Italy and WW1

Question 1

What did some of the more cynical Italians say about the crisis between Serbia and Austria-Hungary?

Answer 1

That it would come to nothing and soon be over

Question 2

What did leading socialist, Treves, say about the potential for war?

Answer 2

He sais their was no potential for war since it would not be in the interests of the capitalist classes of the great powers and that fear of revolution would lead to a peace settlement

Question 3

What did former PM Luzzati have to say about the potential for war?

Answer 3

It would lead to the destruction of lives, wealth, culture and civilisation and would debase and debilitate Europe

Question 4

What did Giolitti say about the potential for war?

Answer 4

He refused to believe that Europe would fall prey to the folly of war

Question 5

What two decsions did Italy have to face following the outbreak of WW1?

Answer 5

• They had to decide whether to become involved in the war or remain neutral
• They had to decide whether to align with the triple alliance or the triple entente

Question 5

What two decsions did Italy have to face following the outbreak of WW1?

Answer 5

• They had to decide whether to become involved in the war or remain neutral
• They had to decide whether to align with the triple alliance or the triple entente

Question 6

What was public opinion like following italys refusal to fight with the TA?

Answer 6

Hopelessly divided. There were those who supported the view that Italy should fulfil her obligations to the triple alliance of which it had been a member and supported for 30 years. Others, whilst admiring Germany, found it impossible to side with their other triple alliance ally, the arch-enemy Austria-Hungary

Question 7

What did General Cadorna go so far as to do at the start of WW1?

Answer 7

Mobilise for a war with France and encourage the king to send an army to the river rhine to support the Germans

Question 8

What slogan did the irredentalists champion at the start of WW1?

Answer 8

‘No blood, no money, no complicity with the Habsburgs’

Question 9

Why did some Italians still see France as the main enemy at the outbreak of WW1?

Answer 9

Because of Italian failure to acquire Tunisia

Question 10

What did some Italians see an alliance with Germany as a way of doing?

Answer 10

Increasing Italy’s prestige

Question 11

Who was the first backed Italian intervention going to be on the side of?

Answer 11

The triple alliance

Question 12

Why did some Italians have sympathy for the Austrians?

Answer 12

Because of Catholic ties and the fact the many Austrians looked for the restoration of papal authority in their own country

Question 13

Why did syndicalists, anarchists and republicans encourage entry into the war?

Answer 13

Because it might create circumstances favourable for revolution and the overthrow of the hated monarchy. They hoped it would be the catalyst for the overthrow of capitalism

Question 14

Why did joining the war have some appeal to the government?

Answer 14

Becuase it had the potential to unite the country and divert attention from the various social and economic problems at the time

Question 15

Which parties took a stance if non-intervention?

Answer 15

Moderate socialists, liberals and other parties of the centre, this was confirmed by a speech made by Giolitti at the end of 1914

Question 16

Define casus foederis

Answer 16

Coming clearly within the terms of the treaty

Question 17

What did Giolitti reveal in a speech to the chamber of deputies in 1914?

Answer 17

He revealed that in 1913, a year before the assassination at Sarajevo, Austria had communicated to Italy and Germany her intention of taking action against Serbia, while defining such action as defensive, hoping to bring into operation the casus foederis of the triple alliance

Question 18

What was Giolitti’s response to the Austrian attempt to trigger the casus foederis of the triple alliance?

Answer 18

He said that if Austria intervened against Serbia, it is clear that the casus foederis cannot be established. It is a step Austria is taking on her own account, since their is no question of defence, as no-one is actually attacking her. He suggested that the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was an excuse and not a valid reason for an Austrain attack on Serbia, since their was no evidence that the move had been premeditated

Question 19

What was the reaction of the chamber when Giolitti denounced Austria’s attempt to trigger the casus foederis of the triple alliance?

Answer 19

The members of the chamber stood and loudly applauded him

Question 20

What had the nationalists begun to do just days after the Italian declaration of neutrality?

Answer 20

They suddenly began to champion the need for intervention on the side of the entente powers

Question 21

What did some suggests Italy should do to reclaim irredenta land?

Answer 21

Wage a war against austria-Hungary on its own, a purely Italian war, without involing the allies or Germany

Question 22

What offer from the Italians was rejected out of hand by the Austrians?

