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What factors had an impact on Italy's foreign policy in the 1930s?

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What factors had an impact on Italy's foreign policy in the 1930s?

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The impact of fascism

Clear Fascist foreign policy: glorification of war, imperial expansion, less diplomacy and cooperation

Weakens British relationship, strengthens German in Rome-Berlin Axis and Pact of Steel

Brings them to Ally with Germany in WW2

Impact of domestic economic issues

Great Depression, overvaluing the lira

2 million unemployed

Government intervention creates the second largest public sector in Europe

Foreign policy became more dynamic and inspirational to distract public from domestic problems

Economy further undermined by an emphasis on autarky

Influence decision to invade Abyssinia and intervene in Spanish Civil War

Changing diplomatic alignments in Europe after 1933

Italy’s need to be a central role in European diplomacy influences Mussolini to create Four Powers Pact to empower the “Great Powers” and allowed for cooperation

Meaningless in reality but Italian citizens see it as Mussolini success

Promoted independent Austria, opposed Germany’s Anschluss

Hitler’s rearmament alarming, Italy seen as key to maintaining the status quo in Europe

Italy, France, and Britain agree to protest against Hitler’s violation of Treaty of Versailles, forms “Stresa Front”

Mussolini got the impression that Stresa Front allowed him to expand control in Abyssinia

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How successful was Musslini's foreign policy in the 1920s?

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How successful was Musslini's foreign policy in the 1920s?

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Ambitions in the Balkans

Corfu Affair: 1923 invasion of Greek island of Corfu, condemned by League of Nations, but British involvement forced Italy to withdraw

Mussolini learns that he can only bully smaller states

1924 success with gained control of the port of Fiume

1926 Albania becomes Italian protectorate when Mussolini backs Ahmed Zog and his regime

Relations with Western European powers

1920s: supported disarmament and Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928) due to Italian weakness

1930s: Hitler comes to power in Germany and failing of his corporate state helps turn foreign policy to become more assertive

Relations with the Soviet Union

Soviet Union is seen as a tool in gaining diplomatic leverage over other powers

Rapallo Treaty (1912) renounced all territorial and financial claims following WW1 and Italy drawn into Rapallo alignment

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What factors influenced Mussolini's foreign policy?

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What factors influenced Mussolini's foreign policy?

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Versailles Settlement encouraged Mussolini to increase national pride and more significant force in international politics

The belief of Fascist Italy being the second Roman Empire and domestic considerations encouraged expansionism

Impact of economic issues on Italian foreign policy

Autarky (self-sufficiency) desired for the economy in order to have a militarist state

Battle for Grain (1975), Battle for the Lira (1926), and the “Mussolini Law” (1928) which set out a programme of land reclamation

All were failures that were expensive and detrimental to the economy, hampering Mussolini’s pursuit of an assertive fascist foreign policy

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How did Mussolini consolidate his power?

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How did Mussolini consolidate his power?

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Series of actions enabled Mussolini to prepare a dictatorship:

Feb 1923: Nationalists join Fascists

July 1923: Acerbo Law passes

April 1924: After campaigns of intimidation and violence, representation changes from 7% to 66%

December 1925: Law on Powers of Head of Government gave Mussolini significant executive powers

Between Nov 1926 and Jan 1927: OVRA founded and increased repression

Was it a totalitarian state?

Italians had to conform to Fascism, no overt opposition or criticism, employees of state swore an oath of loyalty to the regime, Fascist youth movement.

However, Vatican and King had more power, Fascism had weak control in the south.

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What was the impact of US foreign policy on the international response to the expansionist powers? 

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What was the impact of US foreign policy on the international response to the expansionist powers? 

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USA not a part of LON, policy of isolationism

Engage in trade w/o being involved in conflict

Non-involvement in Europe/Asia, Neutrality acts banned sale of arms to belligerents

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How was international response to aggression in the 1930s affected by the weaknesses of the League of Nations? 

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How was international response to aggression in the 1930s affected by the weaknesses of the League of Nations? 

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Weaknesses of LON:

Lacked credibility/economic power of USA

Britain, France, Italy, Japan, Germany led the Council, latter 3 nations wanted to revise TOV

USSR not a member until Sept 1934

Inefficient structure/organization

Lost authority each time it failed to act effectively

Britain and France held most responsibility of the LON

Britain occupied with its own interests

France has little faith in league’s abilities

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What was the policy of appeasement and why was it pursued by Britain in the 1930s?

