Italian Foreign Policy: impacts
Invasion of Abyssinia, 1935-36
Italian involvement in the Spanish Civil War, 1936-39
Invasion of Albania, April 1939
Changing Diplomatic Alignments
100
This ideology impacted Italy’s foreign policy because it encouraged: glorification of war for its own sake, pursuit of imperial expansion, and a move away from diplomacy and cooperation
fascism
100
These two Western powers had colonial possessions in the path of Italian colonial aims.
Britain, France
100
What did Mussolini want to prevent in Spain?
spread of communism, communists gaining a strategic position
100
How did Hitler violate the terms of the Munich Agreement in March 1939?
invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia (did not consult Mussolini)
100
Why was Mussolini hailed in Europe as the “architect of peace” in September 1938?
brokered a deal over Sudetenland with Germany and the Western powers (Munich Agreement)
200
By the end of the 1930s, the Italian government controlled 20% of the capital of key companies. Indeed Italy developed a public sector larger than this ideologically opposed country.
Soviet Union
200
A clash at this location in 1934 enabled Mussolini to demand an apology and compensation from Abyssinia, and order his forces to attain a “total conquest” of Abyssinia
Wal Wal oasis
200
Why did Mussolini believe that his involvement in the Spanish Civil War would weaken France?
France had close links to the left Popular Front government; prevent France from gaining influence and strengthen position in Mediterranean
200
Why was the invasion of Albania rather meaningless?
The country was already a satellite state
200
Even though Japan joined the Anti-Comintern Pact in November of 1937, why didn’t Japan join the Pact of Steel in May 1939?
Japan was focused on anti-Soviet, Germany/Italy focused on Britain/France
300
How did the Italian government respond to the Great Depression; give a specific example.
more intervention - including bailouts for industrialists, financial support for banks, raw materials under government control, direct control of major industries increased
300
Italian forces captured this significant city on October 6, 1935
Adowa
300
How was the Spanish Civil War different than Mussolini’s invasion of Abyssinia?
Mussolini did not have a clear plan, not clear nationalist goals, did not appeal to wider Italian population
300
In what ways was the Albanian army ill-prepared to combat the Italian army?
Italians had aircraft and 85,000 more men, troops badly equipped, troops trained by the Italians
300
Mussolini did this as a result of the Munich Agreement:
instructed the annexation of Corsica, Nice, and Tunis from France
400
These four countries signed the Four Power Pact in 1933 to create an alternative to the League of Nations where smaller nations would have a smaller voice.
France, Britain, Germany, Italy
400
What was the effect of the Invasion of Abyssinia?
action condemned by the League of Nations Limited sanctions imposed negative impact on Italy’s relations with Western democracies received positively in Italy surge of nationalist feeling - encouraged Mussolini annual budget deficit drawn out guerrilla war in Abyssinia closer to Germany
400
What did Mussolini hope to gain from the Spanish Civil War?
naval bases in the Balearic Islands, re-establish Mediterranean Roman Empire
400
When the Albanian parliament surrendered to Italy less than a week after the Italian invasion, the Italians made several changes to the government. Name one.
set up a fascist government, merged foreign office with Italian foreign ministry, Albanian arm under Italian command, Albania became part of the Italian Empire
400
The Pact of Steel (May 1939) comprised of two sections. The first was a declaration of trust and cooperation between the two nations. The second was a secret protocol. What was it?
fostered a union of military and economic policies
500
What was the purpose of the Stresa Front, 1935? What was the result of the Stresa Front?
purpose: to reaffirm Locarno Treaty, confirm the independence of Austria, protest Hitler’s violation of the Treaty of Versailles results: Mussolini got the impression that he gained England/France’s consent to expand to Abyssinia too vague against Germany to be effective gave Italy protection against Anschluss Britain signed the Anglo-German Naval Agreement, ending the Stresa Front
500
What were Mussolini’s political, economic, and ideological reasons for invading Abyssinia?
ideological: build an empire (Romans), great imperial power like France/Britain, war for its own sake political: consolidate personality cult, increase support for regime, revenge for defeat in 1896, recruit colonial troops economic: not yet colonized or modernized, divert attention from the failings of Italy in Great Depression, gain territory for emigration, provide an export market for Italian goods, find oil
500
What were TWO results of Italian involvement in the Spanish Civil War?
economic cost was high (lira devalues, lost foreign currency reserves) arms stocks reduced, military weakness exposed increased tension between Italy and Britain/France Franco and Spain remained independent; did not become an Italian satellite state Italy drew closer to Germany
500
In what ways did King Zog assert independence from Italy prior to the invasion?
signed trade agreements with Greece/Yugoslavia (1934), refused to be intimated by Italian warships, refused agreement for the Italian occupation of Albania
500
Mussolini originally declared Italy non-belligerent when Hitler invaded Poland (Sept. 1939). However, what are TWO reasons why Italy joined the war in June 1940?
if they didn’t join, it would be an embarrassment for Mussolini Mussolini didn’t want to lower the rank of Italy gave Mussolini the opportunity to radicalize the regime prevent Germany domination of Europe could bring territorial gains and control of Mediterranean economic: Germany was principal buyer of Italian goods, dependent on German coal
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