When it comes to the Second World War, France often becomes the target of jokes due to its surrender to Germany in 1940. Yet, it was by no means the only country that faced setbacks during the conflict. Although Italy didn’t surrender to the Allies until September 1943, it was another European power that fell short of expectations.
So, what caused Italy’s disappointing performance in the war? The explanation is multifaceted, but seven key factors played a role in the nation’s eventual surrender.
The Italians had outdated and minimal weaponry
The Italian Army’s main problem with weaponry was its dependance on equipment that dated back to the First World War. While this was theoretically acceptable—many countries also started the conflict with older arms—it ultimately left them lagging behind.
Most other nations quickly upgraded or replaced outdated weapons soon after the fighting began. Italy, however, lacked aircraft carriers, frequently relied on biplanes to bolster its Air Force, and equipped its Army with tanks that were no match for the newer, more heavily armored ones used by the Allies.
At the onset of Italy’s involvement in the war, its forces still used horse-drawn artillery and pre-World War I rifles. While other countries developed advanced heavy tanks, Italy had not; instead, they relied entirely on light and medium tanks. Additionally, Italy’s equipment was not only outdated but also insufficient in quantity to effectively compete against Allied forces.
Italian industry wasn’t prepared for war
Even if Italy had wanted to mass produce new weapons, its industry simply wouldn’t have been able to. Before World War II began, Under Secretary for War Production Carlo Favagrossa estimated the country’s military wouldn’t be able to engage in operations until October 1942.
This concern was acknowledged when Italy and Germany signed the Pact of Steel in May 1939, under which both agreed neither would go to war before 1943. This, evidently, was not upheld. When the Second World War broke out in 1939, Italy was still over three years away from being in a place where it could effectively fight.
Nevertheless, the nation joined the fight one year later, shortly before the fall of France. Later, Italian industry was unable to meet production demands, as the Allies had heavily bombed northern factories during raids and raw materials were difficult to access.
The Italian Army was made up of poorly-trained troops
While it’s common to see the Italian forces depicted as ineffective during World War II, there is some truth to that perception. Before the war, the Italian military had already been weakened by its involvement in conflicts in Ethiopia, Spain, and Albania. Limited funding meant there wasn’t enough money to properly train new soldiers, forcing many to learn as they fought on the frontlines.
Although Italian law required new recruits in the Royal Italian Army to undergo 18 months of training before seeing combat, it was typical for them to receive much less. Prime Minister Benito Mussolini commanded a substantial force of around 200,000 soldiers, but due to poor training and outdated equipment, they were not as effective as expected.
The majority of soldiers were unprepared for battle
The Italian forces were severely underprepared for battle. Officials were sure the conflict would come to a close shortly after France surrendered and, as such, the country’s military was poorly equipped for drawn-out offensives. However, it soon became obvious this wasn’t the case. This became most evident when Mussolini ordered troops into a poorly-fought conflict with Greece.
Greece was supposed to be a relatively easy conquest, but the Italians were met with difficult terrain and were without enough clothing or equipment, resulting in a high number of casualties. These factors also impacted morale, which is often considered to be another factor behind Italy’s loss to the Greek forces.
Ineffective supply lines
Outside of Greece, Italian troops were sent to fight in North and East Africa. One of the main issues they faced were ineffective supply lines. In order to reach troops, supplies had to be shipped across the Mediterranean, which was just another battle ground for the Allied and Axis powers.
There were large numbers of British naval ships patroling the Mediterranean, with many based at strategic harbors in Gibraltar and Malta. This made it difficult for the Italians to get their supplies through to Africa. They weren’t the only ones, however, to face such issues. The German forces also struggled with adequate supply lines during this time.
Bad military leadership
As a leader, Mussolini’s methods for military management were heavily flawed. He would promote his officers based solely on their dedication to Fascism, rather than any real skill, and would actively discourage them from questioning him or providing unsolicited advice. This led to the Italian Army being led by individuals who weren’t necessarily the best fit for the job.
Mussolini’s leadership was so poor throughout the war that he was voted out of power on July 25, 1943. One of the reasons for this was the heavy military losses the country had suffered; his leadership had brought them on the verge of military disaster.
Italy was in severe debt
While Italy struggled with a number of issues throughout the Second World War, the country’s financial position was arguably one of the most impactful. The aforementioned conflicts in Ethiopia, Spain and Albania had not only weakened Italy’s fighting force, but also had a drastic impact on the country’s financial capabilities.
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To fund their involvement in these earlier conflicts, Italy had raised money from citizens. With the Second World War beginning only a few years after the conclusion of the Second Italo-Ethiopian War, the country had no money left. Without the appropriate funds, there wasn’t enough for large-scale industrial improvements, let alone the manufacturing of new weapons or the training of soldiers.