AHC: Make Italy Strong

Hi there, my challenge to all of you is to make Italy strong. She doesn't need to be Great Power of Superpower strong, just a regional, wealthy power that isn't laughed at whenever military history discussions come up. I have one scenario in mind that I want you all to consider and write about, but of course if you have any good suggestions I'm all ears.

My Scenario:

Italy stays the hell out of WW1, regardless of what the Allies or Central Powers promise her. Instead, she takes to importing goods and then exporting them at hugely inflated prices to the Germans and Austrians. The Allies may not like this, but if Italy does this with American goods then the Allies will just have to grin and bear it. Using the money gained by this, she focuses on her domestic troubles and attempts to boost her economy, industry, and colonies.

When war clouds form over Europe in the 1930's*, Italy, seeing how well neutrality worked for her in WW1, stays the hell out of WW2, regardless of what Germany or the Western Allies promise her. She uses her time-tested strategy of cheating Germany out of money by selling her goods on a mark up. She also allows refugees to stay in the country.

This would have the effect of removing the North African/Med theater from the war, I think.

Once it becomes apparent that Germany is going to lose, Italy follows the Turkish route of declaring war on Germany {though in practice she does nothing}, and allows WAllied air crews and troops to move through her country provided they keep well-behaved and buy gifts for the Mrs. back home.**

Now it's the 1950's and Italy is one of the few European countries that wasn't turned into a smoldering ruin. It's rich{er than OTL}, on good terms with the West and still holding it's colonies {though I doubt it would hold Libya for long, in TTL it does not have Ethiopia}. Is this scenario plausible: if so what would Italy do now, if not how would YOU turn Italy into a strong regional power?

*I assume there would still be a WW2.
**They don't need to have this happen, but... why not? :p
 
It is very hard to keep Italy out of WWII, Hitler, or any German leader fighting the Allies for that matter, could never risk the kind of problems that would be posed to them by a neutral nation that would be in effect a backdoor to Germany.
 
Without Italy in WWI there is a good chance the Germans win

Otherwise your Idea is good, Italy would likely end up the equivalent of France or the UK in power, and if you could also say get a successful anti corruption and anti mafia crusade going it would be better
 
It is very hard to keep Italy out of WWII, Hitler, or any German leader fighting the Allies for that matter, could never risk the kind of problems that would be posed to them by a neutral nation that would be in effect a backdoor to Germany.
It's hard to keep Italy out, yes, but it's easier for Il Duce to listen to his advisors and not go head-to-head with Britain over North Africa.
 

Gwax23

Banned
My Scenario

Italy Unifies more in line with Garibaldis ideals than Cavours. The new government is not a pro Northern Government made up of mostly Northerners. The South isnt neglected or punished through policies aimed to benefit the only North. Emigration is outlawed following Unification thus preventing the massive Italian Exodus and Diaspora.

Nice and Savoy are not surrendered to the French but remain Italian territory.

Italy does not try and waste its time or resources in useless colonial ambitions. Focuses more on "Greater Italy"

New government is not a Monarchy ruled by the House of Savoy but a Federal Republic envisioned by garibaldi. A constitution is created based off the American constitution. Calls for Limited government and guaranteed rights. The various former Italian states recently conquered as formed into Provinces with their own governments. Decentralization is policy of the new government in an attempt to make an easy transition to a newly unified states. Provincial governments given a lot of authority and jurisdiction to govern their own affairs.

First Prime Ministers is Garibaldi.

The same OTL wars occur. Italy secures Lombardy and Venetia from the Austrians in its later wars of Independence. Lazio and Rome eventually annexed from the rump papal states. New Capital in Rome.

Italy Sends an ultimatum to Switzerland to surrender Ticino and other italian speaking areas of Switzerland. Areas are annexed and incorporated into new state. Italy compensates buy offering to formally "Purchase" said territories.

