WW2 (sep 1, 1939 – may 8, 1945)

Description:

Italy was not ready for war in 1939,
Musso thought that Italy wouldn't be ready until 1943,

the military was not ready:
80 weak divisions,
some 700 modern planes that were not in fighting condition,
cute little tanks (L3)

the industry was not ready:
on Sept 1st 1939:
enough steel for 2 weeks,
enough iron ore for 6 months,
enough nickel for 20 days,
enough oil for 5 months

Germany didn't care,
they only notified Italy of their decision to go to war and ally themselves w/ the USSR a few days before the invasion of Poland,
they didn't expect Italy to join at this time
Italy felt betrayed
this shows how poorly coordinated the Axis powers were

Musso says that the only way he can join is if Germany donates to him enormous amounts of resources (e.g. 1,75 M tons of petrol, coal and steel),
Hitler refuses,
so Musso declares Italy non-belligerent,
he stays out of the war

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