Volte-face

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Volte-face is a total change of position, as in policy or opinion; an about-face.

The expression comes through French, from Italian voltafaccia, composed of volta (turn) and faccia (face).

A famous volte-face in diplomacy is the successful manouver of Italy in September of 1943, when the Italian Army capitulated immediately after the Allied invasion of Sicily. Italy switched sides from one of the aggressor Axis Powers and was allowed to co-operate with the Allies with notable benefits (Britannica: "The Allies' invasion of Italy and the Italian volte-face, 1943").

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