After British Handover of the Ionian Islands to Greece Italy sends similar ultimatum to the fledgling Greek State demanding the Island of Corfu. In Return Italy guarantees Greek independence against Ottomans and provides material, and logistic support to Greece in later Balkan conflicts.

Italys population explodes due to no massive emigration. Massive migrations from South to North North to south occur. The new Italian language begins to replace the regional dialects with heavy encouragement from the central government. New Standard Italian is designed to be easy to learn and encompass elements from all the different dialects not just the Tuscan variety.

The result is a stronger Italian national identity earlier on while regionalism begins to take a back seat. Italians start to see themselves as "Italian" rather then "Neapolitan" or "Milanese"

All this leads to a more stable, less corrupt Italy, that utilizes its resources more efficiently.

In the build up to WW1 Italy plays both sides in the early half of the war. Making money off the import/export game.

Italy offers to "Buy" Corsica and Malta from Britain and France respectively in exchange fro joining the Allies and recognition of Italian claims over Trent, South Tyrol, Istria, and Dalmatia.

Allies agree Italy secures Corsica and Malta. Italy performs well in WW1 not being lead by a idiot Cordona. Losses are Minimal but gains are large. Trento, South Tyrol, Istria, and all of the Dalmatian Coast secured. Following the war italy secures recognition for its acquired territories.

Italy denounces a "Yugoslvia" to be created post war saying it would lead to chaos. Also trying to prevent a large state from forming on its borders. Instead support a greater Serbia and smaller Croatia and Slovenian States to be formed.

Italy following the acquisition of all "Italia Irredenta" declares itself a Neutral state.
 
Mussolini holds back from joining the Axis in 1936 and instead invades Albania, triggerin Yugoslavia and Greece to respond with declarations of war. Italy fights a proracted war but slowly conquers both with Greece remaining a problem for some time to come. Italy sends field troops and test equipment to Spain while scavenging German technology when they can, gradually getting field experience and training in their military. Mussolini sees no value in joining Germany afterwards as he has his own problems to deal with, especially in Greece. Bulgaria eventually tries to conquer Greek and Macedonian territory but ends up falling to Italy as well. Italy stays neutral in the war and creates a close relationship with Romania. They allow Jewish refugees into the country in exchange for cash and gain prestige/talent for after the war. Yugoslavia becomes a quagmire as does much of Greece after Russia takes down Berlin in 1944. All of Germany goes to the Communist Bloc and France falls to the Western Powers. Italy emerges as a regional power that eventually grants autonomy to much of her conquests and emerges as a regional power in the 1970s
 
Mussolini holds back from joining the Axis in 1936 and instead invades Albania, triggerin Yugoslavia and Greece to respond with declarations of war. Italy fights a proracted war but slowly conquers both with Greece remaining a problem for some time to come. Italy sends field troops and test equipment to Spain while scavenging German technology when they can, gradually getting field experience and training in their military. Mussolini sees no value in joining Germany afterwards as he has his own problems to deal with, especially in Greece. Bulgaria eventually tries to conquer Greek and Macedonian territory but ends up falling to Italy as well. Italy stays neutral in the war and creates a close relationship with Romania. They allow Jewish refugees into the country in exchange for cash and gain prestige/talent for after the war. Yugoslavia becomes a quagmire as does much of Greece after Russia takes down Berlin in 1944. All of Germany goes to the Communist Bloc and France falls to the Western Powers. Italy emerges as a regional power that eventually grants autonomy to much of her conquests and emerges as a regional power in the 1970s

How will Italy beat Greece if it was unable to do so on its own before the Germans came in intervening? As I recall, the Greeks wailed on the Italians and ended up marching in Italian-occupied Albania before Hitler decided to bail out ol' Benny the Moose from a major embrassment?
 
My Scenario

Italy Unifies more in line with Garibaldis ideals than Cavours. The new government is not a pro Northern Government made up of mostly Northerners. The South isnt neglected or punished through policies aimed to benefit the only North. Emigration is outlawed following Unification thus preventing the massive Italian Exodus and Diaspora.

