12 Unreliable Allies From History

Italy allied with Germany and Austria-Hungary in 1914 under the Triple Alliance.The Triple Alliance.In 1914, neither side trusted Italy would fulfill its part if a war started. A German newspaper image shows Italy as a screaming child refusing to give up the French cockerel. When WWI started in the summer of 1914, Italy stayed out. A year later, things got worse.

Italy joined the war in 1915 on the opposing side, but it did not help the Allies much. The initial Italian push into Austria-Hungary stopped quickly, and the Italians made very little progress in the mountains.Italy made very little progress in the mountains.Italy suffered heavy casualties with little gain. A combined German-Austro-Hungarian attack in autumn 1917 nearly ended Italy's war participation. Britain and France sent needed divisions from the Western Front to stabilize the situation. By the war's end, Italy lost over two million soldiers.

Pope Innocent III started the Fourth Crusade aiming to seize Egypt for further conquests in the Holy Land. Crusaders aimed to fight for Christendom but instead attacked Christian settlements. The first act of violence was the siege of Zara, Croatia.Siege of Zara, Croatia.The Crusaders attacked Christian settlements in 1202 on behalf of the Venetians. This siege paid for the fleet meant to carry the army to Egypt.

Worse actions followed with the siege and plunder of the Byzantine capital, Constantinople.Constantinople.The siege occurred in 1204. Although the Byzantine Empire later took back the city and some land, the siege shifted regional power. The empire never fully recovered, and its weakness allowed the Ottoman conquest in the 15th century.Ottoman conquest.The Crusaders' attack nearly guaranteed Anatolia would fall to Muslim rule, the opposite of the Crusade's goal.

Cuba and the Philippines struggled against Spanish rule when the Spanish-American War began.Spanish-American War.The Spanish-American War started in 1898. The Cubans nearly won their freedom before the Americans intervened. Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders got headlines, but the Cubans did most of the hard work.Rough Riders.The Cubans did most of the heavy lifting.

The American intervention in the Philippine Revolution gave the Philippines naval support. This was not an alliance between equals. The Americans refused to recognize the...Philippine Declaration of Independence.The U.S. blocked Philippine participation in taking Manila in 1898.

The worst happened in the peace deal between Spain and the US. Spain gave away the Philippines entirely, and a military government took over Cuba. This started a grinding guerrilla conflict.Grinding guerrilla conflict.In the Philippines, Cuba chafed under American control, especially under the terms of the Platt Amendment.The Platt Amendment exists.The aftermath of the Spanish-American conflict showed the American motivation for fighting for liberty was self-serving.

Benito Mussolini is listed.Mussolini saw a chance in 1940, even though he knew his country lacked readiness for a big war. With the French army struggling against German advances in the north, the Italian dictator wanted glory by joining the war just before victory.

Italy did little for Germany in WWII because the Italians never fully mobilized their economy for the war. Italian failures occurred in North Africa and the Balkans.North Africa is a topic.and theThe Balkans are included.German intervention fixed the situation. It pulled needed divisions from other fronts. Pictures show British-captured Italian tanks in a North African battle.

The Allies' 1943 invasion of Italy took more German divisions from the Eastern Front. Italy's limited and unsuccessful involvement in the Axis invasion of Russia ended with its complete withdrawal in 1943.

Italy split up that same year, creating a German puppet state in northern Italy—the Italian Social Republic.The Italian Social Republic is mentioned.This state lasted only 19 months, collapsing in April 1945. Italian partisans hunted down Mussolini and his mistress Clara Petacci. They executed them on April 25, 1945.Italian partisans are mentioned.April 25, 1945.

Bolivia, a landlocked nation, once had a coastline. That changed after the War of the Pacific with Chile from 1879 to 1883.The War of the Pacific is listed.Bolivia dragged Peru into a disastrous war with Chile from 1879 to 1883. Bolivia taxed nitrate exports. Peru joined the conflict via a 1873 defensive pact. Chile's army quickly defeated the Bolivians, ending their involvement in just over a year.

Peru then fought alone against a much stronger foe; by 1881, Chilean forces occupied Lima. Peruvian troops and irregulars continued fighting in a guerrilla war until 1883. Bolivia lost the Litroal Department, the coastal area near Antofagasta, and Peru gave up rich provinces as Chile expanded its northern borders.

Germany took the blame for starting the war, but the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria-Hungary, was the spark.Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria-Hungary, is mentioned.The Austro-Hungarian army struggled against Serbia in the conflict because it took too long to mobilize. Part of the delay came from refusing to cancel leave for the summer harvest, plus the poor judgment of Conrad von Hötzendorf.Conrad von Hötzendorf is mentioned.Chief of the General Staff.

Von Hötzendorf's poor leadership caused the Austro-Hungarian army to lose massive numbers, nearly a third of its fighting strength, in the first months of conflict. German support and Russian failures stopped the army's quick collapse. They dismissed von Hötzendorf in 1917, yet the Austro-Hungarian army never recovered from those early defeats.

In 1939, the disastrous Anglo-French policy of appeasing Hitler failed.Hitler's expansionist goals stopped, and a clear line formed: attacking Poland meant war. The Poles were misguided if they expected hope from the British and French positions. Neither Allied power had a serious plan to help defend Poland.Hitler gave up his expansionist goals; he drew a line: attacking Poland meant war. The Poles were wrong if they hoped for help from Britain or France. Neither Allied power had a real plan to aid Poland's defense.

