Mussolini's Foreign Policy
Mussolini considered foreign policy to be so important that he acted
as his own Foreign Minister. After 1936 he gave it to his son in law
Count Ciano. Through him, Mussolini still retained control. His
foreign policy was expansionist and was also used to sort out domestic
problems. Frequently he sought to distract attention from internal
problems while at the same time trying to impress Italians with
success abroad. Mussolini tended to be the aggressor rather than the
conciliator, believing it was better to be feared than liked. The main
areas of planned Fascist expansion were to be the Balkans, North
Africa and the Mediterranean was to become an Italian lake. His
methods to win power and glory for Italy were erratic and
inconsistent.
His first military involvement was in Corfu. In 1923, 5 Italian
officers were shot by Greeks while drawing up a border between Greece
and Albania. Mussolini used this as an excuse to attack and occupy
Corfu. The League of Nations ordered Mussolini to evacuate but the
Greeks were forced to pay 50 million lira. This showed that aggression
did pay. Only weeks after the Corfu incident, Mussolini sent a
military officer to govern the city of Fiume, which he claimed was
falling into anarchy. He made an agreement with Yugoslavia and Fiume
was finally annexed to Italy. Yet another triumph for Italy. Libya was
an Italian colony where Mussolini ordered a 'hard-hitting' policy.
Free speech and other liberties were withdrawn and in 1926 Mussolini
made a visit with 2 battleships and 15 naval vessels. There followed a
protracted and expensive war that ended uneasily in 1932.
In ...
... middle of paper ...
...ni was suddenly awakened to
reality and he declared himself neutral, refusing to help Hitler.
Italy was not ready for a European war. Meanwhile, she sought to
fortify her northern frontiers with Germany for fear of attack. By
June 1940, Mussolini was convinced that Germany would win. After
Germany had invaded Belgium, Holland and France, Mussolini decided to
join the war alongside Hitler. This was a decision that ultimately was
to prove to be Mussolini's undoing and to lead to the collapse of the
fascist state.
Mussolini was shot and hanged upside down with his mistress on April
18 1945. The very man who had introduced to the world the concepts of
fascism and totalitarianism faced an ignominious and inglorious end.
With his death Italian fascism became a corpse and the myth of the
invincible leader was shattered.
These were pivotal times in the annals of world history in the 20th century. Mussolini and Hitler’s rise to power was clearly a threat to the freedoms of the United States and its Allies. Through God’s grace and omnipotence, the US alliance, industrialization and intellectual might, we had the resources required to overcome the fierce and mighty threat of Fascism in the Free World.
war often, for the sake of his country, but when he did he put in a
Dec 7, 1941, until his resignation from the government on July 19, 1944, as a result of the
Over the course of the history of the United States, specific foreign policies have affected the methods in which the U.S. involves itself around the globe. Specifically, certain policies have affected U.S. involvement in Latin America.
Fascism is one of the great political ideology in the 20th century. It is a kind of authoritarian government that, according to Wikipedia, “considers the individual subordinate to the interests of the state, party or society as a whole.” Two of the most successful and to be in the vanguard of fascism government is Italian fascism – led by Benito Mussolini, and Nazi Germany – led by Adolf Hitler. Fascism in Italy and Germany, though in many regards very similar - have the same political ideologies, still have many aspects to them that make them different from each other.
War 2. It appears that his leadership helped to make the feeling of the country
Winston Churchill was born unexpectedly at Blenheim Palace, a country house in Woodstock, Oxfordshire. He was the youngest son of Randolph Churchill and Jennie Churchill. Addison stated, “Winston’s father, Lord Randolph Churchill, was a younger son of the seventh duke of Marlborough, a substantial Tory statesman who had held office under Disraeli” (Addison 8). His father was a successful man. Addison added, “His mother, Jennie Churchill, was the daughter of a New York financier, Leonard Jerome, and his wife Clara” (Addison 7). He did not spend much time with his parents. Addison comments, “Neither of Churchill’s parents lacked affection for Winston, but they saw little of him and he felt profoundly neglected” (Addison 11). His parents were pushy and did not think much of him. Winston Churchill had two brothers, one of which was a bad person and the other was calm. The author describes the oldest brother, George, by stating, “He scandalized contemporaries with his adulterous affairs, sold off the Blenheim art collection, and died in his laboratory at Blenheim ‘with a terrible expression on his face” (Addison 9). Winston Churchill’s oldest brother had a bad history that he was known for. Winston Churchill had a wife name Clementine Hozier. He proposed to his wife at Blenheim Palace and they had five children. Clementine Hozier supported him through all of his fights and elections. However, Winston Churchill was a big achiever during his lifetime. He won the Nobel Peace Prize for Literature in 1953. He achieved many goals, such as being a soldier, politician, prime minister and writer. Winston Churchill knew that he was capable of failing and when he did, he did not let that stop him from being successful. He was one of the world’s ...
