Politics creates strange bedfellows

July 25 might have reminded some history buffs that "politics creates strange bedfellows." On this day Austrian Nazis assassinated Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss in preparation for a German takeover. Only one former World War I ally, Italy, did anything to prevent Hitler's first aggression. The Italians sent four army divisions to their nearby Austrian border and warned Hitler off. A German takeover of Austria would have made Italy nervous as Austria was both a former war enemy and a country that once ruled them. In the meantime, former war allies Britain and France sat by the sidelines as they went it alone.

Mussolini, who ruled Italy at the time, became leery of Hitler and tried to warn the West that he appeared to be a man of dangerous principles.

At Italy's behest, a meeting of Britain, Italy and France was held in Stresa, Italy in April, 1935. That meeting resolved to present a united front against German expansion known as the Stresa Front. Soon thereafter, Britain violated Stresa by signing a deal allowing Germany to rearm.

Some elements in the British government decided that Italy posed more of a threat to their empire than Germany under Hitler. The passage to India was their priority. Foreign Minister Anthony Eden's efforts to stave off a war by appeasement instead of a united front with France, Italy and England is suspected of ushering in World War II, a war that would claim millions of deaths, the Holocaust, the spread of Communism, wars in Korea and Vietnam and the clash of civilization in the Middle East that led to 9/11 and the present wars. And Mussolini, who really viewed Hitler as a dangerous man, would in the end decide to cast his lot with Hitler, believing the West had no resolve to stand up to him. Yes, politics does create strange bedfellows.

Walter Santi

Bloomingdale