Chapter I: Inactivity is Death

-Benito MussoliniMussolini's Italian Empire perhaps had its starts in 1933, when a series of events led to his cautious actions in regards to Nazi Germany. While at first impressed by the Nazis, he saw their racial policies to be disgusting, and seeing Hitler as nothing more but an Austrian Corporal, and nothing more. In March 1933, with the German Foreign Office announcing their claims for Pre-1914 borders, and the return of her home colonies, with Wilhelm von Bülow announcing the new policies. The world was largely quiet, those who paid attention claimed it breached the Treaty of Versailles. Mussolini was convinced that the Germans would try to expand to the East, and saw this as an opportunity to try to strengthen his military.In April of 1933, during a meeting with the King, and many military advisors, Mussolini agreed to a change in doctrine, and technology. On the April 19th meeting, he agreed with the King, and others, to start constructing shipyards in Sicily, and Southern Italy, and to begin work on an aircraft carrier to defend Italy's Mediterranean interests, as well as to expand naval power into the Atlantic. During the meeting, the King voiced his concerns over Adolf Hitler, and his radical racist beliefs, which Mussolini agreed could one day pose a danger to the Italian people. On the 22nd of April, Benito Mussolini announced that he would personally visit the United States of America to meet with newly elected President Roosevelt for a meeting to tighten relations between the two nations.On May 22nd, 1933, a flight arrived in Glenn H. Curtiss Airport (Now LaGuardia), to a massive crowd of Italian-Americans, and curious American onlookers, waving Italian flags, chanting "Saluto al Duce!". Many Italian immigrants came to the airport with shovels, showing that they were hard workers, and still loyal to their home country deep inside. At the airport, Mayoral Candidate Fiorello La Guardia, and Mayor O'Brien, greeted the Duce, where they held a Luncheon at a nearby restaurant. Mussolini spent the night in New York City, greeting large crowds of people. The next day, he departed by train for Washington D.C., where he would meet President Roosevelt.Mussolini, on arrival in Washington D.C. on the 24th of May, was immediately taken to the White House for a private meeting with President Roosevelt. Mussolini spoke in English, which he was quite well spoken in, to the President, to show the urgency of the situation he was in. The two spoke alone, and Mussolini requested that some of his highest military commanders come to America to learn alongside American military commanders, as well as dozens of Officers, who would train new doctrines to the soldiers. Mussolini also mentioned that he would be considering the same offer to the British and the French, fearing that the Germans would want another war in Europe. Roosevelt, being in office for only a few months, was unsure of what to do. He told Mussolini that he would have a response on the 27th of May while he discusses the offer with his Cabinet, and several military commanders.During the meeting with his Cabinet, President Roosevelt was for the offer Mussolini made, but some Cabinet members and Senators at the meeting did not believe that it was entirely necessary to give Mussolini the access to some of the military commanders and designs he wanted his tank corps to look over. Roosevelt decided to only allow the officers to train with American officers, however, the tank designs would not be open for Italian engineers to look over. It was rumored later on that Roosevelt even only offered the Italians the training in order not to upset the Italian leader, and to damage relations with the Italians.Mussolini was informed of the change in the deal, and chose to accept it. He would however train more of his officers with the British and French, and upon his return to Italy, he decided to meet with top military commanders once more. Italo Balbo, one of his closest friends, at a meeting on the 9th of June, 1933, told Mussolini that in order to combat the rising German threat, that the modernization of the Airforce was needed. Mussolini approved of the modernization of the Airforce, and appointed Balbo as the Air Minister of the Kingdom of Italy.Mussolini immediately put money to aircraft research, and ordered for new fighters to be designed and built by 1936, with a new bomber and fighter already in development for that time period. New airfields were being constructed in Southern Italy to help with the unemployed, and new aircraft factories in Sicily to help combat crime in the region.In July of 1933, Mussolini planned a state visit to both London and Paris to meet with leaders to discuss improving relations, and to discuss the possibility of future war games and designs for tanks and aircraft, or at least some sort of cooperation between the nations on that aspect.