ADSS 1.251 Borgongini Duca to Maglione: Ciano believes Germany will invade France

ADSS 1.251 Francesco Borgongini Duca, Italy, to Luigi Maglione, Sec State.

Reference: Report Number 7624 (AES 1967/40)

Location and date: Rome, 02.03.1940

Summary statement: Ciano believes Germany will invade France in the near future and will ask for Italian assistance.

Language: Italian

Text:

In compliance with your instructions I am marking this sheet  as “very confidential”.

On 29 February at the end of a long conversation with Minister Ciano, I talked about the political situation and he told me verbally: “I have the feeling that a great offensive will be launched by the Germans on the main front (French) very soon, and I foresee, regarding this offensive, that Germany will make the utmost effort to carry us into the war.  I am fighting to avoid this happening but there are many strong currents in Italy in favour of Germany.” (1)

I endeavoured to get him to come down a little more to details on this particular allusion tho the trend of events, but I was not able to obtain a single word more.

I also mentioned the recent publication of Hermann Rauschning’s Hitler m’a dit (Paris Cooperation) to him, in which the author gave such a true portrait of Hitler that it seems that the importation of the book into Italy has been forbidden, although it is a great subject of conversation in political circles on account of the personality of the author, who is the official Danzig representative. (2)

Ciano knew the book.

I then mentioned the news given to me verbally by Your Eminence regarding Bolshevik propaganda in Bulgaria and he replied that he was well informed about it and added” The day in which communications between Bulgaria and Russia were opened, in the Sophia University, 1200 people subscribed to Pravda which, with Izvestia, is one of the most important Russian newspapers.

Notes: 

(1) This declaration by Ciano to the nuncio is also reported in Charles-Roux Huit ans au Vatican, p373.

(2) Hermann Rauschning (1887-1982), was a former Nazi who broke with Hitler and the party in 1934 before emigrating to Poland in 1936 and finally ending up in the USA in 1941.  His book Gesprache mit Hitler (Hitler Speaks) was published to great acclaim. Most historians place little credence in the authenticity of the text today regarding it as largely the work of Rauschning’s imagination.

ADSS 1.247 Maglione: notes on Italian situation

ADSS 1.247 Luigi Maglione, Sec State, notes.

Reference: AES Italy 1086, unnumbered, personal notes.

Location and date: Vatican, 17.02.1940

Summary statement: During the Milan interview, Italy had agreed to Germany’s claims over Danzig, but without war.  At Salzburg, Hitler was determined to go to war against Poland.  Ciano determined that Italy will not go to war.  Ciano claims Mussolini agrees.

Language: Italian

Text:

His Excellency [Galeazzo] Ciano, Italian Foreign Minister (1), while dining at Ambassador Alfieri’s (2) house yesterday confided to me the following:

1. At the meeting, which he had in Milan with M. von Ribbentrop, the German claims over Danzig and the Corridor had been admitted.  It was explicitly declared however that his claim could not be a motive for going to war nor that it should be attained through war (3);

2. At Salzburg Hitler and his Foreign Minister appeared already decided on going to war against Poland: the German Chancellor gave in fact a description of the future military operations with a precision which has been confirmed by the subsequent events.  All the pleasing of Ciano against the war did not cut any ice with the Chancellor who was under the manifest and domineering influence of the Minister von Ribbentrop, who was sure that the Western powers would not make a move.  Ciano’s remarks and assurances to the contrary based on reliable information had no effect.  Ribbentrop was even prepared to take a best: he would give Ciano a collection of German armour if the Western powers made a move: otherwise he would receive from Ciano an old Master. (The German collection of armour never arrived …) (4)

3. Ciano has not a good opinion of von Ribbentrop; he thinks that Hitler is more human and astute.

4. Ciano has done everything and will continue to make every effort to precent Italy going to war; the people do not want war; he is against fighting a war on the German side against France and Britain.

Ciano sees the danger of a German victory …

Mussolini is more inclined towards Germany.  He was leaning towards Germany and … war. But, Ciano told me, Mussolini loves Italy and is too much of a realist not to see that it is in Italy’s interest to stay out of the conflict and Mussolini cannot underestimate the danger of a German victory.

On the other hand – added Ciano – the war cannot be carried on, because there are no means for fighting it, armaments, etc. Italy is not prepared.  The Under-Secretaries of the military ministries had not informed Mussolini of the true state of affairs: they have been obliged afterwards to tell the truth and it has transpired for example that the Air Force had only one thousand planes, and not 5,000 as had been stated before. Italy can only handle the small Balkan powers, if necessary, but for the moment no more than that (5).

Notes: 

(1) Galeazzo Ciano (1903-1944), Italian Foreign Minister 1936-43.

(2) Dino Alfieri (1886-1966), Italian Ambassador to the Holy See 1939-40.  See CJ Lowe and F Marzari (2001/13), Italian Foreign Policy 1870-1940, Volume 8, pp 331-334.

(3) Ciano had met Ribbentrop in Milan for talks on 06-07.05.1939.  Mussolini attempted to persuade the Germans to delay war for at least three years; questions of the legitimacy of German claims over Danzig were accepted.  Ciano attempted to keep Italy out of any agreement that would drag Italy into a war but was, ultimately, unsuccessful, as the Pact of Steel announced later that month pointed to.

(4) See Lowe and Marzari, op. cit. pp 337-40; see too ADSS 1.103.

(5) The note accurately reflects the change in Ciano’s thinking between mid-1938 and the beginning of 1940.  He was determined to do all he could to keep Italy out of a war he believed would bring more harm than good to the nation.  At the same time Mussolini was moving from his position of “non-belligerence” to a more accommodating position with Germany that would eventually bring Italy into the war as a co-belligerent power.

