Italy & World War I, 1914-18 Flashcards
Who argued against joining the war?
Giolitti, the Pope, PSI
Why did they oppose joining the war?
Not consulted by Austria, therefore no obligation to help, Italy was not economically ready so soon after Libya, Italian people did not want war, thought they could make gains through negotiation
Who wanted to join the Triple Entente and for what reasons?
Salandra (PM), Foreign Minister, thought they could gain the Irrendente lands which many Italians thought should be under their control
What reasons were there for joining the Central Powers?
Fear that if they did not help them and they won, they would not be sympathetic to Italy especially since Italy was meant to be allies with Austria
Who did Italy eventually join sides with in the war and why?
1915, joined the Triple Entente because the Treaty of London in the same year had promised them the Irrendente lands if they won, such as South Tyrol and Dalmatia
Why were their issues with Italian conscripts?
Southern peasants didn’t really care about expansion, also language issues as Southerners spoke their own dialect whilst northern peasants spoke official Italian
How were soldiers treated by commanders?
Supreme Commander, Luigi Cadorna, used harsh punishments, 4000 killed for desertion, and soldiers lived on 1000 calories a day, caused 100,000 hunger related deaths (fought offensive war)
How did this make soldiers feel?
Anger at the government, did not see the point in joining war, thought they had been betrayed
What happened at the Battle of Caporetto?
Defeated against Austrians, only had weapons from British and French, no support whereas Austrians had German help, 10,000 prisoners taken and 20km lost in a day, caused collapse of Boselli’s government
What happened at the 2nd Battle of Piave River?
Italian victory, rain made river rise washing away Austrian camps, bombing not as effective as allies controlled skies, Austrians pushed back to other side
