Irredentism and expansionism Italian Fascism

fascism emphasized need restoration of mazzinian risorgimento tradition pursued unification of italy, fascists claimed had been left incomplete , abandoned in giolittian-era italy. fascism sought incorporation of claimed unredeemed territories italy.

to east of italy, fascists claimed dalmatia land of italian culture italians, including of italianized south slavic descent, had been driven out of dalmatia , exile in italy, , supported return of italians of dalmatian heritage. mussolini identified dalmatia having strong italian cultural roots centuries via roman empire , republic of venice. fascists focused claims based on venetian cultural heritage of dalmatia, claiming venetian rule had been beneficial dalmatians , had been accepted dalmatian population. fascists outraged after world war i, when agreement between italy , entente allies in treaty of london of 1915 have dalmatia join italy revoked in 1919. fascist regime supported annexation of yugoslavia s region of slovenia italy held portion of slovene population, whereby slovenia become italian province, resulting in quarter of slovene ethnic territory , approximately 327,000 out of total population of 1.3 million slovenes being subjected forced italianization. fascist regime imposed mandatory italianization upon german , south slav populations living within italy s borders. fascist regime abolished teaching of minority german , slavic languages in schools, german , slavic language newspapers shut down , geographical , family names in areas of german or slavic languages italianized. resulted in significant violence against south slavs deemed resisting italianization. fascist regime supported annexation of albania, claimed albanians ethnically linked italians through links prehistoric italiotes, illyrian , roman populations , major influence exerted roman , venetian empires on albania justified italy s right possess it. fascist regime justified annexation of albania on basis that—because several hundred thousand people of albanian descent had been absorbed society in southern italy already—the incorporation of albania reasonable measure unite people of albanian descent 1 state. fascist regime endorsed albanian irredentism, directed against predominantly albanian-populated kosovo , epirus – particularly in chameria inhabited substantial number of albanians. after italy annexed albania in 1939, fascist regime endorsed assimilating albanians italians , colonizing albania italian settlers italian peninsula gradually transform italian land. fascist regime claimed ionian islands italian territory on basis islands had belonged venetian republic mid-14th until 18th century.

to west of italy, fascists claimed territories of corsica, nice , savoy held france italian lands. during period of italian unification in 1860 1861, prime minister of piedmont-sardinia, camillo benso, count of cavour, leading unification effort, faced opposition french emperor napoleon iii indicated france oppose italian unification unless france given nice , savoy held piedmont sardinia, france did not want powerful state having control of passages of alps. result, piedmont-sardinia pressured concede nice , savoy france in exchange france accepting unification of italy. fascist regime produced literature on corsica presented evidence of italianità of island. fascist regime produced literature on nice justified nice italian land based on historic, ethnic , linguistic grounds. fascists quoted medieval italian scholar petrarch said: border of italy var; consequently nice part of italy . fascists quoted italian national hero giuseppe garibaldi said: corsica , nice must not belong france; there come day when italy mindful of true worth reclaim provinces shamefully languishing under foreign domination . mussolini pursued promoting annexation of corsica through political , diplomatic means, believing corsica annexed italy through first encouraging existing autonomist tendencies in corsica , independence of corsica france, followed annexation of corsica italy.

to north of italy, fascist regime in 1930s had designs on largely italian-populated region of ticino , romansch-populated region of graubünden in switzerland (the romansch people latin-based language). in november 1938, mussolini declared grand fascist council: shall bring our border gotthard pass . fascist regime accused swiss government of oppressing romansch people in graubünden. mussolini argued romansch italian dialect , graubünden should incorporated italy. ticino claimed because region had belonged duchy of milan mid-fourteenth century until 1515, being inhabited italian speakers of italian ethnicity. claim raised on basis areas part of graubünden in mesolcina valley , hinterrhein held milanese trivulzio family, ruled mesocco castle in late 15th century. during summer of 1940, galeazzo ciano met hitler , ribbentrop , proposed them dissection of switzerland along central chain of western alps, have left italy canton of valais in addition claims raised earlier.

the session of grand council of 9 may 1936, italian empire proclaimed

to south, regime claimed archipelago of malta, had been held british since 1800. mussolini claimed maltese language dialect of italian , theories malta being cradle of latin civilization promoted. italian had been used in malta in literary, scientific , legal fields , 1 of malta s official languages until 1937 when status abolished british response italy s invasion of ethiopia. italian irredentists had claimed territories on coast of north africa italy s fourth shore , used historical roman rule in north africa precedent justify incorporation of such territories italian jurisdiction being return of italy north africa. in january 1939, italy annexed territories in libya considered within italy s fourth shore, libya s 4 coastal provinces of tripoli, misurata, benghazi , derna becoming integral part of metropolitan italy. @ same time, indigenous libyans given ability apply special italian citizenship required such people literate in italian language , confined type of citizenship valid in libya only. tunisia had been taken france protectorate in 1881 had highest concentration of italians in north africa , seizure france had been viewed injury national honour in italy @ perceived loss of tunisia italian plans incorporate it. upon entering world war ii, italy declared intention seize tunisia province of constantine of algeria france.

to south, fascist regime held interest in expanding italy s african colonial possessions. in 1920s, italy regarded portugal weak country unbecoming of colonial power due weak hold on colonies , mismanagement of them , such italy desired annexe portugal s colonies. italy s relations portugal influenced rise power of authoritarian conservative nationalist regime of salazar, borrowed fascist methods, though salazar upheld portugal s traditional alliance britain.