Mussolini

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Mussolinis Foreign Policy

• What were his aims?
• How successful was he?

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What do we already know?
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Overview

• Making the mark
• The Statesman
• The Aggressor
• Hitlers Junior partner
• WW2 and non-intervention
• Italian experience of war
• Interpretations
• Themes of international prestige, making Italy
  strong. Distraction from domestic affairs?

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I want to make Italy great, feared and
respectedMussolini
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So what were the aims?

• Make Italy strong
• Recreate the glories of the Roman Empire
• Through this, make Italy ready for war

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Foreign Policy 1922-34

• Revisionism early theme treaties
• Wouldnt abandon wartime allies (GB/Fr), though
  not natural allies (liberal democracies)
• Possible disputes over Mediterranean (Mare
  Nostrum) but remained loyal
• Germany ambiguous. Triumph of fascism but
  greater Germany serious threat
• Austria key alignment. Buffer state by 1922.
  Fear of German dominance of Austria (protect
  Brenner Pass) therefore Locarno Pact (1925) and
  Stresa Agreement (1935)
• Mussolini sought to prop up Austria sponsored
  anti-Nazi Heimwehr militia
• Also Rome protocols (trade between Italy, Hungary
  and Austria)

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Adriatic Ambitions

• Italy didnt agree with international repose /
  treaties wanted expansion
• 1923 Corfu invaded in revenge for murder of
  Italian businessman (defied L of N)
• Agreements allowed Italy to take Fiume, then
  agreements with Albania and Hungary
• Italy the chief anti-democratic conspirator of
  Europe Elizabeth Wiskemann

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African Ambitions

• Justified through relief of over-population
• (Mack-Smith argument is bogus really
  rivalling GB/Fr outside Med)
• So 1920s colonial war in Libya
• Build up of arms in Somalia
• But biggest FP venture was Abyssinia

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The Invasion of Abyssinia Oct 1935

• Motives seen as area of influence since
  Scramble, revenge for Adowa (1896)
• War for wars sake, since Fascism needs the
  glory of victory
• Equality with great powers. Timing important
• Resources poured in ensured victory over brave
  tribesmen (40000 and modern machinery including
  poison gas)
• Victory 1936 when entered Addis Ababa and Haile
  Selassie fled
• Very controversial condemnation over use of
  gas. Abyssn. member of L of N
• Therefore economic sanctions (after some
  negotiation)
• Largely ineffective as USA, Ger, Jpn not involved
• Very confused policy of GB and France

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Relations with Hitler

• Mussolini took personal charge of FP, dismissing
  Dino Grandi, and placing son-in-law Count Ciano
  as Foreign Minister
• Became prisoner of own rhetoric
• Underestimated Hitler and didnt provide means to
  fight wars

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Foreign Policy 1936-1943

• Intervention in the Spanish Civil War (next week)
• A move towards Hitler
• The establishment of the axis in 1936
• The visit of Sept. 1937 of Germany by Mussolini
• Mussolini let Hitler annex Austria (Feb. March
  1938)
• Mussolini proposed the Munich conference when war
  btw Germany and the Western Allies seemed likely
• Mussolini annexed Albania (an Italian
  protectorate since 1926) when Hitler seized the
  whole of Czechoslovakia.

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World War Two

• In May 1939 a military alliance w/ Germany was
  signed (the Pact of Steel)
• Italy was unable to support Hitler in Sept. 1939
  and Hitler accepted Italian neutrality
• In 1940, Mussolini (convinced of Hitlers
  success) joined the war but
• His invasion of Southern France did not fit
  Hitlers plans
• His invasion of Greece obliged Hitler to
  intervene
• Initial success in N. Africa was then met by
  British counter-attacks
• In June 1941, Mussolini participated in the
  invasion of the USSR and in Dec. 1941, the
  followed Hitler in his declaration of war on the
  USA.
• In July 1943, Allied troops landed in Sicily, the
  Fascist Grand Council denounced Mussolinis
  actions, and the King dismissed Mussolini à
  Mussolini was then arrested.

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So how successful was Mussolini in fulfilling his
aims?
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Tasks

• By Monday please email or hand me a refined
  question and list of at least 4 sources for
  coursework
• By Friday 5th September you will have a full
  first draft of coursework
• Tomorrow an essay plan between two on Evaluate
  the success of Mussolinis domestic policies
• Read and consolidate all material on Mussolini.
  Plan essay on Foreign Policy I want to make
  Italy great, feared and respected. How far did
  Mussolini achieve his aims? You can write this
  timed or as a full essay.