o Italy’s international standing in 1935 Flashcards
How successful was Mussolini in achieving his foreign policy aims before 1935?
Mussolini’s foreign policy aims.
The impact of foreign policy success and failure before 1934.
Relations with Britain, France and Germany.
The Stresa Front 1935
How successful was Mussolini in achieving his foreign policy aims before 1935?
(Mussolini’s foreign policy aims)
Aims were erratic and opportunistic - to maximise his prestige instead of any material gain for Italy.
Aim to portray Italy as a world power. Consolidate Italy’s rule into Libya and other parts of Africa.
Italy’s growing aggressiveness made it fall out with LoN and Britain and France leading to Hitler and Mussolini’s growing relationship and Italy’s growing intervention into the Spanish Civil War.
How successful was Mussolini in achieving his foreign policy aims before 1935?
(The impact of foreign policy success and failure before 1934)
M visited Britian and France to negotiate the reparations payments from WW1, demonstrating Italy as a great power.
Conflict with Greece:
Mussolini was more aggressive with smaller powers such as Greece. Greece viewed as a lesser nation.
· Italy had claimed the Dodecanese Islands (in Greece) in 1912, leading to disputes over the territory.
Corfu Crisis - August 1923:
Italian General Enrico Tellini was murdered in Greece. Mussolini attacked the Greek government claiming they killed him
· Mussolini ordered that Greek government attend Italian Catholic funeral, honour the Italian flag and pay 50 mil lire to Italy, or they would invade Corfu
· 31 August - Italy invades and occupies Corfu without warning
· League of Nations demanded an end to the occupation and seeing as Italy’s navy couldn’t handle Britain’s, they left Corfu - received 50 mil lire from Greece they had demanded previously.
· Worsened relationship with League of Nations - had to be more careful with aggressive foreign policy in the 1920’s
· More support from Italians - Mussolini showed he was strong and courageous and stood up for Italy’s national pride
the Balkans, 1924-26:
· Another success came from negotiation with Yugoslavia in January 1924 when Yugoslavia recognised the Fiume as being part of Italy - shows peacefulness
Yugoslavia no longer needed Fiume as they had constructed a greater port at Split. Instead Yugoslavians wanted control of Susak (another disputed area).
- the gains were domestic rather than international as with the Corfu crisis.
the Locarno Treaties 1925:
1. It invited many European countries, including Germany and the USSR into the League.
2. France, Belgium and Germany promised not to invade each other.
3. Many countries including Germany agreed to uphold the terms of the Treaty of Versailles.
- showed Italy to be a major European power
· In 1934 Croatian terrorists, financed by Fascist Italy, assassinated King Alexander of Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia was viewed as a block to Italy’s territorial ambitions.
- Ahmed Zog of Albania given financial support by Italy and Albania recognised as a satellite state of Italy.
The Kellog-Briand Pact, 1928:
All the powers agreed to stop fighting and to settle all disputes peacefully with the advice/rulings of the League. Their armies would be used for self defence instead of war.
- Mussolini dismissed it himself in parliament and it carried little weight with the powers
Overall, his foreign policies brought him great domestic prestige however he was slow and cautious to challenging Britian, France and LoN. His aggressive policies towards Yugoslavia and Libya play a decisive part in his actions in international affairs.
How successful was Mussolini in achieving his foreign policy aims before 1935?
(Relations with Britain, France and Germany)
Britain and France:
Mussolini portrayed himself as supportive of their interests whilst having his own expansionist goals:
-fairly friendly relationship with Britain at the same time building Italy’s military so as to challenge British power in the Mediterranean.
- remained in the League of Nations
- signed the Locarno Treaties
- signed Kellog-Briand Pact
- reached agreement with Britain about colonial borders in North Africa
-majority of antifascists settled in France OVRA (Italian secret police) infiltrated throughout Italy to suspend those groups.
-France seen as major enemy - hindered Italy power in Mediterranean and Africa - M was willing to work with France in aspects of the Locarno treaty aware of French power and position in Europe.
Germany:
late 1920’s - Mussolini funded right-wing political groups (nationalists) in Germany. hoped for a pro-Fascist German government who supported Mussolini’s aims and sought to overthrow the Weimar republic.
- tension between Mussolini and Hitler in 1933. called a conference with Britain, France and Germany in Rome which gave no resolutions after Hitler left the League of Nations
- Italy worried that Germany would take Austria (on Italy’s northern border). Mussolini encouraged Austrian chancellor to clamp down on Austrian Nazis - he was murdered and Mussolini feared German invasion, sending 40,000 troops to the border
- Hitler openly praised M as a ‘brilliant statesman’ and claimed he was the inspiration fro the Nazi movement.
- Hitler promised M to pursue German-Italian alliance if he became chancellor.
- M’s ‘4 power pact’ hoping to bring Britain, France, Germany and Italy as one to amend the settlement of the ToV, undermine LoN - failue as ti was not ratified by Britain and France. Czechoslovakia and Poland voted against fearing German invasion.
Despite the pact, Hitler invaded Austria, M reacted quickly moving equipment to the Brenner Frontier between Austria and Italy - the coup collapsed. Due to this being the early years of Hitlers rule, the German chancellor was interested in building good relations with Italy.
How successful was Mussolini in achieving his foreign policy aims before 1935?
(The Stresa Front 1935)
March 1935, Hitler announces secret rearmament.
Agreement between Britain, France and Italy formed at Stresa, Italy, in opposition to Hitler’s intention to rearm Germany and develop it’s air force. they agreed to co-operate to prevent any country from abandoning previously agreed peace treaties and agreed to support an independent Austria.
- the high point of Mussolini’s co-operation with Britain/France - M had made an implicit agreement with Britain and France to support Italy’s Imperialistic goals in Africa.
