And interwar Italy
14th February 1920: Italy begins an extensive program to develop Albania, investing heavily capitalising on it move to a creditor nation during the war.
May 1920: While the majority of the Italian population are satisfied with the post war territorial gains, a vocal minority claim the treaties are a betrayal of the Italian nation. These nationalists frequently resort to violence to further their aims.
February 1921: Italy begins work on convertingthe armoured cruiser Varese to an aircraft carrier.
January 1922: Italian nationalists lead by Gabriele D'Annunzio march into Fiume to "liberate" the city. The Croatians avoid the use of force, instead calling for the Entente to remove the nationalists.
March 1922: Under a compromise arranged by the Entente, Italy imposes a blockade forcing the nationalists in Fiume to withdraw in return for a plebiscite to determine the city's fate. D'Annunzio however is hailed as a national hero by many in Italy, others however, satisfied with the post war settlement, are concerned at the possibility of drawn into a costly war.
August 1922: The plebiscite in Fiume elects to remain part of Croatia. A wave of outrage sweeps Italy with irredentists calling for war to gain the disputed territory. However the conservative Italian government of Antonio Salandra refuses to challenge the result.
February 1924: Gabriele D'Annunzio's Italian Nationalist Alliance wins 84 seats in the Italian elections, establishing him as the leader of the nationalist movement in Italy.
April 1924: Recognising the rising tide of Arab nationalism, Italy begins a program of gradual autonomy for Libya, Eritrea and Somalia patterned after the Imperial program in India. Albania however is to be directly incorporated into Italy itself.
September 1925: With the crisis deepening the Nationalist Alliance is able capitalise on fear of war and resentment at the post war settlement to force Italy's withdrawal from the Entente tipping the balance to the moderates within the Entente.
April 1927: Benito Mussolini's far right Fascist Party attempts a coup to overthrow the conservative government of Antonio Salandra. The coup is rapidly suppressed by the military and the leaders arrested. This failed coup leads to a collapse in support for nationalist parties and an end to the politicalviolence which has characterised Italy since the "Entente betrayal" at the end of the Great War.
February 1930: The Warsaw Pact begin conducting regular joint exercises to ensure interoperability of their forces.
May 1932: To match the French Dunkerque class, the Italians begin a radical reconstruction of their two Doria class battleships. The reconstruction will amount to a complete rebuild with the ships displacement increased to 27,000 tons, armed with ten 12.6" guns and capable of 28 knots.
August 1932: The Italian economy, hard hit by the Great Depression, has shrunk by 21% and unemployment soared. As with the rest of the world, this has lead to massive political instability, with a massive surge in support of extremist parties and a return to the political violence of the 20s. Prime Minister Giacomo Matteotti institutes a series of reforms, abandoning the gold standard, introducing social welfare programs and public works schemes, funded by deficit spending. Coupled with a firm crackdown on political violence, these reforms begin a gradually recovery and return to political stability.
May 1934: Giacomo Matteotti's reforms and subsequent economic recovery have steadily improved political stability in Italy. Seeing his support base diminishing, leader of the Italian Nationalist Alliance, Gabriele D'Annunzio's, secretly launches a campaign of terrorism by Benito Mussolini's underground Fascist movement to destabilise the country.
May 1934: The Italians begin the reconstruction of the Carricolo class battleships. While not as radical as the Doria class, the ships are reboilered, given additional deck armour, modern fire control and a new dual purpose secondary battery. The first pair will enter reconstruction in 1934, the second in 1937.
March 1935: Concerned by the growing belligerence of the Entente, Italian Prime Minister Giacomo Matteotti signs the Treaty of Warsaw.
May 1935: With their battlefleet rapidly becoming obsolete, the Italians order two new battleships and the conversation of the liner Roma to a fleet carrier as the Aquila. The Italia class will displace 41,000 tons, be capable of 30 knots and carry eight 15" guns. The Aquila will displace 23,000 tons and capable of 30 knots carrying 66 aircraft. In order to develop their naval aviation before the carrier becomes available, the Italian navy negotiates an agreement for Italian personnel to train on RN carriers. This is the beginning of close cooperation between the Italian and CW navies.
June 1935: Fascist terrorists assassinate Italian Italian Prime Minister Matteotti in a bomb attack which claims 15 lives. In response, a major crackdown on extremist groups is launched.
December 1935: In line with the CW policy of encouraging a return to free trade, the Treaty of Montreal creates a single free trade bloc covering the ABC powers of South America, the CW, Gaige China and the Warsaw Pact states. The Treaty includes provision for other nations to enter the trade bloc.
May 1937: The begin the rebuilding of the second pair of Caricciolo class battleships and order two new light carriers carriers. The carriers Falco and Sparviero will be an improved version of the CW Colossus class
January 1938: The Warsaw Pact adopt the Polish Kbsp wz.38M semi automatic rifle, the Czech ZB 33 LMG and ZB 53 MG in 7.92mm Mauser along with the Italian Beretta M1937 (a recoil locked development of their M1929) pistol and Beretta M1938 SMG in 9mm Parabellum as the standard service weapons throughout the alliance.
May 1938: The Italians order a further pair of Littorio class battleships while the three Cavour class ships enter a reconstruction similar to the Andrea Doria class, with the aging Dante Alighieri reduced to a training role.
January 1940: The Italian Macci C.202 powered by a licensed version of the German Daimler Benz DB601 engine, enters service with the Italian air force. The aircraft is also adopted by the Czech Republic and Poland as an interim measure as the development of their own fighters has been delayed. The aircraftrapidly proves to be an excellent fighter superior to any in Entente service.
May 1940: With tensions in Europe climbing the Italians order a further pair of Italia class battleships and two new carriers. Designed with CW assistance, the Grifone class are sightly modified versions of the Centaur class and expected to be in service by 1943.
May 1940: The Italians deploy troops and aircraft to the Balearic Islands, both to assist in their defence and to attack French shipping in the event of war.
August 1940: The French begin building up their North African Army for an invasion of Libya in the event of war. The Italians respond by strengthening their defences.
