Before WW1 Italy was part of an alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary, yet it didn't join them when the war started and it even joined the Allied side later during the war.
Why did Italy do this? And if there were good reasons to join the Allies why did it ally itself with Germany and Austria in the first place? Italy's main issue was its enmity with Austria-Hungary, Germany's main ally.
That made Italy the "odd man out" in the so-called Triple Alliance with the other two. Italy had joined reluctantly with Germany out of a fear of France. This occurred when France and Britain concluded an alliance that made Britain responsible for the mutual defense of the English Channel, and freed the French fleet to concentrate in the Mediterranean, possibly against Italy.
On the other hand, it would have a lot to fear from a victorious Austria Hungary, from which she had taken Lombardy and Venice in the 19th century the former when allied with France. It is easy to explain why Italy didn't join the war: they had little to gain from it, maybe they also didn't feel prepared. Alliances are always theory and a country can refuse to be dragged into a conflict with powers that are much stronger than it.
The question why Italy later still decided to join is more difficult. This website gives the following answer:. In , Italy had signed the secret Treaty of London. Such an offer was too tempting for Italy to refuse. Britain and France wanted Italy to join in on their side so that a new front could open up to the south of the Western Front. The plan was to split still further the Central Powers so that its power on the Western and Eastern Fronts was weakened.
The plan was logical. The part Italy had to play in it required military success. This was never forthcoming. Although it is true Italy felt as "The Odd Man Out" with its alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary, there are some cultural ties with that of France and Italy that cannot be overlooked.
The basic foundation of the "Romance Languages," religion, and history. I also feel that the "Entente" powers were less of a threat to Italy. France also was preoccupied with taking back Alsace Lorraine from Germany, and in fact based its defense of Paris with a counterattack on Germany's right wing, and push into Alsace Lorraine. At this point, Italy was the least of France's concerns. Italy was not a threat to the French but an asset to the cause by opening another point of the Western Front.
Firstly it need to be clarified the nature of Italian treaty with Gemany and Austria: this was just and only a "non aggression treaty and mutual protection in case of attack" Germany and Austria have never been attacked, on the opposite they ignited the war.
Secondarily needs to be said that Italy was re-united after centurues of occupation from Spain, France, and specially from Austria, with whom Italy fought the hardest independence wars few years before. The "non aggression treaty" was stipulated in order to have some oxigen from the "German invaders" At the ignition of the war, Italy's only certaintly was NON entering in war with its recent enemies. Italywas however a young monarchy with huge internal problems.
Italy—which had become a unified nation only as recently as —was, like Russia, not yet a fully industrialized power. It was certainly not prepared for large-scale warfare, and although it managed to mobilize 1. Upon declaring war, the Italian army immediately advanced into the South Tyrol region and to the Isonzo River, where Austro-Hungarian troops met them with a stiff defense. The snowy and treacherous terrain made the region poorly suited to offensive operations, and after several quick Italian successes, combat settled into a stalemate.
By late , the Austrians and Italians had fought no fewer than 11 battles along the Isonzo River, with negligible progress and heavy losses on both sides. In late October , German intervention to help Austria-Hungary resulted in a spectacular victory over the Italians in the Battle of Caporetto also known as the Twelfth Battle of the Isonzo , during which Italian forces suffered some , casualties 90 percent of which were prisoners and were forced to retreat.
By the time fighting ended on the Italian front on November 4, —a week before the general armistice—, Italians had been killed in action or died of wounds sustained in World War I. In the ensuing peace negotiations in Paris, the Italian government struggled against great opposition from the other Allied leaders to see that they were given all they had been promised in the Treaty of London.
At one point in the negotiations, the entire Italian delegation walked out of the peace conference, returning only days later. Though Italy would eventually receive control of the Tyrol and a permanent seat on the newly formed international peace-keeping organization, the League of Nations , many within the country were dissatisfied with their lot and continued to nurse resentments of the other Allied powers—resentments that would later drive the success of Benito Mussolini and his fascist movement.
But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! On May 23, thousands of LGBTQ activists celebrated as Ireland became the first country to legalize same-sex marriage through referendum. The vote attracted a large turnout, with Occupying a two-block section of Fifth Avenue between 40th and 42nd Streets, the Italy joined the allies because of the treaty of London and it wanted territory on the order of Austria-Hungary.
Italy was forced to attack Austria-Hungary. But Italy refused to attack Germany because Germany is a major power and Italy was losing soldiers. By the time fighting ended , Italians were hurt. Plenty of Italians were not very pleased with their lot they got from the League Of Nations. Italy Is Looking For support against France. The Anglo invasion had began the day before the treaty of London was Signed..
The entente had a lot of territory and gained to which then fell into Austria-Hungary Empire. Italy received the the promise of significant territorial gains. Italy was clear its aims for joining the war effort. Italy had a promise of it fulfillment of its dream, control over territory on its border with Austria-Hungary from Trentino through the South Tyrol to Trieste. Italy declares war on austria-hungary.
Trueman, C. Italy and world war one. Britannica, E.
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