Foreign policy

What were M’s overarching aims for foreign policy?

Achieve “great power” status abroad, establish colonies abroad and gain a strong empire like Britain and France, achieve them all in the name of the glory of fascism

What were the key aspects of M’s foreign policy?

Militarism, domestic concerns (wanted to boost morale after liberalism), historic goals ( to create a second roman empire) and to enhance his cult of personality

What were M’s specific aims about expansion?

Extend Italian influence in Albania and gain a strong empire

What were the potential problems for Mussolini achieving his foreign policy aims

1. Italy’s geographical position - limited trade routes and natural resources

2. Limited economic resources

3. Weak position after Versailles

4. Backwardness in technology

5. Poorer literacy and skills than competitors - impacts productivity of the work force

6. Weaker navy and air force than competitors

Who did Italy sign a treaty with sign in 1923

Poland, Czechoslovakia, Austria

Who did Italy sign a treaty with in 1924

The Soviet Union and Switzerland

Who did Italy sign a treaty with in 1925?

Hungary, Spain, Albania and Greece

Reputation after treaties in 1923 - 25

Gained a reputation for switching allegiances when circumstances suited such as saying that M would always “offer Italian friendship to the highest bidder”. They came across as disloyal which could affect future alliances

Acronym for remembering treaties

Please Continue Acting Smart Steve, Hilarious Stuff, Again Genius

When was the corfu incident?

1923

Corfu incident (1923)

Italian general Tellini and four of his aids were murdered. M was livid and claimed that the Greek Government financed the assassination. He demanded that they had to pay a penalty of 50 million lire to Italy otherwise they would invade. Italy invaded Corfu on the 31st August 1923. The league of Nations demanded that M ended the occupation, so they withdrew and still gained the 50 million lire from Greece

Positives of the Corfu incident

Mussolini’s actions were celebrated by Italian nationalists and won support domestically for standing up for Italy’s national pride and they still gained 50 million lire.

Problems with the Corfu Incident (1923)

Italy’s army were not in the space to fight Britain. They would have barely lasted 48 hours. It also showed Italy as being inferior to many countries in the League of Nations, not cementing themselves as a great power

When was the Fiume occopation

1924

What happened in Fiume?

More of a negotiation between Yugoslavia and Italy. In January 1924, Yugoslavia recognised Fiume as being part of Italy in the Pact of Rome.

Successes of Yugoslavia giving Fiume over?

Due to the previous historical significance of Fiume, it was a popular achievement and showed him to be stronger than any previous liberal government. It gave Mussolini great prestige and convinced Mussolini that he could dominate Yugoslavia. Furthermore, as it was through negotiation, he gained international respect as a great statesman rather than just an agressor

Problems in Fiume

The significance was largely symbolic as it wasn’t achieved through some great and glorious military expedition. The gains were predominately domestic

When was the Locarno Pact?

1925

What was the Locarno Pact

An agreement that saw Germany take its place in the League of Nations and accept the pre World War One borders between itself and Belgium and France.

Positives of the Locarno Pact

He was invited to such an important European commission indicated to the Italian people that he was accepted as equal to the Great Powers and gained domestic support. His international reputation was clearly improving

Negatives of the Locarno Pact

Mussolini had tried and failed to link Locarno to negotiations on Italy and Austria’s borders, so he did not achieve his territorial aims

Judgement of Fiume

Overall success as he boosted his reputation in Europe and domestically. Also a land gain, even though he didn’t fight for it

When was the Treaty of Friendship signed and with who?

Signed with Albania in 1926

Who was in power in Albania?

Ahmed Zog

What did the Treaty of Friendship ensure with Albania and how was this a success?

Confirmed as a satellite state of Italy and could have been seen as a first step imperial expansion of fascism. It boosted Italy’s international position and ensured extra support and security in their geographical position and allowed them to extend Italian influence in South - Eastern Europe.

How did M undermine Yugoslavia

He provided support to the Croatian and Macedonian nationalist movements that aimed for the separation from the newly created Yugoslav state. In 1934, Croatian terrorists assassinated Yugoslavian King Alexander. It helped develop his status as a European statesman

When was the Kellog - Briand Pact?

1928

What was the Kellogg - Briandt Pact?

Outlawed war as a means to resolving conflict between nations. Nine powers, including Italy, signed this on the 27th August 1928

Positives of the Kellogg - Briand Pact?

He was one of the nine powers to sit at the table, before the other 56 countries were invited to do so. Improved his status

Negatives of the Kellogg - Briand Pact

The pact had little weight in reality as Mussolini himself dismissed the agreement in a speech to the Italian parliament shortly after signing it. His international reputation was tainted as he was seen as disingenuous. Overall, failure

Who was the marshal that implemented awful methods in the Libyan War?

Badoglio

What were the brutal methods used in the Libyan war in 1929

Starvation, mass execution, chemical warfare and the use of concentration camps

How many Libyans were forced from their homes and how many died?

100,000 forced from their homes and 40,000 people died in the concentration camps

When did Italy put down the Libyan rebellion?

1932

What were the negatives of the Libyan war and positives?

