This map was drawn by Howard Burke and published by the newspaper The New York Journal-American in 1940, in the context of the Second World War.
This work by Burke, unlike other maps such as dedicated to Japan y dedicated to the Soviet Union, It does not openly attack Fascist Italy's position in the war, but rather shows a certain empathy for its situation, although it continues to be part of a propaganda objective.
On the map, Italy and its possessions are shown in yellow, including the conquests made from the Ottoman Empire in 1912, such as Libya and the islands of Rhodes and Leros, as well as Albania, occupied by Italy in 1939. In addition, the author includes in orange what he believes to be the next three steps Italy could take (also identified by three red arrows):
- YugoslaviaItaly had signed a non-aggression pact with Yugoslavia, but Italy could use Yugoslavia's precarious position to turn the country into an associated state.
- Corsica, Nice and SavoyThe three regions were lost to the French at different times, and Italian irredentism I felt it was a natural part of Italy.
- TunisiaIt was the French colony in Africa that posed the greatest threat to Italy, so it had to be taken.
The map also shows other important strategic interests, such as the importance of controlling the Mediterranean in order to preserve its two main trade routes: to America via the Strait of Gibraltar and to Somalia via the Suez Canal.
In the lower left corner, Burke explains in detail that, in his opinion, Italy's situation was neutral and that this was a direct consequence of the fact that they had not been treated fairly in the peace treaty signed after the First World War. He also recommends that Italy should not actively join Germany in the war, as this would lead to a direct confrontation with the United Kingdom and could frustrate its aspirations.
Interestingly, this map was published on 2 June 1940, just eight days before Italy declared war on the Allies.
Sources
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