IB History- German and Italian expansion

How did fascist ideology influence Mussolini’s foreign policy between 1933 and 1940?

Fascist ideology, with its emphasis on nationalism, militarism, and the revival of Roman grandeur, led Mussolini to pursue aggressive expansion in Africa and the Mediterranean to boost national pride and distract from domestic problems.

What role did Nazism play in shaping Hitler’s foreign policy aims?

Nazism prioritized racial superiority and Lebensraum (“living space”); Hitler aimed to unite German-speaking peoples, overturn the Treaty of Versailles, and expand eastward to secure territory for the Aryan race.

How did the Great Depression affect Italy’s foreign policy decisions?

Severe economic downturn increased unemployment and social unrest; Mussolini used imperial ventures (e.g., Abyssinia) to stimulate the economy, secure resources, and rally popular support around nationalistic goals.

In what way did economic hardship influence German expansionism in the 1930s?

Economic crisis and high unemployment made Hitler’s promise of reviving industry and creating jobs through rearmament and territorial acquisition appealing to Germans, justifying aggressive policies to obtain resources and markets.

What was the significance of the end of collective security for European diplomacy?

The League of Nations’ failures (e.g., inability to check Japanese and Italian aggression) signaled the collapse of collective security, empowering revisionist states like Germany and Italy to act without fear of united opposition.

How did the policy of appeasement shape diplomatic relations in Europe?

Britain and France’s concessions at Munich (1938) and earlier allowed aggressive actions by Italy and Germany, under the belief that satisfying grievances would maintain peace, but instead emboldened further expansion.

Which diplomatic shifts in the mid-1930s weakened the post-WWI settlement?

The withdrawal of Germany from the League of Nations (1933), the Rome-Berlin Axis (1936), and the lack of firm response to Italy’s Abyssinia invasion undermined treaties and encouraged revisionist powers.

What were Germany’s first challenges to the Versailles Treaty between 1933 and 1938?

Germany reintroduced conscription (1935), remilitarized the Rhineland (1936), formed the Axis with Italy, and annexed Austria (Anschluss, 1938), directly contravening Versailles’ restrictions.

Why did Hitler remilitarize the Rhineland in 1936?

He sought to test Allied resolve, strengthen Germany’s western defenses, and boost domestic morale; the move faced no military response from Britain or France, reinforcing the effectiveness of bold aggression.

What was the significance of the Abyssinian Crisis (1935–1936)?

Italy invaded Abyssinia to expand its empire and secure resources; the League’s weak sanctions and Britain/France’s secret Hoare–Laval Pact negotiations revealed the impotence of collective security.

How did Italy’s conquest of Abyssinia affect international perceptions?

It exposed the League’s inability to curb aggression, encouraged Hitler to accelerate his plans, and damaged Britain and France’s moral authority, undermining confidence in peacekeeping mechanisms.

What motivated Italy’s invasion of Albania in 1939?

Mussolini aimed to consolidate control over the Adriatic, demonstrate Italy’s regional dominance, and divert attention from domestic challenges, completing the Tigresque of Mediterranean expansion.

How did the Pact of Steel (1939) formalize the Italo-German alliance?

Signed in May 1939, it committed Italy and Germany to mutual military support, linking their fates and preparing the groundwork for coordinated aggression in WWII.

What was the impact of the Nazi–Soviet Pact on German expansion plans?

The August 1939 non-aggression pact with the USSR secured Germany’s eastern flank, enabled the joint invasion of Poland, and surprised both Allies and Communists, clearing the path to war.

When did World War II officially begin following German expansion?

On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland; Britain and France declared war on Germany on September 3, marking the outbreak of WWII in Europe.

How did the international community respond to Germany’s reoccupation of the Rhineland?

Britain and France issued diplomatic protests but took no military action, emboldening Hitler’s regime and illustrating the limits of appeasement.

What measures did the League of Nations take against Italy after Abyssinia?

The League imposed limited economic sanctions excluding oil and coal, failed to close the Suez Canal to Italian shipping, and saw major powers undermine sanctions, rendering them ineffective.

How did Britain and France’s secret negotiations during the Abyssinia Crisis undermine collective security?

They drafted the Hoare–Laval Pact (1935), proposing to partition Abyssinia to appease Italy; public outrage forced its abandonment, but trust in Britain and France was irreparably harmed.