The negatives were that they clearly went against the Kellogg Briand pact and showed that M still used violence to assert power which may show his actual lack of power. Positively, he achieved his aim of control in land gains

When was the four power pact?

July 1933

What was the four powers pact?

Aimed to strengthen cooperation between Britain, France, Germany and Italy.

Positives of the Four Powers Pact?

It brought international prestige to Italy as it showed that they were willing to take the initiative.

Negatives of the four power pact in 1933?

The Allies of France objected to the pact so it was never ratified by Britain or France, and when Hitler came to power, Germany were no longer interested in pursuing it

Early foreign policy: What aim was M most successful in achieving?

Achieving everything in the glory of fasism and popularise fascism abroad and domestically. These policies were instrumental in M gaining respect internationally, but also domestically

Early foreign policy: What aim did he least achieve?

Achieving “great power” status. Although he achieved land gains, he wasn’t regarded as a a “great power”. Most of his land gains failed, or like Albania included lands that people gave up. He didn’t benefit from any of the treaties really

When was the Dollfuss affair?

1934

What happened in the Dollfuss affair for Italy

M and Hitler clashed over opinions regarding the union of Austria and Germany. After the assassination, Mussolini encouraged the Austrians to establish an authoritarian regime, similar to the Fascist one. Mussolini ordered 40,000 troops to the border to protect Austria

When was the Stresa Front created?

1935

Why was the Stresa Front created?

Germany’s extensive rearmament contradicted the Treaty of Versailles. M called for a meeting with Britain and France to discuss the Nazi’s actions

What was the Stresa Front (1935)?

Reaffirmed support for the Locarno Treaties. They cooperated to prevent any other country from abandoning a peace treaty

Evaluation of the Stresa Front?

Mussolini was seen as a “peace maker” as he took the iniative to call the meeting, a statesman. He successfully exploited Britain’s and Frances fears with Germany. However, it was very vague and they don’t all follow it.

good relations with Britain in the summer of 1935

Good personal relations between M and leading politicians. Italy remained a key member of the League of Nations and helped persuadeTurkey to hand over the rich oil town of Mosul to the British colony of Iraq

problems with relationship between Britain and Italy in the summer of 1935

They clashed over the Corfu crisis and M resented British naval and colonial influence in the Mediterranean.

Good relations with France

Close neighbour with many trading links and historical ties and worked with them in locarno and league of nations

bad relations with france in summer of 1935

Rosselli Brothers and they were rivals over the Mediterranean and North Africa. Mussolini also considered anti - French alliances with Spain, Hungary and Germany but did not actually sign any

good relations with germany in summer of 1935

Four Power Pact in 1933. Hitler admired Mussolini and they shared similar ideologies

bad relations with germany in summer 1935

Hitler withdrew from the League of Nations in 1933. Dolfuss affair. Their relationship was undermined when in March 1935, Hitler openly announced Germany’s military rearmament that had been going on secretly for two years. This was the worst relationship out of the 3

Out of 5, how far did M achieved his foreign policy aims from 1922 - 35?

4. He became more respected through diplomatic relations and increased domestic support by cementing his position as a “statesman”

Why did Mussolini invade Abyssinia: Domestic reasons

Wanted to bring prestige and recreate the Roman empire. He wanted to also ease the growing pressure for land reform in the south of Italy by providing a place for southern Italian peasants to migrate.

Why did Mussolini invade Abyssinia: Economic reasons

To find new resources such as oil, which linked to autarky. He also wanted to achieve expansion easily, which wouldn’t deplete economic resources.

Why did Mussolini invade Abysinnia: International reasons

Wanted to win respect from other nations, and wanted to avenge the humiliation of defeat at Adowa in 1896. He wanted to take advantage of good relations with France and Britain after Stresa and generally expand territory

Which was the most important reason for wanting to invade Abyssinia?

Wanted to bring prestige on the Fascist regime, making them a “great power”. Domestic support would also allow supporting groups to cooperate with economic policies, trying to boost the economy to gain influence over other countries.

When was the Wal Wal oasis incident?

December 1934

How many people killed in the Wal Wal incident?

50 Italians and 150 Abyssinians killed

How many troops were on the border in Abyssinia?

220,000

When was the invasion of Abysinnia?

October 1935

What happened in the invasion

They captured Adowa, which was symbolically important after the loss in 1896. The Italian advance stalled as they needed to build roads for the army.

How and when did the Italians win at Abyssinia?

1936. 600,000 troops used

When did the League of Nations try to impose sanctions on Italy?

7th October 1935

How many more exports than imports as a result of Abysinnia?

4,500 imports compared to 114,000 exports

Positive consequences of Abysinnia

Overwhelming support for M. The sanctions were a propaganda coup for the Fascists. M was seen as a leader who was standing up to the whole world and defying attempts to limit Italian power. He had fulfilled the image of a new Caesar. They demonstrated militaristic skills such as armoured vehicles and mustard gas. Won him the respect of Hitler

Negative consequences of Abyssinia

The success for M was in the short term. Abyssinia had not been fully conquered as 2/3 of the country were yet to be occupied. It affected diplomatic relations with Britain and France. The international community were shocked by the methods used

How much was the lira devalued to after Abyssinia?

