Hitler and Mussolini utilized similar tactics to get what they wanted.
They turned to the threat of violence and aggression to achieve their aims. In
1922 Italy didn’t particularly exert strong influence into Europe, and
Mussolini sought out to make amends to that. In August 1923 Italian delegates
were sent to Corfu on behalf of the League of Nations to sort out a border
conflict between Greece and Albania. They were assassinated by Greek
nationalists, resulting in Italy demanding 50 million liras in an ultimatum,
and their occupation of Corfu. The other European powers, particularly Britain
demanded that Italy withdrew. This event proved that although they were capable
of bullying smaller countries, Italy still proved to be no match for the more
powerful countries in the league. In
1924 Mussolini saw success when through the pact of Rome, Italy was granted a
long term target of theirs – Fiume, an Italian speaking town previously in
Yugoslavia (and presently in Croatia). Mussolini renewed his interest in
Albania and gave it a strong Italian influence. Their mineral resources were
exploited, Italian loans supported the Albanian government and economy, and Italian
military leaders trained the Albanian army. In 1929 Mussolini went ahead and
successfully invaded Albania. Initially Mussolini was careful to not agitate
Britain and France and he ‘posed as a good neighbor’ for them. Although he had
little interest in treaties, Mussolini stuck with the League of Nations and
signed the Locarno treaties in which Germany’s western borders were defined,
and entered the Kellogg-Briand pact in 1928 in which the signatories promised
not to turn to war to resolve their disputes. In order to achieve the level of
superiority that he sought after, Mussolini realized that he needed to form
allies and strengthen its armed forces. Thus Italy signed a friendship treaty
in 1927 with Hungary. Italy began providing Hungary with weapons, and each
state swore to back the other one up and assist in case of any future plans of
aggression for the next decade, and it was renewed in 1937, proving that the
friendship proved to be valued and beneficial to both parties. Mussolini had
plans to expand his fascist regime outside of Italy and started funding right
wing groups in Germany, in the hope that a pro-fascist group would get to
power. By the 1930’s Italy showcased its
shift in attitude and became aggressive not just in the Balkans, but now in
Africa and Western Europe too. Italy’s
foreign policy became hostile, due to frustrations of their limited gains from
the outcome of World War I. The Fascist
regime was ready to challenge Europe and become ‘great, respected, and feared’.
During this time Hitler was in
Germany, riling the country up, gaining support by attacking the ‘harsh’ rules
imposed by the Treaty of Versailles and promoting Pan-Germanism, Anti-Communism,
and Anti-Semitism. When Hitler came to power in 1933 he withdrew Germany from
the League of Nations, mostly because it was trying to pursue policies of
disarmament and peace – something Hitler was not looking for. One of the biggest differences between
Mussolini and Hitler regarding their foreign policies is that Hitler was in
power for considerably less time than Mussolini therefore he constructed his
foreign policies in a short period time, and executed them in a lot more
compact time period in comparison to Mussolini. However although it is the well
planned foreign policies of Hitler that made him the feared leader was,
something Mussolini strived for, he proves that over ambitious foreign policies
also lead to your downfalls. Initially
Mussolini prevented Hitler from gaining control of Austria by putting troops on
the Brenner Pass when the Austrian chancellor Dollfuss was murdered. This gives
Italy international praise. As mentioned before Mussolini still wanted to keep
its relations with Britain and France intact, and joined the Stresa pact with
them in 1934, promoting an anti German attitude. As they tried to stop an early
attempt of Anschluss on the Austrian borders, Italy was one of the only
countries to take military action against Germany.
In 1935 The Anglo-German Naval Agreement was formed with the intentions
of bettering the relations between Britain and Germany. This allowed for German
naval expansion and for Hitler to be able to break up the Stresa front. Although
first appearing calm and polite to other leaders, Hitler’s true intentions
began to become clear.
In 1935 Mussolini demonstrated his thoughts on using violence to get
what you want when Italy went ahead and undermined the League of Nations, and
proceeded to invade Abyssinia in 1935. Originally Britain complied and said
that Italy could go ahead and take Abyssinia as Italy deserved a colony due to
the Treaty of Versailles. However Britain changed their mind and said that
Abyssinia would go to the League of Nations. However this proved how Italy had
gained so much power that Britain didn’t impose sanctions as they didn’t want
to aggravate Italy. Similarly Hitler followed the same method and disobeyed by
remilitarizing the Rhineland in 1936.
