Mussolini Knew Italy Wasn’t Ready for War — So Why Did He Join Hitler?

In 1940, Benito Mussolini made one of the most consequential decisions of his rule. Italy was not ready for a long war. Its industry was limited, fuel and raw materials were scarce, and even Mussolini knew the military needed more time. So why did he join Hitler? The answer was not that Italy suddenly became stronger. It was that Germany suddenly looked unstoppable. As France collapsed and Hitler appeared close to winning the war, Mussolini began to believe that Italy could enter late, fight briefly, and still claim a share of the victory. But Britain refused to surrender. North Africa became a disaster. The invasion of Greece exposed Italy’s weakness. German intervention made Mussolini increasingly dependent on Hitler. And the short war Mussolini thought he was joining became exactly the long war he knew Italy was not prepared to fight. This documentary examines Mussolini’s decision to enter World War II, the fall of France, Italy’s military weaknesses, the campaigns in Greece and North Africa, and the strategic assumption that ultimately helped destroy his regime.