When the League of Nations condemned Mussolini's invasion of Ethiopia in 1936 only Adolph Hitler upheld his position. Recognizing both a like mindedness in the German Nazi regime, and the enormous threat Germany was to rest of Europe, Mussolini sought a close alliance with the Hitler.
The alliance known as the “Axis of Power” became official in 1939 with the Pact of Steel treaty outlining the "friendship and alliance" between Germany and Italy. The Pact consisted of two parts: the first section was an open declaration of continuing trust and cooperation between Germany and Italy , and the second, encouraged a joint military and economic policy known as the "Secret Supplementary Protocol". The Pact was signed by foreign ministers …show more content…
Yes, there were significant similarities with the Nazi and Fascist regimes, but significant differences as well. The critical factor for Mussolini was the enormous power Hitler was exerting on the rest of Europe. In only a few short years, Hitler had risen from obscurity to amazing power within Germany, and was pressuring neighboring countries as well. He had opened concentration camps, expelled many non-Aryans (mostly Jews) had implemented severe racial laws, broken the Treaty of Versailles with Britain and France, was using military pressure against Czechoslovakia and Austria, and was setting his military force toward Poland and the Netherlands. His announced goal was what he termed "Lebensraum" (meaning living space) for all Aryan people. His stated objective was to rid Europe of all non-Aryans, and if you opposed him, you must be a non-Aryan. Just as in Italy later, it was relatively easy for Hitler to convince the populace that the harsh economic times where due to the influence of specific groups - races - of people; most notable the Jews, but really his hatred extended to anyone her considered non-Aryan. Hence his Nuremberg laws passed quite easily in 1935. It was under this great pressure to conform or be attacked that Mussolini reluctantly formed an alliance with
The alliance known as the “Axis of Power” became official in 1939 with the Pact of Steel treaty outlining the "friendship and alliance" between Germany and Italy. The Pact consisted of two parts: the first section was an open declaration of continuing trust and cooperation between Germany and Italy , and the second, encouraged a joint military and economic policy known as the "Secret Supplementary Protocol". The Pact was signed by foreign ministers …show more content…
Yes, there were significant similarities with the Nazi and Fascist regimes, but significant differences as well. The critical factor for Mussolini was the enormous power Hitler was exerting on the rest of Europe. In only a few short years, Hitler had risen from obscurity to amazing power within Germany, and was pressuring neighboring countries as well. He had opened concentration camps, expelled many non-Aryans (mostly Jews) had implemented severe racial laws, broken the Treaty of Versailles with Britain and France, was using military pressure against Czechoslovakia and Austria, and was setting his military force toward Poland and the Netherlands. His announced goal was what he termed "Lebensraum" (meaning living space) for all Aryan people. His stated objective was to rid Europe of all non-Aryans, and if you opposed him, you must be a non-Aryan. Just as in Italy later, it was relatively easy for Hitler to convince the populace that the harsh economic times where due to the influence of specific groups - races - of people; most notable the Jews, but really his hatred extended to anyone her considered non-Aryan. Hence his Nuremberg laws passed quite easily in 1935. It was under this great pressure to conform or be attacked that Mussolini reluctantly formed an alliance with