what mistake did italy make in world war two?

[aurelien wolff]

Hello, I want to know more detail about those one.

[OpanaPointer]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_ ... rld_War_II

[Ironmachine]

Basically, entering into it.

[Berto]

Yes, considering the state of (un)preparedness of Italy's Army, Air Force and industry in 1940, entering the war in itself was a terrible mistake.

If one wants to consider the main mistakes made during the war, I would say that attacking Greece was a terrible decision. There was no sound reason to do so, and it ended up sucking an insane amount of men and resources (both considering the losses suffered in 1940-1941, and all the troops that ended up stuck in occupation/counterguerrilla duties in the Balkans). Greece should not have been attacked at all, but then - mistake in the mistake - the way in which the attack was carried out should be a case study about how not to 'prepare' an invasion. Potential numerical superiority not exploited at all (at the time of the invasion the numbers were almost even), invasion started just after demobilizing 600,000 soldiers and ending up with divisions badly cobbled together, invasion through a mountainous region with notoriously bad roads started in autumn, so that rain, mud and snow turned it into a hellhole...

Italy should have centered all efforts in North Africa instead. Even the way the first offensive in North Africa was carried out was a mistake. Instead of advancing with a massive army of unmotorized infantry, that ended up being destroyed by a far smaller, but better armed and mobile Allied force, all motorized (Trento, Trieste) and armoured (Ariete, Littorio, Centauro) divisions should have been sent to North Africa, equipped with M13/40s and semoventi instead of M11/39 and tankettes. A motorized/armoured forces, smaller in number than the historical Tenth Army, should have carried out the attack towards Egypt, whereas most of the unmotorized infantry should have remained in Libya, training (training was a very, very major issue) and creating better fortified positions.

[OpanaPointer]

We need a homework subforum.

[Dili]

The issue is a bit more complex and can be called an energy problem. Italy had to import fuel: coal gas etc. Royal Navy was sort of making a blockade to Italian merchant ships, inspecting them and delaying. The British obviously did not trust the Italians would not resell to Germans and Italians did not trust that British would furnish the necessary coal and gas and being dependent on ship inspection and eventually more.
Neither Germany would supply own coal and gas from Romania could pass if Italy was dependent on British. Either way Italy was a dependent nation.
Behind this is the humiliation for the Fascist regime and the political consequences of that, so it choose what appeared the less humiliating path at time.

[Kelvin]

7Italy had much longer time to prepare for war since Mussolini rise to power in 1922. I don't know why their arms always inadequate. Perhaps it is caused by relatively weak industrial production. German army got much more stronger in weaponary but her two Axis allies, seemed cannot catch up with her. German infantry division in 1939 had 93 x 5cm and 54 x 8cm Granatwerfer (mortar),20 x 7.5cm and 6 x 15cm Infantry Guns, 72 x 3.7 cm Pak, 36 x 10.5 cm and 12 x 15 cm howizers. But Italian division only had 63 x 45mm , 18 x 8.14 cm mortar, 16 x 65mm mountain gun/infantry guns 8 x 4.7cm Pak, 24 x 75mm field gun and 12 x 10.5 cm howitzer. Japanese division (3 regiments) had 340 x 5mm grenade launchers, 18 x 70mm infantry guns, 12 x 75mm mountain guns/regmental guns, 36 x 75mm field guns and 10.5 cm howitzers, 18 x 2cm Type 97 Antitank rifles and 12 x 3.7cm Pak. German had motor than both nations. Both Japanese and Italian seemed much weak in firepower and industrial weakness was main reason.

[jimhedd]

My thoughts:
1. Not securing their merchant fleet before declaring war.
2. Not taking out Malta immediately
3. No collaboration between the RA and RM.
4. Not establishing a secure oil source (Libya)
5. Shooting down Italo Balbo

[gracie4241]

Getting into the war.Period.A t the end Hitler would have agreed with that

[Kelvin]

I think one of mistake made by Italy was Mussolini 's miscalculation in June 1940. What he think was collapse of both France and Britain is imminent in the summer of 1940 and he will attend Peace conference, perhaps France ceded Corsica, Nice and Tunisia to him or Britain ceded Malta and British Somaliland to him without serious Manpower and financial cost.

What he unexpected was fierce resistance of Britain and above all, Hitler expanded the war to his ally Russia.

[DarrenMarshall]

I think one of mistake made by Italy was Mussolini 's miscalculation in June 1940. What he think was collapse of both France and Britain is imminent in the summer of 1940 and he will attend Peace conference, perhaps France ceded Corsica, Nice and Tunisia to him or Britain ceded Malta and British Somaliland to him without serious Manpower and financial cost.

What he unexpected was fierce resistance of Britain and above all, Hitler expanded the war to his ally Russia.

Basically this. All the other considerations are a conseguence of Mussolini's miscalculation.