Mussolini’s Foreign Policy
Likely Essay Questions on F.P
Success and failure of F.P
 Examine the global impact of one ruler
of a single-party state.
 Analyse the foreign policy of two rulers
of single-party states, each chosen from
a different region.

Summary of Italy under
Mussolini
Stage 1 1922-24 Consolidation
 Stage 2 1924-28 Dictatorship
 Stage 3 1929-35 Consensus
 Stage 4 1936-45 Radicalisation and
Collapse

Key Issues





Identify Mussolini’s F.P aims
Build up a detailed timeline of events from
1922-1935- 1939 -1945
What was the significance of the Abyssinian
War?
What was the significance of the relationship
between Mussolini and Hitler?
How successful was Mussolini’s F.P?
What were Mussolini’s F.P aims?






National power and prestige- Italy’s image
abroad
To support domestic policy
To build support from Italians for the regime
Establishment of an Empire ‘place in the sun’
Dominance in the Balkans / Mediterranean
(Mare Nostrum) (Italian Lake)
Italy as a ‘makeweight’ power
The International SituationItaly and the rest of the world
Legacy of World War One- Paris Peace
conference.
 League of Nations
 USSR / USA isolationism
 Germany
 However 1920s a period of ‘relative’
calm

Italian Foreign Policy 19221935

Until 1935, Mussolini conducted a foreign policy which was
quite cautious and usually aimed to be respectable.
Key policy actions referred to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Fiume
Corfu
Albania
Libya
The frontier with Austria
The Locarno Pacts
The Four Power Pacts
Task: Create a table to illustrate Mussolini’s actions in relation to the
above issues. When did they happen? What did they involve?
What was Mussolini's role? How did they reflect on Mussolini?
Key Issues- 1922- 1935- ‘all
noise and bluster’







Prior to WWI- Italy had established empire in Libya, Eritrea and
Somaliland.
Italy as a power ‘on the rise’- if you believe the propaganda.
Locarno- spirit of optimism- the ‘Locarno Honeymoon’. Nothing
concrete achieved. Western borders agreed for Germany.
Corfu and Fiume- minor achievements overplayed by
Mussolini- propaganda of the ‘great nation’.
Four Power Pact- alternative to the LON. Nothing concrete
achieved.
The failed ‘Anschluss’ in Austria 1934- Hitler was testing how
aggressive he could be at this point. Mussolini fires a ‘warning
shot’ by sending troops to the Austrian border.
Stresa Front- signals attempts by UK and France to tame
Hitler- led to problems in Africa (Abyssinia)
Abyssinia
Origins of the war in Abyssinia





Military- Battle of Adowa 1896
Political-Italy’s ‘place in the sun’
Economic-Resources- raw materials esp oilthe search for autarky
Political / Social- diverted attention away from
Depression - failed economic policies
International / Political- all this must be set in
the context of increasing aggression- Japan
in Manchuria / Hitler coming to power in
Germany- failure of the League of Nations to
curb aggression (collective security)
Causes and key features





December 1934- Border clash over the
disputed Wal Wal oasis.
February 1935- Italian troops sent to Italian
East Africa.
April 1935 Stresa Front meeting between
UK, France and Italy appears to signal
agreement over Italian interests in Abyssinia.
October 1935 Italian Invasion of Abyssinia
League of Nations declares the invasion
‘aggressive’- limited sanctions imposed
on Italy
Key Features
December 1935- secret ‘Hoare-Laval
Pact’ (French / UK) plans to give Italy
half of Abyssinia- the plan is leaked to
the press and then withdrawn.
 May 1936 - formal annexation of
Abyssinia by Italy- League sanctions
withdrawn soon after.

Consequences

Economic- budget deficit- 16 billion lire /
devaluation in the economy
 Economic / Military- 1/4 million troops
needed to be stationed in Abyssinia
 International / Political- Failure of League of
Nations to stop aggression- also pushed
Mussolini into axis with Germany