Italy: Motivations for Entering WWI

The Great War for Italy began, technically speaking, in August, 1914. Italy had belonged to the Triple Alliance formed in 1882, which was composed of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. However, when Germany (and thus also, Austria-Hungary) entered war with the Triple Entente, Italy merely waited.

Italy’s government at the time was run by a cautious prime minister, Antonio Salandra. The Italian socialists, including Mussolini, pacifists and republicans demanded that the country remain neutral. Thus, on August 2, Salandra announced that Italy would remain neutral in response to the pressure of the citizens. He cited a clause that stated Italy was committed to defend Austria-Hungary and Germany only in a “defensive war” and because Austria-Hungary and Germany had begun the war, it was an “offensive war”. However, Salandra worried that Italy’s former allies would soon turn their eye on Italy. He ordered his chief of staff to begin building up their military forces and stationed them on the border shared with Austria-Hungary.

By October of 1914, Mussolini and several of his fellow Socialists had changed their minds about the war, and were kicked out of the Socialist party. The general mood of the public shifted to follow. In a secret meeting with Britain in April, 1915, Italy signed the Treaty of London and agreed to join the war on the side of the Triple Entente. In return for her declaration of war against Germany and Austria-Hungary, the British government immediately pledged £50 million and a pledge to support Italy’s territorial demands following the war..


Bibliography
"Feature Articles: The Causes of World War One." First World War. 27 Mar. 2004. 7 July http://www.firstworldwar.com/origins/causes.htm

"Italy and the First World War." Spartacus Educational. 7 July 2009 http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWitalyW.htm

"Italy and World War One." History Learning Site. 7 July 2009 http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/italy_and_world_war_one.htm