The Stresa Front and Mussolini's Foreign Policy

• The Stresa Front formed in April 1935 as an alliance between Britain, France, and Italy.
• Its purpose involved opposing Germany’s rearmament, which violated the Treaty of Versailles.
• A further aim was to reaffirm the Locarno Treaties and maintain Austria’s independence.
• The Stresa Front was held in Stresa, Italy, involving leaders Pierre Laval (France), Ramsay MacDonald (UK), and Benito Mussolini (Italy).
• The alliance weakened and collapsed when Britain signed the Anglo-German Naval Agreement in June 1935, allowing Germany to expand its navy.
• Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia in October 1935 led to tensions with Britain and France.
• The alliance effectively dissolved, weakening European resistance against Nazi Germany.

Mussolini's Intervention in the Spanish Civil War: Expansion of Fascist Influence

• Mussolini aimed to promote Fascist ideals and strengthen Fascism in Europe by supporting Franco’s nationalists.
• Historian Alexander De Grand said the Italian intervention was ideological, aiming to prevent Soviet communism.

Strategic and Territorial Ambitions:

• Mussolini hoped to gain naval bases in the Balearic Islands in return for assisting Franco.
• He wanted to establish Italy as the dominant Mediterranean power.

Military Involvement and Consequences:

• Italy sent 70,000 troops, more than any other country, but lacked a clear strategy, leading to an unpopular war in Italy.
• The war's cost led to the devaluation of the lire and consumed one-third of Italy’s war stocks.
• Italy's military weaknesses were exposed, such as the defeat at the Battle of Guadalajara in March 1937.

Impact on Foreign Relations:

• Italian submarine attacks increased tensions with Britain and France.
• Ties with Nazi Germany strengthened, leading to the Rome-Berlin Axis Alliance on 25 October 1936.
• Italy joined the Anti-Comintern Pact in November 1937 with Germany and Japan.
• Italy left the League of Nations in 1937.

Effect on Austria and Anschluss:

• Mussolini told Austria to deal directly with Germany, signaling he would no longer protect it.
• Nazi Germany invaded Austria in 1938 (Anschluss).
• Italy’s stance weakened due to military overextension in Abyssinia and Spain.

Role in Later European Conflicts:

• Mussolini acted as a 'broker of peace' during the Munich Crisis in 1938.
• Hitler ignored Mussolini when invading Sudetenland in March 1939, showcasing Italy’s diminished influence.

Italy's Entry into World War II (June 1940):

• Germany's allies included Japan, preparing for expansion in the Far East, and Italy, described as having "big words but a lot less concrete actions."
• After the invasion of Poland on 1st September and declarations of war by France and the UK on 3rd September, Poland was quickly defeated within a month.

Phony War:

• The period in autumn and winter of 1939/1940 between the Allies and Germany was described as a "phony war" with more British soldiers dying in cart accidents than in actual combat.
• The Baltic Sea came under German control, increasing Germany's economic base.
• Sweden maintained neutrality by delivering iron ore to Germany.
• The German attack on France surprised the French, bypassing the Maginot Line.

Mussolini’s Declaration of War:

• On 10th June 1940, Mussolini declared war on Britain and France due to ideological, strategic, and economic factors.

Ideological Factors:

• Fascism is based on militarism and a willingness to fight, referencing the Roman Empire.
• War was seen as a natural way to boost the regime's popularity and resurrect the spirit of young Italians.

Strategic Factors:

• Remaining neutral could result in Germany dominating Europe and being hostile to Italy.
• Mussolini believed intervention could lead to territorial expansion and control over the Mediterranean.
• The concept of "spazio vitale" in the Balkans paralleled Germany's "Lebensraum" in Russia, avoiding conflicts of interest.
• Hitler aimed for dominance over the European continent.

Economic Factors:

• Italy had become dependent on Germany, a major buyer of Italian food and textiles and a supplier of German coal.
• Britain blockaded all German coal ports in March 1940.

Aftermath:

• Italian forces engaged the French just before France sought an armistice on 17th June, which took effect on 25th June 1940.
• Ian Kershaw suggests Mussolini adopted fateful choices in his decisions.

The Stresa Front, formed in 1935 by Britain, France, and Italy, aimed to counter Germany’s rearmament and uphold European stability. However, the alliance weakened due to the Anglo-German Naval Agreement and Italy's invasion of Ethiopia. Mussolini's intervention in the Spanish Civil War further aimed to spread Fascist influence.