Foreign Policy of Mussolini 1922–1943 Flashcards
(21 cards)
Mussolini’s main aims of foreign policy ?
- National Prestige
- Domestic support
- Take over the Mediterranean
- Empire in Africa
- Spread Fascism abroad
- Match Hitler (Post 1936)
Who was in charge of foreign policy ?
Mussolini was the head of foreign policy, however in 1936-43 Galeazzo Ciano (Mussolini’s son in law) was put in charge
What happened in Corfu 1923 ?
- 4 diplomats and a general killed in Corfu so Mussolini demands compensation.
- Greece refused so Italy invades Corfu who appeal to the LON, they pressure Greece into paying the compensation in order to avoid trouble.
- The money was paid and then Italy withdrew after pressure from GB.
- Italy looked weak despite the media calling it a success as they could not maintain control of Corfu.
What happened in Yugoslavia and Fiume 1923-24
- Mussolini sent troops to Fiume to establish control and in Jan 1924 the Treaty of Rome was signed which confirmed the takeover.
- Ahmed Zog takes power and becomes Mussolini’s puppet in Albania which allows him to put pressure on Yugoslavia
- This was Mussolini’s first foreign policy success which was very popular in Italy and allowed him to say he was acting in the best interests of the people to get what they were promised in the Treaty of London.
What was the Locarno Pact 1925 ?
- Agreement that determined the border between France and Germany after the war.
- This allowed Italy to identify itself with the main powers having a seat at the table which looked great for nationalism.
What was the Kellogg-Briand Pact 1928 ?
- Agreement signed by 62 countries to outlaw war as a means of resolving conflict between powers and encouraging diplomacy.
- Mussolini tried to use it as a chance to show his influence but he openly criticised it in parliament and broke it in 1935.
What was the Abyssinia War 1936 ?
- Mussolini invaded Abyssinia in 1936 to show off his power and distract the people away from the current economic problems.
- In Nov 1934, a skirmish at Walwal gave Italy the excuse they needed to invade and in Oct of the same year the invasion began.
- Victory was eventually achieved although it took longer than expected and far more supplies (4.2m shells + 595 tanks), however this still led to a significant expansion of the empire and increased support for the regime.
- Mussolini could no longer claim to be a moderate leader as relations with GB and France worsened and Italy moved closer to Germany. The media painted the whole situation as a success when the LON ended their sanctions at the end of the war and Mussolini calimed he defeated them all.
What happened in the Spanish Civil War 1936-39 ?
- Italy and Germany sent forces to Spain in support of the nationalists in the civil war, Italy wanted another ‘quick’ military success after Abyssinia and an ally in the nationalists. Ontop of this it would also help Italty gain control of the mediterranean.
- Due to this conflict Mussolini drew ever closer to Hitler and further away from the allies and it wasnt too popular with the Italians either - after the war Spain refused to help and blocked off their ports leading to huge government debts. The Italian army also left ⅓ of their equipment in Spain which meant they were unprepared when it came to WW2.
What happens with Italy’s unsteady relationship with Germany after 1936 ?
+ Rome-Berlin Axis 1936 - both Countries aimed expansion away from each other.
+ Anti-Comintern Pact 1937 - Italy joined Japan and Germany against Russia.
+ Pact of Steel 1939 - Italy was tied to Germany if they went to war.
- Non-Belligerence meant that Italy was not ready to enter war with Germany and Mussolini tried saying Hitler made the pact defunct to save his embarrassment.
- Germany carried out Anschluss with Austria which meant Italy could no longer invade and Mussolini was furious.
What was the Pact of Steel ?
Formal alliance between Germany and Italy which committed the two countries to each other if there was a war.
What happened at the Annexation of Albania 1939 ?
Italy invaded Albania and quickly defeated their small forces to set up a fascist regime. Because of this GB and France offered to help neighbouring Greece if Italy began to overstep.
What happened with Neutrality 1939-40 ?
Italy initially declared “non-belligerence”because Mussolini was angered by Germany’s pact with the USSR,the Italian army was also severely unequipped after leaving 1/3 of their equipment in Spain
What happened when Italy entered the war 1940 ?
Italy entered the war as Mussolini feared being on the sidelines and being seen as a second-rate, he believed war was the way to show his country to the world and establish them as a global superpower and with heavy German control in Europe he believed it would be a quick war and if he lost a few of his men, which he didn’t mind, he would be able to claim land and be at the table with the big powers.
Why did the Italian Military contribute to Mussolini’s downfall ?
- War was unsuccessful as technology was outdated - naval ships were slower and lacked radar while bomber planes had no intercoms; this led to them bombing their own troops.
- Soldiers were unequipped to walk across the alps and thousands were affected by frostbite.
- Attitudes towards Mussolini became negative because the Italians did not want war.
Why did the Italian-American attitudes contribute to Mussolini’s downfall ?
- Italian consulates were closed.
- Any Italians living in America were considered enemies and had to spend the war imprisoned In internment camps.
Why did the war in Greece contribute to Mussolini’s downfall ?
- Hitler invaded without telling Mussolini so he retaliated by invading Greece over the mountains.
- It did not work as the Greeks trapped them, Hitler then had to bail out Italy and postpone his invasion of Russia which was a huge turning point in the war.
How did the role of the Mafia contribute to Mussolini’s downfall ?
- The Mafia hated Mussolini and so when the Americans negotiated with Charles ‘Lucky’ Luciano, he gave up intelligence on Sicily in return for his freedom.
- America could invade Sicily and in 1943 with the help of the Mafia who told them where the Germans and their stores were as well as how to cross German lines.
- Americans took Sicily in 20 days.
How did the role of King Emmanuel contribute to Mussolini’s downfall ?
- Rome was bombed by 500 planes and the King realised he needed to intervene.
- e worked with resistance fighters and some members of the Fascist party to have Mussolini arrested.
- The Grand Council of Fascism voted Mussolini out of power and he was imprisoned.
How did the role of the Nazis contribute to Mussolini’s downfall ?
- Nazis seized control of northern Italy and the allies had the south.
- In June 1943, the Italian army surrendered in the south, there was a race between the allies and Nazis to find Mussolini.
- In a 4-minute raid, the Germans rescued Mussolini without a shot being fired. He was taken to Munich and instated as the puppet leader over the North of Italy whilst being now a prisoner of Hitler.
How did the Republic of Salo contribute to Mussolini’s downfall ?
- The North of Italy became known as Salo where Mussolini was puppet leader.
- Hitler ordered the Grand Council of Fascism to be executed, as well as Mussolini’s son-in-law, by a German firing squad.
- Salo was ‘ruled’ by Mussolini for a year until he met with Italian resistance fighters.
What happened when Mussolini was murdered ?
- In April 1945, Mussolini met with resistance fighters who ordered his surrender and trial in court.
- He escaped with a fleeing German convoy but was ambushed and arrested.
- A communist execution squad took Mussolini near Lake Como where he and his mistress were executed.
- Their bodies were publicly displayed in the streets of Milan.
