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Italy in WW2
Here you'll find questions and answers pertaining to the people, battles, and historical events related to Italy and the Italian Army during World War 2, including the Italian military campaigns in Africa beginning in 1935.
1,269 Questions
Who was the leader of Italy after World War 1?
The "Ruler" of Italy in Ceremonial Proceedings would be the King of Italy, Victor Emmanuel II who was actually the person who granted Mussolini the authority to become Prime Minister and form a government shortly after the March on Rome. If you were wondering who followed Mussolini as the Prime Minister, the answer would be General Pietro Badoglio who headed up the Provisional Military Government while Italy was still at war. He served as "prime minister" from July 25, 1943 to June 18, 1944.
Why did Benito Mussolini kill people?
because he tried and did rule them as a communist dictator. i guess the people didnt like that so they kill the one ruling them. heres your lesson, dont try to rule people, you just might get killed.
What African country did Benito Mussolini invade in his quest for a new roman empire?
Abyssinia But it was invaded in 1935.
On 5 December 1934, a border incident provided justification for invading Abyssinia. Italian troops were eager to join up and fulfill Italian's destiny. After the rainy season was over, Mussolini addressed a crowd in Rome on 2 Ocoter 1935 in a firey speech. The next day, Italy invaded Abyssinia with their 100,000 infantry supported by armor, aircraft and gas attacks against a force that were largely armed with old rifles and spears. Within 4 months, Abyssinia had fallen and King Selassie had fled the country. On 9 May, Mussolini again stood on the balcony of Palazzo Venezia in Rome and proclaimed that the defeat of Adowa(1896) had been avenged.
The Allied invasion of Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky, was a large scale amphibious and airborne operation followed by six weeks of land combat. It was the first step in the Italian Campaign. Husky began on the night of 9-10 July 1943. The campaign in Sicily ended a few weeks later on 17 August. The Allies continued their advance by landing the British 8th Army on the "toe" of Italy and the American 5th Army at Salerno (Operation Avalanche).
Previous to the invasion of Sicily was the North African Campaign. This campaign ended on 7 May 1943, when British armour entered Tunis, and American infantry from II Corps which had continued its advance in the north, entered Bizerte. Six days later the last Axis resistance in Africa ended with the surrender of over 230,000 prisoners of war.
What does the US have in common with Italy's country?
I would say that both countries began as a loose collection of states owned by other countries until they were united in the 1800's. Guiseppe Garibaldi is the Italian equivalent of George Washington.
How many German divisions fought in Italy in World War 2?
The following German division fought in Italy.
Herman Goering Panzer Division
26 Panzer
3 Panzer Gr
15 Panzer Gr
16 SS Panzer Gr
29 Panzer Gr
90 Panzer Gr
1 Parachute
4 Parachute
19 Luftwaffe Field Division
20 Luftwaffe Field Division
42 Jaeger
114 Jaeger
5 Mountain
44 Infantry
65 Infantry
71 Infantry
92 Infantry
94 Infantry
162 Infantry
278 Infantry
305 Infantry
334 Infantry
356 Infantry
362 Infantry
710 Infantry
715 Infantry
188 Mountain
Mussolini invaded what country in the 1930s?
Mussolini and the Italian Army invaded Ethiopia (it had a different name at the time) because he wanted their oil and so did Adolph Hitler. Mussolini had imperialist asperations too.
When did benito mussolini rule?
Mussolini was offered the position of Prime Minister on 29th October 1922, and therefore became the 40th Prime Minister of Italy the next day. In December 1925, he assumed the title 'Head of Government of Italy and Duce of Fascism'. His reign of Italy ended in July, 1943 when he was replaced by Pietro Badoglio.
Was Benito Mussolini named after Benito Juarez?
Benito Mussolini was named after Benito Juarez becuase Mussolini's admired Juarez he admired what Juarez did which was going from a peasant that didnt even knew spanish to teaching himself spanish and going to become Mexico's 27th president.
How and when did Italy become part of World War 2?
Italy first was apposed to Germany's expansion. They moved troops to the Austrian boarder and where prepared to delair war on Germany if they tried to take over Austria.
But during a confunce between the old allies of ww1, France, Britain and Italy. the 3 power fell out as Britain signed the Anglo-German Naval pact. This allowed the German Navy to expand to 1/5 of that of the British. Both allied powers didn't like this so in Revenge Italy openlly agreed to allow Germany to expand into Austria.
To hinder matters when Italy was punished by the League of Nations (like the UN) for invading abbasinia in 1936. They removed all trading rights to Italy. Only Germany ignored this. This lead to incressing freindship between Germany and Italy.