Nice and Savoy are not surrendered to the French but remain Italian territory.

Italy does not try and waste its time or resources in useless colonial ambitions. Focuses more on "Greater Italy"

New government is not a Monarchy ruled by the House of Savoy but a Federal Republic envisioned by garibaldi. A constitution is created based off the American constitution. Calls for Limited government and guaranteed rights. The various former Italian states recently conquered as formed into Provinces with their own governments. Decentralization is policy of the new government in an attempt to make an easy transition to a newly unified states. Provincial governments given a lot of authority and jurisdiction to govern their own affairs.

First Prime Ministers is Garibaldi.

The same OTL wars occur. Italy secures Lombardy and Venetia from the Austrians in its later wars of Independence. Lazio and Rome eventually annexed from the rump papal states. New Capital in Rome.

Italy Sends an ultimatum to Switzerland to surrender Ticino and other italian speaking areas of Switzerland. Areas are annexed and incorporated into new state. Italy compensates buy offering to formally "Purchase" said territories.

After British Handover of the Ionian Islands to Greece Italy sends similar ultimatum to the fledgling Greek State demanding the Island of Corfu. In Return Italy guarantees Greek independence against Ottomans and provides material, and logistic support to Greece in later Balkan conflicts.

Italys population explodes due to no massive emigration. Massive migrations from South to North North to south occur. The new Italian language begins to replace the regional dialects with heavy encouragement from the central government. New Standard Italian is designed to be easy to learn and encompass elements from all the different dialects not just the Tuscan variety.

The result is a stronger Italian national identity earlier on while regionalism begins to take a back seat. Italians start to see themselves as "Italian" rather then "Neapolitan" or "Milanese"

All this leads to a more stable, less corrupt Italy, that utilizes its resources more efficiently.

In the build up to WW1 Italy plays both sides in the early half of the war. Making money off the import/export game.

Italy offers to "Buy" Corsica and Malta from Britain and France respectively in exchange fro joining the Allies and recognition of Italian claims over Trent, South Tyrol, Istria, and Dalmatia.

Allies agree Italy secures Corsica and Malta. Italy performs well in WW1 not being lead by a idiot Cordona. Losses are Minimal but gains are large. Trento, South Tyrol, Istria, and all of the Dalmatian Coast secured. Following the war italy secures recognition for its acquired territories.

Italy denounces a "Yugoslvia" to be created post war saying it would lead to chaos. Also trying to prevent a large state from forming on its borders. Instead support a greater Serbia and smaller Croatia and Slovenian States to be formed.

Italy following the acquisition of all "Italia Irredenta" declares itself a Neutral state.

Good grief. If Italy got its ass kicked by Greece, how will it hold off against Yugoslavia?

Mussolini holds back from joining the Axis in 1936 and instead invades Albania, triggerin Yugoslavia and Greece to respond with declarations of war. Italy fights a proracted war but slowly conquers both with Greece remaining a problem for some time to come. Italy sends field troops and test equipment to Spain while scavenging German technology when they can, gradually getting field experience and training in their military. Mussolini sees no value in joining Germany afterwards as he has his own problems to deal with, especially in Greece. Bulgaria eventually tries to conquer Greek and Macedonian territory but ends up falling to Italy as well. Italy stays neutral in the war and creates a close relationship with Romania. They allow Jewish refugees into the country in exchange for cash and gain prestige/talent for after the war. Yugoslavia becomes a quagmire as does much of Greece after Russia takes down Berlin in 1944. All of Germany goes to the Communist Bloc and France falls to the Western Powers. Italy emerges as a regional power that eventually grants autonomy to much of her conquests and emerges as a regional power in the 1970s

See, the problem with this is that Italy is in an excellent place geopolitically. It sticks out of the bottom of Germany, providing an excellent stage for invasion, and it's located in the very center of the Med. Italy would be very hard pressed to maintain neutrality in one, let alone two world wars.
 