The Poles continued to fight, representing a large part of the air force that held off the Luftwaffe over Britain in 1940. Exiled Polish forces also joined D-Day and the Allied invasion of France. After the war, Poland lost land, though some gains at Germany's expense occurred, and Poland fell under Soviet influence.During the German invasion of Russia, the huge front meant German allies had to defend sections of the line. As the German 6th Army pushed toward Stalingrad, the Romanians guarded its weak sides. The Russians found a weak spot and attacked the Romanian forces on both sides of Stalingrad.Germany and Russia sealed Poland's fate. After the German incursion, the Russians attacked from the east. Britain and France offered no aid. Poland fell after only 35 days of fighting against hopeless odds.

The Poles kept fighting and represented a large part of theair forceThis air force held off the Luftwaffe over Britain in 1940. Exiled Polish forces also joined D-Day and the Allied invasion of France. After the war, Poland lost land, though some gains occurred at Germany's expense, and it fell under Soviet influence.

During theGerman invasion of RussiaThe front's size forced Germany's weaker allies to hold sections of the line. As the German 6th Army moved toward Stalingrad, the Romanians guarded its weak sides. The Russians found a weak spot and attacked the Romanian forces on both sides of Stalingrad.

Operation UranusOperation Uranus succeeded; the Romanian army was easily beaten by the Red Army. German commander Friedrich Paulus wanted to move forces to save his army from encirclement, but Hitler insisted on attacking Stalingrad. The German6th Armywas surrounded and destroyed.

The Persian invasion of Greece stopped outside Athens near the town ofMarathonThe Greek army, led by Athens, took a defensive position in nearby hills and asked for help. The Spartans agreed to assist, but only after a religious festival ended.

While the Spartans waited, the Persians split their troops to surprise Athens. The Greeks saw their chance and fought the weakened Persian army. They charged in full armor to close the gap fast, stopping the deadly Median archers from causing too many losses to the infantry. To keep his force from being flanked, the Greek commanderMiltiadesThe Spartans gambled by stretching their front line. The Greek center collapsed, but the Greek army won on the flanks and saved the day.

The Spartans appeared only after the victory. Disappointed Athens claimed all the glory; the Spartan army only toured the battlefield before returning home. This was the Spartan contribution to the Greek victory over the Persians in the first invasion. They found a chance for redemption in the second.

You never knew your place with Venice in the 15th century, or most other times. Venice was one of the most prosperous cities in history, yet its diplomatic spot changed often.The Italian Wars saw European powers fight for influence in the Italian peninsula. Italy was not unified until the 19th century. The merchant Republic of Venice played a key role in the region, but it was not a side you wanted.During the Italian Wars, Europe's powers fought for sway across the politically split Italian peninsula. Italy lacked unity until the 19th century. The merchant Republic of Venice played a key role, though it was not a side you would want.

The Venetians opposed the French in the first conflict. They allied with the French in the second.The competing goals of the three powers ruined the effort. Italy's colonial aims in Africa caused tension, but Britain and France chose to ignore it. The Germans sought better ties with Britain and even an alliance against the Soviet Union later on.The Venetians took the cannoli. Venice started the conflict against the Papal States in 1508. They joined the Papal States in 1510 against the French. The alliance grew with help from the Holy Roman Empire, Spain, and England. Two years later, the Venetians switched sides, ending the war on the French side in 1516.

In 1935, Britain, France, and Italy formed a brief coalition.This coalition aimed to stop German rearmament. Britain and France lacked the will to fight so soon after WWI. They sought to stop the German military's return through diplomacy. Benito Mussolini opposed Adolf Hitler initially and welcomed a joint response against Germany with Britain and France.Competing goals among the three powers caused the effort to fail. Italy's colonial aims in Africa created tension, but Britain and France ignored it. The Germans wanted better ties with Britain and even an alliance against the Soviet Union later on.

Attempts to lower tensions resulted in failure. The Anglo-German Naval Agreement was signed in June 1935, angering the French and Italians. The terms let Germany rebuild its navy past the Treaty of Versailles limits. Britain's failure to consult its allies broke the Stresa Front. Italy drifted toward a German alliance. Germany gained confidence from Britain's surrender and made increasingly harsh demands in the late 1930s.

The attempts to defuse tensions led to the Anglo-German Naval Agreement of June 1935, which outraged the French and Italians. The terms allowed the Germans to rebuild their navy far beyond the limitations of the Treaty of Versailles. The British failure to consult their coalition partners broke the back of the Stresa Front and saw Italy drift toward a German alliance. The Germans were emboldened by the British capitulation and imposed a series of increasingly outrageous demands in the late 1930s.

Britain helped defeat Napoleon. Others fought and died most of the time. Britain used its strong navy instead of a massive, costly army for defense, thanks to its geography.As long as Britain maintained naval dominance, it could select its involvement in the conflicts.The British could choose how much they got involved in the fighting.

The British claim much credit for Napoleon's final defeat at Waterloo, even though they did not contribute much.Waterloo.The Duke of Wellington's army mostly included non-British soldiers. Belgian, Dutch, and German troops combined outnumbered the British forces. The Prussian Army arrived late, securing the narrow victory.