So when the Rome-Berlin axis was signed this almost succured an alliance. Not until June 1940 were they proper allies.
What areas did Italy take over in 1938-1939?
Italy took over Ethiopia after a border incident gave Italy an excuse to intervene and conquer the country. Italy took over Albania without any problems because Albania was already dependent on Italy's economy.
What is the race of people in Italy?
caucasian
Italians are Mediterranean, Latin. Rudolph Valentino was called " The Latin Lover".
Languages of the Italic branch are attested in the inscriptions of early Italy, but were assimilated to Latin during the Roman Republic. The Romans spoke "Latin". If you are Italian you are Latin which is the birthplace of the Latin race.
The currency used is the same one as most of the European Union countries: The EURO!
Why was the Italian invasion of Ethiopia important?
The Italian invasion of Ethiopia relied on Italy's air force to pave the way to this unseemly victory. Italian warplanes destroyed Ethiopian armies and paved the way for the Italian army to defeat Ethiopia.
How did the allies end the rule of Benito Mussolini?
The Allies had relatively little to do with it. Soundly defeated in North Africa, Mussolini began to be deeply doubted by his own inner circle - and by that same time, the average Italian had come to despise him. He was relieved of his command and office, and at the very end of the war tracked down and shot by Italian partisans.
Who was Italian King Victor Emmanuel?
Vittorio Emmanuelle III (or Victor Emmanuel III) was the reigning king of Italy from 1900 to 1946. While serving as king, he presided over Italy during two world wars before finally abdicating the throne (in 1946) as a result of popular pressure to abolish the royal crown of Italy.
Italy didn't become a unified nation-state till 1861-70, and Germany only became a nation-state in 1871, so by historical standards the time-span for possible alliances is short. The answer is no. Although Italy was nominally one of the Central Powers it at first remained neutral in WW1, then fought alongside the Entente (Britain, France, etc.) against Austria-Hungary and Germany. In WW2 Italy changed sides.
However, historically, North Italy and Germany - Prussia were part of the Holy Roman Empire, so for almost a thousand years the two states were part of the same state.
What were the living conditions in Italy during World War 2?
living in Italy after ww2 was kind of strange... everyone in the bars were talking of revenge.
How did Mussolini affect the italian nation?
Benito Mussolini was an Italian politician who influenced Italy greatly. Namely, he led the National Fascist Party, ruling as Prime Minister for 3 years before dropping any pretense of democracy and setting himself up as dictator. His main influence was the strong prevalence of the Fascist Party.
What role did Italy have in world war 2?
That of a very weak ally. That, according to various transcripts of Chancellor Hitler himself, and also from the numerous eyewitness memoirs now available from Wehrmacht and SS soldiers. Interestingly, Chancellor Hitler is reported to have said something like, "It is better to have weak allies than no allies at all!" On 5 December 1934, a border incident provided justification for Italy invading Abyssinia(present day Ethiopia) in northeastern Africa. On 18 July, 1936, a civil war erupted in Spain and Mussolini began to secretly support the right-wing army general Francisco Franco. Soon it became public knowledge, and Italy sent more troops. For awhile, Mussolini tried to be friends with the British and other countries and he tried to keep Hitler from taking over Austria, but by 1938 he fell under the spell of Hitler and did not raise any objection to Germany marching into Austria. While Hitler was trying to negotiate a treaty with England, Mussolini was growing impatient and made plans for an invasion of either Yugoslavia, Greece or Egypt. On 13 September 1939, his desert army in Libya crossed into Egypt. In four days they had pushed the British army back 60 miles. Without telling Hitler, he launched an attack on Greece(later, he had to rely on German support to win that country). Italian troops crossed the Albanian border on 28 October, 1940. In summary, Italy initiated the campaign in North Africa that would continue on until mid 1943. Italy pushed Germany into expanding further into countries such as Yugoslavia, Greece and Albania. Custermen
How big was the Italian army during World War 2?
The Italians first deployed troops to North Africa. Later they sent troops to Greece & Yugoslavia and then to Russia. Mussolini wanted to show support to Franco's Nationalists in the Spanish Civil War.
Here are some statistics that I found. I hope they are accurate as each source quotes a slightly different amount or for a different date.
In June 1940, the Italian Army's strength was 1,630,000 men in 73 divisions.