40%

What was the Hoare - Laval Pact?

Proposed by B + F to give Italy half of Abyssinia. Opposed by many due to the horrible methods the Fascists used.

Conclusion of Abyssinia?

In the short term, the invasion of Abyssinia enhanced Mussolini’s cult of personality and met all three aims, ultimately, it weakened his international relations in the long term.

What were M’s aims going into the Spanish civil war?

To stand shoulder to shoulder with his new ally, Hitler. To prevent the spread of communism and spread Fascism around Europe by displaying the superiority of the Fascist regime

How much help did Mussolini give during the Spanish Civil War

75,000 troops compared to Germany’s 16,000 and 950 tanks compared with Germany’s 200 tanks

What event in the Spanish Civil War taint their reputation?

In 1937, the army was defeated at Guadalajara. Two thousands members of the army died

Negatives of the intervention in the Spanish Civil War

It lost M support and M gained no territory. Many of the small defeats were humiliating. Severe economic results such as costing 14 billion lira and caused the deflation of the lira

How much did the Spanish Civil War cost Italy?

14 billion lira

Positives of the intervention in the Spanish Civil War

More close relationship between Franco, Hitler and M. It was used as a strong propaganda force superficially, but wasn’t supported.

What was the Anglo - German naval agreement?

Germany could build a navy up to 35% the size of the Royal Navy. This undermined the TOV as it allowed Germany to rearm which completely went against the Stresa Front

Collapse of the Stresa Front?

Anglo - German naval agreement and the invasion of Abyssinia broke the treaty

What was the anti - comintern Pact and why did Italy sign it with Germany and Japan

November 1937. It was an anti - communist agreement and they both shared the ideology of the hatred for communism. The Axis powers were Germany, Japan and Italy

What was the Rome - Berlin Axis agreement?

On October 25, 1936, Germany and Italy entered into a treaty of friendship in which they pledged to pursue a common foreign policy

What was the most important reason for the building of relations between Italy and Germany

Mussolini’s crumble of the relationship with Britain and France due to the Anglo - German naval agreement meant that he was no longer bound by the Stresa Front. He could have also wanted to exert influence over Germany after the positive of Abyssinia

When was the Sudetenland Crisis?

1938

What was the Sudetenland crisis?

Hitler broke the TOV by taking over Czechoslovakia. This led to the Munich Agreement, where Britain, France, Germany, and Italy agreed to allow Germany to annex the Sudetenland without Czechoslovakia's consent, in an attempt to avoid war. M played a key role as a “statesman” here.

When was the Italian annexation of Albania?

March 1939

What was the annexation of Albania?

Albania could have been exploited economically if they were to invade. A Fascist regime was set up in Albania. This proved the damaged relationship between B F and I as it forced Britain and France to give military assistance to Greece and Turkey.

When was the Pact of Steel signed?

May 1939

What was the Pact of Steel

It committed each side to support each other in war. Mussolini was initially hesitant and wanted to keep his options open

Economic reasons for the Pact of Steel?

Mussolini was reassured by Goering that Italy would not need to enter the war for 2-3 years, this gave Italy breathing space and time to prepare. Hitler could also help Italy financially

Diplomatic reasons for the Pact of Steel

They both share tensions with Britain and France and share the same ideology of wanting Fascist expansion and dominance across the world. They both also have a fear of communism

Military and strategic reasons for the Pact of Steel

Hitler was keen about securing this due to increased pressure on allies from all sides. Italy also had territory such as Albania that could corroborate Germany. In the long term, Italy could gain more land and spread their Fascist ideology even more

How long did Italy remain neutral for?

They were termed as “non- belligerent” until June 1940

What was the Molotov - Ribbentrop Pact in 1939 and how did it annoy M?

It was a secret agreement between Germany and the USSR to divide Poland and “avoid war” for 10 years. Mussolini used it as an excuse to stay neutral and not fulfil the commitments of the Pact of Steel

Why did economic factors keep Italy neutral for so long?

Italy could not afford to get militarily involved. Italy demanded Germany to give them 17,000 military vehicles, shows their weak position. In order to modernise, their resources would be depleted. Most important factor, if he would have lost, it would have reflected the failure of the regime and his propaganda facade would have been revealed.

Growing concern domestically

High military spending squeezed middle class incomes and savings and Autarky meant that consumer products were becoming more expensive. General standards of living were falling. Due to the Italian economy becoming increasingly reliant on Germany, there were more Italian workers in Germany and they were often poorly treated. Anti - semitic policies were unpopular and the cult of il duce was no longer sustainable, as he was getting older

Why is the fact that there were domestic tensions a weak argument?

There is no evidence of growing anti fascist politics in Italy and the police were still effectively controlling any opposition that did emerge. Mussolini remained popular amongst Italians as by 1939, a whole generation of Italians had grown up with M as their leader and in their eyes, there was no alternative to the regime as that is all they had known

When was the Munich conference regarding the Sudetenland Crisis?

1938