Mussolini doesn't attack France in 1940.

HJ Tulp

Donor
IOW there was a BIG gap between number 2 or 3 Japan/USA and Italy. It wasn't a signifigant threat to the big three.

Depends on the theater. Italy could (and was) a real headache for the British and French in the Med. Great navies usually have great responsibilitys and have to fight in more then 1 sea.
 
Given Mussollini's personality it is had to see Italy setting out the war.
SO

Late May-- Mussolinni is flying back from Berlin, whee they have set the date for Italy's entry into the war at june 14th, When His plane crashes.

Early June Chrurchill arrives in Rome for the Funeral [Churchill and Mussolini were friends], Afterwards has High level meeting with Itailian government.

june 14th, Hitler who was never happy about Italy Joining the War, never mentioned the agreement, Italy does Not Declare War.

July, New prime Minister Ciano, begins retreat from Mussolini's Calls for a new Roman Empire.
Starts repairing relations with other Med Nations. Pushes Itaily's Colonialazation of North Africa.
This includes thousands of Refugees from Europe.
 
With Italy out of the war, I still see France falling due to the government panic and not the French army. Britian has divisions and planes to throw at Germany, and both sides would no doubt be getting all they could from Italian industry. In WWI the Italian arms industry was trully inspiring for example Berretta went from 20,000 arms a year in 1912 to almost eight million in 1918. So we could see a similar action in this war.

Assume the war goes on as normal with America joining in 1942. By the time the allies start pushing into Germany, I could see Mussolini jumping onto the winning team, and push up into Austria.
 
I was going to start a new Mussolini thread, but this'll do.:p

I still see Mussoloni going after Greece either way. In a long war Italy could overcome Greek resitance without a doubt, the Allies would be too busy to do anything about it.

They also wouldnt want to send their scarce forces to fight Italy if Mussolini hasnt sided with Hitler. I also see both the Allies and Stalin seeking to win over Italy to their cause as tensions in the grand alliance start to appear. Russia quite sensibly didn’t want to hand over Eastern-Europe to the West for nothing given the amount of blood & treasure they’d spent taking it, the West for it’s part was willing to work with Fascist Spain & Portugal during the Cold War so Mussoloni may be able to hag on to his gains.

Yugoslavia would be reduced or replaced by Greater Serbia or some-such, and would be drawn closer to the Soviet camp, Greece and Albania would be kept under tight control and Italianised forcefuly. An ageing Mussolini would be half-hated half-admired as a veteran statesmen and machiavellian strategist whose career would be carefully studied by those interested in gaining and keeping power. By the late 50's his personality cult would be of epic proportions.

Italy's colonies in Africa would be retained but ‘’communist uprisings’’ would be common and would be repressed with utmost brutality. I can see Fascist Italy hanging on in Africa grimly just like Portugal did IRL.

After Mussolini dies well Italy could go on as a one party state without a God-like paramount leader just like the Soviets and Chinese did. Of course that depends on what state Italy is in when Mussolini dies.
https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=80077
 
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