Studied by 1 person
New trade barriers forced Italy to increase trade with Central European powers such as Yugoslavia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania
1929
Foreign policy became more clearly Fascist as economic difficulties eased allowing riskier foreign policy
From 1935
Count Galeazzo Ciano appointed Foreign Minister
1936
Isituto Italiano created to financially support banks and industry
1931
Isituto per la Ricostruzione Industriale created to take control of share in banks and companies
1933
Mussolini had realised that a strong Germany would make Britain and France more amenable to Italian demands
In the 1920s
Mussolini probably funded the Nazis and other right wing groups in Germany
In the 1920s
Austrian Chancellor Dollfuss visited Rome
1933
Mussolini encouraged Dollfuss to set up a fascist but anti-Nazi authoritarian regime in Austria
February 1934
Dollfuss was assassinated by Nazi sympathisers after attempting to set up a fasicst, anti-Nazi regime
July 1934
Mussolini dispatched troops to the Austrian border to prevent Germany from attempting Anschluss
1934
Relations between Italy and Germany reached a low point when Hitler revealed the Luftwaffe and announced conscription
March 1935
Mussolini met with Britain and France in Stresa, Italy, forming the ‘Stresa Front’
April 1935
Mussolini’s foreign policy conduct had been cautious and respectable
Until 1935
Italy was defeated by Ethiopian forces at Adowa
1896
border incident at Wal Wal on the Abyssinian border with Italian Somaliland, several Italian soldiers killed
December 1934
Invasion of Abyssinia
October 1935 to May 1936
Capital of Abyssinia Addis Ababa reached by Italian troops
May 1936
Italy sponsored Abyssinia to be part of the League of Nations
1920s
Hoare-Laval Pact signed, Mussolini could take 2/3 of Abyssinia but dropped due to public outrage in Britain and France
December 1935
20 million listened as Mussolini proclaimed victory in Abyssinia through a radio broadcast
May 1936
Treaty of Friendship between Italy and Abyssinia
1928
League of Nations implemented limited sanctions against Italy
18 November 1935
Abyssinia formally annexed by Italy
9 May 1936
Rome-Berlin Axis strengthened when Italy joined the Anti-Comintern Pact
November 1937
Hitler carried out Anschluss without consulting Mussolini
1938
Chamberlain asked Mussolini to mediate after Hitler demanded the Sudetenland, Mussolini colluded with Hitler
1938
Mussolini demanded the annexation of Nice, Corsica and Tunis from France
November 1938
Mussolini invaded Albania, won without any fighting
April 1939
‘Pact of Steel’ between Germany and Italy
22 May 1939
Mussolini declared Hitler had been ‘treacherous’
September 1939
Italy declared war on Britain and France
June 1940
King Zog of Albania signed trade agreements with Greece and Yugoslavia
1939
Mussolini sent an ultimatum to Tirana, the capital of Albania, demanding agreement to Italian occupation
25 March 1939
Italy invaded Albania with 100,000 men and 600 aircraft, all ports were taken and King Zog fled
7 April 1939
Italian forces reached Tirana in Albania
8 April 1939
Albanian parliament deposed King Zog and voted to unite with Italy
12 April 1939
Albania withdrew from the League of Nations
12 April
Italy suggested it would not be ready for war until 1943
May 1939
Hitler and Mussolini met at the Brenner Pass border
March 1940
Ideological divide led to instability in the French government
1930s
Coalition of radicalises and socialists formed to govern France, did not deal with economic issues, had six different cabinets within 2 years
1932-1934
Left wing government in France, criticised for spending on domestic developments not rearmament
1936-1938
More political stability in France due to a change in government, refocus on armament
1938
Haile Salassie asked the LoN to arbitrate, neither Italy nor Abyssinia found responsible
6 December 1934
Franco-Italian agreement, concessions to Italy in Africa
January 1935
Haile Salassie appealed to the LoN
March and May 1935
Britain declared an arms embargo on Italy and Abyssinia , removed warships from the Mediterranean giving Mussolini uncontested access
July 1935
Abyssinian army mobilised against Italy
September 1935
Italian forces invaded Abyssinia without a declaration of war
October 1935
LoN found Italy to be the aggressor against Abyssinia, imposed weak sanctions
October 1935
Sanctions on Italy lifted by the LoN
July 1936
Japan recognised the new ‘Italian Empire’
November 1936
Britain and France recognised Italian control of Abyssinia; US and USSR refused to
1938
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