What was the reaction of smaller European states to the collapse of collective security?

Countries like Czechoslovakia and Poland felt isolated and vulnerable, prompting them to seek bilateral guarantees or accommodate German demands to avoid isolation.

How did the international response to the annexation of Austria differ from earlier crises?

Despite violations of the Treaty of Versailles, Britain and France again opted for diplomacy over force at the Berchtesgaden and Bad Godesberg meetings (1938), culminating in the Munich Agreement.

What actions did the international community take in response to the Nazi–Soviet Pact?

Allied powers condemned the pact diplomatically but were unprepared to militarily oppose the German–Soviet invasion of Poland, reflecting deep disunity and strategic confusion.

How did Allied governments react to Italy’s entry into WWII in 1940?

Britain immediately declared war on Italy after its declaration on June 10, 1940, while France was too weakened by German invasion to respond effectively, marking the expansion of the war.

What combined diplomatic actions targeted German and Italian aggression by 1940?

Britain and its Commonwealth imposed naval blockades, froze Axis assets, and bolstered military cooperation with the Soviet Union and USA, recognizing the need for unified resistance.

What belief regarding the nature of war drove Italy to assert itself as a dominant power in Europe and Africa?

The belief that war was a tool of natural regeneration and power.

When did Italy begin its expansionist pursuits?

The 1920s and 1930s.

What were Italy’s first two targets of expansionism?

Corfu, a Greek island, and Libya.

When did Italy intervene in Corfu?

1923

What country was the victim of Italy’s most significant invasion?

Ethiopia

When did Italy invade Ethiopia?

October 1935.

What consequences did Italy face as a result of its expansionism in Africa from the League of Nations?

Condemnation and sanctions.

What were the effects to Italy’s political alignment following the League of Nations’ response to its African expansionism?

Italy was pushed towards fascist Germany.

What fueled Mussolini’s admiration of Hitler?

Hitler’s success in rearming Germany following the Treaty of Versailles, and his desire to form a strong fascist axis in Europe.

What was the first name of Italy and Germany’s cooperation with each other?

The Rome-Berlin Axis.

When was the Rome-Berlin Axis formed?

October 1936.

What did Italy’s foreign policy increasingly align with following the establishment of the Rome-Berlin Axis?

Nazi goals.

What war did Italy involve itself in following its realignment with Nazi ideology?

The Spanish Civil War, supporting the authoritarian leader Francisco Franco.

What two agreements did Italy eventually join in the late 1930s?

The Anti-Comintern Pact and the Tripartite Pact.

What did fascism glorify?

Violence and authoritarian control.

What did Italy prioritize over diplomacy following its realignment with fascism?

Prestige and military aggression.

When did Italy enter WWII?

June 1940

Was Italy prepared to enter WWII?

No. They lacked the military capability and thought they could achieve territorial conquest with little effort.

What were the three primary pillars of the Nazi ideology?

Racial (Aryan) superiority, anti-Communism, and territorial conquest.

What were four of Germany’s most notable events under Nazi leadership?

Its removal from the League of Nations in 1933, the remilitarization of the Rhineland in 1936, the annexation of Austria in 1938, and its invasion of Poland and Czechoslovakia.

What was Italy’s economy struggling with post-WWI?

High unemployment and inflation.

What did Mussolini use foreign policy to do domestically?

Distract from internal problems and stimulate economic growth and national pride.

How did Italy frame its invasion of Abyssinia (Ethiopia)?

As a way to revive the Roman Empire and boost the country.

What were two of the primary influences on Germany’s rise to fascism?

The Great Depression and the Treaty of Versailles.

What did Hitler and the Nazi Party promise by capitalizing on economic despair?

Revival by rearmament, autarky, and territorial expansion.

What did German foreign policy focus on?

Reversal of the Treaty of Versailles, securing resources and land, and creating economic opportunities.

What was the German term for “living space”?

Lebensraum

What was Germany’s aggressive foreign policy deeply intertwined with domestically?

Its need to secure land, resources, and national strength.

Did diplomatic alignments dramatically change post-WWI?

Yes

Who was Italy initially aligned with?

Britain and France.

What did Britain and France opt to pursue as a result of the formation of the Axis Powers?

Appeasement

What was one of the primary displays of Axis appeasement?

The Munich Agreement.

