Franco-Italian Armistice

Fearing that the war would end before Italy had achieved any of its aims, Prime Minister Benito Mussolini ordered a full-scale invasion across the Alps to begin on 21 June.It established a small occupation zone and an Italian Armistice Commission with France (Commissione Italiana d'Armistizio con la Francia, CIAF) in Turin to oversee French compliance.[1] Minister of Foreign Affairs Galeazzo Ciano wrote in his diary about the ridiculous demand some of his staff suggested: the entire French fleet, all its colonies, all its locomotives, the Mona Lisa.It lasted only twenty-five minutes, during which Roatta read out Italy's proposed terms, Huntziger requested a recess to confer with his government and Ciano adjourned the meeting until the next day.[9] Just minutes before the signing, Huntziger had asked Badoglio to strike the clause calling for the repatriation to Italy of political refugees (like the socialist Pietro Nenni).[7] After signing, Huntziger said to Badoglio, "Marshal, in the present, infinitely painful circumstances, the French delegation is comforted by the sincere hope that the peace which will follow shortly will allow France to begin the task of reconstruction and renewal and will create the basis for lasting relations between our two countries in the interest of Europe and of civilization."[6] The armistice established a modest demilitarised zone 50 km (31 mi) deep on the French side of the border, thus eliminating the Alpine Line.
Badoglio reading the armistice conditions to the French delegation
Map of Vichy France after the armistices
Italian invasion of FranceSecond World Warwar with GermanyarmisticeBenito MussoliniFranco-German armisticeItalian Armistice Commission with FranceFrench North AfricaFrench SomalilandCase Antonoccupied most of southeastern France and Corsicainvaded TunisiaPaul BaudoinRaffaele de CourtenEgisto PerinoMinister of Foreign AffairsGaleazzo CianoMona LisaRhône ValleyCorsicaTunisiaPietro BadoglioDino AlfieriCharles HuntzigerGerman armisticeFrancesco PricoloPietro Nennidemilitarised zoneItalian occupation zoneAllied invasion of French North AfricaDjiboutiDjibouti–Addis Ababa railwayCommand and General Staff SchoolKrasnaya ZvezdaAuphan, Gabriel PaulUnited States Naval InstituteKnox, MacGregorYouTube