History Paper 1 Flashcards Italy and Germany

Italian Unification

before 1847 Italy existed as several different sttes, Risorgimento in 1861 and the Republic of Italy was entirely established by 1870

Italia Irredenta

after 1970 Italian Nationalists went to any lengths to include all italian speakers in neighbouring territories into the Italian Republic as it was incomplete without them

Impact of the first world war

1910 Italy was extremeley nationalist, Italian Nationalist Association formed becoming an essential nationalist movement

what is fascism?

Fascism is defined as a far-right, authoritarian, and ultranationalist political ideology, charchterised by the glorification of a nation and dictatorial leader

mutilated victory

After Paris Peace conference in 1919, Italy expected territoral concession promised in exchange for fighting alongside the triple entente. However most of these were not recevied and Italian nationalists lead by Gabriel D'Annuzio rebelled through unsucessful attack on city of fiume 1919, which however made him a hero to Italy

The Doctrine of Fascism 1933

Giovanni Gentile and Mussolini worked together to publish a lengthy definition of Fascism, though it only largley outlined what it was against

Romanita Movement

Mussolini and the Fascists linked their regime with that of ancient rome, wanting to revive its imperial sucess From 1926 Mussolini was refered to as Il Duce while propagnda depicted him as the ""new ceasar"""

Mussolini Romanita Quote

Italians, you must ensure the glories of the past are surpassed by the glories of the future

How did Mussolini proliferate Fascism?

fascist symbol was incorporated into national flag, ideology was extended into school curriculum, students made to repeat a prayer ""wishing for the ressurection of the empire"""

How did facism feed into Mussolini's expansionist foreign policy?

Spazio Vitale, facist idea that a strong state should expand beyond its natural boundires to control vital areas, Mussolini's empire was to be bassed around the medeteranian sea considred ""mare nostrum"""

How did Facism come to power?

October 1921 Mussolini formed National Fascist Party, and offically won elections in 1922

What was the corfu incident?

1923, Italian general murdered on greek soil. Mussolini demanded 50 million lire as compesnation, greece refused and Mussolini sent in troops. After criticism from the LON, he withdrew

Invasion of Fiume

1924 Italy persuades Yugoslavia to sign pact of rome accepting Italian occupation of Fiume which was expected in 1919 peace treaties

The locarno pact

1925 Mussolini signs the Locarno pact, positioning Italy as a major European power, boosting his presitge and projecting Italy as resposnible nation rather than an agressive one

Invasion of Libya

Italy brutally crushed a revolt in its african colony Libya which became a full scale war by 1928

What was the four power pact?

Intended to bring Germany, France, Italy and Britian together in a co-op of Great powers in 1933

what was the significance of the four power pact 1933?

allowed Mussolini to assert Italy as great power, undermined the league of nations through creation of a stronger alliance, ultimatly a faliure as it achieved nothing concrete and demonstrated the declining unity of the great powers and weakness of collective security.

what was Brenner pass?

1934 Mussolini mobalised troops following the murder of allied Austrian Chancellor Dollfuss

what was the signifcance of 1934 Brenner pass?

showed Mussolini's early resitance to Hitler, still viewed as a threat to Italian security, displays intial alignment with Britain and France

what was the Stresa Front?

April 1935, agreement between Italy, France and Britain to block the threat of German expansion, Mussolini predicted that an alliance with the two would support a more favourable attitude towards his invasion of Abyssinia

What was the Invasion of Abyssinia ?

1935, in response to clash of troops at Wal Wal Mussolini deploys 500000 troops into Abyssinia, by May 1936 Abyssinia considered part of the Italian empire

What was the significance of Italy's invasion of Abyssinia?

Abyssinia was part of the League and appealed for help the League, despite condemning Italy, posed no real, effective sanctions demonstrating its weakness pushed Italy to be seen as an aggressor state which aligned itself with Nazi Germany as France and Britian were unable to approve his invasion

What was the Rome-Berlin Axis 1936?

