Move to Global War - Italian Expansion

Factors that allowed Mussolini to take power

• Long-term weaknesses of Italy’s liberal democracy (consider lack of national identity, divisions between church and state, working class protest and nationalist opposition)

• The impact of World War One and the Treaty of Versailles

• The Fiume Affair

• The appeal of fascist ideology

• Post-war economic problems

• The Bolshevik revolution of 1917

• The March on Rome

Mussolini’s aims after 1925

Increase National Pride: Consolidate domestic support for fascism

Revise Post-World War I Settlement: Address perceived injustices from the 1919-1920 agreements that weakened Italy. (Fiume affair)

Expansion - Heir to Rome

• Dominate the Balkans (Albania, Yugoslavia).

• Control the Mediterranean region (Greece, Malta).

Build an Empire in Africa: Target Ethiopia and Libya.

Spread Fascism: Promote Fascism in other countries (Spain) to enhance Italy’s role as a leader in Fascist movement.

How did diplomatic alignments in Europe change?

Rome-Berlin Axis 1936

Linked Italy and Germany. Mussolini declared that after this agreement all European affairs would rotate on the 'Rome-Berlin axis'. 

Anti-Comintern Pact 1937

Nazi Germany and Japan against the USSR. Italy then joined the pact in November 1937.

Pact of Steel 1939

Turned the Rome-Berlin Axis into a military alliance. It was signed by Hitler and Mussolini in 1939.

Tripartite Pact 1940

A military agreement between Italy, Germany, and Japan aimed at deterring U.S. involvement in Europe and Asia

Why did Italy invade Abyssinia in October 1935?

• Abyssinia was near French territory, and Mussolini wanted to undermine French influence in North Africa

• Mussolini wanted to emulate imperial powers (Britain and France).

• Il Duce wanted to 'rebuild' Italian colonial territory akin to the Roman Empire, which had controlled large areas of Africa

• revenge for Italy’s defeat by Abyssinians in 1896.

• Economically, Mussolini needed to divert attention from the failings of the corporate state and the impact of the Great Depression.

• Abyssinia was targeted to gain 'spazio vitale'

Why did Mussolini intervene in the Spanish Civil War, 1936 - 1939?

Mussolini’s success in Abyssinia caused him to support General Franco in the civil war.

• the war promoted fascist ideals and allowed Mussolini to train his soldiers.

• it created tensions between Italy and British + France, however brought Mussolini closer to Hitler (Rome Berlin Axis)

• the war devalued the lira and depleted Italian war stocks, thus it was unpopular in Italy

Why did Mussolini invade Albania in April 1939?

Reasons for the invasion:

• Albania had been a satellite state but Mussolini wanted to imitate Hitler’s successful expansion

• Italy wanted to intimidate Yugoslavia

• Heir to Rome Mentality, along with threatening Britain with loss of its naval bases

King zog of Albania refused Italy’s occupation, however his army was defeated and Mussolini seized the government in 1939.

Why did Italy enter the Second World War in June 1940?

Ideological

• Not to join the war was contrary to Fascism, and it would portray Mussolini as powerful

• The war could also give Mussolini the opportunity to radicalize the regime, removing church influence.

Strategic

• If Italy remained neutral and Germany won the war, Europe would be dominated by a Germany that would be hostile towards Italy because it had remained neutral.

• Historian De Felice argues that Mussolini intervened when he thought that it was both impossible to reach an agreement with Britain and France and to maintain neutrality for the duration of the war. 

• The war could also bring territorial gains and perhaps control over the Mediterranean.

Economic

• Germany had been a major buyer of Italy’s food and textiles and it received German coal in return. Italy had become dependent on it and it had to be delivered by sea. In March 1940, Britain blockaded all German coal ports.

What was the international response to Mussolini's invasion of Abyssinia?

France and Britain were preoccupied with Hitler’s invasion of Rhineland than Italy’s 1935 invasion of Abyssinia. LON condemned Italy and imposed sanctions, however it was not enough to address the invasion. France also wanted to secure support against Hitler as Italy had defied hitler’s Anschluss in 1934.

1936: Japan recognized Abyssinia as Italy

1938: Britian and France officially recognize Italy’s control

USSR, USA, Spain, Mexico all did not recognize Italy’s control of Abyssinia

How did Britain and France respond to the Italian invasion of Albania?

Britain and France condemned the invasion and decided to finally stop appeasing Mussolini. They backed up Albania with military support.