Short answers, pulled from the story.
Benito Mussolini declared that Italy needed to reclaim territories like Corsica, Tunisia, and Nice on the 30th of November 1938. This declaration was made before the Fascist Grand Council as part of a geopolitical vision for global shipping access.
The Italian invasion of France began on the 10th of June 1940 when war declarations took effect just after midnight on the 11th of June. Fighting continued until an armistice signed at Rome on the 24th of June took effect just after midnight on the 25th of June.
Italy countered with its own Vallo Alpino system featuring 460 complete opere equipped with 133 artillery pieces by 1939. Construction continued around the clock even as Mussolini prepared to enter the conflict against French defenses.
General Alberto Pariani initiated reforms starting in 1938 that converted all Italian divisions from triangular to binary structures reducing their strength to approximately 7,000 men. These smaller units lacked sufficient artillery support compared to their French counterparts and relied on outdated weapons dating back forty years or more.
During the fighting French forces managed to silence six of eight armored turrets on Fort Chaberton using only 57 shots over three days. This imposing structure stood at an altitude of 3,130 meters above sea level dominating the Col de Montgenèvre pass.