Italy after WWI - Italy was very displeased with the Treaty of Versailles. Wanted to get more land than they got. Italy joined the League of Nations and was a member from 1919 until they withdrew in 1937.
5 Power Pact - Signed by Great Britain, the US, Japan, France, and Italy. Designed to prevent an arm's race. It limited the construction of battleships, battle cruisers, and aircraft carriers. Did not restrict cruisers, destroyers or submarines.
9 Power Pact - Guaranteed Chinese independence and upheld the Open Door Policy. Signed by the US, Japan, China, France, Great Britain, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, and Portugal.
March on Rome-October 1922 - A march by Benito Mussolini's National Fascist Party. Mussolini and the Fascists won and took over Italy.
King Victor Emmanuel - Did not fight Mussolini's take over in Italy. Wanted to avoid a civil war and also wanted to keep communists out of Italy. Saw Mussolini as the person that could do these things.
Mussolini and the Catholic Church - In 1929, the Lateran Accords were signed. Gave the Vatican specific territories in Rome. Catholicism became the state religion. Separation of church and state was stopped. Recognition of religious marriages for the first time since 1870. Catholic church was given a lot of money. What did Mussolini get? Official support from the Catholic Church.
Established Fascism in Italy - A government led by a strong dictator. Stresses strong nationalism, militarism, and imperialism. Uses intimidation to get what they want.
Ethiopia invaded by Mussolini 1935 - Italy lost it's Ethiopia colony in Africa at the 1896 Battle of Adua. One of the worst colonial disasters of modern history. In 1935, Italy sends large forces into Ethiopia.
Italy/Ethiopia Invasion - November 18,1935, League of Nations sanctions begin. Arms embargo, financial embargo, non-importation of Italian goods. February 29, 1936, FDR signed the 1936 Neutrality Act. 1.) Mandatory arms embargo with warring nations 2.) Mandatory ban on loans to warring nations. May 5 - Italy occupied Addis Ababa = annexed all Ethiopia on May 9.
Generalissimo Francisco Franco and the Spanish Civil War = 1936 - Hitler and Mussolini send troops and weapons to help Franco win the civil war against the communists. This war served as an important training ground for Hitler's and Mussolini's troops.
Italy's Goals in WWII - Make a new Roman Empire, make a Mediterranean an "Italian Lake", Take over northern African colonies of Britain and France-especially Egypt. take over parts of the Middle East.
Mussolini and his Mistress, Claretta Petacci, are hung in Milan, 1945
Italy and the Holocaust - In 1938, Mussolini instituted laws discriminating the Jews. 46,000 Jews in Italy at the time. After the Fascist government fell when the US invaded (1943), the Germans moved in and took control and started shipping Jews to camps outside of Italy.
Why did Italy lose? - Italy was not prepared military to fight a prolonged war. Germany had to constantly bail Italy out. Italian troops were spread to thin-Africa, Mediterranean, Albania, Greece, Soviet Union, France, and Battle of Brittain. The people of Italy were not prepared to fight or motivated to fight. They were forced to fight. Overall, Italy was just a weak country.
Impact WWII Had on Italy - 410,000 dead--330,000 Military deaths. Spent $94 Billion. Italy had joined the Allies by 1943 so the big concern for the US was making sure Italy became a democracy after the war and not fall to communism. US gave millions of dollars to Italy (Marshall Plan) to help rebuild after the war. Became a member of NATO in 1949. Became a member of the United Nations in 1955
JAPAN IN WWII
Areas Controlled by Japan during WWII:
Several regions in China - 1938 - 1945. French Indochina (Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos) - July 15, 1940 - August 29, 1945. Hong Kong (UK) - December 12, 1940 - August 15, 1945. Thailand - as an "allied" state although induced - December 8, 1941 = August 15, 1941. British New Guinea - December 27, 1941 - September 15, 1945. Philippines (USA) - January 2, 1942 - November 27, 1944. Andaman and Nicobar Islands (India), Straits Settlements (Singapore), Kingdom of Sarawak, Brunei
AREAS ATTACKED BUT NOT CONQUERED
Air raids on Australia - Broome (Western Australia), Darwin (Northern Territory, Australia), Newcastle (New South Wales, Australia)
JAPAN IN THE 1920's - Joined the League of Nations. Signed the 4,5, and 9 Power Pacts (SEE ITALY NOTES). Signed the Kellogg-Briand Pact
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