Hitler's imperial policy stressed the idea of race, whilst Mussolini's
imperial thinking was dated, and related back to the late nineteenth-century
'scramble for Africa'. And whilst Hitler had wanted lebensraum, a greater
larger Germany, in order to receive economic benefits, Mussolini's colonial
policy in Abyssinia was based upon his desire to create Italy as a world
influence. Despite the fact that the majority of Africa was already claimed,
another key factor that motivated Mussolini's decision to invade Abyssinia was due
to his desire for revenge to the defeat Italy experienced in 1896. This
suggests that nationalistic pride was one of Mussolini’s main priorities. It
overrode his desire for economic gain, Italy’s imperial adventures in Africa
did very little to achieve any economic power for Mussolini, especially in comparison
to Hitler's policy.
One thing in common Hitler and Mussolini had was their dislike of
communism. There was a clear divide political ideology in Europe with liberal
democracy in the west, communism in the USSR and fascism in countries such as
Italy, Germany and Japan. Hitler and Mussolini were more than happy to step in
and assist Franco in Spain in 1936 to gain control of the Spanish state and crush
communism. It was this year that the Rome-Berlin Axis was formed and Mussolini formally aligned
Fascist Italy with Nazi Germany. Both
dictators actively intervened in the war, giving their support for communism,
bringing them closer together. Hitler helped Franco transport his troops to
Spain, offered air support and military supplies. Mussolini on the other hand
supplied Franco with 75,000 troops, planes, tanks, and weapons. Setting the
anti-communism aside, a contrast between Hitler and Mussolini was their
alternate intentions for helping Franco. Mussolini was more concerned with the
pride of playing an important role in the plight of crushing communism. Unlike Hitler he didn’t benefit economically.
After agreements with Franco, Hitler managed to grant himself 75% of Spain’s
ores, with these resources he could prepare himself for the upcoming big
war. After his experience with Hitler
assisting Franco, and with the previous disagreements with Britain, Mussolini
began siding with Hitler. In 1937 Mussolini proceeded with his anti-communism relationship
with Hitler and signed the Anti-Comintern Pact. The pact detailed support in
the case of attack upon Japan or Germany by the Soviet Union. They also swore
to not make any political treaties with the Soviet Union. The signatories of
the pact, Germany, Japan, Italy and other countries such as Hungary and Bulgaria,
formed the Axis powers. Mussolini had officially swapped sides from being with
the future ‘Allies’ to being with the Axis powers.
When Hitler went to invade Austria again in 1938, Mussolini welcomed
him. Shortly after Hitler managed to gain Sudetenland, which then belonged to
Czechoslovakia, but was inhibited by ethnic Germans. In order to get the land
Hitler sent an ultimateum with his demands and states that there would be 10
days to satisfy them. Chamberlain mobilizes but the Western powers are hesitant
to start war and want to resolve the issue peacefully. Hitler declines this;
therefore the Western powers have little time to organize themselves, so
Chamberlain managed to get Mussolini to successfully persuade Hitler to delay
the attack by one day. Mussolini was heavily thanked for his assistance, and
even requested by Chamberlain to be present at a four-power conference in
Munich where the issue would be resolved.
This event proved to be successful for both Mussolini and Hitler as they
accomplished their aims. Hitler was granted ‘permission’ to take the Sudetenland, and Mussolini was an
accomplished power who was requested to take part in a main European power
conference- Britain wanted Italy to be present so that Mussolini could
influence Hitler to make the ‘right’ decisions.
In 1939 Mussolini and Hitler took their relationship to the ‘next level’
as they signed the Pact of Steel. Italy and Germany agreed to an official
military and political alliance. Mussolini pledged to support “Germany in the
event of any future war regardless of the circumstances.” (Russell Tarr) The
signatories of the pact, Germany, Japan, Italy and other countries such as
Hungary and Bulgaria, formed the Axis powers. Mussolini had officially swapped
sides from being with the future ‘Allies’ to being with the Axis powers. Although they formed their alliance
and their foreign policies highlighted one another, Mussolini was more vague
and opportunistic in his foreign policies whilst Hitler was more clear with his
intentions. Mussolini didn’t have firm concrete aims unlike Hitler – he just
had the general idea of what he wanted to to. Hitler was more racially
motivated in his foreign policy. Originally Mussolini didn’t particularly have
an opinion on the matter but was under pressure from Hitler and influenced.
Hitler’s foreign policy was cunning and he was able to manipulate countries,
and not fear their reactions. Mussolini
on the other hand was cautious and didn’t want to provoke the great powers.
Russell Tarr essay in History today: 'The foreign policies of Hitler and Mussolini' (2009) http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5041018527
Russell Tarr essay in History today: 'The foreign policies of Hitler and Mussolini' (2009) http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5041018527