Abyssinia (N. Africa)Octoer 3, 1935 - Italy invaded Abyssinia with 100,000 infantry supported by armor, aircraft and gas attacks against a force that were largely armed with old rifles and spears. Within 4 months, Abyssinia had fallen and King Selassie had fled the country. Spanish Civil WarOn 18 July, 1936, a civil war erupted in Spain lead by a right-wing army general Francisco Franco. Italy secretly sent supplies to Spain by air but he was discovered when one of the aircraft forced to land in French Morocco. By the end of 1937, Italy had sent every aicraft he could spare and 37,000 troops, much to the detrement of Italy's economy. Short Invasion of France10 June 1940 - Italy declared war against France and Britain by launching an attack along their border with France with 32 divisions of the 1st and 4th Armies. Four days later, the Germans had over-run most of France and they surrendered. Greece & YugoslaviaItaly invaded Greece on 28 October 1940 with 7 divisions of the 9th and 11th Armies. By 22 November, the Italians were pushed back into Albania. Hitler sent German troops into Greece & Yugoslavia in 6 April 1941, resulting in capitulation of Greece on 21st. A combined German-Italian force of 50 divisions drove into Yugoslavia from all it surrounding neighbor countries. Out-numbered 2 to 1, Yugoslavia surrendered on 17 April, 1941. Occupation forces were sent to maintain control of Yugoslavia, Albania, Herzgovina, Montenegro, Croatia-Slovenia, and Greece. North AfricaItaly's armies in Africa totaled a force of 256,000 men, of which 182,000 were native troops of moderate fighting capabilities. {approx 1941?}In February 1941, Lt-General Erwin Rommel arrived with the advance units of the Deutsches Afrika Korps (DAK). But it wasn't until the American forces landed at Morrocco and Algiers on November 7, 1942, that Hitler sent 250,000 German and Italian troops into Tunis, Tunisia, on 11th November.
By 9 February 1941, the British pushed into Bardia, then Tobruk, Derna and Benghazi and had advanced 500 miles across the North African desert. They captured 130,000 prisoners, including 22 generals. The cost to the British was only 500 dead, 1373 wounded and 56 missing.
On 23 October 1941, the British attack the Axis defense lines around El Alamein. The Axis forces had 104,000 troops (the majority Italian), 489 tanks (259 inferior Italian) and 1,219 guns. The British destroyed 5 of the 7 Italian divisions in North Africa, and captured 130,000 Italian prisoners and 700 guns. Rommel lost 33,000 men and ordered a general retreat
November 8 1942- Battle of El Alamein. British forces were 230,000 men and the Axis forces totaled 108,000 men; 42 out of the 70 battalions were Italian. The losses at El Alamein were heavy for both sides: Rommel lost 25,000 dead and wounded and 30,000 captured; Montgomery lost 4,610 dead and missing and 8,950 wounded. The bulk of Rommel's casualties were Italian.
June 1940 to 1943 - The Axis losses during the Campaign in North Africa totaled 975,000 men, 7,600 aircraft, 6,200 guns, 2,550 tanks, and some 600 ships of all sizes.
Russian CampaignNovember, 1941 - Battle of Stalingrad - The Italian 8th Army entered the campaign with 229,000 men as part of German Army Group B. The 8th Army lost 85,000 men killed or missing and 30,000 men wounded. Reference Sources"Italy at War" - by Henry Adams. Time-Life WW2 Series, Time-Life Pub., 1982."The Italian Campaign" - by Robert Wallace. Time-Life WW2 Series, Time-Life Pub., 1978.
"Mussolini's Soldiers" - by Rex Trye, Motor Books Intl, 1987. Special:Booksources.
"Haile Selassie's War" - by Anthony Mockler. Random House Pub., 1984.
"The Italian Army - 1940-1945 (1)" - Osprey's Men-At-Arms series by Philip S. Jowett. Osprey Pub Co., 2000.
"The Italian Invasion of Abyssinia, 1935-36" - Osprey's Men-At-Arms by David Nicolle. Osprey Pub Co., 1997.
www.custermen.com
What was the name given to the union of Germany and Austria?
The union between Germany and Austria on March 12, 1938 was referred to as Anschluss, which literally means "union."
Was Mussolini in the military?
Yes. he joined the Italian Army in 1915. In 1917 he was wounded by a bomb and was sent to hospital and then home which ended his army service.
Yes. Mussolini was in the Bersaglieri, elite soldiers formed by Garibaldi when Italy became a nation in the 19th Century. The Bersaglieri served creditably in WW2, and in Lebanon in 1982. They may be recognized by the bird feather plumes on their hats or helmets, and they are still elite soldiers of the Italian Army today. Instead of an enemy bomb, I think Mussolini was wounded by an Italian mortar bomb which exploded prematurely. Cashiered from the Italian Army, Mussolini decided to enter politics.....with disastrous effects to the world.
