1. How succesful was Mussolini´s foreign policy?
1920´s and 1930´s

2. Foreign policy as a tool for consolidation of power; 1920´s and the more Fascist aggressive approach in the 1930´s
1) The Corfu incident, 1923: Mussolini invaded the Greek island of Corfu ( an Italian officer was killed on the Greek border with Albania).
Mussolini withdrew his troops, BR forced him to do that. Mussolini was given money compensation ( a victory!)
2) Fiume was given to Italy, 1924 ( d´Annunzio ocupied Fiume in 1919)
3) Albania became an Italian protectorate in 1924, Italy supported Zog´s leadership
4) Mussolini´s Italy recognized the Soviet Union as an official state 1924; good for trade and diplomacy

3. 5) The Locarno Agreements, : Germany, France and Belgium guaranteed their western borders. Italy supported this peaceful approach
6) Kellogg-Briandt Pact of 1928: denounced the use of war as a means to resolve disputes, Italy with 60 countries signed

4. On the other hand:
Mussolini funded German right-wing groups
Supported independence movements in Africa ( against France), also aggressive towards Libya; Libyan revolt of 1928 was crushed down..
Abyssinia was his long-term plan, but signed a Treaty with the country just to win some time, 1928

5. Mussolini´s aggressive approach in the 1930´s
Fascist ideology
Economic issues; more aggressive foreign policy needed! ( p.131)
The role of Dino Grandi between ( against the League, no more friendship with Britain, the war a priority)
The role of Count Ciano between ; first with Germany then against, supported invasion of Albania. Ciano lost Mussolini´s support.

6. Agreements and invasions 1930´s
The Four Power Pact, 1933: BR, FR, GR and Italy. Smaller nations should have less to say in Great Power relations! A success for Mussolini.
Hitler tried to take over Austria in 1934: Mussolini´s troops to prevent and Anscluss
The Stresa Front, 1935; against violation of the Treaty of Versailles, but did not specially name Germany. Mussolini was given the image that Italy could go to Abyssinia→ took place in

7. Why was the conquest of Abyssinia important to Mussolini?
Ideology
Economy
Events outside Italy
Something else?

8. Italy intervened in the Spanish Civil War, 1936-39
Fascist ideology
Hoped to gain naval bases in the Blearic Islands form Franco ( to create the new Roman Empire)
The war was an opportunity to create new Italy and new Italians/ warlike people troops sent to Spain!
Results of the intervention; p.142

9. Mussolini´s Changing diplomacy after 1936…
Italy and Germany formed the Rome-Berlin Axis, 1936
Italy joined the Anti-Comintern Pact, 1937 → Italy left the League of Nations
The Munich Conference, 1938; Mussolini was seen the great peacemaker..
Later in November, 1938 he instructed the Italian parliament to demand the annexation of Corsica, Nice and Tunis
Mussolini to Albania in 1939 ( Hitler´s invasions made him to imitate Germany´s succesful expansion). Invasion with men and 600 aircraft, Albania had poorly equipped troops, trained by Italians)

10. Albania´s kind Zog left the country and Albania united with Italy in personal union.
The Pact of Steel, 1939: Italy and Germany for declaration of trust & cooperation and for union of military and economic policies ( a secret pact)
Mussolini was informed about the Nazi-Soviet Pact just two days before it was signed in August,
Germany to Poland ; Mussolini declared Italy a non-belligerent: to win some time and Italy exhausted with all the wars..

11. Italy joined WWII in 1940 Why? See p. 150
Interpretations; choose one and explain..
Italy to Egypt, Greece: faced problems and Hitler had to give some help…