PART I:MUSSOLINI’S FASCIST ITALY

Pre-War Era and Rise of Fascism

Post WWI Era

Italy is left poor after suffering through four years of war

They received little help and payment from the Versailles Treaty

Massive unemployment in the country as the economy gets worse and worse

Government threatened by a lingering communist revolution

Fascism

A form of government where everything is controlled by the state, which is then controlled by a single leader

Benito Mussolini

Born on July 29, 1883 in Forli, Italy Was a journalist Known as the “Father of Fascism” Became a radical between 1908-1913 Fought in WWI from 1914-1918 Became a nationalist from 1919-1921 By 1921, he created the Fascist party and

became their leader until 1945 Was Prime Minister of Italy from 1922-

1945

The Fascist Party

Made up of unemployed workers and ex-soldiers

Single leader principle: one man rules party and country

Anti-Communist Militaristic Big business serves the country Extremely nationalistic (Second Roman

Empire!) Motto: “Work and Discipline”

Party Promises

1) Social and Economic order and stability in Italy

2) Corporative State: Big businesses contribute to the country’s economy, not for their own economic gains

3) Create a Second Roman Empire and turn the Mediterranean Sea into an “Italian Lake”

“March on Rome”

Takes place after a Fascist Party rally on October 31, 1922

Run by the party’s private army: The Blackshirts Goal: to intimidate King Victor Emmanuel Result: Mussolini appointed Prime Minister

Given one year of total power in 1923. Takes power away from Italian Government Stops suffrage (freedom to vote) Censors the press Destroys labor unions Gets rid of all other political parties besides Fascists Establishes a Secret Police

Fascist Italy (1926-1935)

Economic stability under Mussolini Public works projects complete Military strength increased Public confidence and morale restored Lateran Treaty (1929)

Vatican recognizes new Italian Government Catholicism recognized as official religion of

Italy Fascism is now seen as legitimate by the

world

The Second Roman Empire

Make Mediterranean Sea an “Italian Lake”

Strategic moves of invasion/occupation: Ethiopia (1935-36) Spain (1936-1939) Albania (1939-1940) Greece (1940-1943)

Wars of the 1930’s

Ethiopia Campaign (1935-36) Invasion of Ethiopia, fighting by “Joint Arms”, which

means a combination of sea, air, and land forces League of Nations condemns Italy for use of force Ethiopia becomes part of S.R.E in 1936

Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) Italy and Germany come to aid of Gen. Francisco

Franco against a communist takeover. In return, they are given naval bases along the coast

Spain is asked to join Axis Powers, but refuses because they are exhausted after their own Civil war

Alliance with Germany

1937: Signs Anti-Comintern Pact (anti-communism)

1937: Withdraws from League of Nations 1939: Signs Pact of Steel 1940: Italy and Germany sign Tri-Partite

Act with Japan 10 year plan, where each country would come

to the aid of the other if attacked

PART II:CASE WHITE: THE INVASION OF

POLAND

Poland in 1939

Polish Army moves men to the west of the Vistula River to protect their capital of Warsaw

Slow in their preparation because they think that Great Britain and France will attack Germany if they start a conflict

Case White (Sept. 1939)

Planned by Generals Erich von Manstein and Gunther Blumentrit

Double envelopment of Polish Army focusing on total destruction

Encircle army west of the Vistula River Attack needs to be completed before

October, when the rainy season begins Military operation used: Blitzkrieg

(“Lightning War”

Invasion Force

Army divided into two groups Total force: 62 divisions

6 armored (Panzers) 10 motorized 46 infantry

Northern Group: Fedor Von Bock Southern Group: Gerd Von Runstedt

Armored Warfare Doctrine

Thrust armed forces independent of infantry to the rear of an opponent. Tasks include: Paralyze forward units Cut communications Take over supplies Strike command centers

Use of Air Power Gain and maintain air control Use air recon Act as supporting artillery for ground forces

War as an Artform

More goals of Armored Warfare Doctrine: Penetration Breakthrough Double envelopment Continuous forward movement Encircle opponents who have been cut off

Heinz Guderian

Father of Tank Warfare Preaches use of panzers independent of

infantry Emphasizes speed, mobility, and quick

maneuvering Avoid enemy strong points Concentrate forces at pressure points Aim attacks at opponents’ center

Results of Invasion

Polish army destroyed in 17 days German/Russian force loses 59,000 out of

more than 2,000,000 Polish force loses 904,000 out of

950,000

Biggest result: BEGINNING OF WWII!