• a pact of union based on military and economic co-operation between Italy and Germany against France and Britain • marked Italy’s decisive shift in alignment, ending foreign policy based on “Parallel War” • weakened collective security for Britain and France "

What was Mussolini's parallel war?

guerra parallela"" was a foreign policy srategy aimed at fighting a seperate, independant campagin alongside Nazi Germany to create a fascistzed Europe"

How does the Spanish Civil War relate to the move to global war?

Mussolini agrees to supporting Hitler's campaign of intervention in the Spanish Civil war, helping Franco overthrow democratically elected Popular Front Government

how was the Spanish Civil war significant?

This military crusade brought few tanglible results and brought negative results to Italy's military effort, cost 10 million lire, closer aligned Italy to Germany

Italy leaves League of Nations

December 1937, Italy’s withdrawal continued to undermine L.O.N power and displays shift from collective security to Axis power

What was the Anti-Commitern Pact

crucial anti communist alliance made between Germany, Japan and Italy in 1937, signalled major diplomatic shift towards fascist coalition building and imperialist expansionism

what was the Munich Conference?

1938, between Germany, Britain, France and Italy to determine the fate of Czechoslovakia, resulting in the concession of Czechoslovakia to Germany in return for no further territorial claims from Hitler

why was the munich conference signifcant?

Displayed the peak of French and British appeasement, Hitler was allowed to annex the Sudentenland without firing a shot, Mussolini acted as a peace broker, bolstering Italy's displomatic position, Hitler gains signficant territorial, agricultural and industrial recources to fund future endeavors

what was the Invasion of Albania?

April 1939, King Zog refuses to renew 1926 defensive alliance annoying Mussolini, 100000 troops sent in, Mussolini attempts to emulate Hitler's boldness

Significance of Invasion of Albania

proof of escalting expansionism as Mussolini emulates Hitler's boldness, poor show of Italian military prowess as it had difficulty conquering the small state

what was the Pact of Steel?

May 1939, full military and political alliance between Nazi Germany and Mussolini

Why was the pact of steel significant?

• marked the end of Italy’s diplomatic flexibility as they could no longer pursue a balance between powers as it had previously done within its ‘parallel war’ foreign policy "

how did failed international intervention impact Mussolini's foreign policy overall?

the inadequate attempts to limit Italy's expansionist aims served only to drive Mussolini closer to Nazi Germany, no real restraint in the achieving nationalistic aims

What was Britain's inital stance regarding italian invasion of Abyssinia?

Britain was keen to keep Italy within the stresa front and thus relcutant to oppose their invasion. British government was also becoming more adjacent foreign policy of appeasemt hence were lenient to take action

What was France's intial stance on Italian invasion of Abyssinia?

France was particularly reluctant to provoke Mussolini as it aimed to maintain the stresa front in fear of future German attacks, after 1934 Wal Wal incident France communicated explicit support for Mussolini

What did British Foreign Secratary Samuel Hoare say at the League of Nations 1935

within the measure of Britain's capacity"" , quotation highlights limited British support of the league in referance to Italian invasion of Abyssinia, shows how British support was conditional in regards to own needs"

How did Britain and France react to increasing tensions over Abyssinia?

both offerend Italy their own territory in compensation but this was rejected and Mussolini went forward with the invasion, Britain imposed embargo on arms sales however this hit Abyssinia more than Italy and was thus ineffective

Why was the league's intervention at Abyssinia ineffective?

Despite voting Italy as an agressor state on October 18 1935, the league only imposed limited economic sanctions over Italy. Due to fear of US support as well as because of the economic impact of the depression, nations were lenient to sanction vital recources. This resulted in Mussolini still having unrestricted acess to oil, coal and steel. Mussolini then admitted with proper sanctions, his withdrawl was certain.

what was the Hoare-Laval?

