ww1 Flashcards
What were the fighting conditions/ terrain like?
Snowy mountains
Who was the triple alliance/ triple entente?
Alliance- Italy, Germant, Austro-Hungary
Entente- UK, France, Russia
Which groups were for joining the war and why?
Salandra Liberals, Nationalists
Lead to strong government, gain irredente lands, could introduce for repressive legislation
Which groups were against joining the war and why?
Church, socilaists, Giolitti liberals
-Another catholic country, deaths, army not equipped enough, economy too weak, halt progress in dealing with social/ economic problems
When did Italy sign the Treaty of London?
26 April 1015
What was the Treaty of London
Italy pledging to support Britain, France and Russia
What did the triple entente offer to Italy to join their side?
Promised that with victory, Italy would gain much irridente lands eg Trieste
What followed after announcing the treaty of london?
- Giolitti denounced the treaty and 300 deputies announced their opposition
- Massive crowds of supporters for the war
- Salandra resigned and king asked Giolitti to form new government
- King told Giolitti he felt committed to the treaty and might abdicate if not honoured
- Gio felt he couldn’t support treaty and didn’t want to risk overthrowing the king so declined offer
- Salandra reinstated and Italy formally declared war with Austria
Who was the supreme (army) commander at the beginning of the war and what did he believe in?
Luigi Cadorna
Solution to lack of discipline/ moral was to repress dissent through harsh punishment ie death
In the army, how were divisions in society revealed?
- Ideals of war concerning Italian expansion meant very little to them
- Peasants couldn’t understand orders given by educated northerns due to dialects
How did the Gov deal with prisoners of war?
Didnt attemot to help those caputured in fear that due to lack of patriotic feelings, if soldiers heard the conditions were tolerable they might surrender
WHat was the Austrian major offensive in 1916 called and what was the consequence?
Strafexpedition
-Salandra was criticised by both military command and parliment so was forced to resign
WHo was Salandra replaced by?
Paolo Boselli
When was the Battle of Caporetto?
October 1917
WHy were the Italians defeated so quickly at Caporetto?
Poor leadership/ low morale saw Italian army dissolve and a humiliating/ chaotic retreat took place
Who was Boselli replaced by?
Orlando
What was the battle of Vittorio Veneto Oct 1918?
When Italian forced launched offences entering town of Vittorio Veneto, splitting Austrian army in 2 and Austria signed Armistice Nov 4th
What were the economic impacts of the war?
- Military industry grew substantially but was backed up by the state and banks
- this growth baed of gov investment which was paid for by foreign loans and printing more money
- Inflation Problems and cuts to gov spending
How much was the gov in debt?
23 Billion lire
What impact did the war have on social divisions?
War production based in north and growth in industry accelerated north south divisions
-whilst N economy grew by over 20%, South remained Impoverished
what is a Pyrrhic Victory?
A victory which inflicts such a devastating toll on the victor that it is a tantamount to defeat
