Which changed most in the period 1933-41 , the

relations between Italy and Britain and France or

between Italy and Germany?

In In his article here in 20th C history magazine from September 2005, Graham Goodlad advises us to rid ourselves of the ideas that Italy was bound to ally itself with Nazi Germany. So when did they become bound together? And WHY?How did Mussolini’s relationship with Britain and France fluctuate at the time?

Create a living graph

• One group to look at Mussolini’s relationship with Germany, the other Mussolini’s relationship with Britain and France.

© Italy: The Rise of fascism 1915-45 M.Robson, Access to History, Hodder and Stoughton 2006

This German cartoon of May 1933 shows Hitler and Mussolini taking Dolfuss of Austria for a ride. Things were to change when Dolfuss was murdered in the next year.

Clearly in August 1939 Hitler and Mussolini seem to be in league together with Britain and France sidelined.

We have lots of images of Hitler and Mussolini together, with different leaders in the foreground depending on which country issued the stamp!

But was Mussolini’s foreign policy always aligned with Germany rather than Britain and France?You decide in your living graph