Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History
Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015
Italy’s international standing in 1935: Mussolini’s foreign policy aims;…
Full specification wording
Challenges to, and the fall of, the fascist state, c1935–46: Italy’s international standing in 1935: Mussolini’s foreign policy aims; the impact of foreign policy success and failure before 1934; relations with Britain, France and Germany; the Stresa Front 1935.
Mussolini's foreign policy aims sought to make Italy a great power, revising the post-war settlement and expanding in the Mediterranean and Africa.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 1 of 4
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Mussolini's foreign policy aims sought to make Italy a great power, revising the post-war settlement and expanding in the Mediterranean and Africa. The impact of foreign policy success and failure before 1934 was mixed: successes like Fiume (1924) boosted prestige, while failures like the forced withdrawal from Corfu (1923) showed limits. Relations with Britain, France and Germany were complex. With Britain and France, relations were ambivalent: Locarno (1925) suggested cooperation, but colonial rivalry persisted. Relations with Germany were tense; Mussolini opposed the 1934 attempted Nazi coup in Austria (Dollfuss crisis) and sent troops to the Brenner Pass. The Stresa Front 1935 saw Britain, France and Italy unite against German rearmament. Italy’s international standing in 1935 was high but precarious.
What earns the marks
- Explains Mussolini’s foreign policy aims: to establish Italy as a great power, dominate the Mediterranean, revise the Versailles settlement, and expand colonial territory in Africa.
- Assesses the Stresa Front 1935: an agreement between Britain, France and Italy to oppose German rearmament; it demonstrated Italy’s diplomatic importance but lacked enforcement mechanisms.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Assuming the Stresa Front was a formal military alliance.
Put it right: It was a political agreement to oppose German rearmament, not a binding military pact.
Claiming Mussolini consistently supported Germany before 1935.
Put it right: He actively opposed Hitler over Austria in 1934 and joined the anti-German Stresa Front in 1935; relations only improved later.
Categorising the 1920s Albanian protectorate as a failure.
Put it right: The 1926 treaties established a de facto protectorate over Albania, which was viewed as a foreign policy success for Mussolini.
Exam tips
- Use specific dates and events (e.g., Corfu 1923, Fiume 1924, Stresa Front April 1935) to support arguments about Italy’s standing.
- Compare Italy’s relations with Britain, France and Germany to show the balance and fragility of its position in 1935.
Try the lesson
The start of the Challenges to, and the fall of, the fascist state, c1935–46: Italy’s international standing in 1935: Mussolini’s foreign policy aims; the impact of foreign policy success and failure before 1934; relations with Britain, France and Germany; the Stresa Front 1935. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which city hosted the 1935 conference at which Britain, France and Italy agreed to oppose any future German breach of the Versailles settlement?
Listen
Mussolini's foreign policy aims sought to make Italy a great power, revising the post-war settlement and expanding in the Mediterranean and Africa. The impact of foreign policy success and failure before 1934 was mixed: successes like Fiume (1924) boosted prestige, while failures like the forced withdrawal from Corfu (1923) showed limits. Relations with Britain, France and Germany were complex. With Britain and France, relations were ambivalent: Locarno (1925) suggested cooperation, but colonial rivalry persisted. Relations with Germany were tense; Mussolini opposed the 1934 attempted Nazi coup in Austria (Dollfuss crisis) and sent troops to the Brenner Pass. The Stresa Front 1935 saw Britain, France and Italy unite against German rearmament. Italy’s international standing in 1935 was high but precarious. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains Mussolini’s foreign policy aims: to establish Italy as a great power, dominate the Mediterranean, revise the Versailles settlement, and expand colonial territory in Africa. Evaluates the impact of foreign policy success and failure before 1934: Fiume (1924) and the Albanian protectorate (1926) boosted domestic prestige, but the forced Corfu withdrawal (1923) and limited gains at Locarno highlighted Italy's relative weakness. Analyses relations with Britain, France and Germany: cooperative but strained with Britain and France over colonial ambitions; tense with Germany following Hitler's rise, culminating in Mussolini's opposition to the 1934 attempted Nazi coup in Austria (Dollfuss crisis). Assesses the Stresa Front 1935: an agreement between Britain, France and Italy to oppose German rearmament; it demonstrated Italy’s diplomatic importance but lacked enforcement mechanisms. A common slip: Assuming the Stresa Front was a formal military alliance. Instead, it was a political agreement to oppose German rearmament, not a binding military pact. Exam tip: Use specific dates and events (e.g., Corfu 1923, Fiume 1924, Stresa Front April 1935) to support arguments about Italy’s standing.
Put the events in order
Put these events in the order they happened, earliest first.
- 1. Locarno suggests cooperation with Britain and France
- 2. Albanian protectorate boosts domestic prestige
- 3. Mussolini opposes attempted Nazi coup in Austria
- 4. Fiume boosts prestige
- 5. Forced withdrawal from Corfu
- 6. Stresa Front unites Britain, France and Italy
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Mussolini’s foreign policy aims and ideology
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Impact of foreign policy success and failure before 1934
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Italy’s relations with Britain, France and Germany
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
The Stresa Front 1935 and its significance
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Mussolini’s foreign policy aims and ideology
- These sought to make Italy a great power, revising the post-war settlement and expanding in the Mediterranean and Africa.
- Impact of foreign policy success and failure before 1934
- This was mixed: successes like Fiume (1924) boosted prestige, while failures like the forced withdrawal from Corfu (1923) showed limits.
- Italy’s relations with Britain, France and Germany
- These were complex: ambivalent with Britain and France, where Locarno (1925) suggested cooperation but colonial rivalry persisted, and tense with Germany.
- The Stresa Front 1935 and its significance
- This saw Britain, France and Italy unite against German rearmament, and Italy’s international standing in 1935 was high but precarious.
There is more to this lesson
The full lesson goes on to check your understanding and help you earn the marks. Create a free account to carry on, with your progress saved.
A week of Premium from your first lesson · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge
Test your understanding of Challenges to, and the fall of, the fascist state, c1935–46: Italy’s international standing in 1935: Mussolini’s foreign policy aims; the impact of foreign policy success and failure before 1934; relations with Britain, France and Germany; the Stresa Front 1935.
Active recall beats re-reading. Take an instant quiz now to test what you’ve learned and lock it into long-term memory.
A week of Premium from your first lesson · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge