Italy's Complex Alliances: A Historical Perspective On 1914'S European Politics

Italy was a partner in the Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary when World War I began in July 1914. However, Italy decided to remain neutral in the war. Italian nationalists referred to Austrian-held Istria and Trento as 'the lost territories'. The Triple Alliance was compromised by conflicting objectives between Italy and Austria in the Adriatic and Aegean seas.

Italy's historical enemy: annexation of territory to unite Italian-speaking populations with cultural homeland

In 1914, Italy was a partner in the Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary, but decided to remain neutral in the outbreak of World War I. However, a strong sentiment existed within the general population and political factions to go to war against Austria-Hungary, Italy’s historical enemy. Annexing territory along the two countries’ frontier stretching from the Trentino region in the Alps eastward to Trieste at the northern end of the Adriatic Sea was a primary goal and would “liberate” Italian-speaking populations from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, while uniting them with their cultural homeland.

The Triple Alliance was originally composed of Germany, Austria–Hungary, and Italy, but Italy remained neutral in 1914. As the war progressed, each coalition added new members. The 1882 Triple Alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy was renewed at regular intervals, but was compromised by conflicting objectives between Italy and Austria in the Adriatic and Aegean seas. Italian nationalists referred to Austrian-held Istria (including Trieste and Fiume) and Trento as 'the lost territories', making the Alliance so controversial that the terms were kept secret until it expired in 1915. Alberto Pollio, the pro-Austrian Chief of Staff of the Italian Army, died on 1 July 1914, taking many of the prospects for Italian support with him. The Italian Prime Minister Antonio Salandra argued that as the Alliance was defensive in nature, Austria's aggression against Serbia and Italy's exclusion from the decision-making process meant it was not obliged to join them.

During the immediate pre-war years, Italy started aligning itself closer to the Entente powers, France and Great Britain, for military and economic support. Germany had disturbed the delicate balance of power in Europe. France, fearing this new empire on their doorstep, allied with Russia in the east. An unlikely friendship for two of Europe's most ideologically opposed nations. That then left Germany feeling surrounded and pushed them to form an alliance with the Austro-Hungarian Empire and to a lesser extent Italy. Finally, Britain and its empire, afraid of German domination on the continent, drifted closer to France and Russia, though without going as far as forming an alliance. You've got Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy and you've got France, Russia and to some extent Britain.

The pre-history of Italy’s entry into the war is a prime example of the complicated entanglements of nationalistic politics and great power diplomacy. In 1882 Italy had made the Dual Alliance of 1879 into a Triple Alliance by allying itself with the Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary. At the outbreak of war in 1914, however, Italy initially declared its neutrality on the grounds that the treaty did not oblige it to give military assistance. While Rome was prepared to accept Austria-Hungary’s plans to expand in the Balkans at Serbia’s expense, it wished this benevolence to be returned in kind and revived an irredentist demand from its younger days as a nation-state, namely, the secession of the Monarchy’s Italian-speaking areas.

Triple Alliance renewal compromised by conflicting objectives between Italy and Austria

The 1882 Triple Alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy was renewed at regular intervals, but was compromised by conflicting objectives between Italy and Austria in the Adriatic and Aegean seas. Italian nationalists referred to Austrian-held Istria (including Trieste and Fiume) and Trento as 'the lost territories', making the Alliance so controversial that the terms were kept secret until it expired in 1915. Alberto Pollio, the pro-Austrian Chief of Staff of the Italian Army, died on 1 July 1914, taking many of the prospects for Italian support with him. The Italian Prime Minister Antonio Salandra argued that as the Alliance was defensive in nature, Austria's aggression against Serbia and Italy's exclusion from the decision-making process meant it was not obliged to join them.

The Triple Alliance was originally composed of Germany, Austria–Hungary, and Italy, but Italy remained neutral in 1914. As the war progressed, each coalition added new members.

The pre-history of Italy’s entry into the war is a prime example of the complicated entanglements of nationalistic politics and great power diplomacy. In 1882 Italy had made the Dual Alliance of 1879 into a Triple Alliance by allying itself with the Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary. At the outbreak of war in 1914, however, Italy initially declared its neutrality on the grounds that the treaty did not oblige it to give military assistance. While Rome was prepared to accept Austria-Hungary’s plans to expand in the Balkans at Serbia’s expense, it wished this benevolence to be returned in kind and revived an irredentist demand from its younger days as a nation-state, namely, the secession of the Monarchy’s Italian-speaking areas.

During the immediate pre-war years, Italy started aligning itself closer to the Entente powers, France and Great Britain, for military and economic support. When World War I began in July 1914, Italy was a partner in the Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary, but decided to remain neutral. However, a strong sentiment existed within the general population and political factions to go to war against Austria-Hungary, Italy’s historical enemy. Annexing territory along the two countries’ frontier stretching from the Trentino region in the Alps eastward to Trieste at the northern end of the Adriatic Sea was a primary goal and would “liberate" Italian-speaking populations from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, while uniting them with their cultural homeland.

