Editing Umberto II of Italy (section)

===Italian expansion during the Second World War===
[[File:Benito Mussolini w rozmowie z księciem Umberto II (2-279).jpg|thumb|Umberto in conversation with Benito Mussolini in the [[French Alps]] during the [[Italian invasion of France]] in June 1940.]]
Umberto shared his father's fears that Mussolini's policy of alliance with [[Nazi Germany]] was reckless and dangerous, but he made no move to oppose Italy becoming one of the [[Axis powers]].<ref>Denis Mack Smith, ''Italy and Its Monarchy'', New Haven: Yale University Press p. 287</ref> When Mussolini decided to enter the [[Second World War]] in June 1940, Umberto hinted to his father that he should use the royal veto to block the Italian declarations of war on Britain and France, but was ignored.<ref name="Denis Mack Smith p.291">Denis Mack Smith, ''Italy and Its Monarchy'', New Haven: Yale University Press p. 291</ref> After the war, Umberto criticised the decision to enter the war, saying that Victor Emmanuel was too much under "Mussolini's spell" in June 1940 to oppose it.<ref name="Denis Mack Smith p.291"/> Following Italy's entry into the war, Umberto ostensibly commanded ''Army Group West'', made up of the [[Italian First Army|First]], [[Italian Fourth Army|Fourth]] and the [[Italian Seventh Army|Seventh Army]] (kept in reserve), which attacked French forces during the [[Italian invasion of France]]. Umberto was appointed to this position by his father, who wanted the expected Italian victory to also be a victory for the House of Savoy, as the King feared Mussolini's ambitions.<ref name="Denis Mack Smith p.292">Denis Mack Smith, ''Italy and Its Monarchy'', New Haven: Yale University Press p. 292</ref> A few hours after France signed an armistice with Germany on 21 June 1940, the Italians invaded France. The Italian offensive was a complete fiasco, with Umberto's reputation as a general only being saved by the fact that the already defeated French signed an armistice with Italy on 24 June 1940.<ref name="Denis Mack Smith p.292"/> Thus, he could present the offensive as a victory.<ref name="Denis Mack Smith p.292"/> The Italian plans called for the ''[[Regio Esercito]]'' to reach the Rhone river valley, which the Italians came nowhere close to reaching, having penetrated only a few kilometres into France.<ref name="Denis Mack Smith p.292"/>

After the capitulation of France, Mussolini kept Umberto inactive as an Army commander. In the summer of 1940, Umberto was to command a planned invasion of the [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia]]. Still, Mussolini subsequently cancelled the invasion of [[Yugoslavia]] in favour of invading the [[Kingdom of Greece]].<ref>Denis Mack Smith, ''Italy and Its Monarchy'', New Haven: Yale University Press p. 293</ref> In June 1941, supported by his father, Umberto strongly lobbied to be given command of the Italian expeditionary force sent to the [[Soviet Union]], saying that, as a Catholic, he fully supported [[Operation Barbarossa]] and wanted to do battle with the "godless communists".<ref name="Denis Mack Smith p.298">Denis Mack Smith, ''Italy and Its Monarchy'', New Haven: Yale University Press p. 298</ref> Mussolini refused the request, and instead gave Umberto the responsibility of training the Italian forces scheduled to participate in [[Operation Hercules]], the planned Axis invasion of [[British Malta|Malta]].<ref name="Denis Mack Smith p.298"/> On 29 October 1942, he was awarded the rank of [[Marshal of Italy]] (''Maresciallo d'Italia'').<ref name="Denis Mack Smith p.298"/> During October–November 1942, in the [[Battle of El Alamein]], the Italo-German force was defeated by the British [[Eighth Army (United Kingdom)|Eighth Army]], marking the end of Axis hopes of conquering [[Egypt]]. The Axis retreated back into [[Italian Libya|Libya]]. In November 1942, as part of the [[Battle of Stalingrad]], the [[Red Army]] launched [[Operation Uranus]], which saw the Soviets annihilate much of the Italian expeditionary force in [[Russia]] and encircle the German 6th Army. The disastrous Italian defeats at Stalingrad and El Alamein turned Umberto against the war and led him to conclude that Italy must sign an armistice before it was too late.<ref name="Denis Mack Smith p.298"/> In late 1942, Umberto had his cousin, the [[Prince Aimone, Duke of Aosta|4th Duke of Aosta]], visit Switzerland to contact the British consulate in [[Geneva]], where he passed on a message to London that the King was willing to sign an armistice with the Allies in exchange for a promise that he be allowed to keep his throne.<ref name="Denis Mack Smith p.298"/>