World War II

Italian invasion of France
Mussolini delivering his declaration of war speech, from the balcony of the Palazzo Venezia in Rome ©Image Attribution forthcoming. Image belongs to the respective owner(s).
1940 Jun 10 - Jun 22

Italian invasion of France

Italy

The Italian invasion of France (10–25 June 1940), also called the Battle of the Alps, was the first major Italian engagement of World War II and the last major engagement of the Battle of France.


The Italian entry into the war widened its scope considerably in Africa and the Mediterranean Sea. The goal of the Italian leader, Benito Mussolini, was the elimination of Anglo-French domination in the Mediterranean, the reclamation of historically Italian territory (Italia irredenta) and the expansion of Italian influence over the Balkans and in Africa. France and Britain tried during the 1930s to draw Mussolini away from an alliance with Germany but the rapid German successes from 1938 to 1940 made Italian intervention on the German side inevitable by May 1940.


Italy declared war on France and Britain on the evening of 10 June, to take effect just after midnight.

Last Updated: Sun Jan 29 2023

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