Italy, 1941
Troops near the Colosseum. Image Source: The Atlantic
World War II was fought by two groups of countries, many of which individually declared war on the United States — most notably Japan and Germany. At the same time that Germany declared war on the United States — spurred by the U.S.’ declaration of war on Japan after the attack on Pearl Harbor — Italy, in a comparatively less popular moment, declared war on the U.S..
Four days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Benito Mussolini — Italy’s dictator — declared war from the Roman balcony of Piazza Venezia, saying:
This is another day of solemn decision in Italy’s history and of memorable events destined to give a new course to the history of continents. The powers of the steel pact, Fascist Italy and Nationalist Socialist Germany, ever closely linked, participate from today on the side of heroic Japan against the United States of America…Italians! Once more arise and be worthy of this historical hour! We shall win.
World War II ended in 1945, after the United States dropped two atomic bombs on Japan, forcing the Axis power to surrender.
