WW2

Question 1

Where did Italy concentrate on in the war?

Answer 1

Mediterranean and North Africa

Question 2

When does Italy enter the war?

Answer 2

June 1940

Question 3

What did Mussolini hope for the war to be?

Answer 3

Short war that provided Italy with lands

Question 4

Italy and France (June 1940)

Answer 4

• France requested an Armistice with Germany before Italian troops attacked French territory
• Mussolini demanded various French territories (e.g. Corsica and Somalia)
• Armistice was signed on 22 June but Mussolini was not invited and only received two small French towns

Question 5

Italy and North Africa

Answer 5

• Sep 1940 Mussolini launched a campaign to expand the Italian Empire in North Africa
• Italian forces in Libya attacked British troops in Egypt, had some early successes
• But 30,000 British soldiers defeated almost 250,000 Italian troops in Egypt Jan 1941
• By May 1941 Italy had lost Somalia , Abyssinia and Eritrea
• 380,000 Italian troops had surrendered
• Battle of Alamein
• May 1943, Libya Axis surrendered in North Africa, Libya was lost and Allies were preparing for an invasion of Italy from Tunisia

Question 6

Italy and the Mediterranean

Answer 6

• Mussolini had focus on Mediterranean
• But Mussolini did not have consistent strategy for attacking key British positions
• British bases in Malta, Gibralta, and Alexandria never sustained attack
• Italian planes bombing own ships in June 1940
• Germany have to help navy
• Battle in port of Taranto 1940 crippled Italian navy

Question 7

Italy and Greece

Answer 7

• Launched an attack on Greece October 1940
• Mussolini was worried about Hitlers interest in the Balkans and wanted to solidify Italy’s position in those regions
• Greece had 300,000 soldiers but Mussolini attacked with 60,000 men
• 32,000 killed
• weather conditions horrible, Italian uniform disintergrated