Why did Fascist Italy suffer military defeats 1940-43? Flashcards
How much money had been spent on rearmament from 1925-38?
Large sums of money had been spent on rearmament between 1925-38, spending 11.8% of national income in contrast to 5.5% spent by GB
However much of this was spent on inadequate weaponry, or even luxurious living quarters for officer
What materials had to be imported from Germany? What was the effect of this?
Strategic materials like coal and iron ore had to be imported from German occupied territories. Germany became increasingly reluctant to divert resources to Italy as the war became worse for them
What happened to industrial production?
Industrial production fell by 25% in the years 1940-43, which adversely affected the supply of military equipment
What was the Italian economy working at during WW2?
The Italian economy was only working at 25% of its capacity during WW2
What happened to food production?
Food production fell.
Wheat harvests dropped by 1.5 million tonnes as a result of many peasants being conscripted to fight.
Rations fell to just under 1000 calories a day; bread rations were the lowest of any combatant country other than the USSR
What happened to steel production?
Steel production decreased by 20% from 1940-42 (losses in raw materials made it particularly difficult for tanks and aircrafts to be replaced)
How many planes did Italy possess?
Italy only possessed 1000 effective planes and these were of inferior quality. The Fiat CR42 was slow and underarmed compared to British and German planes.
What kind of war was Italy prepared for?
Italy was only prepared for a short war- M thought the war would be over by September 1940, hence emphasising the military unpreparedness of the Italian forces
What evidence is there that the army was small and outdated?
In June 1940, fewer than 800,000 men were ready to fight and these were largely equipped with rifles and artillery dating back to WW1
Describe the USA’s production of aircraft in contrast to Italys?
The USA could produce more aircraft in a week than Italy could in a year
What social problems remained entrenched in the army? What was the effect of this?
As with WW1, there were language problems between the officer class and the peasant conscripts. This led to low morale, as seen in the massive numbers of Italian prisoners taken in Africa (380,000 surrendered in 1941)
Describe the generals in WW2?
The Generals were steeped in the defensive traditions of WW1, and were unaware of the usefulness of air support.
The navy also adopted a defensive strategy, reluctant to risk their new battle ships against the British fleet.
IRONIC LOL half the fleet got destroyed during an air attack at Taranto in 1940
What evidence is there Mussolini offered inadequate leadership?
As minister of war, minister of the navy, and minister of the Airforce, M made all the decisions without consulting military experts- He also promoted officers more for their obedience and their powers of flattery rather than merit
