Liberal state - Intervention Crisis, Stalemate and Caporetto

Question 1

Why did Salandra argue that Italy should join the war (in terms of the Triple alliance)?

Answer 1

He feared that if Germany and Austro-Hungary won, they would not be sympathetic to an ally who failed to help them at a critical time

Question 2

Why did Salandra argue that Italy should join the war (in terms of Britain and France)?

Answer 2

If they were victorious and Italy hadn’t assisted them then they wouldn’t be open to discussing Italy’s ambitions in the Mediterranian

Question 3

Why did Salandra want Italy to join the war (in terms of Italian politics)?

Answer 3

It would enable him to introduce repressive legislation which would offer an authoritarian solution of Italy’s political problems. If Italy won his policies would be difficult to challenge

Question 4

Who was Salandra’s foreign minister?

Answer 4

Sidney Sonnino

Question 5

Who offered the best deal out of the British and French / Germany and Austria?

Answer 5

The entente (British and French), promising that Italy would gain the irredente lands (South Tyrol, Trentino, Istria, Trieste and Dalmatia)

Question 6

Treaty of London

Answer 6

26 April 1915, Italy pledges to support Britain, France and Russia. News of the treaty caused unrest in Italy as it was conducted in secrecy

Question 7

Who was firmly against intervention?

Answer 7

PSI and Catholics including Pope Benedict XV

Question 8

Why did the crisis of Italy’s possible intervention increase in early May 1915?

Answer 8

Giolitti denounced the Treaty of London and 300 deputies announced their opposition to Salandra’s decision

Question 9

[Gap fill] Those backing neutrality called on ______ to become prime minister again but parliament was h_______ d______. Massive crowds of supporters for ___ ___ held rallies in the streets where those backing _______ were declared _______

Answer 9

Those backing neutrality called on Giolitti to become prime minister again but parliament was hopelessly divided. Massive crowds of supporters for the war held rallied in the streets where those backing neutrality were declared traitors

Question 10

What did Mussolini get expelled from the socialist party for?

Answer 10

Promoting intervention as he believed that entering WWI was the best chance of creating revolution in Italy

Question 11

When was Salandra reinstated after resigning?

Answer 11

16 May 1915 and granted emergency powers by parliament on 20 May.

Question 12

Why was Salandra reinstated instead of Giolitti?

Answer 12

King asked Giolitti to form new government but he felt going back on the TOL was now impossible and didn’t want to betray both sides in war. The King felt committed to the TOL and may abdicate if not honoured. Giolitti refused the offer.

Question 13

25 May 1915

Answer 13

Italy formally declared war on Austria with Salandra proclaiming that only through national unity could Italy claim victory

Question 14

Why did Italy enter the war?

Answer 14

Due to foreign and political reasons, little to do with the interventionist protests at the time

Question 15

Where was the war between Austria and Italy fought predominantly in WWI?

Answer 15

In the mountainous area bordering the two countries and was characterised by static trench warfare in the ice and snow of the alpine terrain.

Question 16

What were the conditions like in the war for Italian soldiers?

Answer 16

Horrific and thousands of them were killed by cholera and frostbite

Question 17

[Gap fill] ___ years of ________ followed Italy’s _________ __ ____ and thousands of soldiers were often sacrificed in order to _____ a few hundred metres on the mountainside

Answer 17

Two years of stalemate followed Italy’s declaration of war and thousands of soldiers were often sacrificed in order to move a few hundred metres on the mountainside

Question 18

How many Italian soldiers died in 1915 during the four failed attempted offensives against Austrians?

Answer 18

62,000

Question 19

How many Italian soldiers were conscripted to WWI?

Answer 19

Nearly five million men with southern peasant conscripts were overrepresented

Question 20

What were southern peasant conscripts like in war?

Answer 20

Ideals of war concerning Italian expansion meant very little to them, it was difficult for them to comprehend why the frozen wastelands were worth dying for. The majority couldn’t understand the orders being given to them .

Question 21

How were conscripts treated in the war?

Answer 21

Treated poorly by their commanders and rations were low (3000 a day)

Question 22

How many Italian soldiers were court martialled during the war for desertion?

Answer 22

290,000

Question 23

Who was the Italian supreme commander during WWI?

Answer 23

Luigi Cadorna

Question 24

What was Luigi Cadorna’s solution to the lack of discipline and morale during WWI?

Answer 24

Repress dissent through harsh punishment. Military tribunals passed 4,000 death sentences on Italian soldiers for desertion and indiscipline

Question 24

Why were there so many death sentences passed on Italian soldiers during WWI?

Answer 24

Italian leaders feared that given the troops lack of patriotic feeling towards the war, if they heard the conditions in prisoner of war camps were tolerable they may be inclined to surrender. 600,000 were captured and had to survive on 1000 cals a day

Question 25

Who was Salandra replaced by after being forced to resign by military command and parliament?

Answer 25

Paolo Boselli

Question 26

Strafexpedition

Answer 26

Launched by the Austrian army in 1916, major offensive in the Trentine salient to open a path to attack Verona and Bologna. Italians halted it but it impacted morale and army

Question 27

Battle of Caporetto

Answer 27

24 October 1917, Austrian forces attacked Italian front line. Poor leadership and low morale caused the Italian army to dissolve in the face of Austrian forces causing a humiliating and chaotic retreat

Question 28

What did Italian soldiers do as they retreated from the Battle of Caporetto?

Answer 28

Streamed down mountains many without their weapons and looted, there was violence and celebrations by some troops who thought the war was over. 200,000 soldiers lost contact with regiments

Question 29

Leopoldo Franchetti

Answer 29

An Italian senator who was so overwhelmed by Caporetto that he committed suicide

Question 30

How many soldiers were killed at Caporetto?

Answer 30

10,000

Question 31

How many were wounded at Caporetto?

Answer 31

30,000

Question 32

How many were taken prisoner at Caporetto?

Answer 32

300,000

Question 33

How many soldiers vanished at Caporetto?

Answer 33

400,000

Question 34

How was the defeat at Caporetto a turning point for the Italian nation?

Answer 34

Thoughts of an easy victory that would allow Italy to take Trente and Trieste disappeared and now Italy was fighting for its survival but the army didn’t collapse. Brought back divisions over intervention

Question 35

Who replaced Boselli after he resigned following Caporetto?

Answer 35

Vittorio Orlando

Question 36

Who replaced Cadorna as commander after Caporetto?

Answer 36

General Diaz, a much more cautious commander

Question 37

What changed within the Italian army after it was reorganised following Caporetto?

Answer 37

Rations raised and annual leave increased, greater focus on boosting morale through lectures and trench newspapers, promises of land reform for peasants and in December 1917 an organisation to look after the welfare of the soldiers and their families was established