Italian nationalists refer to Austrian-held Istria as 'the lost territories'

Italian nationalists referred to Austrian-held Istria (including Trieste and Fiume) and Trento as 'the lost territories'. This was a primary goal for Italy as it would annex territory along the two countries’ frontier stretching from the Trentino region in the Alps eastward to Trieste at the northern end of the Adriatic Sea, uniting the Italian-speaking populations with their cultural homeland.

The Triple Alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy was renewed at regular intervals, but was compromised by conflicting objectives between Italy and Austria in the Adriatic and Aegean seas. During the immediate pre-war years, Italy started aligning itself closer to the Entente powers, France and Great Britain, for military and economic support.

The Triple Alliance was originally composed of Germany, Austria–Hungary and Italy, but Italy remained neutral in 1914. As the war progressed, each coalition added new members.

The pre-history of Italy’s entry into the war is a prime example of the complicated entanglements of nationalistic politics and great power diplomacy. In 1882, Italy had made the Dual Alliance of 1879 into a Triple Alliance by allying itself with the Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary. At the outbreak of war in 1914, however, Italy initially declared its neutrality on the grounds that the treaty did not oblige it to give military assistance. While Rome was prepared to accept Austria-Hungary’s plans to expand in the Balkans at Serbia’s expense, it wished this benevolence to be returned in kind and revived an irredentist demand from its younger days as a nation-state, namely, the secession of the Monarchy’s Italian-speaking areas.

Germany had disturbed the delicate balance of power in Europe. France, fearing this new empire on their doorstep, allied with Russia in the east. An unlikely friendship for two of Europe's most ideologically opposed nations. That then left Germany feeling surrounded and pushed them to form an alliance with the Austro-Hungarian Empire and to a lesser extent Italy. Finally, Britain and its empire, afraid of German domination on the continent, drifted closer to France and Russia, though without going as far as forming an alliance.

Italy's neutrality declared on grounds of treaty not obliging military assistance

Italy was a partner in the Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary when World War I began in July 1914. However, Italy decided to remain neutral and not join the war. The Italian Prime Minister Antonio Salandra argued that as the Alliance was defensive in nature, Italy's exclusion from the decision-making process meant it was not obliged to join them.

The 1882 Triple Alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy was compromised by conflicting objectives between Italy and Austria in the Adriatic and Aegean seas. Italian nationalists referred to Austrian-held Istria (including Trieste and Fiume) and Trento as 'the lost territories'.

During the immediate pre-war years, Italy started aligning itself closer to the Entente powers, France and Great Britain, for military and economic support. Annexing territory along the two countries’ frontier stretching from the Trentino region in the Alps eastward to Trieste at the northern end of the Adriatic Sea was a primary goal and would “liberate” Italian-speaking populations from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, while uniting them with their cultural homeland.

While Rome was prepared to accept Austria-Hungary’s plans to expand in the Balkans at Serbia’s expense, it wished this benevolence to be returned in kind and revived an irredentist demand from its younger days as a nation-state, namely, the secession of the Monarchy’s Italian-speaking areas.

By the end of the first decade of the 20th century, the major European powers were divided between the Triple Entente and the Triple Alliance. The Triple Entente was made up of the United Kingdom, France, and Russia. The Triple Alliance was originally composed of Germany, Austria–Hungary, and Italy, but Italy remained neutral in 1914.

Italy aligning itself closer to Entente powers: France and Great Britain

Italy was a partner in the Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary at the start of World War I in July 1914. However, Italy decided to remain neutral and Italian nationalists referred to Austrian-held Istria (including Trieste and Fiume) and Trento as 'the lost territories'. The Alliance was so controversial that the terms were kept secret until it expired in 1915.

During the immediate pre-war years, Italy started aligning itself closer to the Entente powers, France and Great Britain, for military and economic support. Germany had disturbed the delicate balance of power in Europe and France, fearing this new empire on their doorstep, allied with Russia in the east. An unlikely friendship for two of Europe's most ideologically opposed nations. That then left Germany feeling surrounded and pushed them to form an alliance with the Austro-Hungarian Empire and to a lesser extent Italy. Finally, Britain and its empire, afraid of German domination on the continent, drifted closer to France and Russia, though without going as far as forming an alliance.

The Allies or the Entente was an international military coalition of countries led by France, the United Kingdom, Russia, the United States, Italy, and Japan against the Central Powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria in World War I (1914–1918). By the end of the first decade of the 20th century, the major European powers were divided between the Triple Entente and the Triple Alliance. The Triple Entente was made up of the United Kingdom, France, and Russia. The Triple Alliance was originally composed of Germany, Austria–Hungary, and Italy, but Italy remained neutral in 1914. As the war progressed, each coalition added new members.

The Italian Prime Minister Antonio Salandra argued that as the Alliance was defensive in nature, Austria's aggression against Serbia and Italy's exclusion from the decision-making process meant it was not obliged to join them. Annexing territory along the two countries’ frontier stretching from the Trentino region in the Alps eastward to Trieste at the northern end of the Adriatic Sea was a primary goal and would “liberate” Italian-speaking populations from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, while uniting them with their cultural homeland. Italian nationalists referred to Austrian-held Istria (including Trieste and Fiume) and Trento as 'the lost territories'.

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