Germany–Italy relations
Map indicating locations of Germany and Italy

Germany

Italy
Embassy of Germany in Rome

Germany–Italy relations are the international relations between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Italian Republic. Both countries are full members of the European Union and NATO.

History

Italia und Germania, painted by Johann Friedrich Overbeck before Italian and German Unification.

Relations were established after the Unification of Italy. The two countries historically enjoy a special relationship since they fought together against the Austrian Empire and parts of their respective territories belonged to the Holy Roman Empire and the German Confederation. Italy and Germany were both part of the Triple Alliance but they became enemies during World War I. Both countries eventually became members of the Axis powers during World War II, formed an alliance during the Cold War (West Germany), were among the inner six and became two of the G6 nations after their economic miracle.

Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti was not in favour of the German reunification but today the Italian government and the German one are full and leading members of the European Union. In 2005, a German cardinal was elected Bishop of Rome. Germany has an embassy in Rome and consulates in Milan and Naples, while Italy has an embassy in Berlin and consulates in Frankfurt, Freiburg, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich, Nuremberg, Saarbrücken, and Stuttgart.

German community in Italy

Italy - Germany Relations (1939)

Before the eruption of World War II the Italian government, led by Benito Mussolini, established The Pact of Steel between Adolf Hitler's Germany government in efforts to establish a unified military entity to combat the Allied Powers. Although both sides established a governmental agreement, Italy and Germany remained fearful and distrustful towards one another. This distrust between the two governments would often contradict their military actions of unison to being ones aimed against one another.[1] In 1940 the original bipolar pact between Germany and Italy would be adding an existing member with Japan becoming the Tripartite Pact.

Italian Social Republic

In 1943, members of the Italian Grand Council voted against Benito Mussolini's political power and demanded his resignation. The decline in support from Mussolini's government was viewed as being rooted in the betrayal of his closest advisers and aides. During this time Victor Emmanuel stripped the Prime Ministerial powers of Mussolini and demanded his arrest.[2] While arrested Mussolini was forced to the island of Ponza and placed as a political prisoner. Soon after Mussolini was sent to the Mt. Gran Sasso where German soldiers made a daring attempt in rescuing him and bringing him to Adolf Hitler. During this time Hitler sought to regain Mussolini's political support back into Italy's government. Just after a short time of Mussolini's demise those that allied against and caused his fall from power were trialed and executed. In efforts to regain a hold on the Italian government Hitler sought to establish the Italian Social Republic, a puppet republic in the town of Salo, in which he encouraged Mussolini to rally political support in efforts to fight against allied forces. Being a reinstalled leader Mussolini who was once a sovereign leaders was now seen as a puppet that was in the hands of the German government.

Post war

Both countries were founder members of the European Coal and Steel Community, now the European Union.

During 2017, Italy's economy was valued as being the seventh largest exporting country in the world, while being ranked tenth among all imports around the world. In 2017, Italy's top importing and exporting partner was Germany at $72.2 billion in imports, while exporting $58.5 billion.[3] At 7.1%, the largest product that Italy imports are cars, while its leading exports are Packaged Medicament's (Medicines) at 4.5%. These being Italy's largest imports, 33% are imported from Germany and 12% are from Spain. Whereas Italy's leading exports in Medicines are to Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland at a combined 32%, exports to Germany alone are at 9.6%.[4]


Country comparison

Official name Federal Republic of Germany Italian Republic
Flag
Coat of Arms
Capital Berlin Rome
Largest City Berlin – 3,748,148 (6,144,600 Metro) Rome – 2,872,800 (4,355,725 Metro)
Population 83,019,200 60,359,546
Area 357,021 km2 (137,847 sq mi) 301,340 km2 (116,350 sq mi)
Government Federal parliamentary republic Unitary parliamentary republic
First Leader Wilhelm I (Emperor), Otto von Bismarck (Chancellor) Victor Emmanuel II (King), Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour (Prime Minister)
Head of State President: Frank-Walter Steinmeier President: Sergio Mattarella
Head of Government Chancellor: Olaf Scholz Prime Minister: Giorgia Meloni
Official language German (de facto and de jure) Italian (de facto and de jure)
Main religions 60% Christianity (over 30% Protestant denomination, 30% Catholic churches), 5% Islam,
1% Judaism, 1% Buddhism, 2% Other
84.4%% Christianity, 11.6%% Non-Religious Unstated, 1.0% Islam,
3.0% Others (2021 Census)[5]
Expatriates population Italians in Germany: 648,360 [6] Germans in Italy: 218,158 [7]
Ethnic groups Germans Italians
GDP (PPP) $4.149 trillion ($50,206 per capita) $2.443 trillion ($40,470 per capita)
Alliances NATO, EU NATO, EU
Currency Euro Euro

See also

References

  1. "The Pact of Steel is signed; the Axis is formed". HISTORY. Retrieved 2019-03-19.
  2. Iodice, Emilio (2018-07-15). "Lessons from History: The Startling Rise to Power of Benito Mussolini". Journal of Values-Based Leadership. 11 (2). doi:10.22543/0733.62.1241. ISSN 1948-0733.
  3. "Import origins of Italy (2017)". The Observatory of Economic Complexity. Retrieved 2019-03-19.
  4. "Import origins of Italy (2017)". The Observatory of Economic Complexity. Retrieved 2019-03-19.
  5. "Special Eurobarometer 516". European Union: European Commission. September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021 via European Data Portal (see Volume C: Country/socio-demographics: IT: Question D90.2.).
  6. "Anzahl der Ausländer in Deutschland nach Herkunftsland in den Jahren 2015 und 2016". statista (in German).
  7. "Italia - Inmigración 2019". datosmacro.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-01-03.

Further reading

  • Bessel, Richard, ed. Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany: comparisons and contrasts (Cambridge University Press, 1996).
  • Knox, MacGregor. Common Destiny: Dictatorship, Foreign Policy, and War in Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany (Cambridge University Press, 2000).
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