#History of Germany in World War II #【Collection of History – German History World War I, Issue 39: Alternative Countries in Europe】
Italy is a real alternative in Europe, during World War I and World War II, it was either betrayed or implicated Germany, and it can be called an "undercover" in which Britain and France broke into the German bloc, dragging down the allies, so why did Italy choose to turn to the Entente and betray Germany and austria-Hungary? What is the real reason for his defection?
There are many reasons for betraying DeO, but here are the main reasons:
First: Italy's national strength is weak
In the 18th and 19th centuries, Italy, like Germany, had been divided for a long time, until 1871, when the division was completely ended and the northern territories occupied by other countries were also recovered, and the unity of the country provided favorable conditions for the development of capitalism.
However, Italy's long-term economic development is very backward, because the unification of the country is carried out from top to bottom, retaining a large number of feudal remnants, and these feudal forces have become obstacles to Italy's economic development, resulting in three unfavorable factors in Italy.
They are:
Agriculture is backward, and 1/3 of grain production depends on imports every year. Industrial development is uneven, lagging far behind other major European countries such as Britain, France, and Germany. The life of the people at home is more difficult, and many people have begun to enter other countries to find a way out. Italy is also looking for a way out of this, and overseas colonization is one.
However, the country's comprehensive strength is weak, so that Italy can only find colonies in the cracks between the big powers, which is also doomed to its foreign policy easy to fall with the wind, the wall grass, who is beneficial to Italy's expansion, this wall grass will fall to whom!
This policy of having milk is a mother is the result of Italy's weak comprehensive strength, so Italy is also known as a "poor imperialist country", and it has always liked to see the wind and steer in international affairs.
Second: consideration of national interests
Italy's territorial position to Britain was much like a boot sticking into the Mediterranean, and the long coastline brought benefits to Italy's reliance on the sea for trade, but the disadvantage was that once war broke out, Britain's powerful navy would always teach Italy how to behave, which Italy could not afford.
Therefore, before the outbreak of the war, Italy issued a statement that it would not participate in any action against Britain, and he was jealous of the only country that controlled the seas in Europe.
Relations with France in 1887 and 1895 Italy sent troops to Ethiopia twice, but both were honored to lose, had to recognize Ethiopia's independence, and paid 10 million lira, which was a very humiliating time for European colonial countries and led to Italy's financial difficulties.
The French, who knew how to do business, seized the opportunity with flexible diplomacy, signing a contract with Italy on the condition of a loan, and the two sides recognized each other's spheres of influence in Africa, so that Italy's expansion in Africa and France were hardly contradictory.
Relations with Russia Italy had signed an agreement with Russia to adopt a common policy of confrontation against the Austro-Hungarian forces in the Balkans.
The Russian Navy's entry into the Black Sea was supported by Italy.
The expansion of Italian power in North Africa was also understood by Tsarist Russia.
Although these two regions do not border the above two countries, the attitude is very critical and is also for other European countries to see.
It can be said that Italy's relations with Britain, France, and Russia have not reached an indissoluble situation, nor have they been willing to go to war with Germany.
Third: The Entente met Italy's demands
After the start of the First World War, Italy did not immediately move the masses, but looked at it coldly like a speculator, and his essence of falling with the wind was exposed.
He declared neutrality on the grounds that austria-Hungary had not consulted with himself about the war against Serbia, and bargained with Britain, France, Russia, Germany, and Austria on the condition of participating in the war, and the two big eyes began to stare left and right to look for an opportunity to see which side gave the conditions that were in line with his wishes.
On the question of the acquisition of the Northern Territories, Britain and France gave twice as much as the territory promised by Germany to Italy, which made Italy very satisfied, on the condition that Germany and Austria-Hungary could not give it, since part of Italy's territorial claims came from the Austro-Hungarian occupation zone.
In addition, the Allies also agreed to give Italy a loan, which made Italy determined to side with the Allies.
So in May 1915, Italy finally rolled up its arms and sleeves to formally declare war on austria-Hungary, and completely betrayed Germany and Austria.
Bismarck, the iron-blooded chancellor of Germany, once said to the point:
"The appetite in Italy is good, but the teeth are extremely bad"
This shows that Italy is an ambitious but incompetent country.
Just as his perfidy during World War I was the same as when he sent 32 divisions in the early days of World War II to put France in the belly and back, it was equivalent to stabbing Germany in the back.
This country never seems to be upright in its work, but it is also calculating and full of entanglements of interests. So in 1915, he finally chose the Anglo-French Entente, betrayed the formal alliance treaty with Germany and Austria-Hungary, and the final choice was really successful, becoming a victorious speculator.
An old man beat up the Germans when he first arrived on the battlefield, only because the first order was too fierce, shoot and kill!
How urgent the French could be, a thoughtful remark from the British commander, made the French jump up in a hurry
Unbelievable fiasco, Britain played Turkey with fire and self-immolation, Churchill: I can't blame for losing
The battle of disbelief: the French dismantled the fortress with 4,000 guns, and the Germans finally laughed
How many British expeditionary forces were the first to aid France? To be honest, this point is really not enough for Germany to plug the teeth