Italy
In 1934, Italy wanted to take control of Ethiopia
in eastern Africa because Benito Mussolini, the Italian leader, thought that
having control of Ethiopia would make Italy a world power. To follow this
ambition, Mussolini ordered Italian troops to invade Ethiopian in and try
and gain control of the Ethiopia and Italian Somaliland border. This dispute
did not end in the way Mussolini had hoped so he demanded that Ethiopia apologize.
Because Ethiopia knew they were not at fault, they turned the issue over
to the League of Nations to investigate. The League decided that no one was
to blame because both sides believed that the land they were fighting over
was their own. This upset Mussolini even further so in October of 1935, he
ordered the Italian army to invade Ethiopia. The League of Nations decided
this invasion was to much and issued measures to stop all trade and contact
with Italy. This however did not stop Italy from conquering Ethiopia. In
May of 1936, Italy overtook Ethiopia. This satisfied Italy for a while.
In 1936, Mussolini signed the Rome-Berlin Axis with Germany to make the two countries known as the Axis powers and agree to help one another. Soon Japan joined this agreement. The hope was that Italy would become a world power with the protection of two other large countries. With this agreement Italy backed Germany and Hitler in many invasions to take over lands. This continued for several years. On September of 1938, Italy attended the Munich Conference in which France, Italy, Germany, and Great Britain met to try and compromise and settle some of the tension that had formed. Italy had began to notice that there was increasing tension between their ally Germany and several other countries. In response to this, at the conference, Mussolini suggested a agreement in which Germany took control of the Sudetenland which they wanted and in return Germany had to leave Czechoslovakia alone. In hopes that this would help to avoid war, France, Great Britain, and Czechoslovakia all agreed to this. Unfortunately, this agreement wasn’t followed through on very well. Hitler fell through on his part and invaded Czechoslovakia.
In 1936, Mussolini signed the Rome-Berlin Axis with Germany to make the two countries known as the Axis powers and agree to help one another. Soon Japan joined this agreement. The hope was that Italy would become a world power with the protection of two other large countries. With this agreement Italy backed Germany and Hitler in many invasions to take over lands. This continued for several years. On September of 1938, Italy attended the Munich Conference in which France, Italy, Germany, and Great Britain met to try and compromise and settle some of the tension that had formed. Italy had began to notice that there was increasing tension between their ally Germany and several other countries. In response to this, at the conference, Mussolini suggested a agreement in which Germany took control of the Sudetenland which they wanted and in return Germany had to leave Czechoslovakia alone. In hopes that this would help to avoid war, France, Great Britain, and Czechoslovakia all agreed to this. Unfortunately, this agreement wasn’t followed through on very well. Hitler fell through on his part and invaded Czechoslovakia.
After the conference, Italy continued to support
Germany. In 1940, when Hitler was conquering Western Europe, Mussolini dreamed
of taking over land in the Mediterranean so he declared war on France and
Britain. Italy had a army in Libya that was supporting Germany. These forces
attacked the British forces that were guarding Egypt and the Sudan. The Italian
forces believed that they would destroy the British because they outnumbered
the British. However this was wrong. The small British forces that were guarding
Egypt and the Sudan were very strong and won several battles against the
Italian forces to take over much of the north coast of Libya that Italy was
to be protecting. For the first time in the war, German came to rescue Italy
and reclaim the Libya coast by defeating Great Britain and pushing British
forces out.
After this rescue by Germany, Italy continued to guard various Italian and German lines. However, in early 1943, the tables turned on Italy. Great Britain and the United States wanted to secure communications in the Mediterranean and put pressure on a weakened Italy, so they invaded Sicily, Italy. The strong forces from the ground and air forced over 40,000 German and 80,000 Italian troops to leave Italy. This conquering if Italy led to the downfall if Mussolini. He was fired and arrested by the Italian people. A new prime minister, Marshal Pierto Badoglio, took over Italy. This new leader was unable to deal with the pressures and two days after taking over the country, Badoglio surrendered. This surrender upset Germany and German forces rescued Mussolini from prison and placed him back in control.
Following the regaining of control by Mussolini, he led Italy by supporting German movements up until Germany surrendered on May 7, 1945 to end the war.
After this rescue by Germany, Italy continued to guard various Italian and German lines. However, in early 1943, the tables turned on Italy. Great Britain and the United States wanted to secure communications in the Mediterranean and put pressure on a weakened Italy, so they invaded Sicily, Italy. The strong forces from the ground and air forced over 40,000 German and 80,000 Italian troops to leave Italy. This conquering if Italy led to the downfall if Mussolini. He was fired and arrested by the Italian people. A new prime minister, Marshal Pierto Badoglio, took over Italy. This new leader was unable to deal with the pressures and two days after taking over the country, Badoglio surrendered. This surrender upset Germany and German forces rescued Mussolini from prison and placed him back in control.
Following the regaining of control by Mussolini, he led Italy by supporting German movements up until Germany surrendered on May 7, 1945 to end the war.
Kelly Hahn