Как известно, у фашистской Германии во время World War II had 2 main ally, who voluntarily helped Hitler and had their own political and economic goals. Like Germany, Italy in the Second World War suffered huge human and material losses.
The development of Italy and Germany of the 30s wasmuch in common. Both states became economically strong, but all kinds of protest movements were suppressed and a totalitarian regime established. The ideologist of Italian fascism was Prime Minister Benito Mussolini. This man had monarchical manners, but one cannot say that he, like Hitler, was preparing for war. By the beginning of World War II, his country was not economically and politically ready. The main goal of Benito Mussolini is to create an economically strong totalitarian regime.
What did Mussolini achieve before 1939? Note a few points:
- combating unemployment through the implementation of a system of public works;
- Expansion of the public transport system, which improved communication between cities and the country as a whole;
- the growth of the Italian economy.
One of the drawbacks of the Mussolini regime was its expansionist orientation. This will lead to dire consequences for the country by 1943.
This country has gone to war enoughlate. Italy in the Second World War began to take part in June 1940. The main factor that did not allow to enter the war earlier is the absolute unpreparedness of the army and the economy for active hostilities.
The first active action of Mussolini wasdeclaration of war against Great Britain and France. Italy entered the war after the Wehrmacht troops occupied the whole of Scandinavia, many European countries and began fighting in the French lands. Analyzing the course of events, it can be said that Italy entered the war under pressure from Germany. During 1939-1940, Hitler traveled to Rome several times to demand the start of active actions by Mussolini against common opponents.
Nazis never considered italiansserious partners. Italy during the Second World War carried out any command from Berlin. Throughout Italy’s participation in the war, its troops were scattered chaotically on all fronts of military operations, including in Africa. If we talk about pure fighting, the first act of the participation of the state of Italy in World War II was the bombing of Malta on June 11, 1940.
According to the chronology of the fighting actions of the Mussolini troops, we clearly see two directions of attacks of the attacking side. Let us analyze the main offensive operations of the Italians:
- The invasion of Egypt on September 13, 1940. The troops moved from Libya, which had long been an Italian colony. The goal - to capture the city of Alexandria.
- In August 1940 there were attacks in the direction of Kenya and British Somalia from the territory of Ethiopia.
- In October 1940, the Italians attacked Greece from Albania. It was in these battles that the troops met the first serious repulse. The complete lack of preparedness for war and the weakness of the Italian troops manifested itself.
The fate of Italy in this war, in principle, wasabsolutely logical. The economy could not bear the burden, because there was a very strong military order that the industry could not fulfill. The reason: the lack of raw materials and fuel base in the required quantity. Italy during the Second World War, especially ordinary citizens, suffered greatly.
Описывать боевые действия 1941-1942 годов нет meaning. The battles took place with varying success. Mussolini's troops were often defeated. In society, the protest intensity gradually increased, which was manifested in the revitalization of the communist and socialist movements, in strengthening the role of trade union organizations.
In 1943, Italy was already quite weak andfatigued by fighting. It was no longer possible to resist the opponents, so the leaders of the country (except for Mussolini) decided to slowly withdraw the country from the war.
In the summer of 1943, an anti-Hitler coalition landing force landed in Italy.
Consider the consequences of the war for this country. They can be divided into several groups: political, economic and social.
The main political result was the fallthe regime of Benito Mussolini and the return of the country to the democratic track of development. This was the only positive moment that the war brought to the Apennine Peninsula.
Economic implications:
- drop in the level of production and GDP by 3 times;
- Mass unemployment (officially registered more than 2 million people who were looking for a job);
- A lot of businesses were destroyed during the fighting.
Italy in World War II was held hostage by two totalitarian political regimes, which as a result ceased to exist.
Social consequences:
- Italy after World War II missed more than 450 thousand soldiers killed and about the same number of wounded;
- at that time mostly young people served in the army, therefore their death caused a demographic crisis - about a million babies were not born.
After the end of the Second World War, Italy wasvery weak economically. That is why the number of the communist and socialist parties, their influence on the life of the state constantly increased. To overcome the crisis in 1945-1947, more than 50% of private property was nationalized in Italy. The main political moment of the second half of the 40s - in 1946, Italy officially became a republic.
Italy has never left the path of democratic development.
