Why didn't Italy support Hitler's policies?

Answer 1

Italy joined the Entente Powers as opposed to it's allies (the Triple Alliance powers: Germany and Austria-Hungary, the third being Italy istelf) because it had been promised territory in the Treaty of London. As WWI was a war that found its roots in territorial ambition, it was only natural that Italy would join on the side that would promise it land.

Answer 2

The official answer is that they believed the alliance they had with Germany and Austria was "defensive"- that is, if one of them was attacked by Another Country, the other two would help them. The war started when Austria declared war on Serbia, so Italy said that this was not a "defensive" war; Austria was attacking Serbia.

The true answer is a little more complicated. Italy and Austria have a long history together and it's not a good one. Austria used to rule a lot of northern Italy and in the 1800's, they fought some wars over it. So Italian leaders had no desire to get involved in a war with Austria- to them, the alliance was only a matter of convenience.

About a year or so into the war, Italy joined the other side in the war. Austria still ruled lands that Italians believed rightfully belonged to their country, and Italy hoped that if the Allies won, they'd force Austria to give up those territories. In the end, the Allies did win, but Italy got less territory than expected/hoped, and the discontent was one of the many factors leading to the rise of Mussolini and the Fascists in the 1920's.

Answer 3

Fascism fell in Italy and the Allies occupied it- which made Italy switch sides.