Was it possible for Italy to do a Finland?

JSchafer

Banned
Was it possible and what would have happened if Italy didn’t declare war on France and UK but reached a behind the curtain agreement with Germans that they will fully commit to Invasion of Soviets in exchange for some French and British territory Germany’s take in peace? Would UK and Allies still declare war on Italians?
 
With Notsolini as Duce, perhaps.
Benito knew that New Rome had to fight their own war for their own glory and fame. Other possible Fascist leaders like Balbo were much more cautious and anti-Nazi to begin with.
But an Italy that occupies Albania and then invades Greece and Yugoslavia while still insisting that they are not at war against Allies while helping the Nazi economy? An Italy that declares war against Stalin?
I'm hard-pressed to see the Allies outright declaring war against Italy. But an embargo is entirely in the cards. Say, a regrettable shut-down of Suez and cut-off of foreign exports.
 
if Italy didn’t declare war on France and UK
Italians expected the UK to make peace quickly after France fall. Another thing It worked for Finland because it had no reason to fight the western Allies. No fronts near by or territorial gains. Germany opposed the Italian entrance with France falling, giving Italy land without it doing anything is not going to look good for peace negotiations.

"I only need a few thousand dead so that I can sit at the peace conference as a man who has fought"
By mid-1940 Germany had revised its earlier preference for Italy as a war ally. The pending collapse of France might have been affected by any diversion of German military resources to support a new Alpine front. From a political and economic perspective Italy was useful as a sympathetic neutral and her entry into the war might complicate any peace negotiations with Britain and France.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_invasion_of_France#Italian_declaration_of_war

if Italy didn’t declare war on France and UK but reached a behind the curtain agreement with Germans that they will fully commit to Invasion of Soviets in exchange for some French and British territory Germany’s take in peace?
If Italy is expecting Britain and France to make peace. Why not just join in as per otl and get the territories you want without being depend on Germany.
 
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