History of Italy during World War II

Mussolini's response to the German invasion was to declare that Italy was neutral and a "non-belligerent". However, on June 10, 1940, as Rommel reached the English Channel, Mussolini felt the war was coming to an end and declared war on Britain and France. By the end of the war, the Italian economy was devasted and over 300,000 Italian men and boys were killed.