My Scenario

Allies agree Italy secures Corsica and Malta. Italy performs well in WW1 not being lead by a idiot Cordona. Losses are Minimal but gains are large. Trento, South Tyrol, Istria, and all of the Dalmatian Coast secured. Following the war italy secures recognition for its acquired territories.

Italy denounces a "Yugoslvia" to be created post war saying it would lead to chaos. Also trying to prevent a large state from forming on its borders. Instead support a greater Serbia and smaller Croatia and Slovenian States to be formed.

Italy following the acquisition of all "Italia Irredenta" declares itself a Neutral state.

Dalmatia can't really be secured. The locals WILL fight back. To be secured Italy would either have to A) exterminate the locals, which is out of the question or B) forcibly expel them to inland Croatia or Bosnia. In this case they'd probably continue to attack across the border.
 
My Scenario
Several points:
1) Other European powers have guaranteed Swiss neutrality, so trying to territory from there is going to be deeply unpopular.
2) Corfu was handed over to Greece with the agreement not only of Britain, but France and Russia as well, so Italy isn't getting that one.
3) Without Immigration...the population explodes? Is it me, or is that just wrong?
4) France won't sell Corsica, and Britain won't sell Malta (hells, look at what they did with Argentina when the latter tried to take over the Falklands, which are much more distant, and by the time the Argies moved, much less important).
 

Rush Tarquin

Gone Fishin'
This really requires a pre-1900 POD. If you could somehow turn the southern latifundia into Germany's Junkers or Japan's daimyos in terms of their hobby being war, they might actually have an interest in industrialisation rather than obstructing it. Screwing smallholders so they throw in the towel, move to the city and become factory workers and turning the old landed nobility into industrialists and capitalists was extremely important in Germany and Japan's industrialisation. Maybe amplify incursions by Italian states and Italian nobles into North Africa from the pre-modern era and sustain it.
 
It's hard to keep Italy out, yes, but it's easier for Il Duce to listen to his advisors and not go head-to-head with Britain over North Africa.

Yeah, Allied Mussolini could theoretically have done a lot for Italy if Italy helped win and got Marshall Plan aid after the war.
 
My Scenario

Emigration is outlawed following Unification thus preventing the massive Italian Exodus and Diaspora.

3) Without Immigration...the population explodes? Is it me, or is that just wrong?

Historically, governments that try control emigration are the ones people are most likely to flee.

If Italy is a prosperous country with a stable, democratic government, people are far less likely to leave.
 
Historically, governments that try control emigration are the ones people are most likely to flee.

If Italy is a prosperous country with a stable, democratic government, people are far less likely to leave.

This, controls on emigration put Italy up there with places like East Germany and Cuba.

An Italian leader needs to attack the "push" factors of emigration (that is to say, the things that make people leave) such as the North-South divide and give poor Southern farmers a reason to stay and advance.
 
Now it's the 1950's and Italy is one of the few European countries that wasn't turned into a smoldering ruin. It's rich{er than OTL}, on good terms with the West and still holding it's colonies {though I doubt it would hold Libya for long, in TTL it does not have Ethiopia}. Is this scenario plausible: if so what would Italy do now, if not how would YOU turn Italy into a strong regional power?

Libya actually seems like it would be the easiest colony to hold on to. It has the combined benefits of low native population, proximity to Italy and mineral resources to keep Italy keen to hold on to it. Libya also had a not inconsiderable Italian population (over 110,000 Italians in 1940, 12% of the population as a whole and about a third in Benghazi and Tripoli). Provided Italy manages to keep the Arab population happy it should be easier to hold than Eritrea or Somaliland (more densely populated territories with fewer mineral resources, and farther away from Italy to boot)
 
An Italian leader needs to attack the "push" factors of emigration (that is to say, the things that make people leave) such as the North-South divide and give poor Southern farmers a reason to stay and advance.

Exactly. Go after the problems that are causing emigration and fewer people will leave.
 
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