How signi cant were the consequences of Mussolini’s more
aggressive foreign policy in the years 1935-40?
Invasion of Abyssinia and its consequences
The invasion was linked to the idea of autarky, in the belief that Abyssinia would provide
raw materials and areas for agricultural expansion that would advance Mussolini’s goal of
economic self-su ciency for Italy
It would also give Italy greater export markets for Italian goods
It was hoped that southern Italian peasants would move there and take up farming land,
thus easing the growing pressure for land reform in the south
Mussolini had often spoken about the militaristic aspects of fascism and how it would
bring about a transformation of the Italian people into a more warlike people
The invasion of Abyssinia was thus seen as a means to achieve this and show the
dynamic of fascism
A great victory would bring about the uni cation of the Italian people in the glori cation of
fascism, which had been a key aim for the fascist party since 1922
A victory would also avenge the shameful defeat of 1896 at Adwa
The Stresa Front provided Mussolini with the belief that Britain and France would allow
this colonial aggression in return for his support against Germany’s revision of Versailles
Mussolini launched the invasion with a force of 400,000 men, hoping for a quick and
decisive victory
The Italians engaged in a brutal war, including mass aerial bombings, murdering prisoners
of war and the illegal use of poisonous chemicals
The League of Nations had placed rather limited sanctions on Italy, banning weapon sales
to Italy and putting sanctions on rubber and metal imports
Critically, oil was not sanctioned and the Suez Canal remained open, two decisive factors
Mussolini could capitalise on this as a propaganda coup, portraying himself as the leader
standing up to the world and defying attempts to limit Italian power
Queen Elena presented her wedding ring to be melted down to campaign against the
sanctions, this was followed by many other Italian women
Abyssinia had not been fully conquered and this meant continuing supplying the 250,000
troops who were needed to ght ongoing guerrilla warfare
Only around 130,000 Italians ever settled there and autarkic aims never materialised
The lira was devalued by 40% and the expedition had placed Italy in a 16 billion lire debt
Abyssinia also marked a split in Italy’s relations with Britain and France and shifted Italy
further towards Germany
Intervention in the Spanish Civil War and its consequences
Mussolini believed that a move towards Germany may draw concessions on Africa and
the Mediterranean from the British and French governments in return of holding Hitler
back
Mussolini committed Italian troops to the Spanish Civil War on the side of General Franco
Hitler had also committed German forces, so in a sense the German and Italians were
ghting for the same cause
Mussolini believed this would put pressure on Britain and France to o er concessions
If Franco won, Italy would gain a strategic ally in the Mediterranean while France would
be undermined
Italy also had hopes for gaining naval bases in the Balearic Islands
fi
fi ffi fi fi ff fi
aggressive foreign policy in the years 1935-40?
Invasion of Abyssinia and its consequences
The invasion was linked to the idea of autarky, in the belief that Abyssinia would provide
raw materials and areas for agricultural expansion that would advance Mussolini’s goal of
economic self-su ciency for Italy
It would also give Italy greater export markets for Italian goods
It was hoped that southern Italian peasants would move there and take up farming land,
thus easing the growing pressure for land reform in the south
Mussolini had often spoken about the militaristic aspects of fascism and how it would
bring about a transformation of the Italian people into a more warlike people
The invasion of Abyssinia was thus seen as a means to achieve this and show the
dynamic of fascism
A great victory would bring about the uni cation of the Italian people in the glori cation of
fascism, which had been a key aim for the fascist party since 1922
A victory would also avenge the shameful defeat of 1896 at Adwa
The Stresa Front provided Mussolini with the belief that Britain and France would allow
this colonial aggression in return for his support against Germany’s revision of Versailles
Mussolini launched the invasion with a force of 400,000 men, hoping for a quick and
decisive victory
The Italians engaged in a brutal war, including mass aerial bombings, murdering prisoners
of war and the illegal use of poisonous chemicals
The League of Nations had placed rather limited sanctions on Italy, banning weapon sales
to Italy and putting sanctions on rubber and metal imports
Critically, oil was not sanctioned and the Suez Canal remained open, two decisive factors
Mussolini could capitalise on this as a propaganda coup, portraying himself as the leader
standing up to the world and defying attempts to limit Italian power
Queen Elena presented her wedding ring to be melted down to campaign against the
sanctions, this was followed by many other Italian women
Abyssinia had not been fully conquered and this meant continuing supplying the 250,000
troops who were needed to ght ongoing guerrilla warfare
Only around 130,000 Italians ever settled there and autarkic aims never materialised
The lira was devalued by 40% and the expedition had placed Italy in a 16 billion lire debt
Abyssinia also marked a split in Italy’s relations with Britain and France and shifted Italy
further towards Germany
Intervention in the Spanish Civil War and its consequences
Mussolini believed that a move towards Germany may draw concessions on Africa and
the Mediterranean from the British and French governments in return of holding Hitler
back
Mussolini committed Italian troops to the Spanish Civil War on the side of General Franco
Hitler had also committed German forces, so in a sense the German and Italians were
ghting for the same cause
Mussolini believed this would put pressure on Britain and France to o er concessions
If Franco won, Italy would gain a strategic ally in the Mediterranean while France would
be undermined
Italy also had hopes for gaining naval bases in the Balearic Islands
fi
fi ffi fi fi ff fi
