How did the Rome-Berlin Axis change Mussolini’s relationship with Hitler?

The formation of the Rome-Berlin Axis fundamentally altered Benito Mussolini’s relationship with Adolf Hitler, shifting Italy from a position of independent maneuvering to that of a subordinate junior partner.12

Following the Italo-Ethiopian War, Italy faced diplomatic isolation due to sanctions imposed by the League of Nations. Mussolini moved into Hitler’s orbit, initially hoping that German support would pressure Britain and France into granting Italy further concessions. However, this strategy failed to yield territorial gains and instead bound Italy to German interests.12

The relationship became increasingly lopsided as Hitler’s power grew. By 1938, Mussolini was forced to accept Hitler’s annexation of Austria, which brought the German Reich directly to the Italian border. The formalization of their alliance through the Pact of Steel in 1939 further restricted Mussolini’s autonomy, committing Italy to German military actions. Ultimately, Italy’s military failures in World War II forced Mussolini to rely on German intervention, cementing his status as the subservient partner in the Axis alliance.123