Answer 22

An approach to see whether austria would surrender their irredenta territories in return for Italy remaining neutral in the war

Question 23

How did nationalist views come to enjoy the popular support of the people?

Answer 23

They were widely popularised by the Italian press. The nationalists also benefitted from the quality of allied propaganda, which far excelled that of Germany and Austria-Hungary

Question 24

In which newspaper did Mussolini express his pro-interventionist ideas while acting as editor?

Answer 24

Il Popolo d’Italiana

Question 25

Which popular poet and writer of erotic novels came to be a strong advocate for intervention?

Answer 25

Gabrielle D’Annunzio

Question 26

What would be the military effect of Italy siding with the allies?

Answer 26

It would open another battlefront and place additional demands upon the Austro-Hungarian army, since that country was already engaged in a war with Italy on the Eastern Front. It would allow the allies more access to bases in the Mediterranean from which they could launch a war with Turkey

Question 27

What did Italy and the allies secretely negotiate in April 1915?

Answer 27

The Treaty of London (Patto di Londra)

Question 28

Why was April 1915 an opportune time for Italy to negotiate the Treaty of London?

Answer 28

She was in a position to drive a hard bargain for their involvement and so was able to win concessions of financial and territorial compensations once the war was over

Question 29

What were the obvious logisltical flaws in the Treaty of London?

Answer 29

Some of its territorial claims were aimed at Slav rather than Austrian lands and clearly Italy would have to make a major contribution to winning the war in order to merit such awards

Question 30

What internal contradiction strengthened the position of the interventionists and weakened the position of the pacifists?

Answer 30

Anti-war demonstrations by peasants and workers were broken up. Whereas similar actions taken by interventionists were encouraged by the police and backed by the military

Question 31

What did PM Salandra announce on 23 May 1915?

Answer 31

That in view of public opinion from the nationalists and militarists, Italy would not be joining the central powers. Instead, he declared Italy’s support for the allies

Question 32

What did Italy do on 24th May 1915?

Answer 32

Declared war on Austria-Hungary

Question 33

What is a pre-emptive attack?

Answer 33

To attack first in order to forestall an enemy’s action

Question 34

What had General Hotzendorff, chief of the Austrian general staff, been doing without the Italian’s knowing?

Answer 34

Urging Emperor Franz Josef to agree to a pre-emptive strike offensive against Italy in order to dissuade her from joining the allies. The Emperor refused, declaring that Italy’s neutrality had to be respected

Question 35

What did Salandra do following his announcements in May 1915?

Answer 35

Fearing that his declaration might bring a hostile reaction from Italy’s former allies, he ordered General Cadorna to mobilise an army. Within days, the Italian army was stationed at the border with Austria-Hungary

Question 36

When did Italy declare war with Germany?

Answer 36

Mid-1916

Question 37

What did some Italians see participation in WW1 as?

Answer 37

‘The last war of the risorgimento’: The war that would finally bring together all the Italian speaking peoples

Question 38

Who had refused to make military expenditure a priority?

Answer 38

Daneo, the Italian finance minister. He referred to it as unproductive, refusing the demand for £24 million from the war minister, Zapelli, which he claimed was necessary to prepare the armed services for war. In the end, he allocated barely 1/3 of that sum

Question 39

Which wars had already indicated the shortcomings of the Italian army?

Answer 39

Abyssinia in 1896 and Libya in 1911. The soldiers had shown themselves to be lacking in morale, resolve and fighting spirit; they had also been badly led and inadequtely equipped

Question 40

In what ways was Italy already at a disadvantage before even entering the war?

Answer 40

• The sums of money that had been spent on the army fell short of what was required
• For soldiers, the conditions of service were poor and their training methods outdated
• Volunteers that joined the regular army were generally of poor quality, and these were soon joined by largely unwilling conscripts - poorly educated peasants from the countryside and militant workers from the industrial regions
• Inexperienced troops were soon be forced to face the harsh realities of trench warfare and the rigors of a winter campaign fought in the inhospitable Alps
• General Cadorna had wanted the Italian army to be mobilised for a fight against the French in the Rhine
• There were questions over whether the Italian people were ready to face the appalling sacrifices that war would demand of them