Italian Expansion, 1933-1940
From Minor Aggression to joining the Axis Powers
Background
● October 1922, Mussolini and Fascists took power, March to Rome
○ Mussolini made it seem like Fascism was a wildly popular ideology and
this altered the history of Fascism to make it seem like the march of
Rome was successful and intimidating
● 1920s: Mussolini was opportunist ; aggressive in small ways, caution and
cooperative in others
○ He’s not powerful enough to just aggressively expand; when he’s
opposed by bigger countries he cooperates
■ Corfu and Fiume, but Locarno and and Kellog-Briand
● Great Depression - Italy suffered, yet increased govt control, raised military
spending
○ Goal = “autarky” (self-sufficiency); not entirely successful
○ Corporatism: italy had larger public sector outside USSR, plus industrial
boards and state-sponsored workers’ group to coordinate policy
○ Used fascism’s “revolutionary” spirit to quell dissent promote cult of
personality
■ Quasi-religious elevation of an individual to be revered :
Mussolini was Al Duce
○ Expansion seen as a right an a necessity
Disarmament and Four Power Pact
● 1932: LoN held World Disarmament Conference in Geneva (and US attended)
○ Disagreement: parity vs. security (esp. Germany)
○ Reconvened in 1933 (days after Hitley took power); talks still stagnated
● Mussolini holds a separate meeting in Rome, June 33’
○ Proposed alternative to league of Nations for European leaders
● Quadripartite (Four Power) Pact signed July 15
○ Four powers = France, Britain, Italy, Germany
○ Held in Italy as proof of Mussolini’s international leadership success
○ Actually more about minimizing role of smaller nations, isolating
Germany, maximizing role of Italy
● Other nations mostly disregarded
○ Hitler withdrew from the LoN and the Disarmament Conference by
October 33’
, Prevention of Anschluss
● July 25, 1934: Austrian Chancellor Engelbert Dolfuss murdered by Austrian Nazi
party
● Plan = use chaos to unite Austria and Germany (Anschluss, forbidden by Treaty
of Versailles)
● Mussolini sent troops to Austrian border; signaling refusal to allow it
○ Wanted to protect South Tyrol, given to Italy after WWI, and keep
Germany in check
● Successful: Hitler didn’t intervene yet in 1934
○ Italy is viewed as more important by Britain and France and is seen as a
potential ally
Stresa Front
● April 1935: Italy, Britain, and France met in Stresa, Italy
● Final Declaration signed April 14;
○ Reaffirmed Locarno treaties, confirmed Austrian independence,
promised to uphold treaty of Versailles terms (in face of aggressive
Germany; though not armed)
● This was called the Stresa Front
○ A temporary diplomatic alignment
● HOWEVER: June 1935, Britain and Germany signed Anglo-German Naval
Agreement
○ Germany can maintain a navy that is 35% of Britains
○ Britain signed this because they’re always bigger than Germany
○ France and Italy were angry because they weren’t consulted, didn’t want
Germany to grow ships
○ Considered the Stresa Front to be over
Reasons for Invasion of Abyssinia (Ethiopia)
● Italy wanted to be a Great Power like Britain and France
● Long-standing desire to create a new Roman Empire
● Existing colonies were poor, not very beneficial to italy
● Needs to consolidate personality cult, and rally patriotic support to him
● War was an inherent fascist principle
● Economic needs (unspoken but true)
○ Territory for emigration and new markets
○ Hoped to find oil
○ Divert attention from the failings on the corporate state
From Minor Aggression to joining the Axis Powers
Background
● October 1922, Mussolini and Fascists took power, March to Rome
○ Mussolini made it seem like Fascism was a wildly popular ideology and
this altered the history of Fascism to make it seem like the march of
Rome was successful and intimidating
● 1920s: Mussolini was opportunist ; aggressive in small ways, caution and
cooperative in others
○ He’s not powerful enough to just aggressively expand; when he’s
opposed by bigger countries he cooperates
■ Corfu and Fiume, but Locarno and and Kellog-Briand
● Great Depression - Italy suffered, yet increased govt control, raised military
spending
○ Goal = “autarky” (self-sufficiency); not entirely successful
○ Corporatism: italy had larger public sector outside USSR, plus industrial
boards and state-sponsored workers’ group to coordinate policy
○ Used fascism’s “revolutionary” spirit to quell dissent promote cult of
personality
■ Quasi-religious elevation of an individual to be revered :
Mussolini was Al Duce
○ Expansion seen as a right an a necessity
Disarmament and Four Power Pact
● 1932: LoN held World Disarmament Conference in Geneva (and US attended)
○ Disagreement: parity vs. security (esp. Germany)
○ Reconvened in 1933 (days after Hitley took power); talks still stagnated
● Mussolini holds a separate meeting in Rome, June 33’
○ Proposed alternative to league of Nations for European leaders
● Quadripartite (Four Power) Pact signed July 15
○ Four powers = France, Britain, Italy, Germany
○ Held in Italy as proof of Mussolini’s international leadership success
○ Actually more about minimizing role of smaller nations, isolating
Germany, maximizing role of Italy
● Other nations mostly disregarded
○ Hitler withdrew from the LoN and the Disarmament Conference by
October 33’
, Prevention of Anschluss
● July 25, 1934: Austrian Chancellor Engelbert Dolfuss murdered by Austrian Nazi
party
● Plan = use chaos to unite Austria and Germany (Anschluss, forbidden by Treaty
of Versailles)
● Mussolini sent troops to Austrian border; signaling refusal to allow it
○ Wanted to protect South Tyrol, given to Italy after WWI, and keep
Germany in check
● Successful: Hitler didn’t intervene yet in 1934
○ Italy is viewed as more important by Britain and France and is seen as a
potential ally
Stresa Front
● April 1935: Italy, Britain, and France met in Stresa, Italy
● Final Declaration signed April 14;
○ Reaffirmed Locarno treaties, confirmed Austrian independence,
promised to uphold treaty of Versailles terms (in face of aggressive
Germany; though not armed)
● This was called the Stresa Front
○ A temporary diplomatic alignment
● HOWEVER: June 1935, Britain and Germany signed Anglo-German Naval
Agreement
○ Germany can maintain a navy that is 35% of Britains
○ Britain signed this because they’re always bigger than Germany
○ France and Italy were angry because they weren’t consulted, didn’t want
Germany to grow ships
○ Considered the Stresa Front to be over
Reasons for Invasion of Abyssinia (Ethiopia)
● Italy wanted to be a Great Power like Britain and France
● Long-standing desire to create a new Roman Empire
● Existing colonies were poor, not very beneficial to italy
● Needs to consolidate personality cult, and rally patriotic support to him
● War was an inherent fascist principle
● Economic needs (unspoken but true)
○ Territory for emigration and new markets
○ Hoped to find oil
○ Divert attention from the failings on the corporate state
