This Week in Word War II - Italy Declares War on France and Britain

This Week’s Historical Theme: World War II 

10 June 1940 

A significant event throughout the history of World War II that occurred in June was Italy's declaration of war against France and Great Britain. After withholding formal allegiance to either Germany or the Allies, Benito Mussolini, dictator of Italy, allied with the former, perhaps due to German occupation in Paris. While Hitler was sceptical of this sudden break from neutrality, stating “First they were too cowardly to take part. Now they are in a hurry so that they can share in the spoils,” Mussolini claims he wanted in before the German occupation in Paris. In actuality, Mussolini was wary of waging an all-out war against Britain and France due to Italy's limited supply of raw materials.

 

While this was a hindrance for the Allies who had been attempting to ensure Italy's neutrality with promises of land in Africa, the Italian troops, who were mobilized in France on 20 June 1940, were easily held at bay by French forces. All Italians between the ages of 16 and 70 who had lived in Britain less than 20 years were immediately interned and President Roosevelt publicly promised his support for France and Britain. By September 1943, Italy had surrendered to the Allies and Mussolini was deposed from power.

Want to find out more about the role of Italy in WWII? Click here for more information, or here for more about Benito Mussolini’s motives. 

 

September 27 - The Tripartite Pact

This Day in History: 27 September 2020

 

27 September 1940

 

80 years ago, today, the Tripartite Pact was signed in Berlin between Germany, Italy, and Japan, officially forming the Axis powers. The Pact would provide for mutual assistance should any of the signatories suffer attack by any nation not already involved in the Second World War. This formalising of an alliance was aimed directly at the 'neutral' America, as it was designed to force them to think twice before drifting towards the side of the Allies. Additionally, the Pact recognised the two spheres of influence. Japan officially acknowledged 'the leadership of Germany and Italy in the establishment of a new order in Europe' while Japan was granted lordship over 'Greater East Asia'.

 

The pact was later joined by Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and Croatia, as well as some countries under Japanese control. Yugoslavia's accession initiated a coup d'état in Belgrade two days later, which Germany, Italy and Hungary responded with by invading. Those countries that signed the pact agreed to give ten years of political, economic and military help to each other. However, in 1943, the pact began to fall apart. Many countries had ended their role in the war or joined the Allies. Although the Pact remained in effect until Japan's surrender in August 1945, Germany's surrender three months prior rendered the pact meaningless.

 

Want to find out more about the Tripartite Pact? Click here for more information, or here to view the text of the Pact.

September 8 - Michelangelo's 'David' is Unveiled

This Day in History: 8 September 2020 

 

8 September 1504 

 

516 years ago, today, Bounarroti Michelangelo's 'David' masterpiece was unveiled to the public in Florence. Afterwards, a committee including Leonardo da Vinci and Sandro Botticelli decided that the statue should be placed in a more public location. The lifting of more than 6 tons of marble onto the roof added another set of complications. Once it was decided that it would reside in the Piazza della Signoria, it took 40 men four days to move the statue half a mile. After almost 400 years, in 1873, 'David' was moved indoors to the Galleria dell'Accademia to protect it from damage.  

 

The massive statue depicts a nude David, the Biblical hero who used a slingshot to slay the giant Goliath. Rejected by other artists for being flawed, Michelangelo carved it from a single block of white Italian Carrara marble. Three years before it's unveiling, the work was commissioned by the Opera del Duomo for the Cathedral of Florence. It was set to be part of a series of other statues to be located along the roofline of the cathedral. While most depictions of David feature a boy, Michelangelo's version was a muscular man. The statue is widely considered as one of the finest examples of High Renaissance art. 

 

Want to find out more about the 'David' statue? Click here for more information, or here for a video about the statue. 

Mussolini on iPhone

Der Spiegel reports that an iPhone app has been created that has 100 of Benito Mussolini's speeches. This has caused controversy in Italy where people feel it could promote the fascist dictator's views. Its creator says he didn't intend to glorify Mussolini, but believed it was another useful way to access evidence from the past. What do you think? If you find any other useful historical mobile apps, let us know!