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What was the policy of appeasement and why was it pursued by Britain in the 1930s?

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Appeasement-making concessions to an aggressor nation, allowed aggressors to demand more concessions

Public opinion-horror of WWI, faith in LON, larger electorate

Justified demands of dictators-harsh TOV, work w/dictators

Lack of alternative policy-no clear anti-appeasement party

Economic pressures-weakened by WWI/depression

Global commitments-defense of the empire 1st priority

Defense priorities-defend trade routes, prep for air attacks

Neville Chamberlain-detested war, didn’t consult cabinet

France aligned its FP with Britain’s appeasement

Frequent changes in govt/ideological, unable to take action

Military entirely defensive, dependent on Britain

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International responses to Italian aggression, 1935-1940

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The key turning point in Italian foreign policy was the invasion of Abyssinia in 1935-36

This action was condemned by the League of Nations and limited sanctions were imposed

Why did Mussolini invade Abyssinia in October 1935?

Really was to consolidate Mussolini personality cult and rally support for the regime. War for its own sake

Needed to divert attention away from the failing corporate state, and the impact of the Great Depression

Gain territory for emigration and provide export market for italian goods. Hoped to find oil

Wanted to impress Hitler

The events- what happened?

December 1934, Italian and Abyssinian forces clashed at the disputed Wal Wal oasis, resulting in 30 dead Italians

September 1935, LoN stated that no one could be blamed for the Wal Wal incident

18 November, LoN imposed sanctions on Italy

Britain and France tried to make secret proposal, got leaked, took it back

6 April 1936, the Abyssinian army was defeated at Lake Ashangi; took the capital, Addis Ababa, on May 5, May 9 Abyssinia annexed

What were the results of the Abyssinian war?

For Italy

Only 1000 casualties

The budget deficit had risen from 2.5 billion to 16 billion lire

1936, the lire was devalued by 40%

The Italians were forced to fight a drawn-out guerrilla war in Abyssinia until it fell to the British in 1941

For collective security

Weakness of the LoN

Drove Italy away from Britain and France, closer to Germany

Mussolini agreed to German rearmament of the Rhineland on 22 Feb, 1936

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Changing diplomatic alignments in Europe  after 1933

The Pact of Steel between Italy and Germany, 22 May 1939

Declaration of trust and cooperation

Secret protocol, fostered union of military and economic policies

Remained non-belligerent in 1939, could not afford a war at the moment

Italy joined war ultimately for economic reasons, as sea traits were blocked by British Navy

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Why did Italy invade Albania in April 1939?

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Why did Italy invade Albania in April 1939?

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Assert Italian strength to imitate Hitler, intimidatee Yugoslovia, and pursue ambition for domination of Adriatic

Set up a fascist government

Declared official creation of Italian Empire

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What was Italy's role during the Sudetenland crisis in September 1938?

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What was Italy's role during the Sudetenland crisis in September 1938?

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Wanted to be seen as broker of peace

Only an aide to Hitler, as Hitler attacked in March 1939

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Photo of Italian Soldier fighting Spanish Republican,1936 (Colorized)

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Photo of Italian Soldier fighting Spanish Republican,1936 (Colorized)

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Why did Italy intervene in the Spanish Civil War in 1936-39

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Why did Italy intervene in the Spanish Civil War in 1936-39

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Wanted to display military power and achieve greatness

Gain naval bases in Balearic Islands

Wanted to stop communism

Wanted to weaken Spain

What were the results of the intervention?

Devalued the lire, increased trade with Germany

⅓ of arms were consumed

Changing diplomatic alignments in Europe after 1936

Italy and Germany

25 October 1936, Rome-Berlin Axis Alliance

End in collective security

Joined Anti-Comintern Pact in November 1937

December 1937, left the LoN

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The end of appeasement to Mussolini's Italy 

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The end of appeasement to Mussolini's Italy 

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After Italy’s invasion of Albania on the 7th of April 1939 it was condemned by both Britain and France as Italy had garunteed sovereignty of Balkans.

Chamberlin no longer trusted Italy.

When Italy joined the war in June 1940 Mussolini invaded Egypt and Greece, which forced a British counterattack to push them out of Egypt and sunk half of the Italian Navy on Nov. 11, 1940 in Taranto.

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What was the international response to the Italian invasion of Abyssinia in 1935-36?

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What was the international response to the Italian invasion of Abyssinia in 1935-36?

