Fascist Italy timeline
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Adolf Hitler Visits Benito Mussolini in Venice
In February 1934, Hitler met with the British Lord Privy Seal, Sir Anthony Eden, and hinted strongly that Germany already possessed an Air Force,... Read more
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Italy Invades Albania
On April 7 Mussolini's troops invaded Albania. The operation was led by General Alfredo Guzzoni. The invasion force was divided into three groups,... Read more
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Greek Forces Withdraw to Pindus to Fight Pitched Battle against Italian Invaders
The position of the Greek First Army, still fighting in Albania, was seriously jeopardized by the rapid advance of the XL Panzer Corps via... Read more
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Italy Launches Invasion of France
On 20 June, the Italian campaign began and, on 21 June, troops of the Italian Royal Army crossed the French border in three places The Italians... Read more
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France and Italy Sign Armistice Establishing Italian Zone of Occupation in France
On 25 June 1940, after the Fall of France, France and Italy signed an armistice and an Italian zone of occupation was agreed upon. The initial zone... Read more
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Italian Forces Invade Greece
On 28 October 1940, after Greek dictator Ioannis Metaxas rejected an Italian ultimatum demanding the occupation of Greek territory, Italian forces... Read more
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Greek Forces Launch Counter-offensive on Italians
Greek reserves started reaching the front in early November, while Bulgarian inactivity allowed the Greek High Command to transfer the majority of... Read more
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Battle of Cape Matapan
The Battle of Cape Matapan (Greek: Ναυμαχία του Ταίναρου) was a World War II naval battle fought from March 27 to March 29, 1941. The cape is on... Read more
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Official Surrender of Greek Forces in Albania to Axis Powers
On April 20, the commander of the Greek forces in Albania, General Georgios Tsolakoglou, realized the hopelessness of the situation and offered to... Read more
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Athens Falls to Axis Powers
Few Greeks cooperated with the Nazis and most chose either the path of passive acceptance or active resistance. Active Greek resistance started... Read more
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Hitler and Mussolini Declare War on the United States
Ultimately, it was Hitler and Mussolini’s declaration of war against the US on 11 December 1941, that overcame American opposition to a crusade... Read more
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Allied Forces Begin Operation Strangle to Disrupt German Supply Routes in Italy
Operation Strangle was a series of air operations during the Italian Campaign of World War II by the United States Fifteenth and Twelfth Air Forces... Read more
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Allied Invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky) Begins
The Allied invasion of Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky, was a major World War II campaign, in which the Allies took Sicily from the Axis (Italy... Read more
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Italian Grand Council of Fascism Votes to Depose Mussolini
On 25 July 1943, a few weeks after the allied invasion of Sicily and bombing of Rome, the Italian Grand Council of Fascism voted to depose... Read more
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Declaration of Armistice Between Italy and Allied Forces
Today, it is announced that an armistice with Italy has been concluded. This was a great victory for the United Nations -- but it was also a... Read more
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Mussolini Rescued from Prison by German Paratroopers in Gran Sasso Raid
On 25 July 1943, a few weeks after the allied invasion of Sicily and bombing of Rome, the Italian Grand Council of Fascism voted to depose... Read more
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Formation of the Pro-German Faction, Italian Social Republic (RSI), Following Italy's Armistice with Allied Forces
Upon Mussolini's rescue from Italian arrest, Adolf Hitler ordered Mussolini to form a new fascist state or else he would destroy Milan, Genoa and... Read more
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Battle of Kos
The main prize, the island of Rhodes, fell to a swift attack by a German armoured brigade. Nevertheless, British forces landed on several islands,... Read more
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Initial Allied Landings at Anzio and Cassino in Operation Shingle
The landings began on January 22, 1944. Although resistance had been expected, as seen at Salerno during 1943, the initial landings were... Read more
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Allied Forces Launch Operation Diadem to Break German Defenses on the Winter Line
Operation Diadem, also referred to as the Fourth Battle of Monte Cassino was an offensive operation undertaken by the Allies (U.S. Fifth and... Read more