When did Italy declare war against France and Britain?
Italy declared war against France and Britain on the 10th of June 1940. Italian troops crossed into French territory ten days later.
Questions about Italian occupation of France
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What was the population size of the initial Italian occupation zone in France?
The Franco-Italian Armistice signed on the 24th of June established an occupation zone containing 28,500 inhabitants. Menton served as the largest town within this area while Nice functioned as the main city inside a demilitarized zone.
How many soldiers were stationed in the Italian Army of Occupation by November 1942?
By November 1942 four infantry divisions made up the Italian Army of Occupation with 136,000 soldiers plus 6,000 officers. Another 66,000 soldiers and 3,000 officers were stationed in Corsica alone.
Why did thousands of Jews find safety in the Italian occupation zone after November 1942?
Nearly 80% of the remaining 300,000 French Jews found safety there because Angelo Donati convinced authorities to protect them. Italians refused to cooperate with Nazis rounding up Jews in January 1943 and prevented deportations within their zone until September 1943.
What was the total tonnage of Allied merchant ships sunk by Italian submarines at BETASOM?
Thirty-two Italian submarines participating in the Battle of the Atlantic sank 109 Allied merchant ships totaling 593,864 tons. Eighteen warships weighing 20,000 tons combined were also destroyed during operations that lasted until September 1943.
Which territories did Plan B propose for annexation by Italy in 1940?
Senator Francesco Salata introduced Plan B which included annexing Alpes Maritimes and parts of Haute-Provence, Hautes-Alpes, and Savoie. Monaco was also targeted for inclusion while Briançon served as the capital for the proposed territory known as Alpi Occidentali.