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Summary Notes on Mussolini's foreign policy
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A* student notes on Mussolini's foreign policy, Has all the key facts and figures you need to remember, condensed into a visual note format.
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Objective Obstacles Evidence of Successes Evidence of Failures Change across the period? Degree of success overallBuild national Lack of popular -Fiume 1924-the Pact of -Undermined Italian reputation due to Starts off by having lots of national prestige While Mussolini successfully raised national
prestige support. Italian population Rome recognised Fiume as part of growing reputation of going back on (Pact of Rome and Abyssinian invasion) prestige after events such as
not wholeheartedly Italy which was a huge words/pacts etc. (this reduced popular BUT as time passes and Hitler begins to the Abyssinian invasion, this began to fall as
supportive or militaristic success domestically as this was one of support) become more powerful, making the country began to gear up for war,
the biggest post WW1 Mussolini comparatively less particularly when combined with economic
Lack of united resentments following the ToV -Anschluss-had to accept when he didn’t powerful, Mussolini loses national prestige issues such as the north/south divide.
Italy (North/South divide) want to made Italians sceptical. as he both had to accept things not in Italy's
-Abyssinian invasion 1935- gave the best interest and hence becomes more However, it could
impression to Italians that Italy was a unpopular be argued that Mussolini's use of propagan
major European power , as they da created the façade of
overcame sanctions to establish an Being forced to accept Anschluss being the prestige even when it didn’t exist (e.g., after
empire for Italy. most obvious example of Mussolini playing Libyan war)
second fiddle to Hitler, Italians also felt
Mussolini was not being treated as an
equal to Hitler.
Be considered a Because of the use Mussolini more influential than Hitler at Having to accept Anschluss despite his Over time was able to establish Italy as a Mussolini was successful in becoming a
major power/ of propaganda, events that Venice 1934 previous protest over it (he was also much more significant power than it more significant
prestige were perceived as It was Mussolini who orchestrated the only given 2 days' notice. was considered at the start of the time international power. Eg often included
successes domestically diplomatic peace treaty period. in more major international pacts/treaties
were weak in comparison over Sudetenland. Failure to achieve warm relations w/ (eg offered to host talk in …. and was such as
on an international scale. other very significant Western refused, however hosted the Stresa
powers eg America, Britain, France Front conference 1935). However, Mussolini failed to gain the
Warmer relations w/ Germany (over Examples of this inc: clash in Corfu crisis reputation of being
Military weakness (WW1 period becoming a much more 1923, belief Mussolini went back on Partly undermined by the fact that nearer a respected international power- he had a
and ToV). significant Fascist power) his word eg Stresa the end of the time period Italy was not in reputation of going back on his word;
For example: public announcement of Front 1935, contradictory a very strong economic or military this detracted from the warmth of his
Weakness of friendship between Italy and Germany in ideological beliefs and legacy of position, eg due to the guerrilla war in relations with other major powers and
economy (eg via WW1, 1936 w/ the establishment of the Rome- WW1, opposing sides in Spanish Abyssinia and the Spanish civil war; prevented relations significantly improving.
North/South divide, lack of Berlin Axis. civil war and initially in WW2. this meant Italy was not in the position to
natural resources). fight in WW2 and undermined its position as Additionally, towards the end of the period
Over time Hitler begins to be perceived a strong international power. he stopped being necessarily viewed as the
as the more significant Fascist leader most powerful Fascist leader as Hitler
as opposed to Mussolini. gained more and more power and used
increasingly aggressive and blatant tactics.
, Increase Germany - rival fascist 1924 – act of Rome, Fiume signed to Fiume went into economic decline Mussolini's aims to increase dominance in Overall Italy's attempted expansions into
dominance in power who were also Italy --> gained prestige Corfu 1923 – damaged the attempts the Mediterranean changes little over the the Mediterranean didn’t succeed to the
Mediterranean attempting to increase 1924 – treaty of friendship with Albania Mussolini had made to make him seen period as by 1939 (the beginning of WWII) extent he first set out as he didn’t
/ dominance in Europe. which by default confirmed Albania as a like a diplomat and a man of peace they have gained some land in accumulate the intended land mass. The
Balkans / Yugo Also, military weakness satellite state of Italy (Italian general and aides assassinated the Mediterranean land he did gain however was economically
slavia after ToV and WW1 Locarno treaty's 1925 – in Greece) profitable and he gained support
established relationships with foreign socially from nationalists as well
powers and Italy was seen as a other patriotic Italians.
strong ruling power
Italian annexation of Albania 1939 –
Italy believed they could
profit economically, and the
small Albanian force was defeated
easily --> appeased nationalists
and elites
Establish an Italy was not yet seen as 1924 – given an opportunity to pressure Austrian annexation (Anschluss) by Mussolini's aims to establish an empire had Overall Italy does success In gaining
empire an influential foreign power Yugoslavia into accepting Italian Germany] fluctuated throughout the period foreign territories however it can be argued
Germany was also trying to dominance Invasion of Abyssinia (originally popular with varied success. It seemed that most that they lost more than they gained. Italy
build an empire and they 1926 – treaty of friendship with Albania with nationalists) : expensive 16 billion ploys at expansion were met with public/ had to fund theses satellite states as well as
were interested in the same - which by default confirmed Albania as lire, guerrilla warfare = Abyssinians kept nationalist support as Italians wished to see they keep them firmly under Italian
countries. a satellite state of Italy – can be fighting, reputation = Italy gained a bad their reputation restored. authority. Italians themselves were
seen as Italy's first steps to building rep for being brutalist and corrupt, hesitant to leave. The land gained, even if
an empire currency devaluation and trade = Italy's increasing fervour to expand came Italy did have historical ties to it didn’t offer
Wal Wal incident dec 1934 – pre- lire devalued 40% Inoct 1936, ongoing with rebukes from other foreign powers as much environmentally and
empted plans for war cost = Italians living in Abysynnia was even though they were somewhat veiled as therefore economically as
which by default The Stresa front 1935 expensive they didn’t want Mussolini to side with Mussolini wanted. He suffered backlash due
– the conference was held in Italy The invasion of Hitler. towards the end of the period Italy to his methods of fighting, being called
exemplifying Italy's newfound influence Abyssinia held more losses than had become conscious to dampen barbaric for example chemical warfare
and highlights the improving relations gains, also increased tensions between their attempt at expansion as they saw a
between Italy, Britain and France. Britain France and the league of nations. war was looming and wasn’t ready as seen
hoped the Stressa Front would stop Italo-Ethiopian war 1935-36: resulted in by their neutrality at the beginning of the
Hitler achieving Anschluss sanctions by Britain and France war.
The Kellog – Briant pact 1925 – an
agreement that outlawed war being
used to resolve conflict – puts a stope to
plans of expansion
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