Explain how the closer relations with Hitler in the period 1940-43 contributed to Italy's failure in WW2.

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EXPLAIN HOW THE CLOSER RELATIONS WITH HITLER IN THE PERIOD 1940-43 CONTRIBUTED TO ITALY'S FAILURE IN THE 2WW. (8)

Mussolini’s closer relations with Hitler certainly contributed to their defeat in the Second World War. It was because of Germany that Italy felt pressured to join the war in the first place. The scale of the German victories of the autumn of 1939 and the early summer of 1940 stimulated Mussolini’s greed. There was now the prospect of large rewards if Italy joined the war on Germany’s side. It appeared that the war would soon be won by Germany. It was, therefore, imperative to ‘assist’ Germany before the opportunity to gain economically and territorial gains from the war was lost. He feared being isolated in a German dominated Europe.

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Militarily, Germany was not a trustworthy ally. Mussolini pushed ahead with the ‘parallel war’ despite the fact that Germany was unlikely to co-operate with Italian desire for French colonies. Hitler was unwilling to hand France’s North African colonies to Italy, preferring to leave them and the French Med fleet under the puppet Vichy regime to ensure the latter’s permanent collaboration. Furthermore, Italy attacked Greece in 1940, interestingly in part because the Greek government was too friendly to Germany for Mussolini's liking. It could also be said that the German Italian Alliance contributed to the Italian’s failure in North Africa. ...

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