Italy- World War 2

  • Treaty of Munich

    Hitler, Chamberlain, Daladier of France and Mussolini of Italy met in Munich and agreed that Hitler should have the Sudetanland of Czechoslovakia. The Czechs were not represented at the meeting and realising that no country would come to their aid were forced to surrender the Sudetenland to Germany. Hitler assured those at the meeting that this was the extent of his ambitions for expansion. Chamberlain returned to England with a piece of paper signed by Hitler, proclaiming 'peace in our time.'
  • Signed Compact with Germany

  • Delcared War on Britian and France

    Though they signed a compact with Germany, Italy did not declare war on Britian and France till a year later.
  • Officially Enters War

    Italy entered the war on the side of the Axis powers. Italy's motive for entering the war was the hope of rich pickings from the spoils of war.
  • France Surrenders to Germany

    Italy occupied a swathe of French territory along the Franco-Italian border. During this operation, Italian casualties amounted to 1,247 men dead or missing and 2,631 wounded.
  • Tripartite Pact

    This pact of mutual alliance was signed by Germany, Italy and Japan.
  • British rout Italians in N. Africa

    Italian forces in North Africa were routed by the British led by General Wavell.
  • Italy and Germany attack Yugoslavia

    German and Italian troops attacked Yugoslavia, Greece and the island of Crete. German field Marshall Erwin Rommel led the axis powers back to North Africa.
  • Battle of El Alamein

    Montgomery attacked the German-Italian army in North Africa with a massive bombardment followed by an armoured attack. He then proceeded to chase the routed enemy some 1500 miles across the desert.
  • Axis surrender N Africa

    The British and American forces managed to defeat the Axis forces in North Africa.
  • Italy surrenders

    Mussolini had been thrown out of office and the new government of Italy surrendered to the British and the USA. They then agreed to join the allies. The Germans took control of the Italian army, freed Mussolini from imprisonment and set him up as head of a puppet government in Northern Italy. This blocked any further allied advance through Italy.
  • Mussolini captured and executed

    Italian partisans captured Mussolini and executed him.
  • German forces surrender

    German forces in Italy surrendered to the Allies.