World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

Although Italy emerged victorious from World War 1 and gain territories from the former Austrian-Hungarian Empire, the country paid a heavy price. Over 600,000 were killed, and the economy and political environments remained unstable. In 1922, Benito Mussolini seized power with the support of King Vittorio Emannuelle III, who feared a revolution. From 1925 on, Mussolini slowly gained more and more power until Italy became a totalitarian state enforced by a secret police organization. His dictatorship influenced fascist leaders who came on the scene later such as Adolf Hitler and Francisco Franco. In 1929, Mussolini gained favors with the Vatican by granting it the status of an independent state.

Italy invaded Abyssinia. The League of Nations imposed totally useless sanctions on Italy as a punishment, depriving Italy items such as aluminum (which was among Italy's chief exports), camels, and mules which she did not need. Britain attempted to threaten Italy with military action, but Mussolini correctly guessed that Britain was not ready for war, and called the bluff. Italy also got away lucky after Britain failed to realize by denying the Italians access to the Suez Canal the Abyssinian campaign could have been made difficult for the Italians, if not ending it. On 9 May 1936, Mussolini declared King Vittorio Emannuelle III the Emperor of Abyssinia.

In 1936, Italy and Germany entered into the Pact of Steel. The two nations grew closer together, with Italy supporting Germany's expansion into Central Europe and both nations supporting Francisco Franco in the Spanish Civil War. In Apr 1939, Italy occupied Albania. In Sep 1939, in a move that surprised Hitler slightly, Italy refused to enter the European War due to Italy's ill-preparedness for major military action. Mussolini did, however, declare war on the Western Allies in Jun 1940 after France had essentially fallen to the Germans. In Oct 1940, Italy invaded Greece but her army performed poorly and had to be bailed out by German intervention. Although Germany originally had no plans of an excursion into the Balkans, Hitler thought securing Yugoslavia and the Balkans would protect Axis Romania's oil fields, plus it would secure the southern flank of the upcoming campaign against Russia. Italy's war in North Africa, too, did not go as well as Mussolini had hoped. Once again, Germany had to reinforce Italian forces, most notably with Erwin Rommel and his Afrika Korps. The Axis forces in North Africa were eventually defeated by the Allies, and from there an invasion of Sicily was launched. The fall of Sicily was so devastating to Italian morale that Mussolini's regime was toppled in Sep 1943. Italy surrendered in Sep 1943. Germany immediately invaded Italy and established a puppet state under Mussolini in the northern part of the country while the Allies invaded and took control of the southern and central parts. Italy remained a bitter battlefield until Apr 1945.

After the war, Italy lost some territory to France and Yugoslavia. The monarchy fell in 1946 and a close national referendum established a republic.

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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Gareth says:
   9 Aug 2007 12:18:56 PM
   
   Hello, I am looking for help on south african soldiers who fought at El Alamein and in Italy. I am looking for any information regarding my grandfather who won a despatch for bravery from King George V at El Alamein for rescuing coloured soldiers after a retreat from the germans. Also a commendation received in Italy, which it is unknown why he received this award... My grandfather was a Sapper. Please, please help
2. Anonymous says:
   17 Feb 2009 02:16:40 PM
   
   Italy should have stayed neutral, that would have been a pain for the allies. Italy was not ready to fight ww2. But Mussolini draged his nation to ruin. And we all know what happened to mussolini. The u.s.Government even asked the "mob" for help, but that's another story.
3. Anonymous says:
   17 Feb 2009 02:33:12 PM
   
   Every ww2 movie always show the german's, or the japanese, what happened to the italians?only afew movies did I ever see the italians one was "what did you do in the war daddy" and the italians were at a party, next was Von Ryain's Express, the italians were in charge of the p.o.w. camp, and then taken prisoner by the german's, and las Iron Eagle once again the german in his bf-109 and the japanese in his zero. WHERE WAS THE ITALIAN! one last movie titled "a walk in the sun" the italians were surrendering. All for Italia! say they were the first to say "make love not war"
4. Anonymous says:
   17 Feb 2009 02:47:10 PM
   
   I never met an Italian Soldier,I met NATO soldier's they were: W.German,Dutch,English and from Canada all I remember we would drink together and just wanted to go home, I guess the commies just wanted to do the same. Then I met Korean, Australian and Vietnamese. That was a long time ago, when I was younger, much younger.
5. Anonymous says:
   25 Feb 2009 11:59:20 AM
   
   If you want to know about italian soldier, go to this link: http://www.navynews.co.uk/articles/2004/0409/0004092401.asp.
   One man sunk a english battleship!! And not like japanese with kamikaze, the italian sailor survived at this action.
   We have fought a war against the people, and we was disorganized.
   Search on google the name "folgore" at el alamein and understand like a few italians soldiers leaves your life in battlefield, with honour and proud.
   but we have fought on the wrong side of the history: nazism and fascism was the absolute devil!!
6. Anonymous says:
   17 Mar 2009 09:02:37 AM
   
   um thanks for letting use this for my history report
7. Anonymous says:
   25 May 2009 04:38:16 PM
   
   Hey i need to know about canada's contribution in italy druing world war 2 can you help?
8. James Upton says:
   23 Feb 2010 08:53:55 AM
   
   Afriend of mine has an Italian dog tag he found several years ago where the battle of El Alamein took place and would like to return this to either the soldier who lost it or to his family members. The dog tag reads as follows:
   
   1916
   56177(43)C
   Metelli Valen
   Tino Di Giro
   Lamo Di Murat
   Ti Maria
   Passirano
   Brescia
   
   Can anyone help and who/where do we contact?
   
   My direct e-mail is glock31sf@yahoo.com
   Jim Upton

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