parallel warfare - isaac newton academy. ww1 impac… · • fascist propaganda was failing and was...

If this is the answer, what is the question?

Parallel Warfare

‘Was Italy’s decision to enter WW2 in 1940 the beginning of the end for Mussolini’s Fascist regime?’

Learning Objective: To examine the consequences and impacts of Mussolini’s decision to enter Italy on the side of Nazi Germany in 1940.

Tuesday 6th March 2018

Success Criteria:

Bronze (Grade E-D): To identify and describe key factors as to why WW2 was so disastrous for Mussolini.

Silver (Grade C-B): To explain how far WW2 destabilised Mussolini’s Fascist regime.

Gold (Grade A-A*): To evaluate the role of the Second World War played in collapsing the Fascist regime using historiography.

Reach for A*’s (Stretch):

Research Mussolini’s involvement in the invasion of the Soviet Union(1941-1943)


Task: Read the following historiography below and summarise the key aspects of each historian’s argument about the role of the Second World War.

Task One: Watch the following video clip. Which factor do you think this historian believes is the most important?

Mini-Harkness: (ensure you have your pre-reading from yesterday on war economy and military weaknesses. to help you)

• Which weakness of the Italian Army do you think was the most important, why?• Do you agree with the video-clip that ‘military weaknesses’ was the most important,

why?

‘Why was WW2 so disastrous for Mussolini?’

A cartoon created by Christian Goeschel in 2001.

The cartoon caption was called ‘Musso The Wop - He's a Big-a-da-Flop.’

It shows Mussolini running away from the problems he was facing during 1940-43.

Task Two: Look at the source below.

‘How useful is this source for a historian investigating ‘why Mussolini’s fascist regime collapsed.’

Commanders: Mussolini: Training: Lack of Strategy:

Poor Morale: Equipment: Supplies:

There was a lack of co-ordination and strategy amongst the ministers beneath Mussolini.

The Italian army had to many senior offices not contributing in the war-there were 600 generals; but again they were poorly trained.

Mussolini had never lead a war on this scale before and as a result of his heavy influence in making decisions it lead to huge disasters.

He had little experience of war, foreign policy and economics.

He took it upon himself to be the minister for the most important positions whereby he never established coherent plans or tactics for the rest of the army to follow.

Military academies were outdated.

Italian field officers were poorly trained and the training they had was again to outdated.

Admirals in particular were trained to believe that aerial bombings on enemy ships could be effective.

Tactics were outdated; the Italians still employed 19th

century tactics such as: charges-resulted in many deaths.

The army was losing by Spring 1941.

Many soldiers in particular southern conscripts did not know what they were actually fighting for.

Soldiers had to fight in various different terrains, for example: cold, wet alpine mountains where many developed frostbite.

The Italian army only had enough equipment to arm 35 divisions, not 75.

The army had only 1,500 tanks and those that were made were poorly made.

Equipment did not reach important fighting destinations and was sunk by the British.

Many of the rifles and cannons supplied were outdated from WWI.

Italy had little raw materials such as: oil and no radar equipment.

Rations were in low supply and the state of clothing was worse than what it was in WWI.

Weak War Economy (1940-1943):

• The Italian economy was completely inadequate for the requirements of World War Two.

• In comparison to other Great Powers such as: The USA were able to produce more aircrafts than Italy in a week than Italy in a year. Also their steel industry decreased to only 1.7 million tonnes.

• Italy lacked raw materials such as: fuel, iron, coal, steel. As a result of lacking raw materials Italy had to:->Import 1.5 million tonnes of oil from Romania->Import 1 million tonnes of coal from Germany ->There was also a shortage in rubber, aluminium which resulted in Italian equipment which

was outdated and inadequate.

• Italy’s vehicle production further decreased with Fiat producing 2,550 vehicles a month in 1941; yet before the war they could produce 4,883.

• Germany estimated that Italy’s economy was only operating at around 25% (1/4) of its potential and was the only country who did not see a increase in its GDP between 1940-42.

‘How far did WW2 destabilise Mussolini’s Fascist Regime in 1943?’ (Consequences)

Task: Using your pre-reading (P.256-Political Tensions, 1943) answer the following question below:

->’WW2 only destabilised Mussolini’s regime politically.’ How far do you agree?

Success Criteria: One PEEL paragraph Between 3-4 pieces of evidence to support your opinion. Explanation that links back to the question above! Justified evaluation which informs why one factor was more important than

other factors.

Reach for A*’s (Stretch):

Mack Smith (2006) argues that: ‘Mussolini’s Fascist Regime only begun to crumble in 1943. His poor control and actions in solving Italy’s economy meant other problems soon begun to surface as well.’

Task: ‘To what extent to do you agree with Clark’s argument?’

What problems did WW2 cause in Italy?

What issues did Mussolini experience?

Economic problems: • Mussolini and Italy experienced industrial strikes for the first time in 18 years; 100,000 workers in Turin which later spread to Milan and other areas. These strikes crippled Italy’s economy further as industrial output decreased.

• Food production generally fell and as result food and other resources became more expensive.

Social problems: • Conservative elite groups became increasingly tired of Mussolini’s fascist regime. The Vatican, military leaders, industrialists and the police all began to consider how Mussolini might/should be deposed and their country’s removal from WW2.

• Homelessness increased as a result of Allied bombing in Turin; at least 25,000 houses were destroyed.

• Italy still experience high unemployment with thousands still out of work which was not helped by the allies bombing the Industrial North.

• Food rationing was low and many Italians struggled to buy: pasta, eggs or bread. Coffee became a luxury item and soap was in short supply.

• Fascist propaganda was failing and was becoming less effective in controlling the Italian masses.

Political problems: • Communist and Socialist opponents helped organise the strikes; emphasising better pay.

• Anti-fascist groups begun to resurface in Italy. • Mussolini’s figure as an all-powerful dictator was eroding; he now looked weak

as result of experiencing illness and stress and having no vision as to how Italy should progress in WW2.

• In September 1943 the Allies launched an invasion on Italy which aimed to depose Mussolini.

‘How far did WW2 destabilise Mussolini’s Fascist Regime in 1943?’


Task: Write a PEE judgement paragraph evaluating whether Italy’s decision to enter WW2 in 1940 was the beginning of the end for Mussolini.’


HARKNESS Questions:

1) Which military problem was the most significant in destabilising the Italian army-why?

2) Which problem do you think is the most significant in collapsing Mussolini’s Fascist regime-why?

3) Do you think more weight should be given to Smith’s argument or Clark’s argument-why?

4) Do you think Mussolini’s regime would have survived for a longer duration without Italy’s intervention in WWII-why/why not?

I/L: Prepare for a timed 45 minute source question

P) I believe that Italy’s decision to enter WW2 in 1940 __________ the beginning of the end for Mussolini.

E) For example… Another example… a third example…

E) This shows why WW2 _______ the end for Mussolini because…







parallel warfare - isaac newton academy. ww1 impac… · • fascist propaganda was failing and was...

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