THE ITALO
COLLECTED BY
Archive-It Partner 725: Temple University - Collection 4202: Temple University Websites
The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/web/20110720055919/http://astro.temple.edu/~rimmerma/Italo_German_alliance_1939.htm
THE ITALO-GERMAN ALLIANCE, MAY 22, 1939
[
Volkischer Beobachter
, May 23, 1939.]
The German Reich Chancellor and His Majesty the King of Italy and Albania,
Emperor of Ethiopia, consider that the time has come to confirm through a solemn
pact the close relation of friendship and affinity which exists between National
Socialist Germany and Fascist Italy.
Since a secure bridge for mutual help and assistance has been established
through the common boundary between Germany and Italy, fixed for all time, the
two Governments acknowledge anew the principles and aims of the policy
previously agreed upon by them, and which has shown itself successful in
furthering the interests of the two countries as well as in ensuring the peace
of Europe.
Firmly bound together through the inner unity of their ideologies and the
comprehensive solidarity of their interests, the German and the Italian people
are determined also in future to stand side by side and to strive with united
effort for the securing of their
Lebensraum
[living space] and the
maintenance of peace. In this way, prescribed for them by history, Germany and
Italy wish, in a world of unrest and disintegration, to carry out the assignment
of making safe the foundations of European culture. In order to establish these
principles in treaty form, they have named as plenipotentiaries, the German
Reich Chancellor, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, von Ribbentrop, His Majesty
the King of Italy and Albania, Emperor of Ethiopia, the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Count Galeazzo Ciano, who, after the exchange of proper credentials,
have agreed upon the following terms:
ARTICLE I.
The Contracting Parties will remain in permanent contact with each other, in
order to come to an understanding of all common interests or the European
situation as a whole.
ARTICLE II.
In the event that the common interests of the Contracting Parties be
jeopardized through international happenings of any kind, they will immediately
enter into consultation regarding the necessary measures to preserve these
interests. Should the security or other vital interests of one of the
Contracting Parties be threatened from outside, the other Contracting Party will
afford the threatened Party its full political and diplomatic support in order
to remove this threat.
ARTICLE III.
If it should happen, against the wishes and hopes of the Contracting Parties,
that one of them becomes involved in military complications with another tower
or other Powers, the other Contracting Party will immediately step to its side
as an ally and will support it with all its military might on land, at sea, and
in the air.
ARTICLE IV.
In order to ensure, in any given case, the rapid implementation of the
alliance obligations of Article III, the Governments of the two Contracting
Parties will further intensify their cooperation in the military sphere and the
sphere of war economy. Similarly the two Governments will keep each other
regularly informed of other measures necessary for the practical implementation
of this pact. The two Governments will create standing commissions, under the
direction of the Foreign Ministers, for the purposes indicated in paragraphs 1
and 2.
ARTICLE V.
The Contracting Parties already at this point bind themselves, in the event
of a jointly waged war, to conclude any armistice or peace only in full
agreement with each other.
ARTICLE VI.
The two Contracting Parties are aware of the importance of their joint
relations to the Powers which are friendly to them. They are determined to
maintain these relations in future and to promote the adequate development of
the common interests which bind them to these Powers.
ARTICLE VII
.
This pact comes into force immediately upon its signing. The two Contracting
Parties are agreed upon fixing the first period of its validity at ten years. In
good time before the elapse of this period they will come to an agreement
regarding the extension of the validity of the pact.
SECRET SUPPLEMENTARY PROTOCOL
On signing the friendship and alliance pact, agreement has been established
by both parties on the following points: 1. The two Foreign Ministers will as
quickly as possible come to an agreement on the organization, the seat, and the
methods of work on the pact of the commissions on military questions and
questions of war economy as stipulated in Article IV of the pact. 2. For the
execution of Article IV, par. 2, the two Foreign Ministers will as quickly as
possible arrange the necessary measures, guaranteeing a constant cooperation,
conforming to the spirit and aims of the pact, in matters of the press, the news
service and the propaganda. For this purpose in particular, each of the two
Foreign Ministers will assign to the embassy of his country in the respective
capital one or several especially well-experienced specialists, for constant
discussion in direct close cooperation with the resp. Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, of the suitable steps to be taken in matters of the press, the news
service and the propaganda for the promotion of the policy of the Axis, and as a
countermeasure against the policy of the enemy powers.
Berlin 22 May 1939 in the XVII year of the Fascist Era.
[United States, Office of United States Chief of Counsel for Prosecution of Axis
Criminality, Nazi Conspiracy and Aggression, 8 vols. and 2 suppl. vols.
(Government Printing Office, Washington, 1946-1948), V, 453, Doc. No. 2818-PS.]