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From forming the Stresa front with Britain and France in 1935 Mussolini knew that France would not oppose Italian Expansion into East Africa, but was not sure about Britain.

Mussolini’s invasion of Abyssinia in Oct. 1935 caused condemnation by the LoN as well as the British public, which would influence British foreign policy as a result of upcoming elections.

On 7 January 1 935, a Franco-Italian agreement was made. In return or Italian support to contain Hitler, France gave Italy parts o French Somaliland, improved the offcial status o Italians living in Tunisia and tacitly allowed Mussolini to do as he pleased in Abyssinia.

On 20 May, the League held a special session to discuss the crisis and on June 19 Selassie requested League observers be sent to the region. Talks between officials from Italy and Abyssinia broke down at The Hague.

The league found Italy to be the aggressor on Oct. 7 but failed to do anything past imposing insignificant sanctions.

Britain also did not close Suez canal which allowed Mussolini to continue supplying troops to Africa.

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What was the impact of Soviet foreign policy on the international response to the expansionist powers? 

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What was the impact of Soviet foreign policy on the international response to the expansionist powers? 

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USSR under Stalin wanted to build “socialism in one country”

Hostility toward Western democracies threatened by expansionist Japan in asia and Hitler’s aim of acquiring Lebensraum

1931-32, Stalin signed non-aggression pacts with Afghanistan, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, and France.

Wanted  to create a “Popular Front” against fascism

Popular front against fascism failed because Britain and France were following appeasement policy

After the Munich conference in 1938 the Soviet Union abandoned attempts to contain fascist aggressors because despite its involvement in Czechoslovakia  Stalin was not invited to the conference.

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Why did support for Fascism grow in Italy after the First World War?

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Why did support for Fascism grow in Italy after the First World War?

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Did not obtain the territory it promised they would obtain

What was the impact of D’Annunzio and the Fiume affair on Fascism?

D’Annunzio led 2000 ex-soldiers to occupy Fiume by force in protest against the Italian Government’s agreement to hand the port over to Yugoslavia

The government proved to be too feeble to remove D’Annunzio

What was the impact of economic factors on the rise of Fascism?

High inflation following the war hit both fixed-wage workers and the middle class with savings

Unemployment rose to 2 million by the end of 1919

Following the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, there was a fear of communism throughout Europe

How important was the March on Rome, October 1922?

During the “Two Red Years”, (1919-1920) the socialists tried to spark a Russian-style Revolution.

This failed and the Fascists gained support

In August 1922, Socialists and Communists called a general strike, and the middle class believed that Fascism could restore order

On October 24, 1922, a Fascist congress was held in Naples. 10,000 Fascists  gathered 20 miles outside of Rome and on the night of October 27, 1922, Fascist Squads seized control of government buildings in North and Central Italy

Following this, the king decided to side with Mussolini rather than prime minister Facta

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Nationalism

View of the nation state, its culture and history, as a unifying force

Militarism

Promotion of political violence and war as a method of revitalizing society

Violence seen as necessary in order to progress

Social Darwinism

The belief that races have evolved as superior to other races

Social Unity

Opposes class based divisions in society and promotes collective national security

Authoritarian

Totalitarian’ the state has influence or control over all aspects of society

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Impact of the First World War on Italy, 1915-1918

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Impact of the First World War on Italy, 1915-1918

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Italy’s reasons for joining the Entente Alliance

Nationalists hoped that if they joined with the Triple Entente they would gain back Italian territories from the Austro-Hungarian empire

They signed the Treaty of London with Britain, France, and Russia in April 1915

The impact of the war

Human cost: 600,000 dead, hundreds of thousands wounded

The war caused Italy to become more politically polarized

Many angry at the Liberal government for mismanaging the war

Trade unions and the PSI were increasingly militant by the end of the war

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Lack of National Identity

Regionalism

The Catholic Church

Breakdown between Church and State continued

Working-Class Protest

Middle and Upper classes dominated the political system

Led to growing peasant and working class unrest, leading to a 1914 strike

Nationalist Opposition

The Future Movement glorified war and criticized Liberal Governments for failing to become “great powers”

“Unredeemed lands”: Regions of Trentino and Trieste, containing many Italian speakers yet was under Austrian rule

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The impact of fascism on Italian Foreign policy: the origins, 1870-1933

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The impact of fascism on Italian Foreign policy: the origins, 1870-1933

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                                                               Italian Expansion

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                                                               Italian Expansion