In 1934, a group of Ethiopians attacked an Italian outpost. Italy already controlled Libya, Eritrea and Italian Somaliland. Mussolini would use the incident as an excuse to expand Italy's African empire. His invasion of Ethiopia in 1935 was a complete success, although Britain and France severed ties with Italy after this show of aggression. Hitler, however, was overjoyed at Italy's isolation.
In 1936, seeking more glory, Mussolini sent planes and troops to support Franco and the fascists in the Spanish Civil War. Later that year, Italy and Germany signed an agreement forming the axis powers. In 1937, Mussolini visited Hitler in Germany. Mussolini was deeply impressed by the German efficiency and their military might. He returned with a renewed desire to create a more disciplined Italian nation. He also withdrew from the League of Nations as Germany had done years earlier.
Germany soon invaded Austria, but Hitler feared this would provoke the Italians. On the contrary, Mussolini had no problems with the annexing of Austria into the Nazi regime, although it angered the Italian people and Mussolini lost some support. Around this time, Mussolini started slipping. He was aging fast and losing his nerve. Most new Italian policy was just a clone of German policy. He even started a "master race" ideology and expressed hatred toward the 47,000 Italian Jews. They were forbidden to join the party, inter-marry or join the army.
In 1939, Mussolini invaded and successfully captured Albania. In that same year he signed the Pact of Steel which bound Italy to Germany in war. Hitler soon invaded Poland, triggering World War II. Italy did not enter until 1940, and then with little support from the Italian people. Tanks, trucks and planes were in short supply. Italy gained a little land during the attack on France in 1940, but by and large, the Italians were a weak fighting force from the beginning.
Italy invaded Egypt, Sudan and Kenya, and the small British forces moved for fear of the large Italian army. He then attacked Greece to prove the Italian strength to Hitler, but was quickly overwhelmed by Greek soldiers. By now it was clear that Italy was sort of a puppet extension of the German war machine. 90,000 British troops used a terrific tank force in Africa to ravage the 400,000-strong Italians. By mid-1941, Italy lost all of her African colonies. When Germany attacked Russia, Mussolini sent in his troops to share in the glory. However, the Russians fought bravely and repulsed the invaders.
Next, Japan bombed Pearl Harbor and Mussolini declared war on the United States on December 11, 1941. In 1942, Mussolini fell ill and humiliated by the state of the war. Germany was starting to lose battles to the British in Egypt. The Axis powers in Africa surrendered in May, 1943. Mussolini was later arrested by a dissatisfied fascist militia.
