Alliance Pact of Steel
Mussolini instructs Ciano to inform Ribbentrop he will accept the Pact of Steel
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1939 in Italy
Explore 53 historical events and records for Italy in 1939.
Historical records for Italy in 1939
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 53 unique records.
53Unique records
1 of 2Page
28Named events on this page
9Named people on this page
7Places on this page
January
Chamberlain tries to prise Italy away from the Axis
Chamberlain tries to prise Italy away from the Axis
Pact between Italy and Germany
Mussolini instructs Ciano to inform Ribbentrop he will accept the Pact of Steel
Pact of Steel
Mussolini instructs Ciano to inform Ribbentrop he will accept the Pact of Steel
March
Ultimatum Prepared
Ciano helps prepare Italian demands intended to reduce Albania to dependency
April
Expedition Command
Guzzoni commands the Italian expeditionary force sent against Albania
Invasion Approved
Victor Emmanuel III supports Mussolini's move to occupy Albania
Invasion of Albania
Sends troops into Albania
Invasion Ordered
Mussolini orders the invasion of Albania to expand Italian control across the Adriatic
Landing at Durres
Italian troops land at Durres as the main invasion force enters Albania
Landing at Sarande
Italian troops land at Sarande as Albania is attacked from several ports
Landing at Shengjin
Italian forces land at Shengjin to widen the invasion front
Landing at Vlore
Italian troops land at Vlore during the opening phase of the invasion
Landing Force
Messe participates in the Italian landing operations at Durres
Occupation Support
Jacomoni supports Italian political plans during the invasion
Tirana Occupied
Italian forces enter Tirana after the Albanian government collapses
Occupation Administration
Jacomoni helps organize the Italian occupation administration in Albania
Annexation Planned
Ciano supports plans to attach Albania to the Italian crown
Albanian Crown Offered
The Albanian crown is offered to Victor Emmanuel III after Zog is deposed
Invasion Completed
Italian forces complete the occupation and secure control of Albania
Invasion of Albania
Italy captures Albania
Albania Annexed
Mussolini incorporates Albania into the Italian sphere under the Savoy crown
Invasion of Albania
Succeeds as the King of Albania after the Italian occupation
King of Albania
Victor Emmanuel III accepts the Albanian crown under Italian occupation
Succession
Succeeds as the King of Albania after the Italian occupation
Occupation Rule Begins
Jacomoni begins governing Albania as Italy's royal representative
Royal Lieutenant Appointed
Jacomoni becomes royal lieutenant representing Victor Emmanuel III in Albania
May
Alliance Ciano and Germany
Signs the Pact of Steel for Italy with Germany
Alliance Formalizes relations between Italy and Germany, Japan
Formalizes relations between Italy & Germany, Japan joins after the outbreak of war
Pact between Italy and Germany
Formalizes relations between Italy & Germany, Japan joins after the outbreak of war
Pact of Blood
It was Italian leader Benito Mussolini who dubbed the agreement the "Pact of Steel", after being told that the original name, "Pact of Blood", would most likely be poorly received in Italy
Pact of Steel
Although intended to last 10 years, it was effectively cancelled in 1943 with removal of Italy's fascist Government
Pact of Steel
Due to this disagreement, the pact was signed without Japan and became an agreement between Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany, signed on 22 May 1939 by Foreign Minister's Galeazzo Ciano of Italy and Joachim von Ribbentrop of Germany. The pact consisted of two parts.
Pact of Steel
The first section was an open declaration of continuing trust and cooperation between Germany and Italy while the second, a "Secret Supplementary Protocol", encouraged a union of policies concerning the military and economy.
Pact of Steel
The pact was initially drafted as a tripartite military alliance between Japan, Italy and Germany. While Japan wanted the focus of the pact to be aimed at the Soviet Union, Italy and Germany wanted it aimed at Britain and France.
Pact of Steel
Signs the Pact of Steel for Italy with Germany
Pact of Steel
Although intended to last 10 years, it was effectively cancelled in 1943 with removal of Italy's fascist Government.
Pact of Steel
Consequently, Italy did not enter World War II until June 1940, with a delayed invasion of Southern France. The pact consisted of two parts.
Pact of Steel
It was Italian leader Benito Mussolini who dubbed the agreement the "Pact of Steel", after being told that the original name, "Pact of Blood", would most likely be poorly received in Italy.
Pact of Steel
The Pact aimed to ensure that neither country was able to make peace without the agreement of the other. The agreement was based on the assumption that a war would not occur within three years.
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.