Italian Expansionism

expansionism

a policy advocating territorial or economic expansion

After the Great Depression, what did the three powers (Italy, Japan, Germany) do?

proposed policies of expansionism to build their empires and gain resources.

Treaty of London (1915)

Italy will switch sides from Triple Alliance to the Entente side (British, France, Russia) for promised land they will acquire

— For Mussolini, Italy was a major power and should be treated as such

What did Mussolini implement at the start of his power?

Power Consolidation, Foreign Policy, Matteotti Affair (he murdered him because Matteotti was critical of him)

Mussolini’s Domestic Policies

Power Consolidation - Get rid of his opposition and have a one party state

1. No separation of powers and he’s in charge of Judicial, Legislative, and Executive Gov’t

2. OVRA - secret police that would intimidate people against his rule

3. Strikes are illegal, newspaper shut down, etc.

Economics - Italian economy was prospering and Italians had job while rest of the world was suffering, the opposite could be said for Italian

— Reinforced how “Great” Mussolini was

Mussolini’s Foreign Policy

4 Power Act - 1933 - Britain, France - Germany, Italy

1. Trade alliance with each other

Stresa Front - 1935

2. Hitler and Mussolini didn’t like each other at this time. Mussolini sent Italian troops in Austria border against Hitler troops (German North) (Italy South)

3. Stresa Conference - Britain and France wanted to stop German aggression (wanted to neutralize it) and a win for Italy because they felt they were with the powerful nations

4. Mussolini stopped Hitler’s aggression

Second-Italo Ethiopian War - 1935

Italy invades Abyssinia

→ Lack of lack of league action to Japan (Manchuria), Mussolini believed that the league would not do anything.

Reasons for Italian Invasion

Fascist ideology: War for the sake of war, social darwinism, survival of the fittest

Economy: The Italian economy was beginning to crack. To divert Italians away from the economy = invade Abyssinia.

Italy's place in the sun: Italy would began rebuilding Roman Empire, establish its own colonies, and control the waterway into the mediterranean.

Revenge: Italy lost the first Italo-Ethiopian war, so Mussolini was trying to restore pride.

The Emperor of Ethiopia - Halie Selassie

Traveled to the league of nations to plead directly to the league for help. The League of Nations debated it, and if an oil embargo was placed on Italy, it would stop Italy in its tracks.

What happened to the oil embargo that the League stated?

oil was never placed on the embargo list

• Britain and France would not go along with the oil embargo - why would Britain/France punish themselves when Italy would still get oil from the US.

Hoare-Laval Pact

A surrender for Ethiopia drawn up with basically gave Ethiopia to Italy. However, it was leaked and there was so much outcry that it was never actually put into practice.

→ In the end, no real action was taken against Italy.

For Mussolini, just the threat of any sanctions was disrespectful, especially the threat of oil. =

This drew Mussolini Closer to Hitler

Spanish Civil War (1936)

Francisco Franco was the Spanish fascist dictator. Both Hitler and Mussolini supported Franco. Draws Mussolini and Hitler closer.

Anschluss (1938)

Specifically outlawed by treaty of Versailles. Austria did vote yes to join Germany but soldiers were in Austria.

April 7, 1939 - Mussolini invaded Albania

1. Fascist Ideology - creation of Italian empire (Roman Empire)

2. Trying to copy Hitler successes

   1. Hitler invading Rhineland

   2. Munich agreement 1938

What were the pacts between the Tripartite?

Anti-Comintern Pact (Fight Against Communist) - 1936 → Pact of Steel (aid each other) - May 1939 → Tripartite Pact (improved version of everything) - 1940

Phony War

→ Britain and France declared war to Germany (September to May 1939)

• Actually no fighting going on

May 1940 - German Invasion to France

War officially starts.

— At first, Italy didn’t participate

However, Germany was having so much success so quick that it was an embarrassment to Mussolini that he hadn’t been involved

Italy eventually joined the invasion on the South