Timeline: Italy's Switch from Axis to Ally in WW2

Jun 28, 1919

Treaty of Versailles

Oct 1, 1919

Mussolini's Blackshirts + Fascist Party

“Rise to Power of Benito Mussolini.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 10 Feb. 2025, www.britannica.com/biography/Benito-Mussolini/Rise-to-power.

1922

Mussolini voted in Prime Minister

1922

March on Rome

“Rise to Power of Benito Mussolini.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 10 Feb. 2025, www.britannica.com/biography/Benito-Mussolini/Rise-to-power.

1925

Mussolini becomes Fascist Dictator of Italy

“Benito Mussolini.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, www.pbs.org/tpt/dictators-playbook/episodes/benito-mussolini/. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.

Nov 1, 1936

Hitler and Mussolini meet

“Meeting between Hitler and Mussolini, 1934. German Nazi Leader Adolf...” Getty Images, www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/meeting-between-hitler-and-mussolini-1934-german-nazi-news-photo/463997495. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

Nov 25, 1936

Anti-Comintern Pact of 1936

“Anti-Comintern Pact Japanese Embassador Kintomo Mushakoji Signing The...” Getty Images, www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/germany-free-state-prussia-berlin-anti-comintern-pact-news-photo/548788841. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.

Nov 6, 1937

Italy joins the Anti-Comintern Pact

Sep 1, 1939

Start of WW2

1940

Axis signed Tripartite Pact

“Tripartite Pact.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., www.britannica.com/topic/Tripartite-Pact. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.

Jun 10, 1940

Italy joins Axis in WW2

Nov 11, 1940

Allies sink Italian Battle Fleet at Taranto

Jul 9, 1943

Invasion of Sicily ("Operation Husky")

“Canada in the Second World War.” Juno Beach Centre, www.junobeach.org/canada-in-wwii/articles/the-invasion-of-sicily/. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.

Jul 25, 1943

Mussolini voted out of power and arrested

Jul 25, 1943

Pietro Badoglio replaces Mussolini

“Pietro Badoglio.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 5 Feb. 2025, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pietro_Badoglio.

Sep 3, 1943

Armistice of Cassibile

“Armistice of Cassibile.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 9 Feb. 2025, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armistice_of_Cassibile.

Sep 8, 1943

Allies land in Salerno

“Landing at Salerno.” Liberation Route Europe, www.liberationroute.com/pois/339/landing-at-salerno. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.

Sep 8, 1943

German forces occupy Italy ("Operation Achse/Axis")

“Operation Achse.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 19 Feb. 2025, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Achse.

Sep 12, 1943

Gran Sasso Raid- Mussolini rescued by German forces

Oct 1, 1943

Italian Social Republic established by Mussolini

Oct 13, 1943

Italy declares war on Germany

1944

Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria try to leave Axis for Allies

Jun 4, 1944

Rome recaptured by the Allies

“Dea Picture Library.” 615 Rome 1940 Stock Photos, High-Res Pictures, and Images - Getty Images, www.gettyimages.com/photos/rome-1940. Accessed 23 Feb. 2025.

1945