WI: American Annexation of Sicily

Alright, first of all it is highly unlikely I realize, but still it's something that I feel is interesting to consider.


After WWII their were many different secessionist movements in Sicily who did'nt want to stay a part of Italy for various reasons, among these was a 40,000 strong group who promoted annexation of Sicily to the US.

So, let's say the movement grew in popularity to an extent that the majority supported it and American leaders, seeing an opportunity to permanently extend American influence and military power in Europe seize on the opportunity and a referendum is held in which the majority vote yes and Sicily becomes the 49th state.

How would this affect American and Sicilian society, what affects would this have on politics, how would Europe react, how would the world be different?
 
How would this work? I mean, realistically, Sicily would become a US Territory first; then perhaps after Sicily begins to enjoy considerable economic growth (more than Italy, I guess), a majority votes for statehood?

I would see Sicily as a handy place to have in the Cold War; massive US military bases there are probably forthcoming. We'd also have to do something about the Mafia that has a lot of informal power there.

I guess Sicily would enjoy a strong economic boom, probably lead to a strong Italian lobby in the USA, which would see Italy as a friend, much like the USA is influenced towards Israel through its Jewish community, etc.

Given Italian experiences in the Second World War, I don't think Italy would be terribly embittered by the loss of Sicily, particularly if things like the Marshall Plan continue.

I don't see Sicily as developing a world class reputation in any industry, but it would do at least as well as OTL. There would, however, be a strong community demanding that Sicily belongs to Italy in Italy proper...but they'd be as marginalized as the people who demand Stettin in Germany.
 
I was thinking quick statehood to prevent any attempts for it to be made a part of Itlay again or independent
 
I was thinking quick statehood to prevent any attempts for it to be made a part of Itlay again or independent

Well, I mean, this is going from very unlikely to nigh-on impossible. If it is a US territory, it can develop a stronger Pro-US lobby through immigration. Thing is, Quickly annexing Sicily has a LOT of problems--does Sicily have a legal system? How does one handle the language barrier? Or what about debts that Sicily owes, what happens to them?

There is always going to be the shadow of secession if Sicily joins in one quick move; also, this is hardly Texas. The United States generally doesn't grant statehood to recently acquired territories--they need to be populated first. Doing this in under a decade--would throw the question of illegitimacy all over this; and I don't see how Sicily would vote to join the USA and then the USA would then decide to offer Sicily Statehood right off the bat, either.
 
Well, I mean, this is going from very unlikely to nigh-on impossible. If it is a US territory, it can develop a stronger Pro-US lobby through immigration. Thing is, Quickly annexing Sicily has a LOT of problems--does Sicily have a legal system? How does one handle the language barrier? Or what about debts that Sicily owes, what happens to them?

I probably should note that quickly to me is like 15 years, I was thinking an earliest of late 50's, right before Alaska and Hawaii for legitimacy sakes, like 'See, we're not JUST making Sicily a state, Alaska and Hawaii get to be states to.'.

But yes, their does need to be enough time between territoriality, development and statehood.


There is always going to be the shadow of secession if Sicily joins in one quick move; also, this is hardly Texas. The United States generally doesn't grant statehood to recently acquired territories--they need to be populated first. Doing this in under a decade--would throw the question of illegitimacy all over this; and I don't see how Sicily would vote to join the USA and then the USA would then decide to offer Sicily Statehood right off the bat, either.

As for population, Sicily had around 4 million people at the time, though if you mean populated by Americans, then yes, that is something that will take decades to do without getting the world community pissy.
 
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Remember: a very significant portion of Italian-Americans from the immigration wave of the late-19th/early-20th centuries were in fact Sicilian.
 
I was thinking of something that I figure I'll add since I only provided the question an did'nt even try with the answer.


Sicily is a major base for organized Crime, and seeing as America would likely take a zero tolerance policy with the Mafioso and other groups we may well see a noticeable, though not massive, decrease in the amounts of organized crime in Europe.

Speaking of Europe, Sicily is in Europe, so one wonders if the EU came to being as OTL, might their be some in the US and in Europe who call for the United States to become an EU member.
 
Speaking of Europe, Sicily is in Europe, so one wonders if the EU came to being as OTL, might their be some in the US and in Europe who call for the United States to become an EU member.

I wouldn't think so. Seems to me that Sicily would begin to drift further and further away from the mainland and large %'s opting for independence. I think just the location and culture are going to have a pull toward Europe. At the very least I think you would see the population have a Puerto Rico mentality. As for during the Cold War ... it's going to probably seem like every other person on the street is a spy. It will probably be a massive espionage hot spot.
 
Speaking of Europe, Sicily is in Europe, so one wonders if the EU came to being as OTL, might their be some in the US and in Europe who call for the United States to become an EU member.

