Italian intervention in the Franco-Prussian War

I would like to know what different would happen if Italy invaded France along with Prussia during the Franco-Prussian War. What French territories would Italy try & take & which would they have the most chance of getting? what would the international reaction &/or response be to Italy? How could this effect WW1?
 
Corsica, Nice, and obviously Rome seem like the most obvious things they'd go for in this scenario. Possibly also Savoy.
 
I think alot would depend on when Italy joined the fight, if it was after September 1870 (i.e. after Napoleon surrendered) then France would push for as much land as they could.

On the other hand if the invasion happened in July or August and the Italians stopped at Nice (which had been Italian only a decade before anyway) then they might just suck it up and try to reach a seperate settlement with Italy.

I know that Prussia and Italy were allies, but the Italians also were helped by the French (which is why Nice became French in the first place), so I am not sure how realistic this actually this is.
 
I think this is a bit like putting 1940 into 1870. Admitedly the Italians occupied Rome once the French had withdrawn, but I don't think they would have gone to war with France who had only helped them to unification a decade previously. Also I don't think that Bismarck would have wanted that, for him the war was largely about further German integration and certainly not about destabilising Europe which an Italian entry would have done. It might, just might have given UK cause to reconsider its splendid isolation in the conflict.
 
I was under the impression that 'Italy' was rather pro France in this matter?

Mind you the French army found Garibaldi's unasked for assistance to be a pain in the posterior.
 
I was under the impression that 'Italy' was rather pro France in this matter?

Mind you the French army found Garibaldi's unasked for assistance to be a pain in the posterior.

You are correct. If I remember correctly from Taylor, there was some limited discussion of an Italian intervention on the French side.
Italian intervention on the German side is not impossible, but would probably require an earlier POD I think.
 
As a movement Italy must not have been unsympathetic towards the German Unification, even though they might have been worried by the consequences. OTOH the OTL war and its' outcome finally convinced the German monarchs.
Another point is that Italy would have been interested in Nice (Nizza), Corsica, Savoy and naturally Rome.
Italy certainly would initially have been grateful towards France; but with the right POD having them switch sides is not impossible, diplomatic relations can turn 'sour'.
 
The only thing that could happen in my opinion is that more land is taken from France, pissing off France, maybe to interwar Germany levels. But it means when the WW1 analogue comes along, France will not be on the same side as Italy.
 
The only thing that could happen in my opinion is that more land is taken from France, pissing off France, maybe to interwar Germany levels. But it means when the WW1 analogue comes along, France will not be on the same side as Italy.
OTL Italy was allied with Germany and Austria-Hungary before the war, then first decide to stay neutral then a year later enter in the war to the other side (with England, France and Russia)
 
OTL Italy was allied with Germany and Austria-Hungary before the war, then first decide to stay neutral then a year later enter in the war to the other side (with England, France and Russia)
Yes, that alliance would have to be played through in this world.
 
The only thing that could happen in my opinion is that more land is taken from France, pissing off France, maybe to interwar Germany levels. But it means when the WW1 analogue comes along, France will not be on the same side as Italy.

OTOH it will create certain level of revanchism in France and desire to get their territory back. Meaning France might (will?) try for two large offensives at the same time probably making a mess of both.
 
You are correct. If I remember correctly from Taylor, there was some limited discussion of an Italian intervention on the French side.
Italian intervention on the German side is not impossible, but would probably require an earlier POD I think.

The king and in general the Piedmontese camarilla were generally pro-French (the king on a personal basis, the other ones were worried by the left). The government was for neutrality (and the left was too pissed off with the French in general and Nappy in particular: the Roman question - as well some ham fisted attempts by Nappy to set up an alliance with Austria in the early 1860s and his diplomatic meddling in the 1866 war - had frittered away all the good feelings created by the French intervention in 1859).

A co-belligerance with Prussia and the German Confederation was never really in the cards. In any case an attack across the western Alps (either from the east or the west) would result in a very costly and futile exercise.

IMHO there is just a single scenario which would justify Italy and German Confederation teaming up against France: a better performance in 1866, a formal alliance with prussia after the war (the alliance in 1866 was for a limited time only) and a decision to solve drastically the Roman question in late 1867 or early 1868. Then Nappy would almost certainly declare war, Prussia would give an ultimatum in force of the defensive alliance with Italy and so on. But as things stand IOTL it does not gel.
 
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