Top 10 Facts About Italy During The World War II

Italy WWII by Royal Air Force official photographer from Wikimedia Commons

Top 10 Facts About Italy During The World War II

When you think of Italy during WWII you probably think about Italy and his buddy Hitler, right? they seemed like quite the power couple, however, what most people don’t remember is the fact that Italy was badly affected by WWII. Italy was one of the Axis countries that fought alongside Germany and Japan, at the same time the decisions they made led to a number of humiliating losses that may have been avoided.

In the end, the country’s people had to take a stand in the war and ended up surrendering.  In this article, we’ll take you through 10 facts about Italy during World War II and shed light on the country’s experiences as well as the most significant events that happened at the time. 

1. Italy entered World War II in June 1940, as a member of the Axis powers

Wellington crew by Royal Air Force from Wikimedia Commons

The war underwent a fundamental shift after Italy joined in June 1940. Italy joined forces with Germany and Japan to form the Axis powers, led by the flamboyant and charismatic Benito Mussolini, with the intention of establishing a new world order. Because of his belligerent foreign policy, which saw Italy invade Albania, Greece, and North Africa, Mussolini had the vision of Italy as a superpower that would reclaim the areas it had lost in earlier battles.

2. The country was ill-prepared for war

Mussolini envisioned Italy as a superpower that would rule the Mediterranean and beyond, which contributed to the nation’s nationalistic zeal and ambition that led to its involvement in World War II. But the nation was dreadfully unprepared for the demands of contemporary conflict. Italy had out-of-date military hardware, poorly trained soldiers, and a fragile industrial foundation.

The demands of the war did little to alleviate the nation’s economic difficulties, which existed even before the war started. Italy’s early military setbacks, such as disastrous operations in Greece and North Africa, which left Italy reeling and compelled it to depend more and more on its German partner, were evidence of its lack of readiness.

3. Mussolini was overthrown and imprisoned by his own people

Benito Mussolini. Photo sourced from wikimedia-

Benito Mussolini was deposed and imprisoned by his own people in 1943 as Italy’s performance in World War II continued to deteriorate. Mussolini had won the war at first, but as the nation suffered terrible losses and economic hardships, his rule grew more unpredictable and unpopular. Mussolini was detained by the king’s forces after the Grand Council of Italy voted in July of that year to reject him and the Fascist Party.

Italy’s participation in the war changed after the fall of Mussolini when it signed an armistice with the Allies and switched sides. Mussolini was imprisoned, but his time there was brief since German forces soon freed him and put him in charge of a puppet state in northern Italy.

4. The country became the scene of bitter fighting between the Allies and the Axis

Italy signed an armistice with the allies in 1943 and thereafter all hell broke loose. For a long time, Italy was a warzone and as a way of keeping Italy out of the hands of the Allies, German forces decided to invade the country. The worst part about the war was the places it occurred, they didn’t fight in the fields or in the forests, instead, the battle took place in populated areas which caused extensive damage and fatalities.

At that time there was only suffering, lack of food and the continuation of violence robbed many people from living their lives. However, at the same time, the Italian Resistance organization swept in and got into guerilla warfare where they could fight against the Germans. In the end, the price was heavy for the Allies and a lot of lives were lost, and infrastructure and livelihoods were seriously affected.

5. Italian Resistance movement played a significant role in the fight against the Germans

RAF gunners by Royal Air Force from Wikimedia Commons

Trying to get rid of the Nazis was not an easy assignment but the Italian Resistance movement was a powerful force. Partisans, socialists, communists and even monarchists were all a part of the resistance and they all worked together to demoralise the enemy. For them to be successful they had to disrupt the rail lines, destroy the bridges and targeted German military sites as well. 

Despite the war, there was a great feeling of patriotism and desire to see Italy free from foreign rule, this motivated the resistance to set up underground bases where they engaged in guerilla warfare against the Germans. If it wasn’t for the Italian Resistance Movement, it would be impossible to defeat the Axis countries. 

6. Italy was heavily bombed by the Allies

What do bombs do? they destroy! The only way to keep Italy at bay at the time was to destroy Italy, in order to do this the Allies made a decision to undermine the country’s infrastructure and hinder its military operations. A bombing campaign took place in Italy’s industrial cities which were located in the north.

Milan, Turin and Genoa were all cities that took the greatest hit. Thousands of people were injured, a number of structures were left in rubble and in general caused extensive destruction. Despite the cost of the bombing, Italy was part of the war until the very end when it submitted to the Allies on September 8, 1943. 

7. There was a lot of poverty and food shortages

Italian Soldiers by Monteforti Family from Wikimedia Commons

A war always devastates a country, so it was bound to happen to Italy during WWII. The first thing that took a hit during this time was their economy which was so harshly destabilised by the war, there were severe poverty and food shortages. To survive a lot of cities had people who had to make due on limited rations and scavenge for food. Staples like bread, spaghetti and vegetables were a rarity. Due to famine, people had to survive on strange foods like weeds, acorns, and even tree bark in order to survive. The Allied bombing campaign made things worse because it obliterated a lot of the country’s industrial and agricultural hubs which made it difficult to produce and distribute food. 

8. The war also left a lasting mark on Italy’s cultural heritage

Italian soldiers by Monteforti Family from Wikimedia Commons

Of course, the saddest part of the war was the lives that were lost but at the same time, the war significantly impacted Italy’s cultural heritage. There was a lot of damage to several historic structures, monuments and works of art throughout Italy, including the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, which was bombed in 1943. Even then, Italy had creative treasures that were endangered and museums and galleries that had to close or evacuate permanently. In search of a better life, a lot of writers, artists and intellectuals were forced to flee to avoid political persecution and repression.

9. Italy suffered a series of crushing defeats early in the war

A lot of events were not as rosy for Italy during WWII, as a matter of fact, Italy went through a string of humiliating defeats that had negative effects. During that time, Italy had gained territory in North Africa and the Balkans but with time they were surpassed by the more skilled and resourced Allied armies. In 1941, Italy suffered a huge setback in Greece and also lost much in North Africa. 

The fascist government at the time started falling apart due to the widespread discontent that the Italian people were feeling which eventually led to Italy’s capitulation to the Allies in 1943. 

10. Italy officially surrendered to the allies In 1943

On September 8th, 1943, Italy officially surrendered to the Allies which was a big moment in the country’s history. Surrendering was not an easy option for the country however they’d gone through a disastrous military campaign in North Africa and there was growing tension over Italy’s alliance with Germany. The fascists saw this as a weak move while others were relieved that Italy could finally move forward. Germany also managed to disarm Italian soldiers and seized control of key infrastructure and resources. 

In the end, it was necessary for Italy to surrender as it marked the beginning of a new chapter in Italy’s history, one that led to freedom and the establishment of a new democratic government. Even though Italy went through these difficulties, Italy’s cultural heritage survived the war and they managed to rebuild and preserve most of what they had lost. Today, we’re still able to enjoy Italy’s rich artistic and cultural history.