In game the country has a modest to respectable military, with the navy being its strongest asset. https://heartsofiron.fandom.com/wiki/Italy_(HoI4)?oldid=4787, M.43 105/25 (TD) / M15/42 Carro Contraereo (AAA). Put strategies and guides here to help others play this nation. This can be difficult to pull off if Czechoslovakia fortifies, but successfully pulling it off will allow you to steal a lot of the low-hanging fruit that is normally meant for Germany, weakening them. After this, the Brits will likely attack with their capital Med fleet and likely be defeated. Light ship focus - Destroyer & Submarine benefits. Italy starts at war with Ethiopia, which is something they will be focusing on for the first months of the game. The only 1936 naval tech that Italy possesses is the Caio Duilio battleship, though it does possess upgraded versions of the 1922 heavy cruiser, light cruiser, destroyer, and submarine. This is a community maintained wiki. The royal government remained in control of the south, declared war on Germany, and declared itself as the government of all of Italy shortly before the end of the war in the spring of 1945, sparking a brief but destructive civil war. It is unique in that it is the only nation that starts off at war with another nation in 1936, that being  Ethiopia. By selecting this Design Company it will permanently affect capabilities on all equipment researched while they are hired. It also contains territory in Zara (on the Dalmatian coast)and the Dodecanese (Aegean sea), with African colonies in Libya, Eritrea and Somalia. His presence and their loyalty to him is a great source of unity for the people. Here you can type some informative bits about this nation's economy in-game in 1936 and following years. Italy's location in the center of the Mediterranean causes Italy to be a dominant force in the region. Italy can take a decision to form the  European Union (if Democratic) and/or the  Roman Empire (note there is no ideology requirement for forming the  Roman Empire) if it can expand and conquer the requisite territories. It is dominated by the Alps to the north, the Apennine mountains through most of the mainland, and flatlands in the south and Sicilian Island. That being said, sometimes Italy can take refuge in audacity. The Axis. Guard Italy's coast closely! Badoglio and the king escaped to Brindisi in southern Italy without giving any order to the army. The "Soldier King" remind the Italians of their recent victories in the Great War. We sacrificed so much blood at the Isonzo for their victory and they in turn denied us what was ours by right. France has a respectable military but Italy can relatively easily build up its own military to match them through superior units, though this might require stretching Italy's manpower pool somewhat. With the Man the Guns expansion enabled, Italy starts with an additional national spirit: Italy starts off at war with  Ethiopia, which is something they will be focusing on for the first months of the game. Its terrain is mainly made of hills, with the peninsula having some coastal plains on the east and west sides of its rugged central spine - important defensive terrain if fighting up or down the peninsula. 2 Caio Duilio Class battleships that are about 20% finished. If Italy wants to further assist their navy, they could build ships (destroyers and cruisers) outfitted with minelayers and extensively mine the Mediterranean sea. - Italy can vacate Eritrea at the start of the game, giving it to Ethiopia, to skip the focus "African war logistics". King Victor Emanuel III, the King provides a small national unity increase each month. Aside from these successes, however, Italy's war effort went beyond poorly, With Italy being unable to make significant gains in France before the french surrender and then suffering a humiliating defeat in  Greece later in 1940. Now Italy will take her destiny into her own hands and ensure that justice is done. Once France falls you, send out your entire fleet to a sea zone you have radar in (this will give you an advantage in spotting) while simultaneously using fighters and naval bombers to cover the area. Italy's war effort went poorly, resulting in defeats in Greece, North Africa, Ethiopia, and the Mediterranean Sea. (The Allies (AI) can easily send over 1000 bombers and fighters respectively to Italy.) Italy is a peninsular nation and has a very long coastline which, when dealing with a naval enemy like Britain, is a disaster waiting to happen if not properly addressed. The Italian technological superiority pretty much guarantees that they will win the war. As for your naval units, Italy is a peninsular nation so maintaining naval supremacy in the Mediterranean will go a long way to protecting against possible naval invasions (something an AI-controlled Italy often falls victim to). Mines will cause enemy ships to suffer a speed penalty, making them move slower, which hampers everything from responding to and engaging your fleets, disengaging, and retreating from battles and fleeing from bad situations. Examples of alternative division template names for Italy include: The Regia Marina is sizeable, with access to significant amounts of modern naval technology - Italy possesses all of the 1936 hulls, batteries and armor setups. This will let you Get 2 leaders make sure to add Infantry Expert, Improvisation Expert and most Importantly Adaptable. Once you acquire more naval dockyards, this combo can be further augmented with the addition of more heavy cruisers and even battleships for heavier ordnance. It also contains territory in Zara (on the Dalmatian coast) and the Dodecanese (Aegean Sea), with African colonies in Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia. Italy (Italia) starts with modern-day Italy, Libya, Eritrea and Somalia, but with the Fascist leadership under Mussolini, they are out to restore the old Roman Empire as an Italian Empire. Whether it’s figuring out how to structure your forces or what plan of action to take as an Allied state facing imminent doom in 1936, it can be quite a challenge. This is Huge For pushing anywhere and It makes it a lot Easier to cross the alps. The political parties in Italy and their popularity remain the same in both the 1936 and 1939 scenario with Benito Mussolini's Partito Nazionale Fascista ruling with overwhelming support, at 76% support, followed by the democratic Partito Popolare Italiano with a significant 22% popularity and the communist Parito Comunista Italiano with a minuscule 2% support. Ironically, despite declaring war and making puppets from Austria, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia, this will still generate less world tension than what Germany can produce historically from taking aggressive action against said nations. A war with both the French and British at this stage is likely going to be too much for Italy to handle, even with skilled play, so be careful. Vittoria Mutilata, which increases their fascist political leanings, and make them less likely to fall for democracy or communism. It is dominated by the Alps to the north, the Apennine mountains through most of the mainland, and flatland… The Allies then launched a naval invasion of Italy in the summer of 1943 and Mussolini's government collapsed. Once war does break out and fuel becomes harder to import, this can be remedied by occupying and/or annexing states that produce Oil. Italy had completed conquests (Ethiopia and Albania) prior to its entry into World War II. Brief overview of nation's technological capabilities. If you learn to win with those nations you can win with almost any other nation. Mare Nostrum - The big naval strengthening tree. From here, Italy can choose to expand its alliance by creating further puppets from  Hungary,  Romania and  Turkey. Italy has an interesting national focus tree with five different branches: Italy starts with four research slots and can gain one from its focus tree. After Ethiopia, Italy can decide not only the fate of the Allies, but also the Axis. At this point you are then free to advance further into the British Raj and/or open up more fronts with the Soviet menace. A solid, relatively simple strategy is to switch your military doctrine to "Superior Firepower" and place Support and Line Artillery (both Normal, Anti-Tank, and Anti-Air versions) in all of your divisions. With the war's end, Italy had anticipated its promised reward would be commensurate with Italian losses in the Alps.