and foreign policy.
How significant were the consequences of Mussolini’s more aggressive foreign policy in the years 1935-40?
(Intervention in the Spanish Civil war and its consequences)
Ineffectiveness of the LoN to prevent Hitler marching into the demilitarised zone of Rhineland showed M the potential weaknesses of Britain a France.
* July 1936 - M committed Italian troops to help
General Franco - leading Right wing forces against the Spanish - backed by France &USSR.
* Hitler also committed German troops - the first time Italian & German Nazism Sought on the same side
* If Franco was victorious- Italy could gain a strategic ally+ gain naval bases in the Balearic Islands.
* Eventhough Franco was not fascist- it still fueled the spread of authoritarian nationalist anti socialist regimes and weaken communism and socialism in Europe
* M sent : 50,000 troops, 1000’s of artillery tanks, 400 fighter planes & 200 bombers into Spain.
* 1939 - Franco victorious with the help of Italy + Germany.
- however- no positive consequences unlike M had gained from Abyssinia - 3266 Italian troops killed & 11000 wounded. Severe disruption in the economy. Financial costs added up to 14 billion lire & heavy taxation. Lira further devalued - economic dependence on Germany.
* Italy militarily weakened - with growing concerns among Italian population at Italy’s gradual move towards Nazism.
* Overall the intervention was costly and an unnecessary endeavor which led to the breakdown of his relationship with B&F.
How significant were the consequences of Mussolini’s more aggressive foreign policy in the years 1935-40?
(Diplomatic breakdown of Stresa Front and the move towards Germany)
- took place over several years and was never drawn by simply by ideology.
*M had initially had a negative view of Hitler as analytical yet boring character. - During Italy’s invasion - B+F had a secret agreement - the Hoare - Laval Pact - agreed to allocate 2/3 of Stresa Front to M in return for the maintenance of Stresa Front .
- Major failure - due to public resentment.
- Italy’s intervention aimed at decreasing France’s influence in the Mediterranean.
- January 1937, B + I gov. signed “Gentlemans agreement” - confirmed the status quo in the Mediterranean and limited Italy’s intervention in the Spanish civil war - failure, M ignored.
- April 1938 - Britain took a diplomatic move - recognising Italy’s rule over Abyssinia.
- Rome - Berlin Axis - an informal agreement of cooperation between the two nations.
- Italian exports reliant on German markets.
- Sept 1937 M was greeted with 800,000 Germans- impressed by what he saw - a nation backed by a powerful military - type of militant society he hoped for.
- 1937, Italy became part of the Anti-comintern Pact with Germany & Japan - which claimed to establish mutual support in case of aggression from the Soviet Union - in reality aimed at Britain.
- Dec 1937 - Italy withdrew from LoN - claiming LoN was against Italy and its revolution.
*M made no attempts to stop Hitler pursuing
Anschluss - against Austria. - Through Anschluss - Hitler portrayed more powerful - from March 198 Italy began to lose independence and was becoming a German satellite state.
- Munich conference 1937 - Hitter had a prominent role where he avoided a full blown European war - Sudetenland given to Germany.
- Demonstrated to Mussolini - weaknesses of democratic powers and the future of Europe dominated by Germany.
How significant were the consequences of Mussolini’s more aggressive foreign policy in the years 1935-40?
(Domestic tensions)
Euphoria of Abyssinia was short-term and the domestic and foreign policy direction was a cause of concern for the population.
Military spending caused 80% increase in state deficit - leading to increased taxation which was highly unpopular.
Battle for grain resulted in worsening diet of civilians with general living standards declining - economy reliant on Germany.
May Italian workers were transfer to Germany where they were treated poorly - contradicted M’s words where he promised to ensure workers were being treated with respect and dignity.
M was 55 by 1939 (in power for 17 year at this point) - image of a youthful leader portrayed in the cult of il duce was now becoming harder to sustain.
Many Italians had grown up with Mussolini being their leader hence held no alternative perspective other than the fascist regime they had known all their lives.
How significant were the consequences of Mussolini’s more aggressive foreign policy in the years 1935-40?
(Pact of Steel)
April 1939, M launched invasion of Albania concerned about Italy’s international position - compensation for letting Hitler invade Austria.
Albania could assist the Italian economy very well.
Upon invasion - weakness of Italian troops was displayed as they were unorganised, using weapons untrained, poor coordination between the army, Navy and Air Force.
Successful invasion where Victor Emmanuel was crowned Emperor of Abyssinia and Albania - highlighted the aggresiveness of Fascist Italy.
Early 1939, M accepts full alliance with Nazi Germany - drafting the pact was left up to the Germans - Military, economic cooperation and permanent political consultation between Fascists and Nazis.
Article 3 - committed Italy to support Germany if it chose to go to war ‘with all its military forces, on land, on sea and in the air’.
22 May - ‘Pact of Steel’ signed by Giano.
How significant were the consequences of Mussolini’s more aggressive foreign policy in the years 1935-40?
(Italian Neutrality, 1939-40)
24 August Hitler signs Nazi - Soviet pact without consulting Mussolini.
Italy urged by Giano to avoid entangling into costly war when Germany invaded Poland.
M’s aggressive ideology would look hollow if Italy
chose to remain neutral in the European war that now appeared in inevitable.
26th August, M presented Hitler with list of things Italy needed before it could wage war - 170 million tonnes of goods including:
- 6 million tonnes of coal
- 2 million tonnes of steel
- 150 anti-aircraft batteries would amunitions.
This would cost Hitler 17,000 trains to import on top of raw materials being used up hence Hitler released M from his obligations tot he act of Steel - instead looking for psychological support and italy to engage in mlitary measures that could tie down Britain and France.
3 September, B+F declared war on Germany.
Italy for the second time chose to stay out of major European war instead of supporting its ally Germany.
10 June 1940 - M announced Italy had joined war on Germany’s side - timing had to be correct, Italy had to play a decisive part in the conflict and then sit at the victory table without having lost many men or been engaged in a costly, long drawn out war.
