Fascist Foreign Policy Flashcards
1
Q
Key Aspects of Foreign Policy
- Militarism
- Domestic concerns
- Historical Goals
- Methods
A
Key Aspects of Foreign Policy
- Militarism showed a strong and fierce Italy
- Domestic concerns; to sole extreme poverty and high emigration
- Historical Goals to recreate the Roman Empire and Renaissance
- Methods of speeches and parades to motivate
2
Q
Issues for Mussolini’s Foreign Policy
- Geographical Position
- Limited Economic Resources
- Weak position after Versailles
- Backward in technology
- Poorer literacy and skills
- Weaker navy and airforce
A
Issues for Mussolini’s Foreign Policy
- Large coastline, stuck in mediterranean
- Poor war industry
- Not enough land/colonies
- Weaker military and industry
- Hard to create a skilled economy especially in south
- Could not protect convoys or supplies
3
Q
Foreign Policy events 1923-1925
- Corfu (1923)
- Fiume (1924)
- Locarno Pact (1925)
A
Foreign Policy events 1923-1925
- Invaded Corfu, but forced to back down by Britain, but received 50m lire
- Symbolic return of Fiume by Yugoslavia in return for Italian recognition of Yugoslav land
- Accepted European borders, brought peace and increased reputation
4
Q
Foreign Policy events 1925-1934
- Albania/Yugoslavia
- Libya
- Four Power Pact (1933)
A
Foreign Policy events 1925-1934
- Albania’s King Zog was under heavy Italian influence, and undermined Yugoslavia by supporting separatists movement, such as one killing King Alexander
- Brutal libyan campaign using starvation, executions, chemical warfare and concentration camps
- Brought international prestige for Mussolini, but was never ratified
5
Q
Relations with Britain
- Personal relations
- Treaties
- Corfu
- Malta
A
Relations with Britain
- Leaders had good personal relations
- Locarno Treaty, League of Nations
- Clashed over 1923 Corfu crisis
- Pro Italian groups encouraged in Malta hurt relations
6
Q
Relations with France
- Treaties
- Anti Fascist exiles
- Land conflict
A
Relations with France
- Locarno Pact and League of Nations
- Rosselli brothers in Paris were assassinated 1937
- Nice, Corsica, North Africa (especially Tunisia)
7
Q
Relations with Germany
- Personal relations/Ideology
- Treaties
- League of Nations
- Austria
- Rearmament
A
Relations with Germany
- Mutual admiration, Hitler liked March On Rome
- 1933 Four Power Pact and overall desire to revise borders and LoN
- Hitler withdrawing from LoN 1933 caused tensions
- Hitler’s desire for Anschluss caused great trouble
- Secret rearmament announcement in Mar 1935 hurt relations
8
Q
Reasons for Abyssinian Invasion
- International prestige
- Economic
- Domestic
A
Reasons for Abyssinian Invasion
- Recreate Roman Empire, win respect from Hitler especially, avenge Adowa 1896
- Settlement, trade, natural resources
- Gain popularity and increase unity in Italy
9
Q
Positive Consequences of Abyssinia
- Sanctions
- Domestic reputation
- Military
- Hitler
A
Positive Consequences of Abyssinia
- Sanctions were limited and oil was left off
- Stood up to LoN, brought great prestige from church, royals and nation
- Showed new military skills and technology
- Won respect of Hitler, improving relations
10
Q
Negative Consequences of Abyssinia
- Length of success
- Lives lost
- Economic
- International community
- British/French relations
A
Negative Consequences of Abyssinia
- Short term success (Abyssinia was not fully conquered)
- 10,000 dead soldiers
- Lira devalued by 40% and budget deficit rose from 2.5bn to 16bn lire
- International shock at use of chemical weapons, village bombings
- British/French relations rift that never recovered
11
Q
Reasons for Spanish Civil War Intervention
- Hitler
- Ideology
- Military
- Domestic
A
Reasons for Spanish Civil War Intervention
- Stand with Hitler
- Prevent communism and spread Fascism
- Demonstrate military superiority and gain bases/alliance
- Consolidate position and status in Italy
12
Q
What did Italy do in the Spanish Civil War
- Troops, tanks, pilots/planes
- Guadalajara 1937
- Italian submarines sank ships going to Republican ports
A
What did Italy do in the Spanish Civil War
- Sent 75k troops, 950 tanks, 1400 pilots and 400 planes
- Guadalajara 1937 saw defeat partially by Garibaldi legion made up of Italian anti-Fascists; 2k killed and 4k wounded
- Italian submarines sank ships going to Republican ports; Mussolini denied all knowledge, causing British and French ships to patrol and forcing Mussolini to back down
13
Q
Consequences of Spanish Civil War
- Domestic support
- Military gains
- Military reputation
- Anglo-French relations
- Economic
A
Consequences of Spanish Civil War
- Despite church support, was unpopular
- No territory, naval bases or alliance
- Humiliation at Guadalajara 1937
- Isolated from Britain and France, forced to sign Nyon Agreement (can’t use navy to support Nationalists)
- Disruption of trade, greater dependence on Germany; devalued Lira, drained foreign currency and cost 14bn lira (1/2 years tax)
14
Q
German Alliance Advantages
- Military
- Economic
- Diplomatic
- Domestic
A
German Alliance Advantages
- Central European alliance splitting Russia from the West, agreed split influence over regions, Germany was very militarily powerful
- Raw materials, export market for wool
- High profile in exchanging visits in 1934,37,38; Rome-Berlin axis, Anti-Comintern Pact, Pact of Steel, Munich negotiations
- Popular as went against LoN, seen as equals to Germany
15
Q
German Alliance Disadvantages
- Military
- Economic
- Diplomatic
- Domestic
A
German Alliance Disadvantages
- Did not solve mediterranean dominance, Italy looks weak compared to Germany
- Committed to costly war, encouraged Spanish and Albanian wars, dependence on Germany limited markets
- Harmed Anglo-French relations, worsened LoN view, restricted colonies, no consultation on Czech or Polish invasion
- German customs like salute, language changes, goosestep and anti-semitism were deeply unpopular; conflict over Austria
