Figure 1.--World War II historians commonly date the early Fascist aggressions as the beginning of the lead up to World war II. Fascist Italy began the road toward World War II with invasion of Ethipia which had resisted European colonization by defeating an Italiany Army at Adawa (1894). Mussolini invaded Ethiopia both to avenge Italian honor and to create an important colony in East africa where Italy alreadybhad two small colonies (Somalia and Eritrea. The press caption here read, "Boy Warriors Offered for Ras Hassibu's Army: These pictures brought to London by a relay of warplanes were taken by a staff correspondent in the Ogaden 30 miles south of Harar under actual was conditions. Photo shows: A desert hieftan bringing in boys of his tribe to offer them to Ras Hussibu at his camp 30 miles south of Harar." The Ogaden in the desert area between Somalia and Ethiopia. The photograph reached London October 1, 1935.

We have developed some basic information about early Itlalian aggressions in the period leading to World war II. Italy had attempted to seize Libya in a war wwith the Ottoman Empire just before World War I (1912). Fighting occurred their by Libyan nationalists during and after World War. Mussolini was determined to supress resistabce to Italian rule. The Italians conducted a mercilless campaign in Libya to supress rebels, including the use of poison gas. This was generally seen as an internal colonial matter. The world view changed in 1935 when Mussolini decided to invaded Ethiopia, using modern weapons, again including poison gas, to attack a largely unarmed country. The Ethiopians had defeated an Italian Army in 1896 and Mussoline was determined to redeem what he saw as a blot on the national honor. Marshal Pietro Badoglio commanded the large Italian invasion force. When Italy was condemned in the League of Nations, Mussolini was outraged. Mussolini supported Francisco Franco and the Nationalists in the Spanish Cuvil War (1936-39). Finally the Italians invaded Albania (April 7, 1939). Italy had been deply involved in Albania since the end of world War I. Mussolini had been attempting to seize Albania for years. While the world's attention was focused on Germany and Czechoslovakia, it seemed the perfect time to act. There was virtually no international consequences. Britain and France still hoped that Mussolini could be disuaded from joining Hitler it the war that was now clearly coming.

Libya

Italy had attempted to seize Libya in a war wwith the Ottoman Empire just before World War I (1912). Fighting occurred their by Libyan nationalists during and after World War. Mussolini was determined to supress resistabce to Italian rule. The Italians conducted a mercilless campaign in Libya to supress rebels, including the use of poison gas. This was generally seen as an internal colonial matter in the rest of Europe.

Yugoslavia

A major Italian target was Yugoslavia. The new Yugoslav Kingdom obtained former Austrian Adriatic coastal areas (Dalmatia and Ilyria) that Italy had hoped to obtain asa result of its participation in World War I. These areas had important Italian populations. Italy was not, however, strong enough to threaten Yugoslavia militarily. Rather it attekmpted to destabilize the Yugoslav governmrnt by exploiting ethnic disputes. In particular the Italians funeled funds to the Croatian nationalist group--the Ustache.

Ethiopia (1935)

The world view changed in 1935 when Mussolini decided to invaded Ethiopia, using modern weapons, again including poison gas, to attack a largely unarmed country. The Ethiopins had defeated an Italian Army in 1896 and Mussoline was determined to redeem what he saw as a blot on the national honor. Marshal Pietro Badoglio commanded the Italian invasion force. He extensevly used poison gas. (The Allies in 1943 made a deal with Badoglio to overthrow Musolini.) The Italian Ministry of Defence did not admit until 1995 that poison gas had been used by the Italian Air Force. [Del Boca] The Italian invasion was widely condemned at the League of Nations more than 50 other countries. The invasion gave rise to world-wide indignation, but nor military support for Ethiopia. Criticism was especially heated in Britain which, still thinking about World War I, people were truly shocked by Italy's use of poison-gas as well as deliberate bombing of Red Cross hospitals and ambulances--especially the British Red Cross Unit. [Waley] The British pushed in the League of Nations for scantions. The French played lip service, but were more interested in Italaian support for their efforts to limit Hitler. An oil embargo which might have affected the Italian war effort was not approved, provably for that reason. [Davidson, p. 130.] The Italians were condenmed by the League of Nations and then walked out of the organization. Mussolinin was offened at this treatment. Hitler made it cleart that Germany symphithized.

Spain (1936-39)

The Italians beginning in 1936 made major contributions to Franco's rebellion against the Spanish Republic. NAZI Germany and Fascist Italy beginning in 1936 were also active in Spain helping Franco establish a Fascist regime. The Spanish Civil War is often seen as the unveiling of the new German Luftwaffe after Hitler had unilaterally abrogated the Versailles Peace Treaty prohibiting Germany from building an air force. Fighting began in Spain in July 1936. Spanish Generals Francisco Franco and Quiepo de Llano revolted against the reform-minded Republican Government elected in Madrid. Franco appealed for help. Hitler immeduately ordered Luftwaffe transport plans to transport Franco's loyalist troops in Morroco to participate in the fighting. He saw a left-wing government in Madrid as harful to the Reich, aiding the French policy of encirclement. [Davidson, pp. 57-58.] Both Italy and Germany were soon sending arms and men to the loyalists and provided important air elements. The defenseless Basque village of Guernica was the first European city to be destroyed by the Luftwaffe. The democracies and League of Nations respnded with an arms embargo. Only the Soviets aided the Republic. The Spanish Civil War is most commonly seen as the first major battle against fascism in Europe. Less know and more controversial is the social revolution launched by the Republic.

Austria (1938)

Mussolini had mobilized the Italian Army when he thought that the new NAZI Government was planning the Anschluss (1934). Mussolini was concerned about the Southern Tyrol with its ethnic German population. This proved unecessary because Hitler was still acting cautiously goven his still tenuous political and military position. As Hitler subsequently courted Mussolini, he made it clear that his campaign to ubdo the Versailles Treaty and reunite eyhnic Germans with the Reich did not include the Germans in the Tyrol. Thus Italian policy had changed by 1938. As Hitler prepared the Ancchluss, Mussolini cabeled him pledging his support.

Czechoslovakia (1938)

Mussolini did not partocipate in Hitler's desmemberment of Czrchoslovakia at Munich (September 1938). Chamberlain still hoped that Mussolini could play a moderating influence on Hitler. In fact he supported Hitler diplomatically.

Albania (April 1939)

Finally the Italians invaded Albania on April 7, 1939. Italy had been deply involved in Albania since the end of World War I. Italy made important investments in Albania andused these at first commercial ventures to gain influence. Mussolini had been attempting to seize Albania for years. While the world's attention was focused on Germany and Czechoslovakia, it seemed the perfect time to act. There was virtually no international consequences. Britain and France still hoped that Mussolini could be disuaded from joining Hitler it the war that was now clearly coming.

Created: 5:48 AM 3/6/2009
Last updated: 5:48 AM 3/6/2009