Ignoring that the EU could be butterflied away (for example by just staying a economic union), the USA would never be able to join the EU. If we ignore that you have to abolsh the Death penalty for the EU (that rule could easily left out of a different EU or maybe the USA will get rid of it themselves), if we ignore that most of the USA is not part of Europe (maybe the EU admits non European members earlier, like Israel, Turkey, etc.). The biggest problem is that the USA is just too big for the EU. It has almost as much citizens as the other EU countries have together. This would completely shift the balance of power within the EU towards the USA. The EU would just become an extended USA, not something most (if any) European countries want. Russia is considered to be too big for the EU (and even Turkey and Ukraine for some), let alone the USA.

BTW I would like to add that I think it is realy unlikely that Sicily will ever become a US state, even if it becomes a US territory, I think it will remain too Unamerican to join. At best it will become a second Puotro Rico, but I think that in the end it will become either an independent country or just rejoin Italy.
 

Wolfpaw

Banned
While a US annexation of Sicily is borderline ASB, I think that it could be plausible to have the USA support an independent Sicily. This could have huge ramifications on the Cold War as it could very well radicalize (even further radicalize, I should say:rolleyes:) Italian politics during the Cold War. You could see stronger secessionist movements (like for Padania) and stronger reactions against such movements and the rise of irredentist movements. Also, one could easily see the USA pumping Sicily full of military bases...and perhaps nuclear missile silos.;)

Aren't those some voluptuous butterflies?
 
Ignoring that the EU could be butterflied away (for example by just staying a economic union),

Hence why I said if the EU came into existance.


the USA would never be able to join the EU. If we ignore that you have to abolsh the Death penalty for the EU (that rule could easily left out of a different EU or maybe the USA will get rid of it themselves), if we ignore that most of the USA is not part of Europe (maybe the EU admits non European members earlier, like Israel, Turkey, etc.). The biggest problem is that the USA is just too big for the EU. It has almost as much citizens as the other EU countries have together. This would completely shift the balance of power within the EU towards the USA. The EU would just become an extended USA, not something most (if any) European countries want. Russia is considered to be too big for the EU (and even Turkey and Ukraine for some), let alone the USA.

Oh I'm not even considering it happening ITTL, just saying I wonder if you might get some very small groups calling for it, just as their are those who call for Russia to join.
 
Also worth noting that battling the Mafia in New York has proven near impossible as it is...rooting them out of the hills of Sicily where they've been one of the major fixtures of the local order for centuries will be nigh impossible. We're talking areas in the back country that have resisted mainland Italian culture for years and have created a rather insular community even by southern Italian standards. The cultural differences will be a much greater obstacle than the language barrier.

Plus why would the American people support such a measure?
 
The same reason we've supported everything else over the years, power, influence, ideology.

There was a different mindset in 1945 than in 1902. The desire for building an overseas American empire was long past. We went to Europe to "liberate" not "conquer", after all. Truman could certainly justify stationing troops in an "independent" Sicily as a bulwark against Communism, but I think he'd have a hard time selling annexation even after a victorious war. I doubt we'd see a Sicilian state any more than we would have made the Philippines a state and for much the same reasons (culture clash, language, empire denial, etc.).
 
There was a different mindset in 1945 than in 1902. The desire for building an overseas American empire was long past. We went to Europe to "liberate" not "conquer", after all. Truman could certainly justify stationing troops in an "independent" Sicily as a bulwark against Communism, but I think he'd have a hard time selling annexation even after a victorious war. I doubt we'd see a Sicilian state any more than we would have made the Philippines a state and for much the same reasons (culture clash, language, empire denial, etc.).

Well the initial change I was going with was'nt America annexing it because it could, but the Siciliians themselves loudly asking to be.
 
There'd have to be a real reason why for them too. Maybe Lucky Luciano's influence? :eek:

Don't have any particular reason other than it was a chaotic time and their were alot of groups (including one that wanted to join the US) around.

Honestly I just thought it was an interesting idea.
 
Don't have any particular reason other than it was a chaotic time and their were alot of groups (including one that wanted to join the US) around.

Honestly I just thought it was an interesting idea.

It is, actually, but highly unlikely bordering on ASB, as you said yourself.

That said, a fun implausible is still worth doing if done right, IMO. In fact, the Luciano angle could be your ticket. Perhaps a POD where Luciano manages to forge a facade of going "legit", much as Joe Kennedy did OTL. Perhaps ITTL "Senator Luciano" becomes the spearhead and rally-point for a Sicilian "anschluss". Hilarity Ensues.
 
It is, actually, but highly unlikely bordering on ASB, as you said yourself.

That said, a fun implausible is still worth doing if done right, IMO. In fact, the Luciano angle could be your ticket. Perhaps a POD where Luciano manages to forge a facade of going "legit", much as Joe Kennedy did OTL. Perhaps ITTL "Senator Luciano" becomes the spearhead and rally-point for a Sicilian "anschluss". Hilarity Ensues.

I have to admit, I have no idea who Luciano is, Italian history is'nt really one of my strong points, I mean I can name some of the pre-unification states, but don't really know alot.
 
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