Italy's Switch from Axis to Ally in WW2

WW1 Ends

Nov 11, 1918

Treaty of Versailles

Jun 28, 1919

Mussolini's Blackshirts + Fascist Party

Oct 1, 1919

“Rise to Power of Benito Mussolini.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 10 Feb. 2025, www.britannica.com/biography/Benito-Mussolini/Rise-to-power.

Mussolini voted in Prime Minister

1922

March on Rome

1922

“Rise to Power of Benito Mussolini.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 10 Feb. 2025, www.britannica.com/biography/Benito-Mussolini/Rise-to-power.

Mussolini becomes Fascist Dictator of Italy

1925

“Benito Mussolini.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, www.pbs.org/tpt/dictators-playbook/episodes/benito-mussolini/. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.

Hitler and Mussolini meet

Nov 1, 1936

“Meeting between Hitler and Mussolini, 1934. German Nazi Leader Adolf...” Getty Images, www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/meeting-between-hitler-and-mussolini-1934-german-nazi-news-photo/463997495. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

Anti-Comintern Pact of 1936

Nov 25, 1936

“Anti-Comintern Pact Japanese Embassador Kintomo Mushakoji Signing The...” Getty Images, www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/germany-free-state-prussia-berlin-anti-comintern-pact-news-photo/548788841. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.

Italy joins the Anti-Comintern Pact

Nov 6, 1937

Start of WW2

Sep 1, 1939

Axis signed Tripartite Pact

1940

“Tripartite Pact.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., www.britannica.com/topic/Tripartite-Pact. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.

Italy joins Axis in WW2

Jun 10, 1940

Allies sink Italian Battle Fleet at Taranto

Nov 11, 1940

Invasion of Sicily ("Operation Husky")

Jul 9, 1943

“Canada in the Second World War.” Juno Beach Centre, www.junobeach.org/canada-in-wwii/articles/the-invasion-of-sicily/. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.

Mussolini voted out of power and arrested

Jul 25, 1943

Pietro Badoglio replaces Mussolini

Jul 25, 1943

“Pietro Badoglio.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 5 Feb. 2025, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pietro_Badoglio.

Armistice of Cassibile

Sep 3, 1943

“Armistice of Cassibile.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 9 Feb. 2025, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armistice_of_Cassibile.

Allies land in Salerno

Sep 8, 1943

“Landing at Salerno.” Liberation Route Europe, www.liberationroute.com/pois/339/landing-at-salerno. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.

German forces occupy Italy ("Operation Achse/Axis")

Sep 8, 1943

“Operation Achse.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 19 Feb. 2025, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Achse.

Gran Sasso Raid- Mussolini rescued by German forces

Sep 12, 1943

Italian Social Republic established by Mussolini

Oct 1, 1943

Italy declares war on Germany

Oct 13, 1943

Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria try to leave Axis for Allies

1944

Rome recaptured by the Allies

Jun 4, 1944

“Dea Picture Library.” 615 Rome 1940 Stock Photos, High-Res Pictures, and Images - Getty Images, www.gettyimages.com/photos/rome-1940. Accessed 23 Feb. 2025.

Japan surrenders

1945

Hitler commits suicide

Apr 28, 1945

Mussolini captured and executed by Italian Partisans

Apr 28, 1945

Germany surrenders

May 8, 1945

“Nazis Surrender, Ending World War II in Europe.” Lockhaven.Com, The Express, 7 May 2020, www.lockhaven.com/news/local-news/2020/05/nazis-surrender-ending-world-war-ii-in-europe/.