I tend to agree with you. Actually, Italy became isollated in the continent after it's conquest of Ethiopia in 1936. Britain and France didn't want to make any more agreements with Mussolini, and the only alternative left was Hitler.

Don't forget what happened after the assassination of Engelbert Dollfuss in 1934. Italy sent troops to the austrian border, and Hitler became very fearful of their reaction, thus abandoning the nazi conspirators in Austria.

The situation during the Anschluss in 1938 is quite the opposite, with Mussolini (already an "ally" of Germany) complying with the nazi invasion. A thankful Hitler said to Mussolini "I'll never forget this, never!" He didn't forgot for sure, as Operation Oak can tell.

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"The Duce will have Ethiopia. With or without the ethiopians." Rodolfo Graziani

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