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IB DP HISTORY STUDY NOTES

3.2.8 International Response to

Italian Aggression
Study Notes IB DP History
3: The Move To Global War 3.2 German And Italian Expansion (1933–1940)
3.2.8 International Response To Italian Aggression

Italy's expansionist ambitions during the interwar period were met with a mix of
condemnation, appeasement, and cautious indifference by the international community. This
was particularly evident following Italy's invasions of Abyssinia and Albania. The League of
Nations, tasked with maintaining peace, faced significant challenges in addressing Italy's
aggression, revealing cracks in the collective security system of the time.

Global Community's Reaction to Italian Moves

Abyssinia

Background: Italy had long coveted Abyssinia for its resources and strategic position. The
invasion in 1935 was a culmination of longstanding ambitions and was projected by
Mussolini as a quest to build a second Roman Empire.

Immediate Reaction: The invasion was met with widespread condemnation. Abyssinia's
Emperor Haile Selassie appealed to the League of Nations, evoking the principle of
collective security.

Britain and France's Calculated Stance: Both nations, pivotal in the League, were caught
in a dilemma.
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While they criticised Italy's aggression, they were hesitant about a strong response.
Their primary concern was the rise of Nazi Germany, and they believed that
alienating Italy might drive Mussolini closer to Hitler.

The Hoare-Laval Pact was a manifestation of this ambivalence. The pact proposed
granting Italy significant portions of Abyssinia, betraying the principles of the League.
When the pact became public knowledge, it was met with outrage, forcing both
British Foreign Secretary Samuel Hoare and French Premier Pierre Laval to resign.

League of Nations' Response: While the League condemned the invasion, its proposed
sanctions against Italy were limited. Many member states were reluctant to enforce
comprehensive sanctions for fear of economic repercussions.

Albania

Strategic Importance: Albania was significant for Mussolini's vision of controlling the
Adriatic Sea and furthering Italian influence in the Balkans.

Annexation: Italy invaded Albania in 1939, facing minimal resistance. King Zog was forced
into exile, and Albania was effectively annexed.

Global Reaction: Given the increasing tensions in Europe, particularly Germany's moves,
the annexation of Albania did not provoke as sharp a reaction as the Abyssinian invasion.
Moreover, the League's credibility had already been undermined by its response to
Abyssinia, resulting in a more muted response.

Effectiveness of League of Nations' Sanctions

and Diplomatic Efforts
Sanctions against Italy

Scope and Limitation: While the League did impose sanctions, they were not
comprehensive. Key resources like oil were excluded, reducing their impact significantly.

Economic Repercussions: Italy faced economic challenges due to the sanctions, but they
also sought and found alternative trading partners, notably in the Americas. This not only
mitigated the effects of the sanctions but also highlighted the lack of international
unanimity.
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Diplomatic Efforts: A Tale of Missed Opportunities
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The League's diplomatic responses were marked by contradictions and competing

national interests.

Hoare-Laval Pact: This secret pact symbolised the policy of appeasement that many
European nations were leaning towards. Its exposure laid bare the inadequacies in the
League's commitment to collective security.

Failure of Collective Security: Italy's unchecked aggression revealed the League's inability
to enforce collective security when member states' interests diverged. This had broader
implications, sending signals to other aggressive states that the League might not be a
significant deterrent.

Impact on Italian Foreign Policy and WWII

Dynamics
Realignment of Alliances

Perception of the League: Mussolini saw the League's response as an indication of its
weakness. This, combined with the economic pressures of the sanctions, pushed Italy
closer to Germany, a nation that also had grievances against the League and the post-
WWI order.

Formation of the Axis: Italy's disillusionment with the League and Britain and France led to
the formation of the Rome-Berlin Axis in 1936. This realignment had profound implications
for the geopolitical landscape of Europe.

Changing Dynamics Leading to WWII

Breakdown of Collective Security: Italy's actions and the international community's

response marked a significant dent in the principle of collective security. It became
evident that the League was ill-equipped to handle aggression, especially when major
powers had conflicting interests.

Germany's Observations: Germany closely observed the international response to Italy's

actions. The lack of a decisive response against Italy emboldened Germany in its
expansionist policies.

Path to War: Italy's alignment with Germany and the weakening of collective security
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made conflict more likely. The international response to Italy's aggression set precedents,
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shaping the course and alliances of WWII.