Secret pact made between foreign minsters of France and Britain and Mussolini (december 1935) which would have promised him over half of Abyssinia. Despite this plans failure due to eventual exposure, it greatly undermined the league's credibilty as its most powerful members were ready to take action without its influence

What were the international repsonses to German invasion of Czechslovakia 1939

Hitler compeltly undermined the League by invading Czechslovakia just 6 months after pledging to take no more territorial demands at Munich conference 1939, Britain and France took no action to prevent this, clear evidence of failed appheasment

What were the international responses to Italian invasion of Albania

Britain and France take no action

What was Italy's economy like before 1933?

before 1914, italy had a severe economic division, south was very poor in comparison to the north, when Fiat launched its first car it sold 4000 cars a year but only to northern Italy

How did the first world war impact Italy's economy?

italy fell into a 85 billion lire war debt to Britian, to mediate government printed more money, this lead to hyperinflation with prices rising by over 400%

What were Mussolini's goals for Italian economy in 1920's?

Mussolini’s goal of a rich and prosperous Italy would only be achievable if it became self-sufficient in food and raw materials for industry

Examples of Fascist economic policys

Battle for Grain"" doubled cereal production by 1939 however misallocated recources causing the increased import of olive oil, ""Bettle for Lira"" 1926 aimed to mediate dropping price of lire but resulted in declining exports and increased unemployment"

How did the Great Depression impact Italy?

by 1933, unemployment over 2 million, 30% jobs in agriculture lost

How did the great depression impact facist policy?

Depression pushed Mussolini to adopt increasingly protectionist measures and fight towards facist autarky. This was increased by LON sanctions after invasion of Abyssinia

What is appeasment ?

The policy adopted primarily by Britain and France of making concessions to aggressive powers (Germany, Italy, Japan) to avoid war. Associated above all with British PM (1937–40) Neville Chamberlain.

What were the main strategic reasons for appeasment ?

Fear that Britain and France were not prepared for another major war, belif that Germany seved as a buffer against Soviet Communism

What were the main economic reasons for appesment ?

Due to the depression both Britain and France were economically struggling and war was unaffordable, Britain could not fianncailly withhold a conflict across its empire

Ideological reasons for appeasement

Strong pacifist sentiment in Britain after WW1, the peace ballot 1935 where 11.6 million Britons voted for collective security and disarmament

Anglo-German naval agreement as an example of german appeasement

1935, Britain unilaterally allowed Germany to build up its navy to 35%, this directly violated Versaille and signalled British willingness to allow German rearmament

Munich agreement as example of german appeasment

1938, Superpowers agree to allocate Germany the Sudetenland without CS consulted, this was done to prevent further German occupation however Hitler went on to occupy the rest of CS 1939

main impacts of appeasment

Emboldened Hitler and Mussolini's agression, allowed Germany time to rearm, destroyed credibility of LON, Soviet Union intrepreted as act of agression

Appeasment sucess in buying time

In 1938 at Munich, Britain was not prepared for war, the time between Munich and the outbreak of war gave Britain time to rearm, historians argue that by 1940 RAF was just strong enough to succed and were close to failure

What were the long term causes of Italy's invasion of Abyssinia?

Inationalist desire for empire and revenge for the humiliation of Adowa 1896, where Italy was defeated by Abyssinia- Spazio Vitale; fascist ideology demanding territorial expansion-economic pressures of the Great Depression pushing Mussolini toward autarky and conquest.

what were the short term causes of Italy's invasion of Abyssinia?

The Wal Wal incident Decemeber 1934 used as pretext for invasion, Stresa front assured him no oposition would come from Britian and France

Why did Mussolini think he could invade Abyssinia without consequence?

Stresa Front suggested Anglo-French support (confirmed French support) , Hoare-Laval negotiation signalled B and F wanted a deal over confrontation, LON weakness at Manchuria 1931

What caused the Rome Berlin axis?

League sanctions after Abyssinia isolated Italy diplomatically, Stresa Front collapsed after Anglo-German Naval Agreement 1935, Spanish Civil war confirmed mutual support

What caused the Anti Comintern Paxt 1937?

Abyssinia isolated Italy, Rome Berlin axis shifted Italian alignment, Mussolini aimed to demonstrate Italy's status as a major power, Facist and Nazi ideology feared Soviet communism spreading, Soviet intervention in Spanish civil war heightened this pressure

What caused Italian invasion of Albania?

