may 22, 1939 - Pact of Steel

Description:

formal military alliance w/ Germany,
assumed full cooperation between the two in case of war

reasons for Musso allying w/ Hitler:
- similar ideology, war fetishism
- a natural strategic partner
(Germany in the North, Italy in the South,
Musso wanted to dominate the Med)
- fellow international pariah
- Hitler didn't apply sanctions on Italy during the Abyssinian crisis
- Trade between the two countries increased after 1935

So overall,
it was partly bc Musso liked Germany for its militarism and ideology,
and partly bc he had no choice after Abyssinia

this decision left Musso w/ a few problems:
- Britain, who dominated the Med, was now his enemy
(and Italy was vulnerable to naval invasion and its fleet was much weaker)
- rich USA now didn't like him (bc USA liked UK)
- move unpopular w/ most Italians
- unpopular w/ the King and Elite who liked UK

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