The foreign policy of Nazi Germany between 1933 and 1945 was different than any other country during that era. Their distinct approach to ruling came from the nation’s many diverse philosophies. Furthermore, every basis of motivation and control came from the beliefs in which they so strictly followed. Many aspects, such as, communism, fascism, and nationalism, influenced these ideologies.
Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856 – February 3, 1924) was the 28th President of the United States, in office from 1913 to 1921. After being victorious in World War I, Wilson outlined his vision of world peace through his “Fourteen Points” speech delivered to Congress in January 1918. It called for a "new diplomacy". No more secret treaties, like the ones that had pulled the world into war. Also all territories occupied during the war must be evacuated. Wilson wanted to stop imperialism in many of the countries and declaring them to immediate independence. He also proposed a general disarmament after the war. Other points included freedom of the seas at all times and free trade all over the world. Wilson stressed that the seas were neutral passageways for international business such as trade and that it is meant to be peaceful and scarce from threats. But Wilson's most important proposal, the fourteenth point, called for a league of nations open to all democratic states. This new world body would be in charge of disarmament and the dismantling of colonial possessions. Most impo...
After World War I, there were two men that rose up to control their government in their countries. One was Adolf Hitler who was put in charge of the German government, and the other was Benito Mussolini who was put in charge of the Italian government. Adolf Hitler was born in 1889, and according to the lecture was known as a failure for not finishing high school, or becoming an accomplished artist. While Mussolini was born in 1883, and was unknown until he came home a wounded soldier from the war. Mussolini would rise up and form the Fascist government focusing on being loyal to the state, and Hitler will rise up and control the Socialist German Workers Party, the Nazis. Both men are known for the change in history, and their change on the
As we approach the next Presidential election the topic of American foreign policy is once again in the spotlight. In this paper, I will examine four major objectives of U.S. foreign policy that have persisted throughout the twentieth century and will discuss the effect of each on our nation’s recent history, with particular focus on key leaders who espoused each objective at various times. In addition, I will relate the effects of American foreign policy objectives, with special attention to their impact on the American middle class. Most importantly, this paper will discuss America’s involvement in WWI, WWII, and the Cold War to the anticipated fulfillment of these objectives—democracy, manifest destiny, humanitarianism, and economic expansion.
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...nsure that his fortune would be allocated as he saw fit. Roosevelt wanted to ensure that his wife was okay financially until her death, at which point the remaining principal would go to his children. Additionally, Roosevelt employed a smart strategy by placing restrictions on minors. Even today, there are stories about children who decide to live off their inheritance or spend their entire inheritance, which is most likely due to their lack of maturity in handling money. By having the executors manage the money for the minor children, Roosevelt ensures that they do not receive any money or property until they are mature enough to handle it, which, in this case, is 21 years old. As far as taxes are concerned, Roosevelt was probably not concerned with estate tax consequences with the design of his estate plan, since the estate tax was not enacted until 1916.
Exploring the Similarities and Differences Between the Foreign Policies of Mussolini and Hitler Similarities - Both foreign policies geared to achieving great power status o Hitler: lebensraum, wanted to have living space for the expansion of the German race and control over other groups o Mussolini: wanted control over Mara nostrum, Abyssinia, …an empire - fascist states o had anti communist feelings; o both signed anti comintern pact 1937 against USSR o Spanish civil war against communism helping Franco secure power o Signed pact of steel in may 1939, a full military alliance - unhappy with status quo, wanted international prestige o national grievances on Versailles, people wanted to change Versailles o Hitler, product of WW1 who was angry at Versailles and wanted to see Germany achieve great power status o Mussolini; felt that Italy had been treated unfairly at Versailles and also waned to change the status quo o Because of this both built up armies, navies and air forces.. Italian air force to block out the sun + German luftwaffe… - both Hitler and Mussolini, used diplomacy and force as well as aggression to get what they wanted o Mussolini over Greece where it undermined the LofN, used force to take Abyssinia 1935 o Hitler used the threat of force to take Austria and diplomacy as well as force to take Czech and Saarland in 193… - by 1939 both had a common enemy; Britain and France - both were aggressive nationalists and glorified warw - both wanted empires; abysinnia and lebenstraum to distract from problems at home.. Differences - Hitler was more clear in his aims and ideals whereas Mussolini was more vague and opportunistic o Although Hitler did take advantage of opportunities such as Abyssinia crises to remilitarise Rhineland he was more structured in his aims for Lebensraum, unification of all Germans, building up the army and recovering lost territories § Illustrated by Hitler’s success after success ; Rhineland in 36,
which he served as a member of the French army. After the war was finished, he