Figure 1.-- This photograph could not have been taken in 1933-34 and much of 1935. But after Mussolini invaded Ethiopia (October 1935), relations with the democracies deteriorated and Mussolini and Hitler pursued a rapprochement. Here we see Hitller Youth boys parading past the Collesium in Rome and prominately displaying the HJ flag on September 28, 1936. A month later Hitler came to Rome to sign the Rome-Berlin Axis. Some of these boys may have participated in the German invasion and occupation of Italy after quit the Axis (September 1943).

Mussolini did not take Hitler seriously until, much to his surprise, he seized power (1933). There were at first, no quick move to establish an alliance despite their similsar Fascist ideologies. Mussolini at first feared German territorial expansion south. Mussolini moved troops to the Austrian border when it seemed that Hitler was attempting to seize Austria (1934). Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia (October 1935) impaired relations with the democracies (Britain and France). This fundamentally changed the European geopolitical framework. The democracies criticism was a major factor in Mussolini's rapprochement with Hitler. Mussolini was outraged with the democracies. This was an important step in freeing Germany's ability to to end the Versailles restrictiins and the Anglo-French strategic encirclement. This was followed by Italy and Germany supporting Franco in the Spanish Civil War (1936). Hitler and Mussolini agreed to cooperate diplomatically and signed a treaty of frienship (October 25, 1936). Initially Mussolini had been concerned with the rise of the NAZIs and backed Austrian independence. Allied (British and French) opposition to his invasion of Ethiopia apparently had a major impact on reorienting his stratehic thinking. Mussolini first used the term "axis" (November 1). Speaking at Milan's cathedral. he referred to the evolving relationship as an "axis". This appears to be a strange term for an alliance. Apparently the concept was that Europe would revolve around their regimes. The actual agreement was formulated by Italy’s foreign minister Count Galeazzo Ciano, Mussolini's son in law. (He would eventually be shot in a NAZI concentration camp.) The agreement was an informal one. It did not become a formal military alliance until the Pact of Steel (1939).

Created: 8:01 PM 3/22/2010
Last updated: 8:01 PM 3/22/2010