User:Kurtis/Military history of Italy during World War II

Gibraltar
Vichy France (prior attack), Operation Felix (prior attack), Italian bombing of Gibraltar, Italian frogmen raids 1940–1943

Invasion of Greece
Battle of Pindus, Battle of Elaia–Kalamas, Battle of Morava–Ivan, Capture of Klisura Pass, Battle of Trebeshina, Italian Spring Offensive, Battle of Greece

The Italian occupation zone
Axis occupation of Greece, Domenikon Massacre

Province of Ljubljana
Italy took control over the region of Drava Banovina, which largely coincides with modern-day Slovenia, in April 1941. This was done in reaction to the Nazi annexation of Lower Styria and Upper Carniola, as a means of emulating German territorial expansion. The Fascist regime considered it an important location in Italian history, having previously been controlled by the Duchy of Friuli and the County of Gorizia, as well as comprising the northwestern portion of the Ancient Roman province of Illyricum (named for the region in which it was based). The Slovene city of Ljubljana was originally known as Emona, the easternmost city within the Roman Empire's central province of Italy, and served as an important hub of communication with its territories in the Balkans and the Near East. In May 1941, after the partitioning of Yugoslavia by the Axis powers, Drava Banovina officially became a part of the Kingdom of Italy as the Provincia di Lubiana.

The province held a unique status within Italy. Although geographically connected to the Kingdom proper, it was treated as a special administrative unit. The Italian government appointed a High Commissioner to overlook administration within the annexed territory. Similar in nature to the position of a prefect within other Italian provinces, the High Commissioner held a slightly greater degree of autonomy. The first person to be given this title was Emilio Grazioli. Despite being under Fascist rule, the local Slovene population were initially granted several concessions. Most of the elected representatives within the regional municipalities were permitted to retain their positions, and the preceding administration was largely kept. The Italian language was granted official status alongside the native Slovenian dialect, and all students were required to learn both within the otherwise intact Slovene education system. However, this coincided with the rise of Italian hegemony over its economics, at the expense of the local population.

The Liberation Front of the Slovene Nation was established shortly after the occupation as a means of resisting the invasion and annexation of Slovenia by the Germans and Italians. They were joined by communist partisans, who were waging guerrilla warfare throughout the countryside. In response, Fascist Army General Mario Roatta and other top officials issued what they referred to as the "Circular 3C" (Circolare 3C), a largescale ethnic cleansing campaign aimed at achieving complete Italian control over the region. Roatta gave no pretence of mercy, and ordered that the operations be "carried out most energetically and without any false compassion". Methods used included summary executions, widespread arson, hostage taking, depopulation of villages, and the deportation of several thousand civilians to the recently established concentration camps of Rab, Gonars, and Monigo. An estimated 40,000 Slovenes were interned in these facilities, of which roughly 7,000 died from the harsh living conditions.

There is credible evidence that the Italian Fascists intended to commit genocide against the Slovenes. In his famous diaries of 1939–1943, former Italian Foreign Affairs Minister Galeazzo Ciano described a meeting with a Secretary General of the Fascist party who wanted the Italian army to exterminate the entire Slovenian race of one million people. General Mario Robotti also ordered for the expulsion of all ethnic Slovenes to make room for Italian settlement, in line with a directive issued in June 1942 by Mussolini, who himself had previously denounced the Slavic peoples in a 1920s speech: "When dealing with such a race as Slavic - inferior and barbarian - we must not pursue the carrot, but the stick policy... We should not be afraid of new victims... The Italian border should run across the Brenner Pass, Monte Nevoso and the Dinaric Alps... I would say we can easily sacrifice 500,000 barbaric Slavs for 50,000 Italians..."

- Benito Mussolini, speech held in Pula, 22 February 1922

After the ouster of Mussolini and the Armistice of Cassibile, German forces overtook the embattled province and delegated its administration to Slovene General Leon Rupnik. It remained under Nazi control as part of the Adriatic Littoral until their complete surrender in May 1945.

Expansion of Italian Dalmatia
Italians were abusive towards the native population.