What was the Munich Agreement?

A pact between Germany, France, Britain, and Italy that allowed Germany to annex the Sudetenland.

What was the Sudetenland?

A region of Czechoslovakia that had a predominantly Germany population.

Why did Britain and France willingly allow Hitler to annex the Sudetenland?

Because they wanted to satisfy his desire for territorial expansion and avoid war over territory.

What shocking pact did Germany enter into following the Munich Agreement?

The Nazi-Soviet Pact.

What was the Nazi-Soviet Pact?

A non-aggression treaty between ideological enemies that divided Eastern Europe between Germany and the Soviet Union.

What was the secret protocol in the Nazi-Soviet Pact?

To divide Eastern Europe among them

When was the Nazi-Soviet Pact formed?

August 1939

When was the Munich Agreement formed?

September 1938

What were two major effects of the Nazi-Soviet Pact?

The invasion Poland and the outbreak of WWII.

Was the League of Nations effective?

No. It had no ability to enforce its principles.

What power never joined the League of Nations?

The United States.

What powers withdrew from the League of Nations before/during/after WWII?

Japan, Germany, and Italy.

What did the policy of appeasement undermine?

Collective security.

What were three things the policy of appeasement was driven by?

The trauma of WWI, the Great Depression, and the belief that some of Hitler’s grievances regarding the Treaty of Versailles were legitimate.

What belief did appeasement instill in Hitler and the Nazi regime?

That Western democracies would not stop his expansion.

Was appeasement a failure or a success?

A failure.

When did Hitler withdraw from the League of Nations?

October 1933

What did Hitler reintroduce into German society?

Conscription and military expansion.

When did Hitler reintroduce conscription?

March 1935

Shortly after his reintroduction of conscription, what area did Hitler remilitarize?

The Rhineland.

What was the Rhineland?

A region along the Rhine River bordering France that was demilitarized post-WWI.

What did the remilitarization of the Rhineland defy?

The Treaty of Versailles.

Why was the Rhineland important enough to remilitarize?

Because of its strategic geographical position.

When was the Rhineland remilitarized?

March 1936

What was Hitler’s excuse for the seizure of the Sudetenland?

He claimed it was to protect the ethnic Germans in the region.

Did Hitler face substantial resistance from Britain and France during his early challenges to post-WWI settlements?

No

When did Hitler’s main challenges to post-war settlements occur?

1933-1938.

Was Abyssinia (Ethiopia) an independent, sovereign state at the time of its invasion by Italy?

Yes

Why did Italy invade Abyssinia in regards to resources?

It possessed rich mineral deposits and Italy believed that it had oil resources

Why did Italy invade Abyssinia in regards to the defeat?

in 1895-1896, Abyssinia defeated Italy which fueled resentment

Why did Italy invade Abyssinia in regards to intervention?

Italy believed that neither France nor Britain would interfere

Why did Italy think that France and Britain wouldn’t intervene?

The Stresa Front

How did the Stresa Front stop France and Britain from invading?

They didn’t want to isolate Italy because they viewed Italy as a crucial ally against Hitler's Germany.

When was the Stresa Front signed?

April 1935

Why was the League of Nations’ response to the invasion of Abyssinia disappointing?

Because Abyssinia was a member of the League of Nations.

What other valuable region did Mussolini invade, apart from Abyssinia?

Albania

When did Mussolini invade Albania?

April 1939

What set Italy’s invasion of Albania apart from the campaign in Abyssinia?

Italian forces faced little military resistance, with the King of Albania fleeing to avoid conflict.

Where did Mussolini aim to assert dominance in Europe?

The Balkans.

Why did Mussolini occupy Albania, in regards to Hitler?

He wanted to keep pace with Hitler’s territorial expansion.

Why did Mussolini occupy Albania, in regards to its international reputation?

To revitalize its image as a strong empire.

What followed Italy’s occupation of Albania?

The formal annexation of Albania and a declaration of a personal union of the two states under the Italian crown.

Why were most of Italy’s military campaigns unsuccessful?

Because its military was weak and underdeveloped.

Was Italy’s declaration of war wise or disastrous?

Disastrous. Italy framed its involvement as a move to shape a new world order, but it ultimately became a costly endeavor.

How did Italy’s relationship with Germany change over the course of the war?

Italy gradually became more dependent on Germany for resources and support.