Italy (Source): How far could the historian make use of Sources 1 and 2 together to investigate the reasons for Mussolini’s fall from power in July 1943?

Introduction

• Source 2 stronger

• Allied Invasion of Sicily etc reduced his freedom

Paragraph 1

• ‘Nineteen of the twenty-eight voters, including his son Ciano, had betrayed him

• Only 8 voted for him

• ‘The King, upon learning the results of the no-confidence vote, appointed General Badoglio as the new head of government.’

• Mussolini had ruled for 21 years

Paragraph 2

• ‘The fatal error of Mussolini was the declaration of war against France and Great Britain after the victories of Hitler in June 1940.’

• Italy lost 300k men during the war

• ‘It is undeniable that it was supported by a very large number of Italians in its period of success.’

• PNF had 5m members by late 1930s

Paragraph 3

‘The King… appointed General Badoglio’

‘The fatal error of Mussolini was the declaration of war’

Italy suffer major defeats in eg Greece, 70,000 Italian troops vs 5,000 Greek

‘My father had allowed Grandi to present his resolution’

‘Instead, he took the wrong road’

160k Allied troops invade Sicily