IB History Unit 3 Case study #2

The Move to Global War: Italian Expansion (1933-1940)

Causes of Expansionism

Fascism

Domestic economic issues

changing diplomatic alignments in Europe (end of collective security & appeasement)

Fascism impact on foreign policy

Pact of Steel: German-Italy alliance

Entry into WWI (as Germany’s ally)

Glorification of war, pursuit of imperial expansion; moving away from diplomacy & cooperation

Mussolini: assertive/aggressive → anti-French, move away from Br. → closer ties w/ Nazi Germany

Wars in Abyssinia, Spain, Albania

Domestic economic issues impact on foreign policy

Post-WWI: high inflation, unemployment, immigration to US restricted, unable to escape poverty/fear of communism

• Mussolini and Fascists promised to change Italy’s problems fast

Goal: achieve autarky (economic independence)

Used GD to distract public w/ “new revolutionary spirit”

Changing diplomatic alignments in Europe (end of collective security & appeasement)

Br., Germany, Fr., Italy: 4 power pact

Italy wanted to act as a moderator between Fr. & Germ.

Too many alliances → end collective security

Br & Fr: economic problems, stay out of war, rebuild → appeasement

Stressa Front: buffer for Germ. → appeasement

Significant events

Expansionism into Abyssinia

Expansionism into Albania

Entry into WWII

Expansionism into Abyssinia

Killing anyone who resisted & over 18 ans

Chemical warfare & air force

Italian women donate jewlery/rings → raise money for invasion (public support)

1 000 Italian casualties

Italy gained control over Ethiopia → expansionism of empire (Italian East African Empire)

Mussolini given Abyssinia

• Italy moved away from good relations w/ Br and Fr, coler to Germany

Drawn out Abyssinia war → higher economic price but caused more nationalism which was key for fascists to gain power over Italy

Trade shifted to being primarily with Germany

Expansionism into Albania

Pact of Blood: Germ-Italian alliance, Ja. did not agree with anti-Soviet purpose

regain control over German alliance and emulate Hitler; assert Italian strength and imitate Czech. invasion

intimidate Yugoslavia, dominate Adriatic

ultimatum sent to king Zog → anti-Italian protests and King denied

• Italy seized control of gov. buildings, Albania w/drew from LoN

Italy set up fascist gov. under Shefget Verlac

Albanian army controlled by Italy

New King Crowned

Entry into WWII

Entered as German ally, Pact of Steell

Expansion into East-Africa

Italy was not ready for war but Germany disregarded it and joined anyways

International Response to Italian Aggression (1935-1936)

Hoare-Laval Pact: secret Br-Fr pact to limit Italy’s impact in Abyssinia

LoN condemned actions → sanctions

public outrage

election year in Br → did not want a war → appeasement (Germany was seen as more of a threat)

Japand did not want to be anti-Soviet

Hitler launched Euro-War 1939

Italy could not afford to join conflicts → pushed further into an economic hole

Hoare-Laval Pact

attempt at appeasement from Br. and Fr. officials

Would end Italian-Ethipian war, however it would help Mussolini achieve what he wanted by consolidating some of Abyssinia to him