challenges to and the fall of the fascist state

Question 1

Why were the Long Term Impacts of Abyssinia considered negative? (3 marks)

Answer 1

Over 2/3 of the country was still unoccupied and negative impacts were made to the economyvalue of Lira decreasedthe use of chemical weapons marked a rift in relations between Britain, France and Italy

Question 2

Why did Mussolini invade Spain? ( 3 marks)

Answer 2

hoped that Italy moving towards Germany during the Spanish Civil war would allow concessions to be drawn on the Mediterranean with Britain and FranceIf General Franco was victorious, a strategic ally could also be gained in the MedNaval bases could be acquired from Franco and authoritarian regime could be spread

Question 3

How did the Spanish Invasion take place?

Answer 3

Mussolini had sent thousands of troops, artillery, pilots and planes to Spain to aid in the InvasionWhile Franco had been victorious, thousands of troops were wounded or killed on Italy’s side An Italian force was also defeated by a republican army made of volunteers in March 1937

Question 4

Why was Abyssinia labelled as the beginning of Musssolini’s demise? (2 marks)

Answer 4

Spanish intervention was unpopular amongst the Italians who resented the economic hardships it brought and didn’t deem it necessarygradual concern arose of Italy’s move towards Britain and France

Question 5

What was the overall Long term impact of Spanish Civil War? (4)

Answer 5

No positive impact like Abyssinia with heavy war costs and a weakened armyfurthered Italian dependence on GermanyFranco determined not to be a satellite state and refused to give up naval basesBreakdown of France-Italy-Britain relations and pushed Italy to Germany

Question 6

How much of Abyssinia was yet to be occupied?

Answer 6

Over 2/3

Question 7

How many troops were deployed to engage in guerilla warfare against Abyssinians?

Answer 7

250,000 troops

Question 8

By what percent did the Lira devalue during Abyssinia invasion?

Answer 8

0.4

Question 9

What percent of trade ever went to Abyssinia?

Answer 9

Only 2%

Question 10

How many soldiers did Mussolini send to the Spanish Civil war?

Answer 10

50000

Question 11

How many pilots did Mussolini send to the Spanish Civil War?

Answer 11

1400

Question 12

How many fighter planes did Mussolini send to the Civil war?

Answer 12

400

Question 13

How many bombers did Mussolini send to the Spanish civil war?

Answer 13

200

Question 14

How many soldiers were killed in Spanish Civil war?

Answer 14

3266

Question 15

How many Italian troops were injured during Spanish Civil War?

Answer 15

11000

Question 16

How long did the Spanish Civil war last? (dates)

Answer 16

1937-1940

Question 17

What battle was an Italian troop defeated in Spanish Civil War? When?

Answer 17

Battle of Guadalajara, March 1937

Question 18

When was the Abyssinia Invasion?

Answer 18

October 1935

Question 19

How many troops were deployed to Abyssinia?

Answer 19

40000

Question 20

How many Italians listened to Mussolini claiming Abyssinia Italian territory?

Answer 20

20mill

Question 21

When did Mussolini enter the capital of Abyssinia?

Answer 21

May 1936

Question 22

When did the Royal Family launch the “Gold for the Patria” campaign?

Answer 22

19th December 1935

Question 23

how many Abyssinian’s died?

Answer 23

up to 500,000

Question 24

How many Italians settled in Abyssinia?

Answer 24

Only 130,000

Question 25

What were the motivating factors behind Mussolini invading Abyssinia? (4 reasons)

Answer 25

war economyAutarky advancementLand reformpropaganda

Question 26

How would war-planning benefit the Italian economy?

Answer 26

fuelled Italian industries such as clothing, ammunition etc.

Question 27

Why did Mussolini believe that Abyssinia would advance Autarky?

Answer 27

Abyssinia would provide raw materials that Italy does not have e.g mining

Question 28

How could pressure on land reforms be eased by an Abyssinia invasion?

Answer 28

Italian expansion could encourage immigration

Question 29

How could an Abyssinia invasion be effective propaganda?

Answer 29

A great victory could unite the Italian nation and avenge the defeat in Adwa and assert the strength of Italy's fascism to Europe

Question 30

What was Mussolini's aim for the Abyssinia inavsion?

Answer 30

To be a quick and decisive victory

Question 31

What tactics did Italy employ for Abyssinia? (3)

Answer 31

bombingsmurdering war prisonersillegal use of poisonous chemicals

Question 32

What was the short term impact of Abyssinia?

Answer 32

overwhelmingly positive

Question 33

Why was the short term impact of Abyssinia considered overwhelmingly positive?

Answer 33

League of Nations placed limited sanctionsthis was used as a propaganda coup and Mussolini was hailed as a leader who reinstated glory back into Italy

Question 34

Why were the sanctions placed by the League of Nations considered useless?

Answer 34

While sanctions were placed on rubber and metal imports, oil and the Suez canal were noticeably left out

Question 35

What was the "Gold for the Patria" campaign?

Answer 35

Queen Elena presented her wedding ring to be melted down to help the campaign against the sanctions and thousands of women followedgiven steel rings in return to symbolise marriage to the nation

Question 36

What did Mussolini claim happened at the Stresa Front?

Answer 36

Mussolini had reached a strategic agreement between Britain and France to support Italy's imperialist goals as a Trade-Off

Question 37

What triggered the Stresa Front?

Answer 37

In march 1935, Hitler announced Germany's secret military rearment of two years

Question 38

Why did Mussolini believe that Britain and France supported Mussolini's imperialist claims?

Answer 38

Emphasis on "in Europe" was thought to be understood by Britain and France

Question 39

Why was the fascist dictatorship facing growing opposition?

Answer 39

foreign policymilitary spendingincrease of pricesgrowing reliance on Germany

Question 40

How did Autarky cause problems within economy? (2)

Answer 40

consumer goods became more expensivemost of the produced goods would have been cheaper to purchase from an international market