Mussolini foreign policy
timeline - 1920-30
Aim
1923 Corfu incident Assert Italian dominance
in the Balkans
Distract public from
domestic problems
Create support for
government
Method / Action
Impact (world and
Italy)
Italy invaded
Greek Corfu
Greece and Albania
agreed to pay
compensation to Italy
for the loss of life and
damage caused
during the incident
(50 million lire)
League weakness
highlighted → one
rule for small
countries, another for
powerful
1924 Fiume
Gain control over port of
Fiume
sent a military
commander to
rule over disputed
territory of Fiume
The pact of Rome, the
Yugoslavs gave in
and the port was
given away to Italy.
Yugoslavia developed
a rival port →
importance of Port
Fiume declined
1925 Locarno pact
Forge diplomatic
relations with Britain,
France, Germany
Mussolini wanted to
present himself as a
force for moderation in
western Europe despite
him being aggressive in
the Balkans
In October 1925,
Mussolini met
with the western
powers(Britain,
Germany,Belgium
and France) at
Locarno in
Switzerland.
Mussolini’s attempt to
get Italy’s Brenner
border with Austria
included in the
guarantee failed
The Locarno treaty
brought a spirit of
cooperation “Locarno
spirit”
1926 Albania
became
Italian
protectorate
Extend Italian influence
Italian invasion of
Albania
1933 Four Power
Pact
Build a rival to League of
Nations to sort out
European affairs
Leaders of
Britain, Germany,
France, and Italy
met in Rome
Nothing concrete
came out of meeting
Italy mobilized its
troops on Italy’s
Austrian border
Not significant as
Hilter didn’t plan to
take over Austria then
Protested against
Hitler’s
rearmament,
which violates
Versailles
Mussolini was offered
free hand in Africa
Four-Power corporation
Spheres of influence
Portray Italy at center of
European diplomacy
1934 Prevented
Anschluss
1935 Stresa Front
Wanted French and
British consent for
expansion into Abyssinia
But did not get French
and British consent for
settlement
expansion into
Abyssinia
Sent troops to
Abyssinia
May 1936, Italy
defeated Abyssinia
Oct
Mussolini
1935 conquers
to
Abyssinia
April
1936
Distract from domestic
problems (nationalist
sentiments)
July Spanish Civil
1936 war
Gain naval bases in
Balearic Islands
Intervenes in
Spanish civil war
Economic
lira was devalued
to re-establish the
Mediterranean Roman
Empire
Sent planes and
troops to help
General Franco’s
revolt against
spain’s socialist
government
lost half its foreign
currency reserves
Italian Empire
established
Weaken france, prevent
it from gaining influence
in left wing spain
Stop spread of
communism → prevent
them from getting
strategic location
Promote war → aim of
creating a “new Italy”
(war as a way to return
to roman glory)
Franco won
Cost of war → 14
billion lire
led to Italy
increasing its trade
with
Germany (Italy drew
closer to Germany →
led to Rome-Berlin
axis)
Italy's military
weakness had been
exposed → Italian
troops were defeated
at Guadalajara
Spain did not
become an Italian
satellite state →
General Franco
maintained his
independence
Italy's arms stocks
were consumed by
the war
1936 Rome-Berlin
No formal
axis
commitment
but led to the
Anti-Comintern Pact
Mar- Mussolini
ch
accepts
1938 Hiltlers
invasion of
Austria
Accepted Anschluss
→ Unpopular in Italy
Sep Munich
1938 Pact
Mar- Mussolini
ch
invades
1939 Albania
Trying to match Hitler’s
success
High profile at the
conference that
gave Czech
Sudetenland to
Germany that
Averted threat of
European War
Arbiter of the world
Imitated Hitlers
seizure of
Czechoslovakia
Major territorial gain in
a key area
Hailed as a European
peacemaker
Prestige without doing
much
Won with little
resistance
May Pact of steel
1939
Pact between
Italy and
Germany
Agreed to
cooperate fully in
the event of a war
Sep Italy declares
1939 herself
non-Belligere
nt
Stayed out of
WW2
(said it was not
ready for war)
Economy not
damaged
Prevent another
mutilated victory