Italian Expansion - Events/Challenges to Versailles

1935

Abyssinia

• Musso was sure that he was indispensable to the other allies

• he wanted more domestic support and distraction,

• abyssinia is part of the league, (italy weathers the depression through the corporate state),

• Mussolini wanted revenge and territory in africa,

• Causes split with britain and franc

1936-39

Spanish Civil War

• complete shift to the axis and is the largest foreign intervention in the spanish civil war 

October 1936

Rome Berlin Axis
Complete realignment with the axis, axis becomes clear

Dec 1937

Italy leaves league

• Italy leaves league in direct conflict of leagues criticism

March 1938

Anschluss

• Italy allows anschluss and this is a huge blow to italian domestic policy

Apr 1939

Invasion of Albania

• Italy does a cake walk invasion of Albania to foster support

May 1939

Pact of Steel

June 1940

Italian entry into the war