War & Downfall

Question 1

When did Italy join war

Answer 1

1940

Question 2

Why did Duce accuse Germany of being ‘treacherous’

Answer 2

didn’t warn Italy of plans for Poland / Anschluss

Question 3

When did the Blitzkrieg against France begin?

Answer 3

May 1940

Question 4

Which prominent figures wanted to avoid war?

Answer 4

Foreign minister Balbo & the King

Question 5

Was Italy prepared for war in terms of resources?

Answer 5

Lacked equipment and clothing

Question 6

What % of national income was spent on armed forces?

Answer 6

11%

Question 7

How many effective planes did Italy have?

Answer 7

1000

Question 8

By June 1940 how many men did Italy have ready to fight?

Answer 8

only 800,000

Question 9

What two areas did Italy try to advance on simultaneously in September 1940?

Answer 9

Greece

Egypt

Question 10

What showed German dominance over Italian at war?

Answer 10

Mussolini persuaded to accept German as a commander in North Africa

Question 11

Where did Britain defeat Italy - which prompted Germany to send Italy reinforcements?

Answer 11

East Africa

Question 12

When did Allies invade Siciliy and begin to bomb Rome

Answer 12

July 1943

Question 13

When did the Fascist Grand Council meet and strip Mussolini of military power?

Answer 13

July 1943

Question 14

What did the Fascist Grand Council decide in July 1943?

Answer 14

vote to restore powers to parliament

Question 15

When did King Emanuele sack Mussolini?

Answer 15

July 1943

Question 16

Who was appointed PM after Mussolini

Answer 16

Badoglio

Question 17

When was the Italians naval defeat at Taranto?

Answer 17

November 1940

Question 18

Where was the Italian navy defeated at November 1940?

Answer 18

Taranto

Question 19

When did Germany take over the war effort in North Africa?

Answer 19

June 1941

Question 20

When was the allied landings in Sicily? What also happened this month?

Answer 20

July 1943

Fall of Mussolini

Question 21

When was rationing introduced?

Answer 21

1941

Question 22

What was food rationing down to calorifically?

Answer 22

1000 calories

Question 23

What was significant about military equipment

Answer 23

• lacked tanks
• weapons from ww1
• “eight million bayonettes” yet only 800,000 soldiers
  “ block out the sun” airforce

Question 24

How long did it take Germany to defeat Greece

Answer 24

1 week

Question 25

Where did Italy retreat from in 1943

Answer 25

Libya

Question 26

What was X2 reasons for food shortages?

Answer 26

• naval blockade

- farmers conscirpted