German and Italian Expansion — Causes and the Abyssinian Crisis

Two dictatorships, shared ambitions

The European case study centers on two aggressive dictatorships: Fascist Italy under Benito Mussolini and Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler. Both regimes glorified war, despised the post-1919 settlement, and sought to expand their territory and influence. While their circumstances differed, similar forces drove them: intense nationalism, militarism, economic strain, and domestic political conditions that rewarded aggression abroad. Understanding these causes is essential before examining specific events such as the invasion of Abyssinia.

The causes of Italian expansion

Mussolini came to power in 1922 promising to restore Italian greatness and to recapture the glory of ancient Rome. Italy had emerged from the First World War as a nominal victor but felt che