Kingdom of Italy (North Africa)
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Contents |
[edit] Introduction
The Kingdom of Italy was an Axis Power during World War II. It played an important role in assisting Nazi Germany against the Allied Powers in North Africa. The state established an empire in North Africa before the war, the only to be defeated by the combined force of the Allies. This loss eventually led to the empire’s defeat on the Italian homeland and victory for the Allies in Europe.
[edit] Fascist Reforms
Before World War II, the fascist Italian leader, Benito Mussolini, established fascist reforms in the newly unified Italian nation.
This was to stabilize the central government and improve Italy’s economy. However, the new regime was nothing more than a dictatorship. Soon after, Mussolini decided to invade Ethiopia because of his expansionist ideals [1]. This would establish an important North African colony. To end Italy’s almost total isolation on the international scene, Mussolini moved rapidly toward an alliance with Hitler’s Nazi Germany. [2] In what was known as the Axis Alliance, Germany, Japan and Italy joined together in unity. This would become a formidable opponent for the Allied Powers of France, Britain, the Soviet Union, and the United States.
[edit] North Africa
After Italy entered the World War II conflict, the state was in possession of almost all of North Africa with the exception of Egypt, which was controlled by the United Kingdom. Algeria and Morocco was controlled by Vichy France, a Nazi client state. However, Italy soon lost Ethiopia to the British Army. The British then conducted an offensive to capture the Libyan city of Tobruk. Italy was in a dangerous position until the Afrika Korps arrived. This was a German force under Field Marshall Erwin Rommel sent to North Africa in response to Italian defeats. With the help of Rommel and his panzer units, the Italians forced the British back to the borders of Egypt. However, Rommel was in an unsupported position, and as combat escalated, the forces engaged in the Battle of El Alamein.
This became the turning point of the North African Campaign for the Commonwealth forces, and the start of a new phase in Africa. [3] The Eighth Army forced an Italo-German retreat and began a series of unbroken victories in North Africa. The Italians were forced into retreating to Libya, and Rommel then had to strengthen and regroup his forces.
Soon the United States invaded French North Africa and the Axis was forced to fight a two front war. As the Allies swarmed into North Africa, the Italian Army fought desperately until Axis and Allied forces met in Tunis. The Axis forces fought with great determination, but their defense had cracked, and all units surrendered. The Allies then regrouped in Tunis, and with great speed invaded Sicily. After the Sicilian conquest, Allied forces then entered the Italian mainland. Italian troops were defeated without heavy fighting. Naples was soon captured, and after one year of depressing warfare, the rest of Italy was conquered.
[edit] Conclusion
The Kingdom of Italy never became the Roman Empire Mussolini dreamed it would become. Mussolini’s fascist reforms and Italy’s alliance with Germany destined the Kingdom for disaster. National opposition to the war also made Mussolini unpopular with Italians, and civilians viewed him as an oppressive tyrant. Mussolini’s unpopularity led to his death. Italians killed him before the war’s end. Fascism which deteriorated the state before the war was replaced by a new republic. After the war however, Italy was in a state of destruction. It would work hard with Allied support to rebuild its economy, feed its people, and become the great nation it is today.
[edit] References
1. Adams, Simon. World War II. New York; Dorling Kindersley Limited, 2007.
2. Norman, Kogan. "Italy: History." Encyclopedia Americana. 2000th ed. 15 vols. Danbury, Connecticut: Grolier Incorporated, 2000.
3. Holocaust Encyclopedia. May 7, 2008. Home. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. February 19, 2008 http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/article.php?ModuleId=10005177
4. Barclay, C. N. "World War II: Mediterranean Operations." Encyclopedia Americana. 2000th ed. 29 vols. Danbury, Connecticut: Grolier Incorporated, 2000.