In the lead-up to World War II, Italy's aggression and the subsequent international response
highlighted the challenges of maintaining peace in a fractured geopolitical landscape. The
principle of collective security, as envisioned after WWI, faced significant tests and, in many
ways, fell short, paving the way for a more significant conflict.

Mock Questions

How did the international community's response to Italy's aggression in

Abyssinia and Albania reveal the limitations of the League of Nations in
maintaining collective security during the interwar period?

The international community's response to Italy's aggression, particularly in Abyssinia,

exposed the inherent weaknesses of the League of Nations. While the League imposed
sanctions on Italy post the Abyssinian invasion, they were not comprehensive, excluding
key resources such as oil, thereby reducing their effectiveness. The Hoare-Laval Pact
further exposed the lack of commitment to collective security, as major powers prioritised
national interests over the principles of the League. Additionally, the muted response to
Italy's annexation of Albania underscored the League's diminishing influence. Such
responses emboldened aggressive nations and eroded confidence in the League's
capability to ensure peace.

Evaluate the impact of the international community's reactions to Italian

aggression on the evolving alliances leading up to World War II.

The international reactions to Italy's aggression played a pivotal role in reshaping

European alliances. The sanctions and diplomatic pressure exerted on Italy by the
League's leading powers, notably Britain and France, inadvertently pushed Mussolini
closer to Nazi Germany. This realignment culminated in agreements such as the Rome-
Berlin Axis and later the Pact of Steel. The hesitancy of major powers to confront Italy's
aggression, exemplified by events like the Hoare-Laval Pact, signified the dominance of
appeasement policies. These shifting alliances, influenced significantly by the
international response to Italian actions, laid the groundwork for the Axis Powers and set
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the stage for the alliances and enmities of WWII.
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Past Papers

Q&A Forum

1. MILITARY LEADERS

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2. CONQUEST
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3: THE MOVE TO GLOBAL WAR

3.1 Japanese Expansion in East Asia (1931–

1941)

3.2 German and Italian Expansion (1933–

1940)

3.2.1 Fascism and Nazism: Ideological

Foundations

3.2.2 Domestic Economic Drivers

3.2.3 Diplomatic Alignments and

Appeasement

3.2.4 German Challenges to Post-War

Settlements

3.2.5 Italian Expansion and Aggression

3.2.6 German Expansion and Pre-War

Alliances

3.2.7 International Response to German

Aggression

3.2.8 International Response to Italian

Aggression

3.2.9 Combined International Response

(1940)

4: RIGHTS AND PROTEST

5: CONFLICT AND INTERVENTION

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6: SOCIETY AND ECONOMY (650–1400)
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7: CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF WARS (750–1500)

8: DYNASTIES AND RULERS (750–1500)

9: SOCIETIES IN TRANSITION (1400–1700)

10: EARLY MODERN STATES (1450–1789)

11: CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF EARLY MODERN

WARS (1500–1750)

12: ORIGINS, DEVELOPMENT AND IMPACT OF

INDUSTRIALISATION (1750–2005)

13: INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENTS (1800–2000)

14: EMERGENCE AND DEVELOPMENT OF

DEMOCRATIC STATES (1848–2000)

15: AUTHORITARIAN STATES (20TH CENTURY)

16: CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF 20TH CENTURY

WARS

17: THE COLD WAR: SUPERPOWER TENSIONS

AND RIVALRIES (20TH CENTURY)

18: HISTORY OF AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST

(HL)

19: HISTORY OF THE AMERICAS (HL)

20. HISTORY OF ASIA AND OCEANIA (HL)

21. HISTORY OF EUROPE (HL)

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Written by:
Maddie

Oxford University - BA History

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FAQ

Why was Mussolini so intent on invading Abyssinia, particularly given the

risks of alienating the international community?

What made the Hoare-Laval Pact so controversial, leading to its

eventual rejection?

Why did the League of Nations not impose oil sanctions on Italy, given
their invasion of Abyssinia?

How did the Italian annexation of Albania play into Mussolini's broader
vision for Italy in the Balkans and the Mediterranean?

Were there any voices within Italy opposing the invasions of Abyssinia
and Albania, and how did Mussolini handle internal dissent?

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