King Zog refused to renew 1926 defensive alliance, Mussolini aimed to emulate Hitler's annexation of CS 1939, Romanita- facist desire to rebuild empire

What caused Italy to leave LON?

Italy outcasted after Abyssinia, Rome Berlin axis aligned Italy with Germany, Mussolini saw LON as powerless

What was the World Disarmament conference of 1932?

Organised by the league of nations, it was a pivitol international effort aimed at reducing armaments in the aftermath of WW1. 61 nations + 5 non-members attendedFrance unsuccessfully attempted to give the League its own armyBritian proposed limits to offensive weapons (tanks, bombs, chemical weapons) but Germany and the Soviet Union refused to agree

Why did Germany insist on "equality of treatment" at The World Disarment Conference?

Germany argued that either all nations should disarm to the German level set by the Treaty of Versailles or that Germany should be allowed to re-arm up to the levels of the other major powers. This lead to the German delegates to walk out of the conference stating that they would not return until they had been granted "equality of treatment". However, Germany was able to escape from the disarmament restirction of Versailles through the Treaties of Rappalo and Berlin.

What was the purpose of the Treaties of Rapallo and Berlin?

Signed between Weimer Germany and Soviet Russia in 1922 and 1926 In return for technical aid, Russia allowed Germany to obtain weapons it was banned from having by the Treaty of Versailles.

Why did Germany withdraw from the League of Nation and the Disarmament Conference?

Due to France's insistence on a German guarantee that the Versailles limitations would be respected for the next 4 years. Conference ended in failure as France's refusal to compromise was seen as unresonale. Hilter won sympathy from Britain for his "reasonable approach".

What were the impacts of the Pact with Poland 1934?

the 10 year non-agression impacts were: prevented ties between France and Poland, (isolation of France)brought Poland under greater German influenceBritain was in favor of this pact France was suspicious and increasingly pursued its security indepently of BritainHitler internationally appeared as a reasonable statesman, undermining France's position

Why did German foreign policy not change dramatically in the early 1933?

The German economy was still suffering from the DepressionHitler's political position was not yet fully secureGermany's armed forces were too weak to support an aggressive policy.

What was Hitler's chief aim in 1933, and how did this shape his early foreign policy?

To establish Nazi control of Germany. tried to maintain good relations with Britain and Italy while isolating France and weakening its influence.

Why did the Stresa Front form ?

Formed in april 1935 by Britian, France and Italy to oppose further German actions in Europe. It was a direct response to Hitler's announcement of open re-armament and conscription breaches of the Versailles peace settlements

What did Hitler do to weaken the Stresa Front?

He made speeches stressing Germany's desire for peace, widening the gulf between British and French policies. Britain was impressed, France was not.

When was the Stresa Front really weakened?

When Britain signed the Anglo-German Naval Treaty without consulting France or Italy.

What did the Anglo-German Naval Treaty 1935 allow Germany to do?

Britain accepted that Germany could expand its navy beyond the 1919 limit, provided it never exceeded 35% of the size of Britain's fleet.

Why did France sign a mutual assistance pact with the Soviet Union in May 1935?

France remained unconvinced by Hitler's peace speeches. The pact included a joint promise to protect Czechoslovakia from German aggression. Britain disapproved of France's links with communist Russia.

What Treaty obligation did Germany violate when Hitler re-occupied the Rhineland in March 1936?

The Treaty of Locarno, which required the Rhineland to remain a demilitarised zone.

What condition did Hitler's high command insist on before agreeing to the Rhineland re-occupation?

That German troops could withdraw at the first sign of opposition from the Allies. Only 22,000 troops were sent in because the army was still too weak to fight Britain or France.

Why was the Rhineland re-occupation a turning point for Hitler's confidence?

Britain persuaded France to take no action despite the clear breach of Locarno. Hitler was proved correct that there would be no resistance, which weakened his critics and strengthened his resolve to pursue increasingly aggressive expansionism.

What opportunity did the Abyssinian Crisis give Hitler in the lead-up to the Rhineland re-occupation?

The crisis weakened the Stresa Front. Mussolini's need for Hitler's support over Austria meant he signalled he supported the re-occupation and would not back any League of Nations action against Germany.

