1. How did the Treaty of Versailles impact them?
Italy was an Allied Power, which means it was on the winning side. Italy was not punished by the Treaty of Versailles, but rather helped come up with it. The treaty is often blamed for causing the second World War.
2. What type(s) of government did this country have in the interwar years(1919-1938)?
In 1919, Benito Mussolini founded the Fascist Party. Fascists believe in the glorification of war, because they think it displays the nobility of the Italian soul. In 1921, 35 fascist were elected into the Chamber of Deputies. Tension rose between them and the communists to nearly the amount of a civil war. Fascists: black shirts, communists: red shirts. The two parties were often seen brawling in the streets. In the summer of 1922, the Fascist army marched from Naples to Rome to declare their loyalty to the King. The communists also had an army, but the king, in fear of open violence, named Mussolini premier. He used his army to purge any local goverments opposed to fascism. His motto was "All in the state, nothing outside the state, nothing against the state." He ruled Italy with a tight fist during the war years, aiming for economic and social reforms. Some were successful, others unsuccessful. He was sympathetic to Adolf Hitler's desire to regain glory for Germany and Europe, and was Hitler's most important ally.
3. How did their leader, that led them throughout WWII, come to power?
As I said above, he was named premier by the King, and used his fascist army to silece everyone opposed to him. Everything was ruled by the Italian government, which meant everything was ruled by him. He became an absolute ruler and fixed any elections.
4. How did this leader change their country(for the better and worse) prior to WWII?
He turned Italy into a fascist country, which I believe was for the worse, because they desired war. He was a minor positive influence though because he tried to reform the country both socially and economically. All parties except the fascists were suppressed, which in turn makes for a very unstable country. All important jobs were given to fascists, radio hosts were replaced, textbooks were remade to glorify the fascist system, etc. Another positive thing he did, at least I believe it is positive, is left religion alone. He made small adjustments, such as making swearing in public a crime and allowed crosses to be hung in public buildings.
5. What were the goals of the leader?
He wished to build an Italian Empire in North Africa. They had conquered Libyain 1913, and Mussolini provoked war with Ethiopia in 1935.. conquering it too shortly after. This was condemned by the League of Nations, and so Italy left it. He also assisted Francisco Franco in The Spanish Civil War. The pope considered him as "the man whom God sent us".
6. What was the military strategy of this country in the inter-war years(1919-1938)?
Mussolini had a militia that silenced any local government opposed to his beliefs of fascism. Mussolini also built an Ally with German dictator, Hitler.
7. What role did they play in WWII?
Germany's number one Ally. Mussolini was Hitler's puppet. After many bad decisions, the people of Italy turned on Mussolini. He was arrested.. and later hung.
8. Who were their allies in WWII?
The main axis powers were Germany, Italy and Japan. Other small countries were Albania, Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary, Romania, and Thailand.
9. How did WWII impact/effect the country?
Many homeless, Europe's economy had collapsed. Italy's leader was dead. Italy was also required to pay 360 million dollars to be shared between Greece, Yugoslavia, and the Soviet Union.
I find it completely insane how someone can possess so much power that pretty much anything they says goes. I think dictatorship should not be allowed in any circumstance. No person deserves to have that much rule over people's lives. It's like playing God.. it isn't right. I guess both dictated countries, Italy and Germany, had to pay for their bad decisions and unfair government anyways. I think the things that took place during WW2 were absolutely awful.. that should've never taken place. I wish our communication across the world would have been better so we could've gotten over their to stop it sooner. The Holocaust was a cruel, unnecessary event that will forever scar Germany's history.
http://www.sparknotes.com/history/european/interwaryears/section6.rhtml
http://www.worldwar2database.com/html/italy.htm
http://staff.gps.edu/mines/Age%20of%20Anxiety%20-%20Rise%20of%20Mussolini.htm
http://www2.needham.k12.ma.us/nhs/cur/Baker_00/03/baker-je-jp-03/mussolini.htm
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