ADSS 1.245 Borgongini Duca to Maglione: Italy will not go to war

ADSS 1.245 Francesco Borgongini Duca (1), Italy, to Luigi Maglione, Sec State

Reference: AES 759/40

Location and date: Rome, 27.01.1940

Summary statement: Italian Foreign Minister, assured the nuncio that Italy will not go to war; various matters.

Language: Italian

Text:

At the end I asked him ex abrupto if the news of a military intervention of Italy next February was true.  The Minister promptly and without thinking about the words replied: “Rest assured Italy will not go to war” and added this reservation: “At least as long as it depends on me …” (2).

Notes: 

(1) Francesco Borgongini Duca (1884-1954), Nuncio to Italy 1929-53.

(2) Galeazzo Ciano (1903-1944), Italian Foreign Minister 1936-43.

ADSS 1.237 Pius XII to King Vittorio Emanuele and Queen Elena of Italy

ADSS 1.237 Pius XII to King Vittorio Emanuele and Queen Elena of Italy.

Reference: ASS, 1939, p62.

Location and date: Quirinal Palace, Rome, 28.12.1939

Summary statement: Address of the Pope in the Quirinal; the return visit after the royal visit to the Vatican.

Language: Italian

Text:

On this auspicious day, in this august Royal Palace, as if a modern Palatinate of a new history of Rome, before His Majesty the King Emperor and Her Majesty the Queen Empress, mirror of motherly virtues to the Italian people, in the presence of a distinguished gathering of Royal Princes and Princesses, of court dignitaries and Government – and of the Eminent Cardinals and our retinue – We renew the expression of deeply felt pleasure at the solemn visit of their Majesties the Apostolic Vatican Palace made with that feeling of veneration for St Peter’s See which honours the Catholic spirit of the Dynasty of Savoy, made glorious by its Saints.  In this royal palace We confirm today the happy relations between Church and State, established ten years ago and which will remain one of the most shining glories of Our revered predecessor Pius XI and of His Majesty Victor Emanuel III.

Vatican and Quirinal, separated by the Tiber river, are united by the bonds of peace and by the memory of the religion of fathers and forebears.  The flowing water of the Tiber has carried away and buried the confused relics of the past in the Mediterranean sea and on its banks olive branches have blossomed again.

Today in this splendid hall, while the hand of a Roman Pontiff, for the first time after so many years, is raised again in the sign of benediction and peace, Italy watches and rejoices; the Catholic world watches and rejoices, and the two Princes of the Apostles, still sitting at the entrance of this palace, also seem to rejoice that they witness the dawn of a new era.  And Our lady of the Annunciation, who has her sacred altar here, will, I am sure bestow the bounty of her Grace on the Royal Family who revere her as the emblem of their highest Order of Chivalry.  And We too implore God and the Virgin Mother to extend the protection over the august Sovereigns, the Royal Princes and Princesses, over the distinguished Head and Members of the Government and all persons here present and bless the peace which, protected by the wisdom of its Rulers, makes Italy great, strong and respected.  And We hope with all Our heart that this example may urge and guide the peoples as brothers turned into enemies fighting each other on land, air and sea, to future understanding – an understanding whose content and spirit promise the development of a new peaceful and lasting order based on justice and Christian charity, without which there is no hope of lasting peace.

Notes: 

ADSS 1.211 Borgongini Duca to Pius XII: Italy will remain neutral

ADSS 1.211 Francesco Borgongini Duca, Italy, to Pope Pius XII

Reference: Unnumbered report (AES 7052/39)

Location and date: Rome, 28.09.1939

Summary statement: Nuncio has thanked Ciano for his efforts for peace.  Assured by Commander Filippo Anfuso, Cabinet Chief, that Italy will not go to war.

Language: Italian

Text:

This morning at 10.30 I was received by Minister Ciano (1) and I told him that the only motive for my visit was that of brining him the august and cordial thanks of the Holy Father for the work carried out up to now by him with diligence and efficiency in favour of peace and that His Holiness was hoping that he would continue to do everything possible for such a noble purpose.  I added that Your Holiness deigned to give me this supreme mission just yesterday, a day when the international situation was becoming darker and darker. (2)

The Minister replied promptly asking me to tell Your Holiness that he was deeply affected by such high and fatherly encouragement and that he would not fail to fight for peace in general and in particular for that of Italy.

While he was speaking, Count Ciano was called urgently to Palazzo Venetia, and prepared to go.

After the Minister had left, I spoke with Commander Filippo Anfuso, his Cabinet Chief, to ask him, in case of military operations, to exempt the pontifical establishments of the Basilica of Loreto and Basilica of Padua from military and civil requisitions. (3)

M. Anfuso replied: “rest assured that there will not be any military operations.  I can tell you in confidence that we cannot wage war because we have nothing and because the Italian people do not want it.  Minister Ciano has carried out admirable work within this context”.  Then he added: “Monsignor, where shall we find ourselves with this movement of the Russians and with the Germans spreading southwards?  It is an anti-Christian movement and against our culture; we must go back to the barbaric invasions to find a historical comparison.  In the meantime Poland, a Catholic State, is finished; unfortunately it was badly advised when it accepted war.”

This, Most Holy Father, is what was said to me this morning at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Notes: 

(1) Galeazzo Ciano, (1903-1944), Italian Foreign Minister 1936-43.

(2) Warsaw surrendered to the German on 27.09.1939.

(3) Filippo Anfuso, (1901-1963), Chief of Staff Foreign Ministry 1938-42.