Which sides did Hitler and Mussolini support during the Spanish civil War?

One month after the civil war broke out, Mussolini and Hitler decidied to support the nationalistis with troops and weapons

What were Hitler's strategic reasons for intervening in the Spanish Civil War?

to test German military equipment and Blitzkrieg tacticsto gain valuable Luftwaffe experience via the Condor Legionto obtain raw materials from Franco for German re-armamentto bind Mussolini's Italy closer to Nazi Germany.

What was the Condor Legion and what did it achieve?

A unit of the German air force supported by armoured army units that fought for Franco. It gained experience in terror bombing of civilians,especially in the Basque and Catalonian areas and allowed Germany to test new weapons.

What was the Rome-Berlin Axis and when was it signed?

October 1936, German-Italian military cooperation in Spain led both countries to sign the Rome-Berlin Axis confirming Italy's move away from Britain and France and closer to Nazi Germany.

What was the Anti-Comintern Pact?

signed by Germany and Japan in 1936 aimed to combat and destroy communism and the Soviet Union.

What was the significance of Italy joining the Anti-Comintern Pact in October 1937?

It brought three aggressively expansionist countries together in what became known as the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis

What economic obstacles did Germany face after the Rhineland reoccupation ?

Germany experienced an economic crisis in 1936, showing the economy was not yet able to fight any sustained war.

What was the Four-Year Plan?

Launched in response to Germany's 1936 economic crisis, aimed to get Germany ready economically and militarily to fight a war.

What had Nazi Germany achieved by the end of 1936 in terms of the Treaty of Versailles?

It had succeeded in tearing up most of the Treaty of Versailles terms related to Germany's western borders without suffering any military consequences.

What was Hossbach Memorandum?

Hitler's adjutant, Colonel Hossbach, summary notes of the meeting Hitler called upon with Neurath, von Blomberg and the three commanders-in-chief on November 5 1937. According to Hossbach Hitler told attendees to get Germany ready for conquests in east Europe by 1943–45.

What specific territorial plans did the Hossbach Memorandum outline?

Plans to seize Austria and Czechoslovakia, even if it provoked war with Britain and France. Germany was still militarily superior to Britain at this point.

What happened to Schacht in November 1937 and why is it significant?

Schacht, the economic minister who opposed rapid re-armament, resigned. This demonstarted a sign that Hitler was removing obstacles to his increasingly aggressive expansionist agenda.

How did Lord Halifax's visit to Germany in November 1937 encourage Hitler?

When Halifax stated that Neville Chamberlain's government would support legitimate revisions of Germany's borders with Austria and Czechoslovakia, provided this was done peacefully encouraged Hitler further to pursue his expansionist ambitions

What major changes did Hitler make in January 1938 to tighten his grip on foreign policy and the army?

He dismissed his war minister and commander in chief of the army so that he could become minister for warhe declared himself supreme commander of all armed forceshe created a new personal high command under General Keitel, made Göring a field marshalhad Ribbentrop replace Neurath as foreign minister.

How did Hitler use the Austrian Nazi Party in early 1938 to help with the Anschluss?

He used the Austrian Nazi Party to create a crisis in Austria. When the Austrian chancellor called a referendum on independence, Hitler insisted a new government dominated by Austrian Nazis be formed. This new coalition then requested German troops to enter Austria to help with the disorder

When did German troops cross into Austria?

On 12 March 1938

What was France and Britians response to the German troops crossing into Austria?

France had no government at the time and later denounced the action but did not threaten any military responseBritain maintained its policy of appeasement

Why was the Anschluss strategically significant beyond just obtaining Austria?

It dealt a strategic blow to Czechoslovakia, which could now be attacked from the south as well as from the west and north.

What pattern did the Anschluss confirm about Hitler's methods of expansion?

That Hitler had once again been successful in pursuing an expansionist foreign policy without a shot being fired

What was Hitler's first recognisably aggressive expansionist foreign policy?

In July 1934, during his first attempt to bring Anschluss with Austria, which lead to the murder of the Austrian prime minister